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[[File:Cloaking_SC2_CineNova1.jpg|thumb|A ghost cloaking]]
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[[File:Cloaking_SC2_CineNova1.jpg|thumb|A [[ghost]] cloaking]]
 
'''Cloaking''' is an ability available to [[terran]]s and [[protoss]] through both technological and [[psionic powers|psionic]] means.
 
'''Cloaking''' is an ability available to [[terran]]s and [[protoss]] through both technological and [[psionic powers|psionic]] means.
   
 
==Overview==
 
==Overview==
[[File:Cloaking_SC2_CineBetterTomorrow1.jpg|thumb|A spectre cloaking]]
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[[File:Cloaking_SC2_CineBetterTomorrow1.jpg|thumb|A [[spectre]] cloaking]]
Through the [[personal cloaking device]], terran [[ghost]]s and [[spectre]]s are able to cloak.<ref name = "SC2">[http://www.starcraft2.com/features/terran/ghost.xml Ghost]. ''Blizzard Entertainment.'' Accessed 2009-02-08</ref> The device is based on the stealth technology utilized by [[Wraith]] starfighters, which are also available to cloak.<ref name="SC1Man">Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. ''StarCraft (Manual)''. Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.</ref> This technology was later applied to the [[Banshee]].<ref name = "Banshee">2007-08-23. [http://www.starcraft2.com/features/terran/banshee.xml Banshee]. ''Blizzard Entertainment.'' Accessed 2007-09-02.</ref>
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Through the [[personal cloaking device]], terran [[ghost]]s and [[spectre]]s are able to cloak.<ref name="SC2">[http://www.starcraft2.com/features/terran/ghost.xml Ghost]. ''Blizzard Entertainment''. Accessed 2009-02-08</ref> The device is based on the stealth technology utilized by [[Wraith]] starfighters, which are also available to cloak.<ref name="SC1Man">Underwood, Peter, [[Bill Roper]], [[Chris Metzen]] and Jeffrey Vaughn. ''[[StarCraft]] (Manual)''. Irvine, Calif.: [[Blizzard Entertainment]], 1998.</ref> This technology was later applied to the [[Banshee]].<ref name="Banshee">2007-08-23. [http://www.starcraft2.com/features/terran/banshee.xml Banshee]. ''Blizzard Entertainment''. Accessed 2007-09-02.</ref>
   
Some protoss aerospace craft are able to cloak the units around them; examples include the [[Khalai]] [[Arbiter]]<ref name = "Manual">Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. ''StarCraft (Manual)''. Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.</ref> and [[mothership]],<ref name = "SCIIRetail">Blizzard Entertainment. ''[[StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty]].'' (Activision Blizzard) (in English). July 27, 2010</ref> while the [[observer]] remains hidden through an in-built micro-cloaking field.<ref name = "SC2 Observer">[http://www.starcraft2.com/features/protoss/observer.xml Observer]. ''Blizzard Entertainment.'' Official StarCraft II website. Accessed 2007-11-13. Retrieved 2009-01-12</ref> The [[Dark Templar]] are able to cloak themselves through psionic means. This ability has been described as "bending light" and "merging with shadows".<ref name="SC:DkTempSaga2">Golden, Christie (November 27, 2007). ''[[StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga: Shadow Hunters|StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga #2: Shadow Hunters]].'' Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). ISBN 978-0-7434-7126-8.</ref>
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Some protoss aerospace craft are able to cloak the units around them; examples include the [[Khalai]] [[Arbiter]]<ref name="SC1Man" /> and [[mothership]],<ref name="SCIIRetail">Blizzard Entertainment. ''[[StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty]]''. ([[Activision Blizzard]]) (in [[English]]). July 27, 2010</ref> while the [[observer]] remains hidden through an in-built micro-cloaking field.<ref name="SC2 Observer">[http://www.starcraft2.com/features/protoss/observer.xml Observer]. ''Blizzard Entertainment''. Official StarCraft II website. Accessed 2007-11-13. Retrieved 2009-01-12</ref> The [[Dark Templar]] are able to cloak themselves through psionic means. This ability has been described as "bending light" and "merging with shadows".<ref name="SC:DkTempSaga2">Golden, Christie (November 27, 2007). ''[[StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga: Shadow Hunters|StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga #2: Shadow Hunters]]''. [[Simon & Schuster]] (Pocket Star). ISBN 978-0-7434-7126-8.</ref>
   
 
==Gameplay==
 
==Gameplay==
 
 
A cloaked unit is a unit rendered invisible to enemies, unless an enemy [[detector]] is nearby. These include [[burrow]]ed units. Cloaked (and a few burrowed) units may attack without uncloaking; terran cloaked units require energy to maintain their camouflage, and the cloak will be disabled when it is depleted.
 
A cloaked unit is a unit rendered invisible to enemies, unless an enemy [[detector]] is nearby. These include [[burrow]]ed units. Cloaked (and a few burrowed) units may attack without uncloaking; terran cloaked units require energy to maintain their camouflage, and the cloak will be disabled when it is depleted.
   

Revision as of 18:19, 18 May 2015

Cloaking SC2 CineNova1

A ghost cloaking

Cloaking is an ability available to terrans and protoss through both technological and psionic means.

Overview

Cloaking SC2 CineBetterTomorrow1

A spectre cloaking

Through the personal cloaking device, terran ghosts and spectres are able to cloak.[1] The device is based on the stealth technology utilized by Wraith starfighters, which are also available to cloak.[2] This technology was later applied to the Banshee.[3]

Some protoss aerospace craft are able to cloak the units around them; examples include the Khalai Arbiter[2] and mothership,[4] while the observer remains hidden through an in-built micro-cloaking field.[5] The Dark Templar are able to cloak themselves through psionic means. This ability has been described as "bending light" and "merging with shadows".[6]

Gameplay

A cloaked unit is a unit rendered invisible to enemies, unless an enemy detector is nearby. These include burrowed units. Cloaked (and a few burrowed) units may attack without uncloaking; terran cloaked units require energy to maintain their camouflage, and the cloak will be disabled when it is depleted.

The ability to approach unseen, attack while invisible, and fade away makes cloaked units ideal for ambushes, raids on worker lines, and scouting.

Detectors are the normal method of revealing cloaked units.

When invisible, cloaked and moving burrowed units may be tracked by their slight "rippling" distortions. Invisible units retain their collision radius; their position may be given away if visible units must move around an invisible one. Detectors are still needed to target invisible units even if they are found these ways.

Detectors are not the only way to deal with cloaked units. Some special abilities affect or reveal cloaked units. Cloaked units are affected by splash damage; it is possible to attack a friendly unit with splash damage attack to damage surrounding invisible cloaked units. Cloaked units include:

StarCraft

DarkTemplar SC1 GameAnim1

Dark templar are permanently cloaked warriors

Protoss

Terran

  • Wraith with Cloaking Field upgrade
  • Ghost with Personal Cloaking upgrade.

Zerg

StarCraft II

Protoss

Terran

Zerg

Trivia

Cloaking in StarCraft was possibly inspired by the Giant Sea Turtle and the Gnomish Submarine from Warcraft II. These underwater units could not be detected without air units, nearby towers, or other underwater units.

References

  1. Ghost. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2009-02-08
  2. 2.0 2.1 Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. StarCraft (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
  3. 2007-08-23. Banshee. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2007-09-02.
  4. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard) (in English). July 27, 2010
  5. Observer. Blizzard Entertainment. Official StarCraft II website. Accessed 2007-11-13. Retrieved 2009-01-12
  6. Golden, Christie (November 27, 2007). StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga #2: Shadow Hunters. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). ISBN 978-0-7434-7126-8.