Dark archon

From StarCraft Wiki

Dark archon
Unit
Race	Protoss
Role	Support Psionic Entity
Properties
Hit points	25
Shields	200
Energy	200
Size	Large
Transport slots	4
Production
Psi	4
Build time	20
Produced at	2 Dark Templar
Requires	2 Dark Templar
Combat
Armor	1
Sight range	10
Unit speed	5

"Fear not, comrades, for we have archons of our own! Should the dire need arise, all Dark Templar may merge to become Dark Archons. Though we sacrifice our warriors in doing so, only the might of the Dark Archons can match the forces of Aldaris!"

―Zeratul to Artanis^[src]

The dark archon is a heavy protoss psionic support unit introduced in StarCraft: Brood War.

Contents 1 Overview 2 History 3 Game Unit 3.1 StarCraft 3.1.1 Production 3.1.2 Abilities 3.1.3 Upgrades 4 Known Dark Archons 5 References

[edit] Overview

Like their high templar brethren, two dark templar sacrifice themselves in a psionic melding giving rise to the dark archon. The powers of these avatars of psionic might extend well beyond those of the regular archon, more than compensating for their lack of any physical attack capability.^[1]

The burning, crimson figure of the dark archon spreads fear across any battlefield. These powerful creatures of living psionic energy embody the eternal wrath of the Dark Templar. In addition to being able to wield psionic powers, dark archons can also wield the energies of the Void.^[2]

Under ordinary circumstances, the chaotic and unstable energies of a dark archon will cause it to burn itself out and dissipate after a short period of time. Thus far, only Ulrezaj has found a way to avoid this fate and prolong his own unnatural existence.^[3]

[edit] History

During their long exile, the Dark Templar have faced many challenges. Struggling and adapting their arsenal of skills and converting their biology to suit their harsh environment has ultimately resulted in the dark archon.^[1]

They are so powerful that the Dark Templar have outlawed their creation for a thousand years^[2] out of fear.^[3]

The creation of dark archons was allowed after the Khalai came to Shakuras, the Dark Templar homeworld. Matriarch Raszagal and Zeratul authorized their use due to Aldaris' rebellion, which included archons fighting on the side of the insurgents.^[4] This was the first that the Khalai had ever seen or even heard of a dark archon^[5] and considered them to be abominations.^[3]

[edit] Game Unit

[edit] StarCraft

The dark archon is a "spellcaster" with no regular attack, unlike the archon.

The dark archon shares some characteristics with the archon. Most of its health is invested in shields, so they are vulnerable to the science vessel's EMP shockwave. They are also neither biological or mechanical and are therefore immune to a great many abilities, such as Lockdown and Spawn Broodling. They also count as hovering and do not trigger spider mines.

Its Mind Control ability may be used offensively by automatically depriving an opponent of a unit, especially expensive ones. On the other hand, mind controlling can allow for greater flexibility in a protoss force. For example, medics complement a force of zealots as much as they do marines. More ambitiously, stealing SCVs or drones opens up the terran and zerg tech trees respectively and additional supply points, but there are rarely enough resources to exploit this fully. It can be used on an ally's SCV or drone, allowing the protoss player access to more supply and units.

The dark archon in StarCraft I

StarCraft I Dark archon profile

Dark archon while fusing.

Dark Archon stat profile]]

[edit] Production

Dark Archon Warp
Usage Units 2 dark templar Duration 20 (build time)
Notes
Two dark templar can sacrifice themselves, transforming into a dark archon.

[edit] Abilities

Feedback Usage Energy 50 Range 10 Notes Drains a target's energy and deals damage equal to the amount of the energy drained.[2] The ability can instantly kill a high templar, ghost, medic, Wraith, science vessel, defiler or a queen that was at full health. The amount of damage is not affected by armor or unit size.

Maelstrom Acquisition Minerals 100 Gas 100 Researched at Templar archives Usage Energy 100 Range 10 Notes Prevents all biological units (friendly included) within a small area from attacking, moving, or casting spells for short period of time.[2] Stunned cloaked units will be revealed. Burrowed units will not be revealed.

Mind Control Acquisition Minerals 200 Gas 200 Researched at Templar archives Usage Energy 150 Shield All Range 8 Notes Transfers control of any enemy unit to the casting player. Using Mind Control will drain the dark archon's shields and leave it vulnerable.[2][2] Mind controlling a transport will also transfer control of any units the transport is carrying, and mind controlling a unit that has researched upgrades or special abilities will transfer them to the dark archon's player. The transfer is permanent and irreversible, even after the death or the transfer of control of the dark archon who performed it. Any unit can be subject to multiple Mind Control spells, effectively changing ownership every time.

[edit] Upgrades

Ground Armor Researched at Forge Hotkey A Properties Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Minerals 100 175 250 Gas 100 175 250 Required Templar archives Templar archives Notes +1 bonus to armor per level for probes, zealots, dragoons, reavers, high templar, dark templar, archons, and dark archons.	Plasma shields Researched at Forge Hotkey S Properties Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Minerals 200 300 400 Gas 200 300 400 Required Cybernetics core Cybernetics core Notes +1 bonus to shields per level for all units and structures.
Argus Talisman Researched at Templar archives Properties Minerals 150 Gas 150 Notes Dark archons wear a prized argus crystal talisman, increasing their maximum energy by 50.

[edit] Known Dark Archons

• Dark Archon Hero
• Rastadon/Imrian
• Ulrezaj (made of seven Dark Templar, significantly different abilities)

[edit] References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Dark Archon. StarCraft Compendium Protoss Units.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} Underwood, Peter, Chris Metzen and Bill Roper. StarCraft: Brood War (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Golden, Christie (June 30, 2009). StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga #3: Twilight. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). ISBN 978-0-7434-7129-9.
4. ↑ StarCraft: Brood War. Vivendi Games. Mission: The Insurgent (in English). 1998.
5. ↑ Golden, Christie (November 27, 2007). StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga #2: Shadow Hunters. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). ISBN 0-7434-7126-1.

Protoss Units and Structures of StarCraft/Brood War
Ground units	Probe · Zealot · Dragoon · Reaver · High templar · Archon • Brood War only • Dark templar · Dark archon
Air units	Shuttle · Scout · Arbiter · Carrier (Interceptor) · Observer • Brood War only • Corsair
Basic buildings	Nexus · Assimilator · Pylon · Gateway · Forge · Shield battery · Cybernetics core · Photon cannon
Advanced buildings	Robotics facility · Stargate · Citadel of Adun · Robotics support bay · Fleet beacon · Templar archives · Observatory · Arbiter tribunal