The disruptor
The disruptor is a protoss ground mechanized unit that was introduced in Legacy of the Void.
Overview
A disruptor
Disruptors are purifier devices controlled by a high-level[1] artificial intelligence that is capable of fluent speech.[2] The disruptor floats above the ground, and looks somewhat benign to terran eyes, but it remains a deadly weapon of war.[1]
Disruptors generate energy spikes to wreck havoc against swaths of ground forces.[3] Originally, by supercharging their power cores, disruptors could become invulnerable, turning its physical form into energy for a short period of time and erupting in a destructive blast.[4] In this version, the disruptor was most vulnerable right after detonation.[1] However, this put undue stress on the disruptor's systems and hull. Further improvements were made to the design of the disruptor, allowing its solarite reactor to hurl directed spheres of unstable energy.[4]
By 2512, the Daelaam had improved upon the disruptor's design, allowing it to deliver an explosion with a blast radius of three kilometers.[5]
History
The disruptor was created under the Purifier Program.[4] By 2505, the Terran Dominion had obtained surveillance images of the unit in action. In the event of seeing the war machine on the battlefield, marine companies were advised to quickly disperse, with recommendations to engage in a swift counterattack after the detonation of its purification nova.[1]
Game Unit
The disruptor is a light-mechanical unit. The disruptor is extremely potent versus any force that clumps its units together, as well as against worker lines.[10] It can be countered with skilled micromanagement. The disruptor's attack inflicts damage on friendly units as well as hostile targets.
In Co-op Missions, disruptors can be utilized by Amon's forces.
Abilities
Shoots a ball of energy at target point that can be controlled and lasts 2 seconds. After two seconds, the energy ball explodes, dealing 155 (+55 vs shields) damage to nearby enemies in a 1.3575 radius. Has a 0.7 second charge time after being dropped from a transport.
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Quotations
Development
The disruptor's initial in-game appearance
Legacy of the Void beta testing showed that disruptors were surviving longer than they should when caught offguard. It was made an armored unit to provide opponents an extra means of countering the unit (through units that do bonus damage against armored units).[11]
Beta feedback has shown that the disruptor has often conformed to an "all or nothing" approach, that it is very effective when it works, but almost always destroyed if it does not take out enough enemy units. The following changes are expected to be made:
- A reduction of the blast radius.
- Lower cost.
- Faster activation speed.
- Less delay before firing.[12]
The disruptor's aesthetics changed during development.[2]
Removed Abilities
The purification nova (pre-discharge)
During development, the disruptor would enter an invulnerable state, and then explode to damage nearby enemies. The disruptor had increased movement speed during its invulnerable state[13] This ability damaged ground units only.[2]
Notes
The disruptor appears to use a model similar to the canceled replicant unit.
References
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