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"No Koprulu sector outpost is safe without a robust anti-air defense system plus sensors to detect hidden attackers. In the terran missile turret, you get both in an inexpensive two-for-one deal. Capable of automatic operation, this defense structure fires a rapid stream of Longbolt missiles at aerial attackers in range. It also features a tracking scanner with powerful sensors that detect cloaked or burrowed foes."
MissileTurret SC-FM Art1

A missile turret

The missile turret is a terran defense building designed to destroy air units and detect invisible and burrowed units.

Overview[]

"I hate these things. They can sense me even when I'm cloaked. We should take these out."

- Lieutenant Sarah Kerrigan(src)

MissileTurret SC2 Rend1

A pair of missile turrets

Missile turrets are inexpensive structures that fire Longbolt missiles. The system may be computer controlled to automatically engage aerial targets. A secondary manual control mode allows the system to fire at ground targets as well[1] (by the Second Great War, manual control was apparently the de facto method of operation).[2] Turrets are also equipped with a tracking scanner[1] that allows powerful sensors capable of detecting cloaked vessels to center in on an identified target.[3] Running on a set of power cells, a missile turret is able to operate independently for at least forty years,[1] though frontline infantry have reported that turrets break down as rapidly as once every two months. Due to the lack of ground defense, marine rifle companies are often tasked with defending missile turrets. Some models are outfitted with hi-sec auto-tracking to improve missile range.[4]

LongboltMissiles SC2 DevGame1

Longbolt missiles

The characteristic diffusion of information between the terran factions, frequently through clandestine or illicit methods, made the missile turret a standard defense system in the Koprulu sector. Refinements to the system continued to be disseminated in a similar fashion.[3]

By the Second Great War, Enlightened Dynamics had developed a new titanium housing for missile turrets, allowing turrets to absorb more damage before failing. By this stage, Hellstorm batteries could also be fitted to turrets, each battery firing waves of short-range missiles for a saturation effect.[5]

The Dominion Special Forces utilize a sleek-low profile missile turret design that often remains undetected until enemy ships directly enter their line of fire.[6]

Game Structure[]

StarCraft[]

The missile turret is a detector and has no ground attack. Unlike the photon cannon and spore colony that deal normal damage, missile turrets deal explosive damage making them less effective against small targets like mutalisks.

In the early game, missile turrets are a cheap and effective means of air defense. In the late game their lack of upgrades makes upgraded goliaths more attractive. Upgraded goliaths deal damage faster and, most importantly of all, have the mobility to concentrate against enemy air fleets.

Missile turrets are only a serious threat against a determined air attack if built in clusters. Otherwise their immobility means they can be destroyed piecemeal. Missile turrets are first available in the third Terran mission of Starcraft.

Abilities[]

This unit may detect cloaked and burrowed enemies.

ve

Development[]

In the StarCraft beta, missile turrets fired two missiles simultaneously, three times in rapid succession, during each volley.[7]

StarCraft: Ghost[]

Missile Turret SC-G Game1

Nova using a missile turret

StarCraft Ghost Logo2
This article or section contains information about StarCraft: Ghost, which has been declared non-canon. Elements may be taken as 'flavor lore' however.
The content may be significantly out of date. Please do not add speculation to this article, and remember to cite a published source for details.

In StarCraft: Ghost, Nova was able to manually operate missile turrets in singleplayer.[8]

StarCraft II[]

Versus[]

The missile turret may strike protoss colossi, which are considered air units due to their height.

Renegade missile turrets can appear on melee maps. These are missile turrets that are hostile to all players, but are always visible on the minimap.

Upgrades and Abilities[]

This unit or structure can detect cloaked, burrowed, duplicated and hallucination enemies.

ve
BuildingArmor SC2 Game1
Neosteel Armor

Upgrades the armor of structures by 2 (excluding auto-turrets). Increases the cargo space of bunkers by 2. Also provides extra cargo space for command centers and planetary fortresses.

Acquisition
Purchased from Engineering bay
Hotkey B
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 100seconds
ve

Increases the attack range of automated defenses: missile turrets, auto-turrets, point defense drones, and the planetary fortress by +1.

Acquisition
Purchased from Engineering bay
Hotkey H
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 57seconds
ve

Wings of Liberty[]

Upgrades and Abilities[]
TitaniumHousing SC2 Icon1
Titanium Housing

Missile turrets gain +75 hit points.

Enlightened Dynamics has developed a new titanium housing for the missile turret. Early adopters have found this housing to be noticeably tougher than the original, allowing missile turrets to absorb more punishment before falling.[5]

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Complete 6 missions.
Acquired from Hyperion armory for $50,000
ve

Missile turrets gain Hellstorm Battery secondary attack. Hellstorm batteries fire 8 missiles that each deals 1 point of splash damage.

Hellstorm Bateries are an additional weapon set that can be fitted to your missile turrets. Each battery fires several small missiles that accompany the standard missile attack and saturate the target area on impact. Hellstorm Batteries are a great way to welcome swarms of enemy flyers to your base. Don't disappoint!

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Complete 6 missions.
Acquired from Hyperion armory for $80,000
ve

All structures repair themselves to 50% life. All structure fires are automatically put out.

This all-in-one safety system automatically dispatches robotic drones to put out any fires and perform basic repairs on damaged structures. Although these drones are effective at doing basic repairs, they do not have a strong enough AI to perform the more delicate repairs needed to restore a structure past half life.[5]

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Complete 12 missions.
Acquired from Hyperion armory for $90,000
ve

This unit or structure can detect cloaked, burrowed, duplicated and hallucination enemies.

ve

Co-op Missions[]

Jim Raynor, Rory Swann, Nova Terra, Mira Han, and Arcturus Mengsk are able to build missile turrets in Co-op Missions. Upon reaching Level 3, Swann's missile turrets upgrade into "Spinning Dizzies," which have increased health and deal area-of-effect damage as a secondary attack. Both effects are identical to the Wings of Liberty upgrades for the missile turret. Alexei Stukov can build infested missile turrets. Unlike in the campaign it can be salvaged.

Raynor Upgrades and Abilities[]

This unit or structure can detect cloaked, burrowed, duplicated and hallucination enemies.

ve

Salvages this structure, removing it and returning 100% of its mineral and gas value cost. Salvage takes 5 seconds to finish. Warning: once Salvage is triggered, it cannot be canceled.

Usage
Hotkey V
Cost 5 seconds
ve
BuildingArmor SC2 Game1
Structure Armor

All structures gain +2 armor.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Engineering bay
Hotkey B
Cost 100 Minerals
Mastery: -2 Minerals per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 Minerals
100 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -2 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 Vespene gas
60seconds
ve
Swann Upgrades and Abilities[]

This unit or structure can detect cloaked, burrowed, duplicated and hallucination enemies.

ve

Salvages this structure, removing it and returning 100% of its mineral and gas value cost. Salvage takes 5 seconds to finish. Warning: once Salvage is triggered, it cannot be canceled.

Usage
Hotkey V
Cost 5 seconds
ve
SC2 Swann AC - TurretUpgrades
Betty and the Gang

Devastation turrets are renamed Blaster Billy and have +3 attack range, for a total of 9. Attacks now slow enemy movement speed by 30%.

Missile turrets are renamed Spinning Dizzy and have +75 life, for a total of 325. Attacks now deal area damage.

Perdition turrets are renamed Flaming Betty and cost 50% less minerals, down to 75 minerals.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Swann Level 3.
ve
SC2TerranHi-Sec
Hi-Sec Auto Tracking

All turrets gain +1 attack range.

Grease Monkey: All turrets gain +2 attack range.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Engineering bay
Hotkey N
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 60seconds
ve
AutoLoaders SC2 Icon
KMC Auto-Loaders

Increases the attack speed of all turrets by 25%.

Grease Monkey: Increases the attack speed of all turrets by 50%.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Swann Level 11
Acquisition
Purchased from Engineering bay
Hotkey R
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 90seconds
ve
BuildingArmor SC2 Game1
Structure Armor

All structures gain +2 armor.

Grease Monkey: All turrets gain +4 armor.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Engineering bay
Hotkey B
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 60seconds
ve
FireSupression SC2 Icon
Fire Supression Systems

All buildings will initiate auto-repairs when below 50% health, repairing them back to 50% health (restore 15 hit points per second).

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Swann Level 11
Acquisition
Purchased from Engineering bay
Hotkey F
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 60seconds
ve
Nova Upgrades and Abilities[]

This unit or structure can detect cloaked, burrowed, duplicated and hallucination enemies.

ve

Salvages this structure, removing it and returning 100% of its mineral and gas value cost. Salvage takes 5 seconds to finish. Warning: once Salvage is triggered, it cannot be canceled.

Usage
Hotkey V
Cost 5 seconds
ve
BuildingArmor SC2 Game1
Structure Armor

All structures gain +2 armor.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Engineering bay
Hotkey B
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 60seconds
ve
Han and Horner Abilities[]

This unit or structure can detect cloaked, burrowed, duplicated and hallucination enemies.

ve

Salvages this structure, removing it and returning 100% of its mineral and gas value cost. Salvage takes 5 seconds to finish. Warning: once Salvage is triggered, it cannot be canceled.

Usage
Hotkey V
Cost 5 seconds
ve
Mengsk Upgrades and Abilities[]

This unit or structure can detect cloaked, burrowed, duplicated and hallucination enemies.

ve

Salvages this structure, removing it and returning 100% of its mineral and gas value cost. Salvage takes 5 seconds to finish. Warning: once Salvage is triggered, it cannot be canceled.

Usage
Hotkey V
Cost 5 seconds
ve
NeosteelFortifiedArmor
Neosteel Fortified Armor

Increases the life and armor of Supply Bunkers, Missile Turrets and Earthsplitter Ordnances by +200 and +2 respectively.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Engineering bay
Hotkey S
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 60seconds
ve

Development[]

The following section contains information from a previous version of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm which is no longer valid.

An "anti-air turret" file was found in the Heart of the Swarm beta.[10]

Heroes of the Storm[]

Heroes DevLog2
The following section contains information from Heroes of the Storm and is not canon to StarCraft continuity
MissileTurret Heroes Game1

A missile turret in Heroes of the Storm

Missile turrets appear as the defensive towers on the Warhead Junction and Braxis Holdout maps in Heroes of the Storm.[11]

Images[]

StarCraft II Skins

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Mesta, Gabriel (July 1, 2001). StarCraft: Shadow of the Xel'Naga. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). ISBN 978-0671-04149-6.
  2. 2010, Starcraft 2: Terran Hellion. Accessed on 2011-07-20
  3. 3.0 3.1 Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. StarCraft (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
  4. Barba, Rick. StarCraft Field Manual (hardcover). Insight Editions, November 17, 2015.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Armory upgrades (in English). 2010.
  6. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. Collections Tab: Skins. October 17, 2016
  7. 인우 전. 2012-06-23. StarCraft 1 beta -old Terran campaign 2. YouTube. Accessed 2012-11-08.
  8. StarCraft: Ghost Screenshots. Gamespot. Accessed on 2009-05-14
  9. 2015-03-31, StarCraft II Legacy of the Void Beta Release Patch Notes. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2015-04-03
  10. Blizzard Entertainment. Heart of the Swarm beta Map Editor. (Activision Blizzard) (in English). September 4, 2012
  11. Blizzard Entertainment. Heroes of the Storm (Blizzard Entertainment) (in English). June 2, 2015
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