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"By acting as a conduit into the psionic matrix, warp prisms function as both mobile troop transport and emergency power source. Though they are fragile, no protoss fleet is complete without them."

- Unit description(src)

The warp prism is a flying protoss robotic machine designed to transport troops and strengthen the warp matrix.

Overview[]

"Say what you will about the medivac's ride, at least they never deconstructed me."
WarpPrism SC2-LotV Game1

A warp prism

A seamless blend of psionics and robotics, the warp prism is the successor to the shuttle, and outperforms it in every way. Its hull is a conductive framework that can absorb most types of energy[2] by disspating the energy of incoming strikes across the hull.[3] It houses thousands of psionic micro-receptors, which channel the power of the prism's crystal core and project "wings" laced with psionic energies. These wings are incredibly resilient, and serve as the primary navigation sensors of the vessel. An automated vessel, the warp prism is controlled by a robotic mind[2] created through a psionic manufacturing process.[4] Its programming is built into the molecules of an advanced crystal lattice. This "crystal computer"[2] transcends the constraints of space-time, and exists within and beyond itself. This allows it to manipulate matter and energy,[5] with great precision,[2] as well as process near-infinite amounts of data faster than the speed of thought.[5] They are capable of intra-system travel.[6] Though fragile, no protoss fleet is complete without them.[7] They are small enough to fit inside the hangar of a void ray.[8]

WarpPrism SC2-LotV Rend2

A Purifier warp prism

The Tal'darim were able to obtain the warp prism design from the Daelaam by 2504[9] and by 2506, re-purpose it into a larger variant.[10] Arming warp prisms with advanced weaponry is a point of contention among fleet lords, as some prefer to use them simply to deploy warriors onto the battlefield. After the End War, the Daelaam began experimenting on infusing warp prisms with Void energies, creating phase prisms. Purifier warp prisms are able to transfer the AI personalities of various Purifiers between shells, and can enable the transfer to occur anywhere on the battlefield. Ihan-rii warp prisms were designed after a flower that once covered the hillsides of their homeworld.

After the End War, warp prisms with ancient designs were deployed that featured distinctive crystal lattices that would sometimes reflect the neural patterns of the templar they housed.[7]

Functions[]

"Shoot 'em before they finish warping!!"

- A Dominion marine(src)

WarpPrism SC2-LotV Game3

A Golden Age-styled warp prism

The protoss use warp prisms in several ways. The primary function of a warp prism is to transport protoss forces on the battlefield. Living and inorganic subjects are transformed into energy, and their unique signature imprinted into the prism's crystal lattice core. On reaching the desired destination the operation is reversed and the stored energy signatures are reconfigured into matter in proximity to the warp prism.[2] By linking to a warp gate, it can quickly teleport warriors to its location.[5] A secondary but no less vital function of the warp prism is to act as a mobile focus for the protoss psionic matrix.[5] Opening a containment field around its power core,[3] once the prism is deployed it can power protoss structures around it. In this configuration warp prisms can be used to temporarily replace destroyed pylons in a colony or enable the rapid establishment of a forward base of operations.[2] Both of these functions are achieved by opening the containment field around its synthetic power source. While phasing, the warp prism diverts all energy away from its systems, becoming completely stationary.[5]

During the One-Day War, the chitha demonstrated the ability to disrupt the warp capabilities of warp prisms.[11]

Game Unit[]

Versus[]

The warp prism acts as a transport unit for the protoss in StarCraft II, even capable of transporting large units such as the colossus.

After Legacy of the Void, warp prisms were given the ability to pick up units at a range of 5, enabling them to rescue valuable units from combat.[12]

Warp prisms have a drop animation which doesn't affect gameplay, although it is more vulnerable as it does not automatically move away if attacked.[13]

Upgrades and Abilities[]
GraviticDrive SC2 Game1
Gravitic Drive

Increases the movement speed of warp prisms from Normal (2.953) to Fast (3.375).

Acquisition
Purchased from Robotics bay
Hotkey G
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 57seconds
ve

Increases protoss air unit armor.

Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics Core
Hotkey A
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 129seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 154seconds
Required Fleet beacon
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 179seconds
Required Fleet beacon
ve
  • +1 armor to shields per level.
Acquisition
Purchased from Forge
Hotkey S
Level 1
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 121.6seconds
Level 2
Cost 200 Minerals 200 Vespene gas 144.6seconds
Required Twilight council
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 167.9seconds
Required Twilight council
ve
WarpPrismTrans SC2 Icon1
Phase Mode/Transport Mode

The warp prism can transform to project a power field. This power field powers protoss structures and allows warping of units. The warp prism is immobile in phasing mode.

If a warp prism deploys at the edge of an elevated platform, the pylon matrix will extend to lower elevations, but not higher elevations.

Usage
Hotkey Phase Mode: E
Transport Mode: T
Cost 0.75 (both transformations) seconds
ve
PylonPower SC2-LotV Icon1
Warp Conduit

Increases the speed of warp in for units warped into the power field to 4 seconds

Usage
Passive
ve

Legacy of the Void[]

Warp prisms cannot be built in the Legacy of the Void campaign, as transports are never required. A titanic warp prism is the bonus objective of the map "Temple of Unification."[14]

Co-op Missions[]

Main article: War prism

The war prism is available to Alarak in Co-op Missions, built from the robotics facility. It can attack both ground and air units, and transforms faster and projects a larger power field than the normal warp prism available in multiplayer games. Due to Alarak not having the ability to research air upgrades, war prisms automatically start with 3 air attack and 3 air armor researched.

Development[]

The following section contains information from a previous version of StarCraft II which is no longer valid.
PhasePrism SC2 DevRend3

Early phase prism

The warp prism started as the phase prism,[15] a Nerazim unit. The design changed to the Khalai style to better fit the gold protoss art style and to avoid being mistaken for a zerg unit.[16]

Achievements[]

TheBackDoor SC2 Icon1 The Back Door
Points

10 Achievement SC2 Game1

Criteria

Using warp prisms, warp in 50 units in a single Melee game.

Edit

Variants[]

Images[]

Skins
Portraits

Notes[]

The skin description for the Golden Age warp prism mention that they were an ancient Templar design. This contradicts the vessel's history that states it was a successor to the shuttle, which was in service as late as the Brood War.[7]

References[]

  1. Elder, Josh (w), Ramanda Kamarga (p). "Why We Fight." In StarCraft: Frontline: Volume 1 (paperback binding), pp. 6–47. Tokyopop, August 1, 2008. ISBN 978-1427-80721-2.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Phase Prism. Accessed on 2008-30-03
  3. 3.0 3.1 Barba, Rick. StarCraft Field Manual (hardcover). Insight Editions, November 17, 2015.
  4. Unit: Warp Prism. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2010-09-20
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 2014-11-20, Warp Prism Science. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2014-11-21
  6. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Retaliation (in English). 2016-06-20.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. Collections Tab: Skins. July 19, 2017
  8. Brian Alexander, Akex Acks (w), Carlos Rodríguez (i) and Sandra Molina (c). (April 2, 2022). StarCraft II: Nature of the Beast - The Complete Collection. Blizzard Entertainment. ISBN 978-1950366866
  9. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Wings of Liberty, The Dig (in English). 2010-07-27.
  10. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. Vivendi Games. Mission: Temple of Unification (mission). (in English). November 10, 2015
  11. Zahn, Timothy (November 8, 2016). StarCraft: Evolution. Del Rey Books. ISBN 0425284735.
  12. Blizzard Entertainment. 2014-11-07. Legacy of the Void - Multiplayer Update: Protoss. Youtube. Accessed 2014-11-09.
  13. it was mentioned that units drop one-by-one with a small delay (few seconds) between each other, but load almost instantly. this probably applies to all races.
    As for the animation, I guess it's still in and mostly for the looks, it probably doesn't really slow down the drop and apparently doesn't exist for other races.

    This is correct. There is an animation for the drop, but it is visual, and should not affect gameplay, though all transports are still considered more vulnerable while dropping, as it will not automatically move away while attacked. Karune, Kain175. Blues: question about Dropship landing. Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forums. Accessed 2009-06-30.
  14. Blizzard Entertainment.StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Temple of Unification. (in English). November 10, 2015
  15. Warp-In is a researched ability that allows Gateways to almost instantly build units anywhere within Pylon power, including mobile Pylon power provided by the Warp Prisms (previously known as the Phase Prism). When units are built from the Gateway through this process, a cooldown will follow after the unit is built, before another can be warped in. When Gateways are converted into Warp Gates, players are no longer able to queue units, but will instead receive an set amount of time discounted from the production time to build that unit. That set amount will be subject to balance. Karune. 2008-10-06. #1: What do you think about Warp-In?. Battle.net StarCraft II Gameplay Discussion Forum. Accessed 2008-10-08.
  16. Gonzales, Phill. 2007-08-03. Protoss Phase Prism ver.1. DeviantArt. Accessed 2013-03-09.
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