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"Goliath online."

- A goliath pilot(src)

The goliath combat walker[1] is a terran one-man all-terrain combat walker primarily used to support marine forces.

Overview

Design

Goliath SC1 Art1

A personalized goliath

Goliaths are constructed out of a neosteel frame.[2] Their armor renders them quite resilient to fragmentation grenades and even small arms fire, though their cockpits are vulnerable to missiles.[3] Their fronts are protected by a plexishield.[4] Twin speakers are equipped on the walker and it can be equipped with external audio pickups.[5] Goliath squadrons are able to utilize biometric readouts of their fellow pilots.[6]

GoliathMarine SC1 Art1

A goliath supporting infantry

Few terran mechs are considered to be as versatile as the goliath.[7] With reverse-jointed legs,[3] the twelve-foot tall[8][5] goliath features all-terrain maneuverability.[9]

To control a goliath, the pilot straps themselves into a "cradle" which enables the goliath to mimic their movements by passing instructions through the onboard computer, a process which takes practice to get used to. Some commands (such as moving the arms up and down) can be uttered by voice.[5] Designed for maneuverability in tight quarters,[6] the goliath's excellent maneuverability gives it tactical advantages in open terrain, but its versatility gives it an edge even in chaotic urban environments.[10] In order to function in low gravity or on malfunctioning space platforms, goliaths are outfitted with gravity accelerators that allow them utilize artificial gravity.[11] Should goliaths be knocked down, the walkers had systems to help it get back upright.[6]

Armament

Goliath SC1 CineUEDVicRep1

A UED goliath

The goliath features a computer-based heavy weapons system.[9] It possesses multi-lock targeting abilities, and its Ares-class locator system allows for increased firing range.[10] It is equally adept at providing both ground level and anti-air support.[9] Goliath armament consists of twin anti-armor 30mm smoothbore autocannons on the arms[9][1] which fire explosive shells[3][12] and Hellfire-AA scatter missiles.[9] As such, while goliaths are primarily used against aerial targets, they still pose a great threat to infantry.[3] Goliaths were further upgraded with the arrival of the United Earth Directorate in the Koprulu Sector. With improved propulsion technologies via Charon Boosters and upgrades to existing targeting system software, the goliath's range via its Hellfire missiles was increased dramatically.[13]

UED goliaths featured a single large autocannon attached to the lower torso and missile racks on the "shoulders."[14] This design was later adopted by the Dominion.[15] Many goliaths were equipped with three guns, one on each arm and one between the "legs."[16][17] By the Second Great War, another variant existed with two additional guns mounted coaxially with the main cannon.[18] The autocannons can be replaced with shovel-hands to allow a pilot to (dis)embark while in the field.[5]

History

Goliath SC1 Cncpt1

In battle against the protoss

Few units are as closely associated with terran military might as the goliath.[10] The walker was originally manufactured by LarsCorp Technologies for the Kel-Morian Combine, intended for an infantry support role, especially in urban environments.[9] The Combine was using it by 2480,[3] and was respected by the Terran Confederacy for its versatile mix of ground-level lethality and anti-air support.

The walker became widespread throughout the Koprulu sector when the blueprints were stolen by corporate spies and sold to Confederate interests.[9] The Confederacy produced their own goliaths en masse, and was using the walker in combat by 2485, at the Battle of Noranda Glacier on Onuru Sigma, which began the Guild Wars.[3] Confederate goliaths were placed in the Confederate Armored Vehicle Corps, pilots requiring a PEB (Preferred Experience Base) of six months combat experience to be trained in their use.[19] Not that goliaths were entirely confined to a single corps however, being found within many Confederate units and often attached to mechanized infantry.[20] As such, goliaths became well known throughout the Koprulu sector.[9]

Goliath SC1 CineAscension1

Goliaths during the Brood War

After the fall of Antiga Prime in the opening months of the Great War, the Terran Confederacy devoted resources to a new generation of upgraded goliaths, and stored their plans in a technical hub under G-2275's moon. This hub was raided by the Sons of Korhal, who stole the plans and incorporated the designs into their arsenal.[8] During the Brood War, the United Earth Directorate deployed their own advanced line of goliaths against the forces of the sector.[13]

Goliath SCGhost Art1

A goliath after the Brood War

Unfortunately for the goliath, the Brood War revealed critical weaknesses in terran anti-air capability. Wraith combat fighters and Valkyrie missile frigates proved to be an unwieldy combination against agile zerg airborne organisms, while ground-based anti-air support from the goliath was too limited in its mobility: all too often airborne attackers would simply move out of the goliath's range and find less well-defended targets to destroy. As such, terran technicians developed the Viking as the solution to this lack of flexibility.[21]

The Dominion Armed Forces and LarsCorp retained goliaths for a period after the Brood War.[22][23] By the Second Great War, the Dominion had mainly replaced them with vikings[24] and the thor, but goliaths continue to see active duty within the Dominion.[10] Goliaths were retained by Raynor's Raiders as well.[18]

Goliath SC-Survivors Comic1

An Umojan goliath

In spite of largely being replaced, the Dominion continued to field goliaths through the Second Great War and End War, and they continued to be a regular support walker for marine squadrons well into 2511.[6] They are similarly retained by the Umojan Protectorate.[25]

Game Unit

StarCraft

For StarCraft gameplay information see: Goliath (StarCraft).
For StarCraft in-game quotations see: StarCraft Goliath Quotations.

StarCraft: Ghost

For StarCraft: Ghost in-game quotations see: StarCraft Ghost Goliath Quotations.
Goliath SC-G Game2

Nova faces down a goliath

Goliaths were set to appear in StarCraft: Ghost. Nova could pilot them.[26]

StarCraft II

For StarCraft II gameplay information see: Goliath (StarCraft II).
For StarCraft II in-game quotations see: StarCraft II Goliath Quotations.

Heroes of the Storm

Heroes DevLog2
The following section contains information from Heroes of the Storm and is not canon to StarCraft continuity
MercGoliath Heroes Art1

Goliaths as they appear in Heroes of the Storm

Goliaths appear as mercenary units on the Braxis Holdout and Warhead Junction maps in Heroes of the Storm. They use the elite goliath model of the Spartan Company and Bulwark Company. They fall into the game's "bruiser" category, and on Braxis Holdout, are infested until being defeated, after which they will return to their normal form. They are supported by a raven.

A goliath skin is available for D.Va.[27]

Known Goliath Pilots

Goliath SC2 Head1

A goliath pilot

Goliath Specialists

Goliath SC-FM Art1

A goliath

Specialist Units

Individual

Notes

Goliath SC2 Game1

Goliath skins in StarCraft II

  • Goliath is a figure in the Bible, known for his great height and strength.
  • The goliath quotes several lines used by the ED 209, a robotic antagonist in the RoboCop series, such as "MilSpeck ED-209 online."
  • On the Battle.net webpage for the unit, Goliaths are described as having 20mm autocannons as opposed to 30mm as described in the StarCraft manual.[28]
  • The StarCraft II unit randomly takes on one of five possible appearances (see image to the right). During development of Wings of Liberty alternate skins were planned for other units, but the idea was cut due to multiplayer load times, making the goliath one of the few units to retain them.[30] Alternative skins would be later revisited as an idea and added gradually through the game's lifespan.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Goliath. StarCraft Compendium. Accessed on 2008-01-28
  2. Kenyon, Nate. (September 27, 2011). StarCraft: Ghost: Spectres. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). ISBN 978-1439-10938-0.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 McNeill, Graham (December 30, 2008). StarCraft: I, Mengsk. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). ISBN 1416-55083-6.
  4. Grubb, Jeff (February 27, 2001). StarCraft: Liberty's Crusade. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). ISBN 0-671-04148-7.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Dietz, William C. (April 6, 2010). StarCraft II: Heaven's Devils. Simon & Schuster (Gallery Books). ISBN 978-1416-55084-6.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Zahn, Timothy (November 8, 2016). StarCraft: Evolution. Del Rey Books. ISBN 0425284735.
  7. Goliath D.Va, Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed on 2017-05-17
  8. 8.0 8.1 Golden, Christie (November 6, 2012). StarCraft II: Flashpoint. Simon & Schuster (Gallery Books). ISBN 978-1451-65962-7.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. StarCraft (Manual). Irvine, Calif. Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 2015-09-18, NYCC 2015 – James Waugh’s StarCraft Field Manual Signing Schedule. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2015-09-23
  11. Neilson, Micky (December 18, 2000). StarCraft: Uprising. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). ISBN 0-7434-1898-0 (eBook).
  12. Mesta, Gabriel (July 1, 2001). StarCraft: Shadow of the Xel'Naga. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). ISBN 978-0671-04149-6.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Underwood, Peter, Chris Metzen and Bill Roper. StarCraft: Brood War (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
  14. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft: Brood War. Vivendi Games. Cinematic: UED Victory Report (in English). 1998.
  15. Johnnie Estill. Blizzard Entertainment-StarCraft: Ghost Concept Art by Johnnie Estill (Goliath Tech Bay Concept). Digitalenvi.com. The art of Johnnie H. Estill II. Accessed 2009-04-26.
  16. Gerrold, David (w), Ruben de Vela (p), Dan Borgonos (i). "Fear the Reaper." In StarCraft: Frontline: Volume 4 (paperback binding), pp. 28-71. Tokyopop, October 1, 2009. ISBN 978-1427-81698-6.
  17. Giffen, Keith and Simon Furman (w), Federico Dallocchio (p, i), Milen Parvanov (col). "StarCraft #1" StarCraft 1 (1) (May 27, 2009) DC Comics (Wildstorm).
  18. 18.0 18.1 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Wings of Liberty, Welcome to the Jungle (in English). 2010-07-27.
  19. Armored Vehicle Corps. Accessed on 2008-01-28
  20. Hickman, Tracy (May 21, 2002). StarCraft: Speed of Darkness. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). ISBN 978-0671-04150-2.
  21. Viking. Accessed on 2008-01-28
  22. 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.
  23. Elder, Josh (w), Ramanda Kamarga (p). "Do No Harm." In StarCraft: Frontline: Volume 3 (paperback binding), pp. 48-89. Tokyopop, July 14, 2009. ISBN 978-1427-80832-5.
  24. Viking. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2007-08-10.
  25. Houser, Jody (w), Guzmán,Gabriel (p, i). "StarCraft: Survivors: Issue 4" StarCraft: Survivors 4 (24) (October 23rd, 2019) Dark Horse Comics.
  26. Official XBox magazine staff. 2003-08. "Ghost in the Machine." Official XBox Magazine. August 2003: 22-29.
  27. Blizzard Entertainment. Heroes of the Storm (Blizzard Entertainment) (in English). June 2, 2015
  28. Battle.net Goliath Webpage, Battle.net, Accessed on 5-24-202-
  29. StarCraft Legacy community. 2009-08-24. BlizzCon 2009 StarCraft II Art Panel. StarCraft Legacy. Accessed 2009-10-04.
  30. Deviant Art profile, 2013-03-16. Starcraft 2: Terran Goliath by PhillGonzo. StarCraft Legacy. Accessed 2014-08-26.
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