Interceptor

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	The Class 4 interceptor

"Release the interceptors."

- A carrier commander^(src)

Interceptors in flight

The interceptor is a type of protoss robotic strike craft. They are the primary weapon of carriers.

Overview

"They look like little horseflies. Little buzzing horseflies that kill you."

- A Dominion marine commenting on interceptors^(src)

An interceptor

Interceptors are fast, maneuverable, computer-guided strike craft launched by carriers. They may deploy to engage enemy strike craft or ground units. Every interceptor is equipped with a simple AI with highly advanced targeting subroutines. Some of these fighters have independent fire-control circuits, which allow them to continue firing even if the enemy jams the command signal or destroys the interceptor's robotic brain. They are equipped with two small plasma cannons as heavier ordnance would decrease maneuverability. However, the charges of a flight of interceptors can present a threat to capital ships.

Interceptors are constructed in an automated manufacturing plant connected to the carrier's hanger, where diligent Khalai engineers see to their maintenance and launch operations. When deployed the strike craft attack and retreat rapidly to the carrier for repairs and rearmament. The details of the smooth orchestrated deployment of carrier-borne interceptors is a matter of interest to terran scientists. Interceptor deployment was improved with the deployment of the graviton catapult. At least one Tal'darim mothership was equipped with the ability to launch and produce interceptors.

Game Unit

StarCraft

Interceptor
Unit
Race	Protoss
Role	Robotic Strike Fighter
Armament	Pulse cannon
Properties
Size	Small
Sight	6
Production
Minerals	25
Build time	18
Produced from	Carrier
Hotkey	I
Movement
Speed	13.33
Protection
Shields	40
Hit points	40
Armor	0
Combat
Ground attack	6
Air attack	6
Cooldown	1
Attack range	4

Unit profile

Carriers attack through interceptors. During combat more interceptors must be built to replace casualties. Interceptors have the shields automatically recharged without cost upon returning to the carrier. Forcing interceptors to return at opportune moments may extend the life of the swarm.

Interceptors self-destruct if their parent carrier is destroyed. Interceptors automatically return to the parent carrier if the carrier is disabled (eg. Lockdown), and resume attacking once the carrier is active again. Interceptors are selectable but no orders may be given.

Upgrades

Air Weapons

• +1 bonus to attack per level for scout ground attack, arbiters, carrier interceptors, corsair air attack, and scout air attack.

Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core Hotkey W Level 1 Cost 100 100 267 Level 2 Cost 175 175 300 Required Fleet beacon Level 3 Cost 250 250 333 Required Fleet beacon

Air Armor

• +1 bonus to armor per level for shuttles, scouts, arbiters, carriers, interceptors, observers and corsairs.

Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core Hotkey A Level 1 Cost 150 150 267 Level 2 Cost 225 225 300 Required Fleet beacon Level 3 Cost 300 300 333 Required Fleet beacon

Plasma Shields +1 armor bonus to shields per level for all units and structures. Acquisition Purchased from Forge Hotkey S Level 1 Cost 200 200 267 Level 2 Cost 300 300 300 Required Cybernetics core Level 3 Cost 400 400 333 Required Cybernetics core v • e

Carrier Capacity Increases the number of interceptors carriers can hold at once by 4 (to 8). Acquisition Purchased from Fleet beacon Hotkey C Cost 100 100 100

StarCraft II

Interceptor
Unit
Race	Protoss
Role	Combat drone
Armament	Plasma cannons
Properties
Sight	7
Production
Minerals	5
Psi	0
Build time	8
Produced from	Carrier
Hotkey	I
Movement
Speed	7.5
Acceleration	1000
Lateral acceleration	0
Deceleration	0
Collision radius	0.25
Protection
Shields	40
Shieldregen/second	2
Hit points	40
Armor	0
Type	Air Mechanical
Armor type	Light
Plasma Cannons
Damage	5
Attacks	2
Targets	Ground Air
Cooldown	3
Range	2
Upgrade/level	+1
Meta
Targetpriority	20
Kill score	25
Productionscore	25

Interceptors return in StarCraft II as the carrier's armament. Interceptors can be replaced automatically. They're automatically destroyed if the parent carrier is destroyed. By default, constructing interceptors is autocast.

Interceptors make two rapid attacks, one right after the other, each dealing 5 damage. In Legacy of the Void, interceptors can be permenantly launched from a carrier using its "release interceptors" ability. They can be launched to any location, but self-destruct after 60 seconds.

Unlike in StarCraft interceptors are unselectable in-game.

In Nova Covert Ops, interceptors are an armament of the Tal'darim mothership.

Upgrades

Graviton Catapult

Launch interceptors faster. The first four interceptors are launched at a cooldown of 0.125, the last four at 0.25.

Acquisition
Purchased from Fleet beacon Cost 150 150 57

v • e

Air Weapons

• +1 damage for phoenixes，void rays，interceptors and motherships
• +4 ground damage，+3 air base damage and +2 bonus damage for tempests

Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core Hotkey E Level 1 Cost 100 100 129 Level 2 Cost 175 175 154 Required Fleet beacon Level 3 Cost 250 250 179 Required Fleet beacon

v • e

Air Armor

Increases protoss air unit armor.

Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics Core Hotkey A Level 1 Cost 100 100 129 Level 2 Cost 175 175 154 Required Fleet beacon Level 3 Cost 250 250 179 Required Fleet beacon

v • e

Plasma Shields

• +1 armor to shields per level.

Acquisition
Purchased from Forge Hotkey S Level 1 Cost 150 150 121.6 Level 2 Cost 200 200 144.6 Required Twilight council Level 3 Cost 250 250 167.9 Required Twilight council

v • e

Heart of the Swarm Development

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

In Heart of the Swarm the carrier was removed, effectively removing interceptors as well. However, during the Heart of the Swarm beta, the carrier was added back to the game.

References

Protoss Units and Structures of StarCraft/Brood War v • e

Ground units Probe Zealot Dragoon Reaver High templar Archon Dark templar (BW) Dark archon (BW) Air units Shuttle Scout Arbiter Carrier Interceptor Observer Corsair (BW) 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 Canceled buildings Maintenance bay

Protoss Units and Structures of StarCraft II v • e

Versus units and structures Infantry Probe Zealot Adept (LotV) High templar Dark templar Archon Land mechanized Stalker Immortal Sentry Colossus Disruptor (LotV) Air units Warp prism Observer Phoenix Void ray Oracle (HotS) Carrier Interceptor Tempest (HotS) Mothership Basic buildings Nexus Assimilator Gateway (Warp gate) Forge Cybernetics core Automated defenses Photon cannon Pylon Shield battery (LotV) Stasis ward (LotV) Advanced buildings Twilight council Dark shrine Templar archives Robotics facility Robotics bay Stargate Fleet beacon Campaign and Co-op Missions units and structures Units Conservator Legionnaire Interdictor Instigator Scout Shadow guard Slayer Star relic Stone guardian Supplicant Void templar War prism Xel'naga ambusher Xel'naga abrogator Xel'naga enforcer Xel'naga precursor Xel'naga shieldguard Xel'naga void array Xel'naga watcher Buildings Alarak's beacon Ancient assimilator Ancient nexus Artifact reserve Ascendant archives Constructs bay Constructs facility Core forge Core matrix Death council Monolith Null circuit Obelisk Psi-link spire Purifier conclave Shield projector Solar forge Void shrine Warp drive Xel'naga passageway Zenith stone Zeratul's beacon Automated defenses Dark pylon Khaydarin monolith Tesseract cannon Tesseract monolith Variant units Melee Warrior Zealot (Aiur) Centurion (Nerazim) Sentinel (Purifier) Ranged Warrior Adept (Purifier) Dragoon (Aiur) Stalker (Nerazim) Cloaked Warrior Avenger (Aiur) Blood Hunter (Tal'darim) Dark templar (Nerazim) Psionic Warrior Ascendant (Tal'darim) Dark archon (Nerazim) High templar (Aiur) Robotic Assault Annihilator (Nerazim) Immortal (Aiur) Vanguard (Tal'darim) Robotic Support Energizer (Purifier) Havoc (Tal'darim) Sentry (Aiur) Robotic Siege Colossus (Purifier) Reaver (Aiur) Wrathwalker (Tal'darim) Starfighter Corsair (Nerazim) Mirage (Purifier) Phoenix (Aiur) Capital Ship Carrier (Aiur) Tal'darim Mothership Tempest (Purifier) Assault Ship Arbiter (Aiur) Destroyer (Tal'darim) Void ray (Nerazim) Canceled Protoss Units and Structures of StarCraft II v • e Scrapped Removed units Arachnipod Defender Escort Mega archon Protoss artillery Purifier scout Replicant Signifier Skylord Skytalon Soul hunter/purifier Soul reaver Shadow archon Shaman Shuriken Stasis orb Tornado Twilight archon Void star Removed buildings Eye of Adun Observatory Phase cannon War beacon War shrine Warp beacon