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- Commander blurb(src)
Karax is a playable commander in the Co-op Missions mode of Legacy of the Void, added in patch 3.1. He utilizes an array of advanced protoss weaponry and Purifier-type units to yield an army of robotic attackers, and has access to the Solar forge, which can be upgraded to enhance the Spear of Adun's abilities.
Overview
Info
- Recommended for experienced players
- Upgrade the Spear of Adun to dominate the battlefield from high orbit
- Command an army of expensive but powerful Purifier robotic units
Mastery
- Power Set 1
- Reduced Combat Unit Cost: -0.75% – 22.5%
- Structure Health and Shield: +2% – 60%
- Power Set 2
- Reconstruction Beam Regen Speed: +1% – 30%
- Chrono Overload Energy Regen: +1 – 30
- Power Set 3
- Chrono Boost efficiency: +1% – 30%
- Spear of Adun starting and maximum energy: +3 – 90
Calldown Abilities
Karax has the following abilities.
Fires lasers onto the battlefield from orbit, each of them dealing 50 (100 vs Armored) area damage (radius 1.5).
Solarite Celestial: Reduces the Orbital Strike cost by 40%.
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Strafes the target area with 3 laser beams dealing 200 damage with each beam. A HUD is super-imposed over the user interface when selecting travels of impact.
Solarite Celestial: Reduces the Solar Lance cost by 40% and it's cooldown by 50%.
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Increases production speed of all allied buildings t0 200% for 20 seconds.
Chrono Overload: Increases Chrono Wave production speed from 200% to 500%.
Chrono Overload Energy Regeneration Mastery: Chrono Wave restores 3 more Spear of Adun energy per mastery point for 20 seconds.
Architect of War: Chrono Wave affects defensive structures, increasing their attack speed.
Solarite Celestial: Chrono Wave are unavailable.
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Unlocks the Purifier Beam ability which fires a beam that deals 750 (1500 vs Armored) damage over 15 seconds. Activate Purifier Beam from the top panel.
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Upgrades
Researched
The solar forge automatically generates additional energy for the Spear of Adun.
Level 1: 1 energy every 6 seconds
Level 2: 3 energy every 6 seconds
Level 3: 6 energy every 6 seconds
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Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
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Allows the Spear of Adun's Reconstruction Beam to affect 2 additional targets, increasing the maximum from 3 to 5.
Architect of War: Reconstruction Beam can affect 4 additional targets, increasing the maximum from 6 to 10.
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Passive
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Orbital Strike stuns targets struck by the blast.
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Solar Lance sets the ground on fire, dealing 15 damage a second to enemies over time in double the width of the initial impact zone.
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Passive
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Talents
Karax's combat units gain 50% increased health, but cost 30% more. Orbital Strike has no attack count or cooldown, and only costs 5 energy to use.
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Increases the Purifier Beam's movement speed by 200% and its duration by 5 seconds, for a total of 20 seconds. Activate Purifier Beam from the top panel.
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Army Composition
Units and Structures
Karax has access to the following units and structures:
| Icon | Unit | Details | Production (considering +30% increase) |
Damage |
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Sentinel | Powerfull melee warrior. Can use Charge ability. (Unlocks the Reconstruction research at level 4) |
130  2 
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13.33 DPS at 0/0 |
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Energizer | Robotic support unit. Can use Chrono Beam and Phasing Mode abilities. | 65 130  2
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6.00 DPS |
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Immortal | Assault strider. Can use Barrier to absorb damage. | 325 130 4
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Vs Light: 13.79 DPS Vs Armoured: 34.48 DPS |
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Colossus | Battle strider with a powerfull area attack. Can walk up and down cliffs. (Upgrades to purifier colossus variant at level 9. His attacks set fire to the ground, dealing extra damage to enemies over time.) |
390 260 6
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Vs Air: N/A Vs Ground: 18.18 DPS |
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Observer | Flying spy. Cloak renders the unit invisible to enemies without detection. | 25 75 1
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Vs Air: N/A Vs Ground: N/A |
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Mirage | Air superiority starfighter. Can use Graviton Beam and Phasing Armor abilities. | 195 130 2
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Vs Light: 18.18 DPS Vs Armoured: 9.09 DPS |
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Carrier | Capital ship. Builds and launches Interceptors that attack enemy targets. (Upgrades to Aiur carrier variant at level 14. Can be upgraded with Repair Drones that heal nearby mechanical units.) |
455 325 6
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Vs Air: 26.67 DPS Vs Ground: 26.67 DPS |
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Photon Cannon | Primary defensive structure. | 150
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Vs Air: 21.33 DPS Vs Ground: 21.33 DPS |
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Khaydarin Monolith | Extremelly powerfull defensive structure. Has superior range and damage, but is very expensive and attacks slowly. (Unlocks at level 3) |
300 100
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Vs Air: 41.44 DPS Vs Ground: 41.44 DPS |
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Shield Battery | Restores shields to nearby friendly unts and structures. | 100
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Vs Air: N/A Vs Ground: N/A |
Talent Progression
Karax acquires the following talents as he levels up.
Karax's combat units gain 50% increased health, but cost 30% more. Orbital Strike has no attack count or cooldown, and only costs 5 energy to use.
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Increases production speed of all friendly buildings by 15%.
Passive ability.
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Unlocks the khaydarin monolith for construction.
Extremely powerful defensive structure. Has superior range and damage, but is very expensive and attacks slowly.
Can attack ground and air units.
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Unlocks upgrades for the energizer and the shield battery at the twilight council.
• Allow energizers to temporarily take control of enemy mechanical units.
• Increase energy regeneration for energizers and shield batteries by 200%.
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Chrono Wave now increases production speed of allied buildings by 500% for 20 seconds. Activate Chrono Wave from the top panel.
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Unlocks upgrade for defensive structures at the forge.
• Increase the range of photon cannons, khaydarin monoliths, and shield batteries by 2.
• Increase the attack speed of photon cannons and khaydarin monoliths by 25%.
• Allow shield batteries to grant structures a damage absorption barrier for 10 seconds that absorbs up to 100 damage.
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Friendly mechanical units and structures are automatically repaired over time. Up to 3 targets can be repaired at once.
Passive ability.
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Unlocks upgrades for the Spear of Adun at the solar forge.
• Allow Reconstruction Beam to affect one addtional target, for a total of 4.
• Solar Efficiency level 3.
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Upgrades colossus to purifier colossus and unlocks the following upgrades at the robotics bay.
• Unlock the immortal's Shadow Cannon ability, which deals 320 damage to an enemy ground or air unit.
• Enable the colossus's attacks to set fire to the ground for additional damage over time.
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Unlocks the Purifier Beam ability which fires a beam that deals 750 (1500 vs Armored) damage over 15 seconds. Activate Purifier Beam from the top panel.
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Pylons, photon cannons, khaydarin monoliths, and shield batteries warp in instantly.
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Unlocks upgrades for the Spear of Adun at the solar forge.
• Enable Orbital Strike to stun enemies in the target area.
• Enable Solar Lance to set fire to the ground for additional damage over time.
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Increases the Purifier Beam's movement speed by 200% and its duration by 5 seconds, for a total of 20 seconds. Activate Purifier Beam from the top panel.
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Upgrades carrier to aiur carrier and unlocks the following upgrades at the fleet beacon.
• Allow mirages to become temporarily invulnerable after taking damage.
• Allow carriers to automatically repair nearby mechanical units.
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All friendly units gain a barrier that will block an attack or spell that deals at least 20 damage. This barrier is gained upon the unit's creation and can only be gained once every 240 seconds.
Architect of War: Unity Barrier can affect allied defensive structures and its cooldown is reduced by 75%, but it can no longer affect allied units.
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Passive
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Strategies
All of Karax's combat units have a 30% increase in their resource costs, but fully upgraded they are very effective. He is overall more of a support commander, using his chrono abilities to improve production times for him and his allies, building static defenses to defend points of control, and utilizing the Spear of Adun's powers to attack from afar. However, he is still perfectly capable of fielding a powerful army if required.
- Recommended masteries
Power Set 1: Combat Unit Resource Cost
- ☀Combat Unit Resource Cost (-0.75% - -22.5%)
- Combat Unit Resource Cost is better in most situations. It helps offsets overpriced units and absolutely essential for executing an army-based build effectively, and hence much more versatile. Where a defense-based build can be counted upon only in a defensive situation, an army-based build can be effective both offensively and defensively.
- Structure Life and Shields allows cannons (240 shield + 240 hp total) to survive one Yamato cannon shot from Terrans. Its is useful when you plan to play extremely defensively and rely on static defense as your primary strategy, which can be viable on defensive maps and certain mutations.
Power Set 2: Both options are equally viable.
- ☀Repair Beam Healing Rate: (+1% - +30%)
- ☀Chrono Wave Energy Generation (+1 - +30)
- Chrono Wave Energy Generation allows you to save resources on Solar Efficiency upgrades, and the superior choice for a mass Carrier composition. A static defense build can better afford the gas for Solar Efficiency upgrades, making the Chrono Wave Energy Generation less of a relative improvement.
- Repair Beam Healing Rate equates to better healing for both tower defence and army-based strategy. Sentinels and Mirages are much tougher; static defenses have better chances to withstand enemy attacks, indirectly increasing the ability to survive under certain mutations.
Power Set 3: Initial and Maximum Spear of Adun Energy
- ☀Initial and Maximum Spear of Adun Energy: (+3 - +90)
- Initial and Maximum Spear of Adun Energy allows for -immediate- expansion; significantly increases Karax’s early game power. This energy can be spent in many different ways, but most notably giving Karax the fastest possible expansion of any commander on all maps. Should you research multiple Solar Efficiency upgrades, being able to store an extra 90 energy can allow you more freedom to bank your energy, and can provide you with extra burst damage which you will need in the late game.
- Chrono Boost Efficiency has niche uses and is made redundant by Chrono Wave.
The Grand Design
The solar forge provides bonus energy to the Spear of Adun, which powers many of Karax's abilities. The first upgrade at the forge will increase the amount of bonus energy supplied, enabling Karax to use the powerful abilities which the Spear of Adun provides more often. Chrono wave is an incredibly powerful ability. Before using it, consider informing one's fellow player of the intention to use it. This will allow them to start upgrades, queue units, and generally ensure that both of you receive the massive benefits that the ability is capable of providing. Orbital strike can provide quick support to one's ally.
Intricate Machinery
Use the Energizers to "mind control" Terran/Protoss mechanical units, particularly expensive units such as carriers or battlecruisers. Create a mixed force of Immortals/Carriers to supplement [Sentinels/Photon Cannons with the remaining minerals.
My Expertise Is Yours
Karax's strength is about researching technology, aiding partners with spells and deploying static defense: you have the strongest hero powers by far and the strongest static defense by a significant margin. The drawback is that his standing army is pitifully small. Even when only investing in spells and carriers, for example, you'll only have 8~10 carriers at the end of the game; and the strong feeling that Karax was carried by his ally. Because his units cost 30% more, you shouldn't play Karax like you play any other hero. The first 10 minutes of the game, Karax only has "token defense force"; only at the 15 minute mark will production "ramp up".
Synergies
Terran Commanders
Raynor synergizes only decently with Karax; Raynor can produce multiple barracks to quickly rebuild his army and thus won't be helped as much by Chrono Wave. Reconstruction Beam may not affect Raynor's infantry, but it can help his mechanized units and bunkers, the latter of which normally have survivability issues at higher difficulties. Vikings and marines can help Karax compensate for his lackluster anti-air capabilities.
Swann synergizes perfectly when paired with Karax, due to both commanders' focus on mechanical units. Karax's powerful anti-ground forces with the immortal and colossus are well complemented by Swann's powerful anti-air goliath and thor. Swann's science vessels and Karax's carriers can repair mechanical units, and both can combine their static defenses together for more versatility. Karax is incredibly gas starved, and Swann goes a long way to alleviate this. This is the only way to obtain a true army of powerful units for Karax. Karax's passive heal of mechanical units comes in extremely handy in the early game; Swann's units are as strong as they are slow, making it more difficult for Swann to retreat in battle. Karax's reconstruction beam ability is particularly useful in this case. If all else fails and both players suffer great losses in battle, Karax can help both players recreate their armies faster than anyone else.
Nova is an effective teammate for Karax. Her lack of defensive systems is covered by Karax's strong statics, while Nova can handle bases and attack points on her own. Since Chrono-Boost and Chrono-Wave quickens not only her research time but also the cooldown of her facilities, Nova gets a great advantage of quickly replacing units if needed and also being more "selectable" with which kinds of units she want.
Han and Horner work amazingly well with Karax. Han and Horner lack any true reliable defensive structures on maps like “Temple of the Past” and “Dead of Night,” having to rely on widow mines and mag mines. Karax can cover for this, and meanwhile their mag mines can provide extra support for Karax’s defenses, hitting targets while they’re tied up dealing with his photon cannons. Reconstruction Beam also is a powerful boon to Han and Horner, as it gives their assault galleons a reliable heal while increasing the repair rate of their more powerful Horner units. Strike fighters also can reveal areas in the fog of war, allowing Karax to them hit targets with his orbital abilities. Chronoboost is a massive boon to Han and Horner, who have a lot of research that is of great benefit to their armies. Han and Horner can field a big army with heavy pushing potential, and their larger units gain a lot of benefit from energizers. Karax's Aiur carriers can bolster the already impressive tanking potential of Horner's fleet as well as somewhat increasing the survivability of hellions and widow mines. When combined with drone hangar assault galleons they can deal a significant amount of damage from out of enemy range.
Zerg Commanders
Kerrigan has access to mutalisks and ultralisks; units that take a long time to create, and would benefit greatly from Karax's chrono-boost ability.
Zagara already creates units quickly due to her relentless swarmer trait, but she can still benefit from Chrono Wave for research and upgrades. Unity Barrier can make her frail units slightly more durable, and Karax can cover for Zagara's lackluster base defenses.
Abathur has some ability synergies with Karax, as his chrono wave can boost his research and production, which is essential to Abathur's army strength. Toxic nests work well with Karax's static defenses, and the Spear of Adun's orbital bombardment abilities can help cover Abathur from air units in the early game.
Stukov works well with Karax, particularly on defensive maps. When pushing forward, the two can create small "checkpoints" of structures as Stukov moves his production buildings up and Karax covers them with defensive structures. Stukov's infest structure synergizes well with the amount of defenses Karax has, and Chrono Wave can boost the speed of long upgrades for Stukov such as the infestation levels. Both Karax and Stukov have powerful global cooldowns, with Karax's more consistent orbital strike and solar lance abilities allowing Stukov to save his Apocalisk and Aleksander for more important engagements.
Dehaka and Karax have situational synergy. On defensive maps like “Temple of the Past” and “Night of the Dead”, Karax can cover for Dehaka's lack of reliable defensive structures while Dehaka pushes out for other objectives. Meanwhile, Karax can cover for Dehaka with his offensive calldowns. However, Karax's repair beam does not benefit Dehaka as he has no mechanical units, and on maps that rely heavily on pushing Karax is unable to reliably support Dehaka in the mid game.
Protoss Commanders
Artanis lacks synergy with Karax, as Artanis's army is simply better than his and at a lower cost. Artanis has dragoons while Karax lacks a ranged counterpart, his tempests beat carriers at damage, and reavers can out-burst colossi. Additionally, Artanis's warp-in structures use charges, so Chrono Wave isn't particularly helpful in rebuilding an army if he has a sufficient number of structures. However, Guardian Shell can help by giving Reconstruction Beam time to heal up critically damaged units in a fight.
Vorazun benefits from Chrono Wave if she is building an air force or rebuilding an army, as dark templars and dark archons have a long cooldown on warp gates. She also benefits from Chrono Wave in her tech, as she needs to research many upgrades to reach full power. Her Vortex can also bunch up the enemy for Karax's Orbital Strikes and Solar Lances. Her Dark Pylon can also cloak Karax's defensive structures, making them much more effective.
Alarak is a moderately effective teammate for Karax. While Alarak is geared towards overwhelming offense, Karax favors impenetrable defense. Thus Alarak can focus his attention on attacking the enemy while Karax defends their bases and uses his calldown abilities to focus down stronger units Alarak may have trouble with. Reconstruction Beam is invaluable to support Alarak's fragile wrathwalkers and vanguards, and carriers with repair drones makes a powerful army combined with Alarak's robotic forces. The player can use Alarak's Structure Overcharge to power up Karax's defenses even further when faced with an overwhelming enemy force.
Fenix is a very effective teammate for Karax. As all of Fenix's units are mechanical, he benefits greatly from reconstruction beam, allowing his entire army to be more durable. Fenix also lacks defensive options while Karax lacks offensive options, making the two good on push-pull maps. Fenix can also defend early using his heroes while Karax establishes a defensive line, allowing Fenix to hit a critical mass. The only downside is both heroes are not the best at pushing, though Fenix gains a lot of push potential with Karax's heal and shield batteries, and Karax will have to be on top of supporting Fenix with his Spear of Adun abilities in order to get past some of the tougher fortifications without Fenix taking too much damage.
Achievements
Gameplay
 Tower Defense
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| Points |
10 |
| Criteria |
Kill 1,000 enemy units with Karax's defensive structures. |
| Edit | |
 Fast Friends
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| Points |
10 |
| Criteria |
Use Chrono Wave to speed up the training of 500 of your ally's units. |
| Edit | |
 Scorched Earth
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| Points |
10 |
| Criteria |
Kill 200 enemy units with Karax's Solar Lance in a single mission on Hard difficulty. |
| Edit | |
 Target Purified
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10 |
| Criteria |
Kill 50 enemy units with a single strike of Karax's Purifier Beam on Hard difficulty. |
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 Master Phase-Smith
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20 | ||
| Criteria |
Complete all the Commander Karax achievements. | ||
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Levels
 Karax: Level 5
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| Points |
10 |
| Criteria |
Reach level 5 with Karax. |
| Edit | |
 Karax: Level 10
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| Points |
10 |
| Criteria |
Reach level 10 with Karax. |
| Edit | |
 Karax: Level 15
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| Points |
10 |
| Criteria |
Reach level 15 with Karax. |
| Edit | |
Development
Data in the Galaxy Map Editor point to Karax being able to use sentries at some point in development, but these were likely replaced by energizers in the final game.[1]
References
Blizzard Entertainment. Co-op Missions. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Karax (in English). 2018.
- ↑ Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void Map Editor. (Activision Blizzard) (in English). November 10, 2015
External Links
TeamLiquid Co-op Commander Guide: Karax