Liberator

The liberator is a terran air unit introduced in StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void.

OverviewEdit

The liberator was developed to ensure terran air superiority on the battlefield and was based off of the designs of the United Earth Directorate valkyrie. Initially designed only for air combat, questions of its versatility lead to the introduction of transformation technology and a powerful air-to-ground plasma cannon.^[1] An aerial counterpart to the siege tank, the liberator is a versatile^[2] medium-sized gunship, armed with twin missile launchers to strike at clusters of aerial threats and can also deploy an anti-ground cannon after transforming into a stationary air platform. This cannon is strong enough to pierce even the armor of the thor.^[3] Dominion liberators have a standardized design, and thus can be piloted by anyone familiar with piloting other Dominion spacecraft.^[4]

The Dominion Special Forces used advanced neosteel research to improve their liberators, giving them a more complex plating system that augmented their transformation process. These liberators are the pride of the Dominion Fleet. Some mercenaries were able to acquire liberators, though they were a rare commodity. Similarly, the Umojan Protectorate was able to develop its own version of the liberator only a few years after it was first deployed. Its wholly reimagined rear thrusters became the envy of the Dominion engineering team behind the original design.^[5]

	This article or section contains information derived from Co-op Missions, and should not be considered part of the official StarCraft storyline.

Alexei Stukov deployed infested liberators against the forces of Amon during the End War.^[6]

Game UnitEdit

The liberator is introduced in Legacy of the Void. The liberator attacks in two mutually exclusive combat modes, switching from one to another and back is not instant (roughly 1 second). Each liberator in the selection is ordered to target an area (liberation zone) independently. Ordering them back to anti-air mode affects all selected liberators. Liberators cannot attack buildings.

Anti-air mode

In anti-air mode, the craft is mobile, and can only deliver multi-targeting anti-air splash attacks. These anti-air splash attacks are useful against massed air units like Vikings and mutalisks.

Anti-surface mode

In anti-ground mode, a 5(9) diameter circle area on the ground is selected (not directly beneath the craft, but anywhere within 5(9) range); once an area is selected, the liberator is immobile and can only attack units within that circle, dealing very high single-target damage (enough to kill most ground targets in one to three shots). The circle can only be repositioned by switching back to anti-air mode, and then again to anti-ground. it receives vision of the targeted location.

VersusEdit

Upgrades and AbilitiesEdit

Advanced Ballistics

Upgrades the range of the Liberator's anti-ground attack to 9.

Acquisition
Purchased from Tech lab attached to starport Hotkey N Cost 150 150 79 Required Fusion core

v • e

Terran Ship Weapons

Increases the damage of terran air units.

Acquisition
Purchased from Armory Hotkey S Level 1 Cost 100 100 160 Level 2 Cost 175 175 190 Level 3 Cost 250 250 220

v • e

Terran Vehicle and Ship Plating

Increases the armor of terran vehicles and spacecraft

Acquisition
Purchased from Armory Hotkey V Level 1 Cost 100 100 160 Level 2 Cost 175 175 190 Level 3 Cost 250 250 220

v • e

Defender Mode

Deploys into Defender mode. In this mode, liberators have a long-ranged narrow attack that can inflict high single target damage. Bonus vision is gained in this mode. Liberators cannot move in this mode.

This attack only targets units, not buildings.^[7]

Usage
Hotkey E Duration 2.88

v • e

Fighter Mode

Reverts to Fighter Mode. In this mode, Liberators can move, but they can only target air units.

Usage
Hotkey D Duration 1.46

v • e

CampaignEdit

Although liberators do not actually appear in the Legacy of the Void single-player campaign, Amon's void shades can take the forms of liberators.

Co-op MissionsEdit

In Co-op Missions, liberators can be utilized by Amon's Forces in some missions. Raid liberators are available to Nova, while infested liberators are available for Stukov.

Nova Covert OpsEdit

In Nova Covert Ops, the player gains the ability to construct liberators in the mission "Night Terrors." These liberators can attack structures and do bonus damage to armored units in defender mode.

Upgrades and AbilitiesEdit

Cloak

The liberator gains an energy bar and is able to cloak.

Usage
Hotkey C (cloak), D (decloak) Cost 25 (+0.9 per second)

v • e

Regenerative Bio-Steel

Equipped mechanical unit regenerates 10 HP a second when out of combat.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Destroy all zerg hatcheries in "Trouble in Paradise."

v • e

Smart Servos

Greatly reduces transformation time for equipped unit when switching combat modes.

Usage
Passive

v • e

Optimized Logistics

Significantly reduces the time required to train the unit.

Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Obtain the special weaponry in "In the Enemy's Shadow."

v • e

QuotationsEdit

See: StarCraft II Liberator Quotations

DevelopmentEdit

The liberator's AG mode originally required a tech lab attached to a starport.^[8]

Originally, when in defensive mode, the liberator gained a flat buff to its vision. This was changed to selective vision in order to make it easier for enemies to sneak around its vision and/or attack from alternate angles.^[9]

Known Liberator CommandersEdit

• Captain Barlow

Known VariantsEdit

• Infested liberator
• Raid liberator

TriviaEdit

• The portrait of the pilot strikingly resembles Captain Lola Beck from Starship Troopers III: Marauder.
• Lexington and Concord were the sites of battles early in the American Revolution.
• The liberator's quotes are similar to that of the valkyrie.

VideosEdit

Introducing the Liberator

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ImagesEdit

A liberator in fighter mode

A liberator in defender mode

Dominion Special Forces liberator in fighter mode

Dominion Special Forces liberator in defender mode

Dominion Special Forces liberator portrait

Mira's Marauders liberator in fighter mode

Mira's Marauders liberator in defender mode

Mira's Marauders liberator portrait

Umojan liberator

Umojan liberator in defender mode

Umojan liberator portrait

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ReferencesEdit