Lift off is the ability that allows many terran buildings to leave the ground and fly to new locations. The zerg infested command center can also lift off.

A common strategy is to lift off buildings from a base being attacked and move those buildings to another base to avoid annihilation and avoid attack from units that can only target ground units.

Contents 1 Game Effect 1.1 StarCraft I 1.2 StarCraft II 2 References

Game EffectEdit

StarCraft IEdit

Lift Off
Usage Hotkey L
Notes
This structure can lift off, enabling it to fly. It cannot produce units or conduct research while in flight, and must leave add-ons behind.

The command center, barracks, engineering bay, factory, starport, science facility and the zerg infested command center can lift off, but any of their respective addons are detached and become neutral instead of lifting off with the buildings. Other terran buildings such as the refinery, bunker, missile turret, academy, supply depot and armory cannot lift off. All special buildings such as the Ion Cannon and the Psi Disrupter also cannot lift off. The ability doesn't need to be researched.

StarCraft IIEdit

Lift Off
Usage Activation/ Build Time 2 (for lifting off and landing) Hotkey L
Notes
This structure can lift off, enabling it to fly. It cannot produce units or conduct research while in flight, and must leave add-ons behind.

In StarCraft II some terran buildings retain their lift off ability, specifically unit production buildings, the command center, barracks, factory, and starport. After the command center upgrades into an orbital command, it retains the ability to lift off, but if it transforms into a planetary fortress it loses this ability.^[1]

ReferencesEdit

1. ↑ In the current build, you can train SCVs at all three regardless of the upgrade.
   You can load SCVs up to 5 into Command Center and Planetary Fortress.
   Command Center and Orbital Command can be lifted off, but Planetary Fortress can't be lifted off.Cydra. 2009-03-02. orbital commands produce SCVs??? Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2009-03-02.