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Pylon SC2-LotV Cine1

A pylon

A pylon is a protoss structure needed for a probe to be able to warp in most protoss buildings (other pylons, nexus, and assimilators being the exceptions).

Overview[]

Pylon SC-G Game1

Nova Terra by a pylon

Protoss structures and, to a lesser extent, units, draw their energy from a great psionic energy matrix that emanates from Aiur. While a nexus provides a link to this matrix, khaydarin crystal-based pylons are needed to actually tap into the energy required to provide psionic energy to new colonies. Each pylon generates a short-ranged aura of energy, which can provide the power needed by structures and warp gates.[1] The use of pylons goes at least as far back as the Second Age.[2]

Pylons project a strong magnetic field which makes the ground beneath them impenetrable by "mortal means."[3]

Large clusters of pylons were once used to generate an electromagnetic field that prevented zerg spire units from maneuvering. The clusters were based at Talematros, capital of Shakuras, before Infested Duran's forces destroyed them.[4]

Variants[]

Pylon SC2-LotV Game1

A Tal'darim pylon

The Dark Templar have their own version of the pylon in the form of the dark pylon. As circumstances grow increasingly dire for the protoss, the dark pylon has entered general use for the protoss alongside the regular pylon.[5]

Pylons utilized by the Zhakul Guardians (when corrupted by Maar) and Tal'darim loyal to Amon have utilized green and red crystals respectively,[6][7] as opposed to the standard blue. A single Tal'darim pylon provides enough energy to power sixteen gateways. Ihan-rii pylons meanwhile produce an ethereal glow visible from Tyrador IX's orbit.[8]

Game Structure[]

StarCraft[]

If a protoss building loses its connection to the psionic matrix, it will shut down until it is reconnected, and new units cannot be gated in if there is insufficient psionic energy to provide them with power.[1] Unpowered buildings will display it when selected, and makes a particular sound instead of the building's own sound.

Along with the shield battery, its the only building in the game that do not leave debris when destroyed (without counting the vespene geyser buildings).

Building Upgrades[]

  • +1 armor bonus to shields per level for all units and structures.
Acquisition
Purchased from Forge
Hotkey S
Level 1
Cost 200 Minerals 200 Vespene gas 267seconds
Level 2
Cost 300 Minerals 300 Vespene gas 300seconds
Required Cybernetics core
Level 3
Cost 400 Minerals 400 Vespene gas 333seconds
Required Cybernetics core
ve

StarCraft II[]

Versus[]

In StarCraft II, the pylon is far less resilient than its predecessor. However, the protoss can also use warp prisms to support the structures if a pylon is lost.

Protoss warp gate units can be warped-in within the psionic matrix created by pylons.

Putting a pylon in the central map area, known as "proxy pylon," in order to warp-in units nearer the enemy base is a commonly used strategy.[9]

The pylon has a power radius of 6.5.[10]

Abilities[]
PylonPower SC2-LotV Icon1
Warp Conduit

Increases the speed of warp in for units warped into the power field to 4 seconds

Usage
Passive
Notes

Only if the pylon is in range of a nexus or gateway/warp gate with warp gate researched

ve

Wings of Liberty[]

  • +1 armor to shields per level.
Acquisition
Purchased from Forge
Hotkey S
Level 1
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 121.6seconds
Level 2
Cost 200 Minerals 200 Vespene gas 144.6seconds
Required Twilight council
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 167.9seconds
Required Twilight council
ve

Heart of the Swarm[]

As of Heart of the Swarm, a "Judicator pylon" skin can be unlocked in multiplayer via leveling.

Co-op Missions[]

All protoss commanders have the ability to construct pylons in Co-op Missions. Karax has the ability to instantly warp in pylons upon reaching level 11.

SC2 ProShields
Protoss Plasma Shields

Increases the shield armor of all protoss units and structures.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Forge
Hotkey A
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Effect Shield armor: 1
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Twilight council (Artanis, Vorazun, Karax and Fenix)
Death council (Alarak)
Effect Shield armor: 2
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Twilight council (Artanis, Vorazun, Karax and Fenix)
Death council (Alarak)
Effect Shield armor: 3
ve
KhalaiIngenuity LotV Icon1
Khalai Ingenuity
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Karax Level 11
ve

Development[]

The following section contains information from a previous version of StarCraft II which is no longer valid.
Pylon SC2 DevRend4

Pylon corresponding team coloring

The pylon used to have its own portrait instead of using the protoss racial portrait like other buildings,[11] but by the StarCraft II beta it was reverted to the default protoss "adviser." The old pylon portrait now serves as the mothership portrait.

During BlizzCon 2007, the color of the pylon's crystal would change to match that of the corresponding player's color.[12] This was changed back to the default blue by BlizzCon 2008.[13]

Heroes of the Storm[]

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

Pylons can be summoned by Probius in Heroes of the Storm[14]

Trivia[]

Pylon Real1

Pylon USB charger

A pylon USB charging station is available on the Battle.net store.[15]

A pylon appears in the Blizzard World map in Overwatch, as part of the "Pylon Terrace" feature.

You Must Construct Additional Pylons[]

You must construct additional pylons. If a player attempts to create a unit when they don't have enough psi, they will hear an error message from the protoss advisor; "You must construct additional pylons."

Blizzard Entertainment employees have used the phrase to comical effect.[16] The 404 error pages at www.starcraft2.com sometimes use the phrase.

The phrase "you must construct additional pylons" has become extremely popular on some areas of the internet, such as YTMND.[17]

Images[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. StarCraft (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
  2. 2015-9-25, StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void - Reclamation. Battle.net, accessed on 2015-9-25
  3. No, they cannot move under buildings. The ground is too compacted from the weight of the structure and the Infestor cannot tunnel through. Even Protoss Pylons make everything really hard to move through because a strong magnetic force from the Pylon makes the ground beneath it nearly impenetrable by mortal means.

    It's not really practical for the gameplay. You get "units inside units" if the the Infestor could hide under structures which is never a happy place to be. Selection gets difficult, targeting becomes challenging, etc.
    Cavez. 2009-02-26. (Question) Infester movement under buildings? Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forums. Accessed 2009-02-27.
  4. StarCraft: Brood War. Vivendi Games. Mission: Drawing of the Web (in English). 1998.
  5. Karune. 2009-02-18. StarCraft II Q&A - Batch 49. Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2009-02-18.
  6. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: A Sinister Turn (in English). 2010-07-27.
  7. 2015-06-22, Blizzard will wrap up 17 years of storytelling in StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. GamesBeat, accessed on 2015-06-24
  8. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. Collections Tab: Skins. October 17, 2016
  9. Dustin Browder, Robert Simpson, Matt Cooper, David Kim. 2008-12-19. Battle Report (1). Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2008-12-19.
  10. Blizzard Entertainment staff. 2011-05-10. Patch 1.3.3 Now Live. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2011-05-10.
  11. StarCraftZine. 2008-10-18. Dreiven vs Grubby 6/29/08. WeGame.com Accessed 2008-12-08.
  12. dat805rick. 2007-08-03. Starcraft 2:Blizzcon 2007 gameplay video FULL. Youtube. Accessed 2011-08-13.
  13. Games.com. 2010-01-20. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty - BlizzCon 2008 Protoss vs Terran. Youtube. Accessed 2011-08-13.
  14. Blizzard Entertainment. Heroes of the Storm (Blizzard Entertainment) (in English). June 2, 2015
  15. 2017-07-08, StarCraft Pylon USB Charger. Battle.net, accessed on 2017-07-08
  16. Metzen, Chris; Chambers, Andy; StarCraft Legacy staff. 2009-04-03. BlizzCon 2007 StarCraft Lore Panel Editorial. StarCraft Legacy. Accessed 2009-05-18.
  17. Jax-Omen. CONSTRUCT ADDITIONAL PYLONS. Ytmnd.com Accessed 2007-09-21.
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