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"These new siege tanks work just like the old ones. When you put 'em in siege mode they get increased range and firepower. They can't move in siege mode, so if you need to reposition 'em, just switch 'em back into tank mode."

- Chief Engineer Rory Swann(src)

The siege tank provides the terrans with a marriage between armored infantry support and mobile, long range firepower. It is voiced by Matthew Samia, reprising his role from StarCraft.[2]

Game Unit[]

The siege tank continues to function as it did in previous games with the dual tank and artillery modes, except it doesn't require as much support as is needed in the original StarCraft. While in "siege mode," the tank cannot fire at "point-blank" range. This "dead zone" leaves the tank vulnerable to attacks by melee units. It is also highly vulnerable to air units. The siege tank bobs slightly when it stops moving.[3]

Strategy

Siege tanks are strong against marines and hydralisks, and weak against thors, immortals, zealots and zerglings. Given its firepower, siege tanks are also popular with marines and marauders, providing artillery support for both defensive and offensive roles. When combined with the MMM combo, it is especially effective against roaches, ultralisks, stalkers and even deterring colossi to an extent.

Groups of siege tanks do not "overfire." If one zergling attacks twelve tanks, only one tank fires because only one shell is needed for the kill. This means enemies can no longer take advantage of the tank's slow shot cooldown, further increasing its power and versatility.

Combined arms

Splitting tanks in multiple groups prevents a tank column from entering siege mode all at once and out of position. Other units should screen tanks in siege mode; this prevents tanks from being hit from friendly shock cannon fire when enemy units close the minimum range. The tank's siege mode range is greater than its sight range; supporting a tank with spotters is useful.

Building an army of both siege tanks and thors is possible, but expensive. The combination is difficult to stop.[4]

Siege tanks do not operate well in conjunction with widow mines, as the damage they can do to enemy units (killing them) prevents widow mines from detonating.[5]

Versus[]

Upgrades and Abilities[]
  • +1 damage for cyclones
  • +1 base damage and +1 bonus damage for hellions
  • +2 damage for hellbats
  • +2 base damage and +1 bonus damage for siege tanks (tank mode)
  • +4 base damage and +1 bonus damage for siege tanks (siege mode)
  • +3 ground damage,+1/+3 air base damage and +1 bonus damage for thors (AoE/single-target)
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey E
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
ve
SC2 TerrVehArm
Terran Vehicle and Ship Plating

Increases the armor of terran vehicles and spacecraft.

Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey V
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
ve
SC2SiegeMode
Siege Tech

The siege tank transforms, becoming stationary and using a different weapon.

The ability is not smartcast.

In Heart of the Swarm and Legacy of the Void, Siege Tech does not need to be researched.

Usage
Hotkey Siege mode: E
Tank mode: D
Cost 3.5 seconds
Acquisition
Purchased from

Tech lab attached to factory (WoL)

Already researched (HotS/LotV)
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 80seconds
ve

Wings of Liberty[]

Siege tanks are unlocked by playing the mission "The Dig," available after Chief Engineer Rory Swann was able to procure them for Raynor's Raiders.[6]

Upgrades and Abilities[]

Siege tanks do +40 damage to their primary target. Splash damage remains the same.

Maelstrom Rounds have an armor-piercing tip that inflicts devastating damage on the primary target. Splash damage is identical to the standard round.

If siege tanks struck fear into the hearts of our enemies before, they will inspire abject terror when firing the Maelstrom Round.[7]

Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Hyperion armory for $105,000
ve
ShapedBlast SC2 Icon1
Shaped Blast

Siege tank shock cannons deal 75% less splash damage to friendly units.

LarsCorp has developed a "smart shell" for the siege tank that scans for allies on impact and adjusts its detonation to minimize damage to friendly units. Field tests have shown that this shell reduces friendly fire fatalities by 75%, though due caution is still recommended when walking into a fire zone.

Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Hyperion armory for $140,000
ve

Attack upgrades improve attack cooldown of affected units by 5% per level.

These self-replicating ultra capacitors reduce the reload time of weapons and systems. Now each of the weapon upgrades at the armory and engineering bay increases attack speed by 5% in addition to increasing damage.

Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Hyperion laboratory for 5 protoss research points
ve
SC2 Lab VanPlating Icon
Vanadium Plating

Armor upgrades increase health of affected units by 5% per level.[8]

We have created a new lightweight alloy called vanadium. Vanadium diffuses weapon impacts much more efficiently than traditional armor plating, and it better preserves the life of our units. Now each of the armor upgrades in the armory and engineering bay increases unit life by 5% in addition to increasing armor.

Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Hyperion laboratory for 5 protoss research points
ve

Damaged mechanical units recover hit points when out of combat, at a rate of 0.6015 each second.[9]

Our ship and vehicle hulls are now made from a material called Regenerative Bio-Steel. This material uses internal nanobots to slowly repair any damage the hull sustains. While this regeneration process is much slower than conventional SCV repairs, it can be the difference between life and death if no SCVs are available.

Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Hyperion laboratory for 20 zerg research points
ve

Co-op Missions[]

In Co-op Missions, Jim Raynor and Rory Swann can build siege tanks, but have different upgrades for them. Siege tech is automatically researched in this gameplay mode. They do not deal splash damage to allied units. Rory Swann can transported siege tanks in siege mode with hercules dropship.[10][11]

Nova can construct the advanced Heavy siege tank, with enhanced armor and life.[12] Alexei Stukov can construct infested siege tanks.

Arcturus Mengsk can construct powerful Shock Division siege tanks, which can be picked up in siege mode by imperial intercessors, and upgraded to fire at air units while picked up by a medivac.[13]

Upgrades and Abilities[]
Raynor upgrades and Abilities
SiegeTankTransformIcon
Siege Mode/Tank Mode

Siege Mode: Transforms the Siege Tank into siege mode where it gains splash damage, greatly increased range and damage at the cost of losing all mobility and a slower firing rate.

Tank Mode: Transforms the Siege Tank back into tank mode, where it gains the ability to move and fire at faster rate.

Usage
Hotkey Siege Mode: E
Tank Mode: D
Cost Transform into Siege Mode: 4.0417~4.5417 (Basic) seconds
2.0417~2.5417 (With Advanced Siege Tech) seconds
Transform into Tank Mode: 3.5417~4.0417 (Basic) seconds
1.5417~2.0417 (With Advanced Siege Tech) seconds
ve
AdvancedSiegeTech SC2-LotV Icon1
Advanced Siege Tech

Reduces the transformation time of siege mode. Siege tanks gain +3 armor in siege mode.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Raynor Level 9.
Acquisition
Purchased from Tech lab attached to factory
Hotkey S
Cost 150 Minerals
Mastery: -3 Minerals per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 60 Minerals
150 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -3 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 60 Vespene gas
90seconds
ve
IgniteAfterburners SC2 Icon
Afterburners

Increases this unit's movement speed by 100% for 8 seconds.

Rough Rider: Increases this unit's movement speed by 50% and attack speed by 100% for 8 seconds. Effects on Siege Mode.

Usage
Hotkey B
Cost 10 (with Rough Rider) HP
Duration 8 seconds
Cooldown 60seconds
30 (with Rough Rider) seconds
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Raynor Level 11
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey B
Cost 100 Minerals
Mastery: -2 Minerals per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 Minerals
100 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -2 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 Vespene gas
60seconds
Effect Basic

Movement Speed: 4.5
With Rough Rider
Movement Speed: 3.38
Attack Speed:
Tank Mode: 0.52
0.45 (with Mercenary Munitions)
Mastery: +1% per Mech Attack Speed mastery point. Up to a maximum 0.35
Siege Mode: 1.5
1.31 (with Mercenary Munitions)

Mastery: +1% per Mech Attack Speed mastery point. Up to a maximum 1.01
ve
AdvancedOptics SC2 Icon
Advanced Optics

All vehicles and ships gain +1 attack range.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Raynor Level 11
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey B
Cost 200 Minerals
Mastery: -4 Minerals per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 80 Minerals
200 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -4 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 80 Vespene gas
120seconds
Effect Range: 8 (Tank Mode)
2-14 (Siege Mode)
ve
MercMunitions SC2 Coop Icon
Mercenary Munitions

Increases the attack speed of Raynor's combat units and calldowns by 15%.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Raynor Level 15.
ve
SC2 TerrVehWeap
Terran Vehicle and Ship Weapons

Increases the attack damage of terran vehicles and spacecraft.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey E
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals
Mastery: -2 Minerals per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 Minerals
100 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -2 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 Vespene gas
160seconds
Effect Damage in Tank mode: 17 (+11 vs Armored)
Damage in Siege mode: 38 (+16 vs Armored)
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals
Mastery: -3.5 Minerals per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 70 Minerals
175 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -3.5 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 70 Vespene gas
190seconds
Effect Damage in Tank mode: 19 (+12 vs Armored)
Damage in Siege mode: 41 (+17 vs Armored)
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals
Mastery: -5 Minerals per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 100 Minerals
250 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -5 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 100 Vespene gas
220seconds
Effect Damage in Tank mode: 21 (+13 vs Armored)
Damage in Siege mode: 44 (+18 vs Armored)
ve
SC2 TerrVehArm
Terran Vehicle and Ship Plating

Increases the armor of terran vehicles and spacecraft.

Vanadium Plating: increases the life of terran vehicles and spacecraft by 10% per level.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey V
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals
Mastery: -2 Minerals per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 Minerals
100 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -2 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 Vespene gas
160seconds
Effect Hit points: 176

Armor: 2

5 (Siege Mode with Advanced Siege Tech)
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals
Mastery: -3.5 Minerals per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 70 Minerals
175 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -3.5 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 70 Vespene gas
190seconds
Effect Hit points: 192

Armor: 3

6 (Siege Mode with Advanced Siege Tech)
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals
Mastery: -5 Minerals per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 100 Minerals
250 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -5 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 100 Vespene gas
220seconds
Effect Hit points: 208

Armor: 4

7 (Siege Mode with Advanced Siege Tech)
ve
Swann Upgrades and Abilities
SiegeTankTransformIcon
Siege Mode/Tank Mode

Siege Mode: Transforms the Siege Tank into siege mode where it gains splash damage, greatly increased range and damage at the cost of losing all mobility and a slower firing rate.

Tank Mode: Transforms the Siege Tank back into tank mode, where it gains the ability to move and fire at faster rate.

Usage
Hotkey Siege Mode: E
Tank Mode: D
Cost Transform into Siege Mode: 4.0417~4.5417 seconds
Transform into Tank Mode: 3.5417~4.0417 seconds
ve
MaelstromRounds SC2-LotV Icon1
Maelstrom Rounds

Increases siege tanks damage to primary targets in siege mode by 40.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Tech lab/tech reactor attached to factory
Hotkey M
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 60seconds
ve
SC2 Lab BioSteel Icon
Regenerative Bio-Steel

All vehicles and ships regenerate health over time at a rate of 2 health per second.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Swann Level 9
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey B
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 90seconds
ve
AdvancedOptics SC2 Icon
Advanced Optics

All vehicles and ships gain +1 attack range.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Swann Level 9
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey B
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 120seconds
Effect Range: 8 (Tank Mode)
2-14 (Siege Mode)
ve
ImmortalityProtocol SC2 Icon1
Immortality Protocol

Allows destroyed siege tanks to be rebuilt in the field when destroyed. The wreckage of the units can be attacked and destroyed.

Usage
Hotkey R
Cost 125 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -2.5 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Immortality Protocol Cost and Cooldown Duration mastery point. Down to a minimum 50 Vespene gas
9seconds
Mastery: -0.18seconds per Immortality Protocol Cost and Cooldown Duration mastery point. Down to a minimum 4 seconds
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Swann Level 12
ve
SC2 Swann AC - MechnicalKnowhow
Mechnical Know-how

Increases the life of Swann's SCV's, vehicles and starships by 20%.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Swann Level 15.
ve
SC2 TerrVehWeap
Terran Vehicle and Ship Weapons

Increases the attack damage of terran vehicles and spacecraft.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey E
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Effect Damage in Tank mode: 17 (+11 vs Armored)

Damage in Siege mode: 38 (+16 vs Armored) (Basic)

78 (+16 vs Armored) (With Maelstorm Rounds only primary target)
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Effect Damage in Tank mode: 19 (+12 vs Armored)

Damage in Siege mode: 41 (+17 vs Armored) (Basic)

81 (+17 vs Armored) (With Maelstorm Rounds only primary target)
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Effect Damage in Tank mode: 21 (+13 vs Armored)

Damage in Siege mode: 44 (+18 vs Armored) (Basic)

84 (+18 vs Armored) (With Maelstorm Rounds only primary target)
ve
SC2 TerrVehArm
Terran Vehicle and Ship Plating

Increases the armor of terran vehicles and spacecraft.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey V
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Effect Armor: 2
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Effect Armor: 3
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Effect Armor: 4
ve

Nova Covert Ops[]

In Nova Covert Ops, siege tanks can equip one of various provided upgrades and abilities for each mission.

Upgrades and Abilities[]
InternalTech SC2-NCO Icon1
Internal Tech Module

Unit no longer needs an attached tech lab to be built by production facilities.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Complete "Sudden Strike"
ve
SpiderMinesSiegeTank SC2-NCO Icon1
Deploy Spider Mine

The siege tank can deploy a trio of spider mine at target location in a spread pattern.

Usage
Hotkey R
Range 5.5
Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Complete "Sudden Strike"
ve
JumpJet SC2-NCO Icon1
Jump Jets

The siege tank can deploy jump jets to relocate. Can be used to move up and down cliffs. Can be used in siege mode or in tank mode.

Usage
Hotkey R
Range 4
Cooldown 20 seconds
Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Complete "Sudden Strike"
ve
TransformationServos SC2-HotS Icon
Smart Servos

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

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Complete "Trouble in Paradise"
ve

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."
ve
ShapedBlast SC2 Icon1
Shaped Blast

Siege tank shock cannons deal 75% less splash damage to friendly units.

Usage
Passive
ve

Quotations[]

See: StarCraft II Siege Tank Quotations

Development[]

SiegeTank SC2 DevGame1

Old siege tank model

SiegeTank SC2 DevGame2

Early un-sieged tank in combat

The siege tank was premiered in the 2007 World Wide Invitation, at which much criticism was levied at the tank for its "cartoonish" appearance. One of the earliest revisions once the game went public was making the siege tank grittier and more detailed to appease the fans. Once this was accomplished, there was a stigma on the development team that the siege tank should be left alone as to avoid another backlash. However, this had to be confronted with the development of the Siege Breakers.[14] The siege tank was officially redesigned by August.[15] By October, the siege tank's attack range was increased.[16] In October 2008, the Siege Mode upgrade had been moved to the armory as an experiment.[17]

Beta Patch 8 decreased the tank's build time from 50 seconds to 45. Patch 11 increased its HP from 150 to 160 and modified its splash damage in siege mode to originate from the center of its target, rather than the impact location near the unit. Patch 15 decreased its damage in siege mode from 60 to 50. Patch 1.1 again modified its damage to 35 (+15 vs. Armored). Upgrade damage was also changed from +5 to +3 (+2 vs. Armored).

Balance Update #11 in the Heart of the Swarm beta removed the Siege Mode upgrade requirement. Patch 2.0.12 changed its attack speed in siege mode from 3.00 to 2.80.

In the Legacy of the Void beta, siege tanks could be transported by a medivac while in Siege Mode. They were carried underneath the medivac, visible.[18] A 0.53 second delay between dropping and the tank firing was added in Patch 2.5.5 Balance Update #1,[19] increased to 1.43 seconds in Balance Update #6.[20] This feature was removed in Patch 3.8.[21] To compensate, their HP was increased from 160 to 175, and their damage in siege mode increased to 40 (+30 vs. Armored), though their attack speed was changed from 2 to 2.14.

Images[]

Skins and Art
Portraits

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Crucio Siege Tank. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2008-01-08.
  2. 11-8-2018, Facebook Correspondence with Matthew Samia 1
  3. StarCraft. 2010-02-02. The programming team has added some impressive new unit movement animations to the game. Air units like the phoenix and banshee bank on turns, roaches and hellions both rise when they start moving, and tanks slightly bob when stopping. Facebook (StarCraft). Accessed 2010-02-03.
  4. Getting an army of both is quite expensive - though if you can build the momentum, it is quite difficult to stop this ranged combination. Karune. 2008-05-22. Is terran turtling going to be as powerful. Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2008-05-22.
  5. 2012-06-15, David Kim Interview - MLG Anaheim 2012. StarCraft Legacy, accessed on 2012-07-19
  6. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Wings of Liberty, The Dig (in English). 2010-07-27.
  7. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Armory upgrades (in English). 2010.
  8. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Protoss research (in English). 2010.
  9. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Zerg research (in English). 2010.
  10. Blizzard Entertainment. Co-op Missions. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Jim Raynor (in English). 2018.
  11. Blizzard Entertainment. Co-op Missions. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Rory Swann (in English). 2018.
  12. Blizzard Entertainment. Co-op Missions. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Nova Terra (in English). 2018.
  13. Blizzard Entertainment. Co-op Missions. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Arcturus Mengsk (in English). 2019.
  14. 2010, Starcraft 2: Terran Siege Tank. Accessed on 2011-07-20
  15. Zetaras Xal'Kurat. 2007-08-04. BlizzCon: Changes to StarCraft 2. SC2 Blog.
  16. Zetaras Xal'Kurat. 2007-10-06. StarCraft 2 Q&A 16: Terran Updates; UI and Automation. SC2 Blog.
  17. Zetaras Xal'Kurat. 2008-10-17. BlizzCon 2008: Changes to StarCraft 2. SC2 Blog.
  18. Blizzard Entertainment. 2014-11-07. Legacy of the Void - Multiplayer Update: Terran. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2014-11-09.
  19. 2015-09-03, Legacy of the Void Beta Balance Update -- September 3, 2015. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2015-09-09
  20. 2015-10-23, Legacy of the Void Beta Balance Update -- October 23, 2015. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2015-10-25
  21. 2016-11-14, Patch 3.8 Preview: Major Patch for Multiplayer. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2016-28-11
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