Vulture
Historical
Earliest sighting	2478
Physical
Race	Terran
Type	Hoverbike
Propulsion	Twin engines (standard) ion thrusters (optional)
Max. speed	230mph (370kph)
Armaments	AGP-2 grenade launcher/laser cannon (standard) Spider mines/cerberus mines (optional)
Political
Role	Skirmishing Salvaging Recon Patrol
Personnel
Crew	1 (pilot), 1 passanger (optional)

The vulture-class hover bike (a.k.a. vulture hover cycle)^[1] is a terran hoverbike used mainly for scouting.

OverviewEdit

In use by 2478,^[2] the vulture is a lightly-armored one-man hoverbike primarily used for scouting and patrol,^[1] designed with speed and reliability in mind.^[3] Its limited gravity hover technology allows the bike to travel over rough terrain with little loss of traction or speed, and reach speeds up to 230 miles per hour.^[1] Three men could overload a bike.^[4] Their magnetic frequency can also be adjusted to make it easier to cross some obstacles (e.g. the tracks used by mag-lev trains).^[5] An onboard computer and sensors mounted in the "nose" of the craft keeps it at a steady pace for most of the time^[6] and a navigation system is present.^[5] These features make the vulture suitable for patrolling the vast wildernesses typically found around terran colonies.^[3] They produce a humming whine as they move.^[7]

Vultures are ill suited for heavy combat, given their light frame.^[3][8] However, they make excellent skirmishers, especially against lightly armored targets.^[3] Vultures are also tasked with scavenging ("scavenger hover bike" is a term occasionally used).^[7] In some occasions, vultures may be formed into small squadrons, usually attached to mechanized infantry. Given the speed at which the bikes move however, it is difficult to maintain cohesion.^[8] The vulture's driver seat can be enclosed depending on model, customization, or operating environment^[8] and can be configured for someone to ride shotgun.^[6][9] The bike can catastrophically fail if the repulsors freeze up, or the fuel cells begin leaking radioactive material.^[10]

In the Confederate Armored Vehicle Corps, aspiring vulture pilots had to pass a minimal physical fitness exam before becoming a pilot.^[11] Originally, the standard vulture armament was an anti-personnel^[1] grenade launcher.^[12] Since the Brood War however, vultures may instead be equipped with a mounted laser cannon.^[13] Other optional equipment includes spider^[3] and cerberus^[14] mines, ion thrusters^[3] and a microfabricator.^[14]

The vulture remained in use by the Dominion Armed Forces until at least 2502^[15] and Dominion Ghost Program trainees begin training in the use of vultures in their second year.^[16] Vultures continue to be used by rebel and mercenary groups.^[17]

Technology similar to that found in the vulture is available in civilian hoverbikes, such as the 428 hoverbike.^[16]

Game UnitEdit

StarCraftEdit

Vulture
Unit
Race	Terran
Role	Light Recon Vehicle
Armament	AGP-2 "Thumper" grenade launcher[12]
Properties
Size	Medium
Sight range	8
Production
Minerals	75
Supply	2
Build time	30
Produced from	Factory
Hotkey	V
Protection
Hit points	80
Armor	0
Combat
Ground attack	20
Cooldown	30
Attack range	5

Vultures are ideal for scouting and dealing with small-sized ground units such as zerglings, zealots, marines and firebats. Given that vultures are not very durable, they are most effective when using hit-and-run attacks to harass the enemy and are not recommended for large scale attacks. Vultures are also effective hunters against units such as high templar, defilers and other ground-based spellcaster units and can get rid an expansion base's workers in little time.

In terran vs protoss matches, vultures are vital with their mines which can severely injure high-hit point protoss units and for delaying an attack. Spider mines also fill a harassment role very well against both zerg and protoss.

AbilitiesEdit

Spider Mine
Acquisition Minerals 100 Gas 100 Research time 80 Researched at Machine shop Hotkey M	Usage Range 3 Hotkey I
Notes
Gives each vulture three spider mines. Vultures cannot replenish their supply of mines once expended. New mines may only be created with new vultures. Mines burrow where deployed and are not player-controllable. Each mine causes 125 damage and has 20 hit points. Mines do not benefit from any upgrades. Air and hovering ground units do not activate mines. Mines can sense and attack nearby cloaked ground units such as ghosts or dark templar even without the aid of a detector. They will not, however, reveal cloaked enemy units. It is possible for ranged units to pick out the mines before being hit.

UpgradesEdit

Vehicle Weapons Researched at Armory Hotkey W Properties Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Minerals 100 175 250 Gas 100 175 250 Research time 266 298 330 Required Science facility Notes +1 bonus to goliath ground attack per level +4 to goliath air attack per level (+2 per missile) +2 to vulture attack per level +3 to siege tank tank mode attack per level +5 for siege tank siege mode attack per level

Vehicle Plating Researched at Armory Hotkey P Properties Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Minerals 100 175 250 Gas 100 175 250 Research time 266 298 330 Required Science facility Notes +1 bonus to armor for goliaths, siege tanks, and vultures.

Ion Thrusters
Researched at	Machine shop
Hotkey	I
Properties
Minerals 100 Gas 100 Research time 80
Notes
Increase vulture movement speed.

QuotationsEdit

See: StarCraft Vulture Quotations

DevelopmentEdit

StarEdit files reveal a number of "merc biker" units— the concept seems to be similar to that of the vulture.^[18]

StarCraft: GhostEdit

	This article or section contains information about StarCraft: Ghost. The content may be significantly out of date. Please do not add speculation to this article, and remember to cite a published source for details.

The vulture unit in StarCraft: Ghost is still a lightly-armored fast-moving vehicle. It is armed with either an AGP-2 "Thumper" Grenade Launcher^[12] or a laser cannon.^[13] Capable of being used by ghosts and light infantry, it is nonetheless vulnerable to enemy attacks, including having the vehicle stolen from underneath the driver.

StarCraft IIEdit

Vulture
Unit
Race	Terran
Role	Fast skirmish unit
Armament	Fragmentation grenade launcher
Properties
Transport size	1
Sight range	8
Production
Minerals	75
Supply	2
Build time	25
Produced from	Factory
Hotkey	V
Movement
Speed	4.25
Deceleration	0
Protection
Hit points	75
Armor	1
Type	Mechanical
Armor type	Light
Fragmentation grenade launcher
Damage	10 (+15 vs light)
Targets	Ground
Cooldown	1.69
Range	6
Upgrade/level	+1
Function
Abilities	Spider mines

Vultures are campaign-only units in StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, and become available by playing the mission "Cutthroat".^[17]

The vulture is less expensive than the hellion and its main attack is less effective against large groups of light targets. Spider mines compensate for this, especially with the Replenishable Magazine upgrade which allows large minefields.

Not taking spider mines into account, vultures are strong against marines, reapers, hellions, zerglings, hydralisks, zealots, sentries, and high templar. They are weak against marauders, siege tanks, stalkers, colossi, roaches, and any air units.

AbilitiesEdit

Deploy Spider Mines
Usage Hotkey E
Notes
Spider Mines pursue enemy units that come in range, and detonate for heavy area damage. Buried Spider Mines can only be seen by enemy Detectors.
Edit

UpgradesEdit

Terran Vehicle Weapons
Researched at	Armory
Hotkey	E
Properties
Minerals 100 175 250 Gas 100 175 250 Research time 160 190 220
Notes
Increases the attack damage of terran vehicles.
Edit

Ultra Capacitors
Campaign	Wings of Liberty
Cost	5 protoss research points
Researched at	Hyperion laboratory
Notes
Attack upgrades at the armory and engineering bay improved cooldown by 5% per level. Self-replicating ultra capacitors reduce the reload time of weapons and systems.[19]
Edit

Terran Vehicle Plating Researched at Armory Hotkey V Properties Minerals 100 175 250 Gas 100 175 250 Research time 160 190 220 Notes Increases the armor of terran vehicles Edit

Vanadium Plating Campaign Wings of Liberty Cost 5 protoss research points Researched at Hyperion laboratory Notes Armor upgrades at the armory and engineering bay increase health by 5% per level. Vanadium better disperses weapon impacts than standard armor.[19] Edit

Cerberus Mines Campaign Wings of Liberty Cost $40,000 Researched at Hyperion armory Notes Enhances spider mine trigger and blast radius by 33%. This mine was developed by the Kel-Morian Combine during its siege of New Austin. The increased trigger, pursuit, and blast radiuses were critical to terrorizing the civilian population and protecting supply depots from looters.[14] Edit

Replenishable Magazine Campaign Wings of Liberty Cost $60,000 Acquisition Researched at Hyperion armory Usage Minerals 15 Activation/ Build Time 12 Hotkey R Notes Vultures can replenish spider mines, once per use of this ability. Mines cost 15 minerals each and vultures can carry a maximum of three spider mines. The ability can be set to autocast. Edit

Regenerative Bio-Steel
Campaign Wings of Liberty Cost 20 zerg research points
Acquisition Researched at Hyperion laboratory
Notes
Damaged ships and vehicles recover hit points over time.[20]
Edit

QuotationsEdit

See: StarCraft II Vulture Quotations

Known Vulture PilotsEdit

• Captain Plunder
• Captain Jim Raynor
• "Sergeant"
• Aios Karnage (mercenary leader)
• Tychus Findlay
• Grom
• Hogan
• Jakk
• Nova Terra

417th Confederate Marine Platoon

• Corporal Smith-punn
• Private Bowers
• Private Fu
• Private William Peaches
• Private Amy Windom

War Pigs

• Cole Hickson
• Vin Iggins
• Nuura Joss

TriviaEdit

The vulture's unit portrait in StarCraft II is based on Jason Huck.^[21] A large Horde logo can be seen on his left arm.

ReferencesEdit