Starcraft 2 Battlecruiser Guide

Starcraft 2 Battlecruiser Guide
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Starcraft 2 Battlecruiser - Introduction

In our final Terran unit guide for Starcraft 2 multiplayer, we take on the awesome Battlecruiser.

The Starcraft 2 Battlecruiser is an evolution of the unit seen in the first game. Gone is the single laser cannon of the original Battlecruisers, replaced by a battery of four lasers that make it a far more useful and flexible attacking force. The toughest of the Terran aerial units, Battlecruisers are covered in massive walls of neosteel, enabling them to soak up large amounts of damage. This comes at the cost of mobility though. Throw in the Yamato Cannon, a spectacular nuclear cannon upgrade that can take down some of the biggest opposition units with one blast, and you have one tough nut to crack. In this Starcraft 2 Battlecruiser guide, we’ll look at the vital statistics, available upgrades and abilities for this unit, as well as strategies to employ against the different races in multiplayer.

SC2 Battlecruiser Vital Statistics

Starcraft 2 Battlecruisers Attacking

Production and Properties:

  • Minerals: 400
  • Gas: 300
  • Supply: 6
  • Build Time: 90 secs
  • Produced by: Starport with attached Techlab
  • Requires: Fusioncore
  • Hotkey: B
  • Max Energy: 200

Movement and Protection:

  • Speed: 1.4062
  • Acceleration: 1
  • Hit Points: 550
  • Armor: 3
  • Armor Type: Mechanical, Armored, Massive

Weaponry:

ATS Laser Battery

  • Ground Attack
  • Attacks: 1
  • Range: 6
  • Damage: 10

ATA Laser Battery

  • Air Attack
  • Attacks: 1
  • Range: 6
  • Damage: 6

SC2 Battlecruiser Upgrades and Abilities

Upgrades:

  • Ships Weapons Levels 1-3: increases damage by increments of 1. From the Armory.
  • Ships Plating Levels 1-3: increases armor by increments of 1. From the Armory.
  • Research Behemoth Reactor (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 80 secs): this upgrade increases a Battlecruiser’s starting energy by 25. From the Fusion Core.
  • Research Weapon Refit (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time; 60 secs): unlocks the powerful ability Yamato Cannon. From the Fusion Core.

Abilities:

  • Yamato Cannon: A spectacular weapon that focuses a nuclear explosion into a beam upon a target. Requires large reserve of energy. Requires Weapon Refit to be researched.
  • Energy: 125
  • Range:10
  • Damage: 300

Starcraft 2 Battlecruiser Strategy, Tips and Tricks

Strong Against:

Vulnerable To:

Terran vs Terran

Battlecruisers are highly effective against a Terran foe, as even Thors struggle to take them out. They are vulnerable though to Vikings, due to that units far superior range, from which they can dole out steady damage without taking any in return. Ensure that your own supply of Vikings is a match for your opponents, and this will negate the range advantage, allowing a Yamato-equipped Battlecruiser to do some serious damage to opposition Terran units.

Terran vs Protoss

The Battlecruiser can also be an effective unit in the later stages of a game, as the Protoss lack any direct counter to it. Deploying Point Defence Drones will reduce the effectiveness of Protoss Stalkers against the Battlecruiser, while Phoenix fighters are particularly vulnerable to this unit. Even Void Rays can be destroyed by a single Yamato Cannon strike. The Yamato Cannon is an essential upgrade for dealing with Protoss Carriers. However, the Battlecruiser’s slow speed makes them ineffective on larger and wider maps.

Terran vs Zerg

The Battlecruiser’s weak point. Zerg forces tend to make mincemeat of them, either employing the Corruptor with its bonuses against large class units, or utilizing Hydralisks as an effective way of grinding them down. When playing against a Zerg opponent, Battlecruisers simply become an expensive white elephant.

Conclusion

The Starcraft 2 Battlecruiser may be slow but in the late part of a multiplayer game, its ability to soak up damage and take down some of the big units with the Yamato Cannon mean that it can take the game away from your opponent in a very short time. Used wisely as part of a balanced force with Vikings and ground troops, the Battlecruiser is a valuable and, when the Yamato gets going, entertaining unit. Just don’t put it in the field against the Zerg - it won’t end well.