Starcraft 2 Colossus Guide: Everything a Starcraft 2 Beginner Needs To Know

Starcraft 2 Colossus Guide: Everything a Starcraft 2 Beginner Needs To Know
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Starcraft 2 Colossus - The Basics

Our in-depth guide to the Protoss in Starcraft 2 multiplayer continues with the Colossus unit

Perhaps Starcraft 2’s clearest homage to the works of H.G. Wells, the Protoss Colossus resembles a souped-up version of the Martian War Machines, right down to possessing its own “Death Ray”, the Thermal Lance. Strutting across the map on its insectoid legs, this unit is the stuff of nightmares for ground troops of all three SC2 races. In this basic guide to the Starcraft 2 Colossus, we’ll take a close look at all the statistics, upgrades and abilities for this particular unit, and what strategies to employ to maximize its effectiveness in SC2 multiplayer.

More expert Starcraft 2 info can be found in our Protoss Strategy Guide and Guide to Protoss Builds.

SC2 Protoss Colossus Vital Stats

Production and Properties:

  • Minerals: 300
  • Gas: 200
  • Supply: 6
  • Build Time: 75
  • Produced By: Robotics Facility
  • Requires: Robotics Bay
  • Hotkey: C
  • Max Energy: 0

Movement and Protection:

  • Speed: 2.25
  • Acceleration: 1,000
  • Hit Points: 200
  • Shields: 150
  • Armor: 1
  • Armor Type: Mechanical, Armored, Massive

Weaponry:

Thermal Lances

  • Ground Attack
  • Attacks: 2
  • Range: 6
  • Damage: 15

SC2 Protoss Colossus Upgrades and Abilities

Upgrades:

Shields 1-3 (Upgrade for all of the Protoss units)

  • Level 1: (Minerals: 200, Gas: 200, Time: 140 secs)

  • Level 2: (Minerals: 300, Gas: 300, Time: 170 secs)

  • Level 3: (Minerals: 400, Gas: 400, Time: 200 secs)

  • Required: Twilight Council

Ground Weapons 1-3 (Upgrade for all Protoss ground units)

  • Level 1: (Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 140 secs)

  • Level 2: (Minerals: 175, Gas: 175, Time: 170 secs)

  • Level 3: (Minerals: 250, Gas: 250, Time: 200 secs)

  • Required: Twilight Council

Ground Armor 1-3 (Upgrade for all Protoss ground units)

  • Level 1: (Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 140 secs)

  • Level 2: (Minerals: 175, Gas: 175, Time: 170 secs)

  • Level 3: (Minerals: 250, Gas: 250, Time: 200 secs)

  • Required: Twilight Council

Extended Thermal Lances (Upgrade for the Protoss Colossus unit)

  • (Minerals: 200, Gas: 200, Time: 140 secs)

Abilities:

  • Cliff Walk: The Protoss Colossus is able to walk up and down cliff terrains.
  • Required: Robotics Bay

Starcraft 2 Colossus Strategy Tips and Tricks

Starcraft 2 Collosus

Strong Against:

Vulnerable To:

Protoss vs Protoss

The Protoss Colossus is monstrously powerful when pitted against ground enemies, and its thermal lances with their long range and splash damage will carve through groups of Zealot infantry. However, its very size can be its downfall, as it is so huge it can be attacked by anti-air units, and beware your opponent concentrating Carrier and Phoenix air groups against Colossus units.

Protoss vs Terran

Marines are just as vulnerable to the Colossus as Zealots, and the Cliff Walk ability means it can continue to hound Terran ground forces as they try to retreat. Vikings are a huge achilles heel for the Protoss Colossus, as they can engage it from great distances with their air-to-air attacks.

Protoss vs Zerg

Zergling swarms are swiftly dispatched by a Colossus, and they are very effective at preventing your opponent building up massive concentrations of ground forces at strategic points. The Ultralisk is able to go toe-to-toe with the Colossus, though, thanks to its high stats, while this Protoss unit is another one vulnerable to the Mind Control ability of the Infestor.

Conclusion

Perhaps the least elegant of the Protoss units, both in design and gameplay, the Starcraft 2 Colossus is a fantastic war machine to deploy when your opponent has managed to concentrate a significant advantage in ground infantry at key points on the Battlefield. These teetering giants are the worst nightmare for any marine grunt, Zealot or Zergling as they crawl over even steep inclines in the terrain. Provide them with good anti-air defence and watch them cause carnage amongst your Starcraft 2 opponent’s armies.