In-Depth Guide to Starcraft 2 Terran Buildings & Structures
In this next part of our total guide to the Terran forces in Starcraft 2 multiplayer, Bright Hub examines all of those important Terran building units and structures.
While the Terrans may not have the technological superiority of the Protoss or the biological resources of the Zerg race, they do have a fairly well balanced tech tree, allowing them to get vital units produced at the right time. Key to exploiting the available resources on a multiplayer map as Terran in Starcraft 2 is using the mobility and cargo capacity of your central Command buildings to ferry worker SCVs quickly to the scene and get harvesting. This guide will help you develop a healthy and balanced network of production facilities, bases and research centers to create the perfect build order for your Terran army, with a comprehensive reference for every Terran building units vital stats, Abilities, Upgrades and Researches.
Command Center
The Command Center is the core of any Terran base. Producing the resource-gathering SCVs, the Terran Command Center has the added flexibility of being able to move aerially and load up to five SCVs in its bay, allowing a Terran player to rapidly exploit newly discovered Mineral Fields and Gas Geysers.
Minerals: 400
Gas: -
Build Time: 100 secs
Health: 1500
Energy: -
Armor: 1
Produces: SCV
Required: -
Abilities
Lift Off
Type: Command
The Command Center Unit can take to the air and relocate to a new area.
Load
Type: Command
The Command Center Unit can load up to 5 SCVs to transport when airborne.
Upgrades
Building Armor
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 140 secs)
Upgrades building units armor by 2 points.
Supply Depot
The Supply Depot is the main focus for all Terran resource exploitation.
Minerals: 100
Gas: -
Build Time: 30 secs
Health: 350
Energy: -
Armor: 1
Required: -
Abilities
Lower: the Supply Depot unit will lower itself into the ground to allow ground troops to pass over it.
Type: Command
Raise: The Supply Depot unit will rise up out of the ground to prevent the passage of ground units
Upgrades
Building Armor
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 140 secs)
Upgrades building units armor by 2 points.
Refinery
The Refinery processes Vespene Gas into usable resources for Terran armies.
Minerals: 75
Gas: -
Build Time: 30 secs
Health: 500
Energy: -
Armor: 1
Required: -
Upgrades
Building Armor
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 140 secs)
Upgrades building units armor by 2 points.
Barracks
The production hub for ground infantry units.
Minerals: 150
Gas: -
Build Time: 60 secs
Health: 1000
Energy: -
Armor: 1
Produces: Ghost, Marauder, Marine, Reaper
Required: Command Center
Abilities
Lift Off
Type: Command
The Barracks Unit can take to the air and relocate to a new area.
Upgrades
Building Armor
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 140 secs)
Upgrades building units armor by 2 points.
Orbital Command
The Orbital Command is an upgraded Command Center with a Scanner detection system and a satellite upload link for calling in emergency supply and MULE vehicle drops.
Minerals: 150
Gas: -
Build Time: 35 secs
Health: 1500
Energy: 200
Armor: 1
Required: Command Center, Barracks
Abilities
Lift Off
Type: Command
The Orbital Command Unit can take to the air and relocate to a new area.
Scanner Sweep
Type: Command
Energy: 50
Duration: 12 secs
The Orbital Command unit will sensor sweep an area of the battlefield which will reveal the presnce of any burrowing or cloaked units.
Calldown: MULE
Type: Command
Energy: 50
Duration: 90 secs
Cast Time: 6 secs
The Orbital Command unit calls in a MULE drone to a targeted Mineral Field. The MULE will proceed to gather Minerals at a far faster pace than an SCV for the duration.
Calldown: Extra Supplies
Type: Command
Energy: 50
The Orbital Command unit calls in an emergency supply drop on a targeted Supply Depot, permanently increasing its ouput by a total of +8.
Upgrades
Building Armor
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 140 secs)
Upgrades building units armor by 2 points.
Planetary Fortress
Another upgrade route for the Command Center, this building unit packs a powerful punch against ground units with its twin cannons.
Minerals: 150
Gas: 150
Build Time: 50 secs
Health: 1500
Energy: -
Armor: 3
Required: Command Center, Engineering Bay
Weapons
Twin Ibiks Cannons
- Ground Attack
- Attacks: 1
- Range: 6
- Damage: 40
Upgrades
Building Armor
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 140 secs)
Upgrades building units armor by 2 points.
Hi-Sec Auto Tracking
- (Minerals: 100, gas: 100, Time: 80 secs)
This Upgrade will add a +1 Range to the following units: Auto-Turrets, Point Defense Drones, Missile Turrets, Planetary Fortesses.
Engineering Bay
The Engineering Bay is the hub for Research into infantry-based Upgrades.
Minerals: 125
Gas: -
Build Time: 35 secs
Health: 850
Energy: -
Armor: 1
Required:
Upgrades
Building Armor
(Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 140 secs)
Upgrades building units armor by 2 points.
Researches
Infantry Weapons 1-3 (Upgrade for all of the Terran infantry units)
- Level 1: (Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 160 secs)
- Level 2: (Minerals: 175, Gas: 175, Time: 190 secs)
- Level 3: (Minerals: 250, Gas: 250, Time: 220 secs)
- Required: Armory
Infantry Armor 1-3 (Upgrade for all of the Terran infantry units)
- Level 1: (Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 160 secs)
- Level 2: (Minerals: 175, Gas: 175, Time: 190 secs)
- Level 3: (Minerals: 250, Gas: 250, Time: 220 secs)
- Required: Armory
Building Armor
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 140 secs)
Upgrades building units armor by 2 points.
Hi-Sec Auto Tracking
- (Minerals: 100, gas: 100, Time: 80 secs)
This Upgrade will add a +1 Range to the following units: Auto-Turrets, Point Defense Drones, Missile Turrets, Planetary Fortesses.
Neosteel Frames
- (Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 110 secs)
This upgrade increases the cargo space available in Bunkers, Command Centers and Planetary Fortresses.
Bunker
Bunkers act as defensive outposts, providing protection to Terran infantry units.
Minerals: 100
Gas: -
Build Time: 30 secs
Health: 400
Energy: -
Armor: 1
Required: Barracks
Abilities
Salvage
Type Command
Duration: 3 secs
This command will destroy the Bunker unit and return 100% of its Gas and Mineral value. Once triggered it cannot be halted.
Load
Type: Command
The Bunker Unit can load up to 4 Units (6 with Neosteel Frames Upgrade) to protect against attack.
Upgrades
Building Armor
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 140 secs)
Upgrades building units armor by 2 points.
Neosteel Frames
- (Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 110 secs)
This upgrade increases the cargo space available in Bunkers, Command Centers and Planetary Fortresses.
Missile Turret
Performing air defense duties for Terran bases, the Missile Turret is able to detect hidden enemies as well.
Minerals: 100
Gas: -
Build Time: 25 secs
Health: 250
Energy: -
Armor: 0
Required: Engineering Bay
Weapons
Longbolt Missile
- Air Attack
- Attacks: 2
- Range: 7
- damage: 12
Abilities
Detector: The Missile Turret unit can detect the presence of burrowing, cloaked and hallucinated enemy units.
Upgrades
Building Armor
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 140 secs)
Upgrades building units armor by 2 points.
Hi-Sec Auto Tracking
- (Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 80 secs)
This Upgrade will add a +1 Range to the following units: Auto-Turrets, Point Defense Drones, Missile Turrets, Planetary Fortesses.
Neosteel Frames
- (Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 110 secs)
This upgrade increases the cargo space available in Bunkers, Command Centers and Planetary Fortresses.
Sensor Tower
The Sensor Tower can provide Terran players with important intel on enemy troop movements otherwise obscured by the fog of war.
Minerals: 125
Gas: 100
Build Time: 25 secs
Health: 200
Energy: -
Armor: 1
Required: Engineering Bay
Abilities
Radar: The Sensor Tower unit can indicate enemy troop movements up to a 30 Range.
Upgrades
Building Armor
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 140 secs)
Upgrades building units armor by 2 points.
Factory
The Factory is the Production hub for the heavier and armored Terran ground units.
Minerals: 150
Gas: 100
Build Time: 60 secs
Health: 1250
Energy: -
Armor: 1
Produces: Hellion, Siege Tank, Thor
Required: Barracks
Abilities
Lift Off
Type: Command
The Command Unit can take to the air and relocate to a new area.
Upgrades
Building Armor
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 140 secs)
Upgrades building units armor by 2 points.
Ghost Academy
Dedicated Research structure for the Terran Ghost class of unit.
Minerals: 150
Gas: 50
Build Time: 40 secs
Health: 1250
Energy: -
Armor: 1
Required:
Upgrades
Building Armor
(Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 140 secs)
Upgrades building units armor by 2 points.
Researches
Personal Cloaking
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 120 secs)
This Upgrade allows Ghost units the Cloak Ability.
Moebius Reactor
- (Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 80 secs)
This Upgrade increases Ghost units starting Energy by +25.
Arm Silo With Nuke
(Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 60 secs)
This Upgrade allows a Ghost Unit to call in a Tactical Nuke.
Armory
The Armory researches Upgrades for Terran vehicle and ship unit weaponry and armor.
Minerals: 150
Gas: 100
Build Time: 65 secs
Health: 750
Energy: -
Armor: 1
Required: Factory
Upgrades
Building Armor
(Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 140 secs)
Upgrades building units armor by 2 points.
Researches
Vehicle Weapons 1-3 (Upgrade for all of the Terran vehicle units)
- Level 1: (Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 160 secs)
- Level 2: (Minerals: 175, Gas: 175, Time: 190 secs)
- Level 3: (Minerals: 250, Gas: 250, Time: 220 secs)
- Required: Factory
Vehicle Plating 1-3 (Upgrade for all of the Terran vehicle units)
- Level 1: (Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 160 secs)
- Level 2: (Minerals: 175, Gas: 175, Time: 190 secs)
- Level 3: (Minerals: 250, Gas: 250, Time: 220 secs)
- Required: Factory
Ship Weapons 1-3 (Upgrade for all of the Terran ship units)
- Level 1: (Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 160 secs)
- Level 2: (Minerals: 175, Gas: 175, Time: 190 secs)
- Level 3: (Minerals: 250, Gas: 250, Time: 220 secs)
- Required: Starport
Ship Plating 1-3 (Upgrade for all of the Terran ship units)
- Level 1: (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 160 secs)
- Level 2: (Minerals: 225, Gas: 225, Time: 190 secs)
- Level 3: (Minerals: 300, Gas: 300, Time: 220 secs)
- Required: Starport
Starport
A vital late-game production facility, spitting out aerial units for the Terran forces, including the mighty Battlecruiser.
Minerals: 150
Gas: 100
Build Time: 50 secs
Health: 1300
Energy: -
Armor: 1
Produces: Banshee, Battlecruiser, Medivac, Raven, Viking
Required: Factory
Abilities
Lift Off
Type: Command
The Starport Unit can take to the air and relocate to a new area.
Upgrades
Building Armor
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 140 secs)
Upgrades building units armor by 2 points.
Fusion Core
A building unit dedicated to researching upgrades for the Battlecruiser unit.
Minerals: 150
Gas: 150
Build Time: 65 secs
Health: 750
Energy: -
Armor: 1
Required: Starport
Upgrades
Building Armor
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 140 secs)
Upgrades building units armor by 2 points.
Researches
Behemoth Reactor
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 80 secs)
This Upgrade increases a Battlecruiser’s starting energy by 25.
Weapon Refit
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time; 60 secs)
This Upgrade unlocks the powerful ability Yamato Cannon.
Tech Lab
Tech Labs are multi-purpose units that can be attached to either Barracks, Factories or Starports, and can then Research Upgrades for the classes of units produced by those particular structures.
Minerals: 50
Gas: 25
Build Time: 25 secs
Health: 400
Energy: -
Armor: 1
Required: Barracks, Factory, Starport
Upgrades
Building Armor
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 140 secs)
Upgrades building units armor by 2 points.
Researches
Stimpack (Upgrade for Marine unit)
- (Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 140 secs)
Combat Shield (Upgrade for Marine unit)
- (Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 110 secs)
Infernal Pre-Igniter (Upgrade for Hellion unit)
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 110 secs)
Siege Tech (Upgrade for Siege Tank unit)
- (Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 80 secs)
Corvid Reactor ( Increase to Raven unit starting Energy of 25)
- (MInerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 110 secs)
Seeker Missile (Upgrade for Raven unit)
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 110 secs)
- Required: Fusion Core
Caduceus Reactor (Increases starting Energy of Medivac by a value of +25)
- (Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 80 secs)
Cloaking Field (Upgrade for Banshee unit)
- (MInerals: 200, Gas: 200, Time: 110 secs)
- Required: Fusion Core
Nitro Packs (Upgrade for Reaper Unit)
- (Minerals: 50, Gas: 50, Time: 100 secs)
Concussive Shells (Upgrade for Marauder unit)
- (Minerals: 50, Gas: 50, Time: 60 secs)
250mm Strike Cannons (Upgrade for Thor unit)
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 110 secs)
Reactor
When attached to any one of a Barracks, Factory or Starport, the Reactor doubles the production capacity and allows for two production queues at once, although the individual unit costs remain the same.
Minerals: 50
Gas: 50
Build Time: 50 secs
Health: 400
Energy: -
Armor: 1
Required: Barracks, Factory, Starport
Upgrades
Building Armor
- (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 140 secs)
Upgrades building units armor by 2 points.
Conclusion
The Terran building units may seem fairly staid and functional, but what they sacrifice in aesthetic appeal they make up for when it comes to pumping out those units at a regular rate in the heat of battle. Absorb the info in this article, and you’ll soon have a solid understanding of the essential stats, Upgrades and Researches from each of these buildings and structures, helping you form a cohesive plan to march towards Starcraft 2 multiplayer domination on Battle.net.
This post is part of the series: The Complete Starcraft 2 Building Units Guide
Bright Hub has compiled one of the most indepth guides to all the available Building Units and Structures for Terran, Protoss and Zerg players in Starcraft 2 online multiplayer available anywhere on the Web. Each article has all the stats, Upgrades, Abilities and Researches info you need for SC2.