Starcraft 2 Protoss Buildings Guide
Starcraft 2 Protoss Buildings - Introduction
In the next part of our complete guide to the Protoss in Starcraft 2, we take a look at all the key Protoss buildings and structures.
The Protoss are the most technologically advanced of the three playable races in Starcraft 2 multiplayer, allowing to produce powerful war machines as a match progresses, but this does come at the cost of relatively slow build up of units and structures in the early part of the game. It is therefore vital to know what Starcraft 2 Protoss buildings produce what units, upgrades and researches to provide yourself with the breathing room to create a balanced and mighty build order. This guide to Protoss building units will give you a complete reference for every units vital statistics, upgrades and requirements.
Nexus
The Nexus are the essential base blocks of the Protoss buildings. They produce the Probe worker units and hold all resources that have been gathered. They are the foundation of your Protoss build.
Minerals: 400
Gas: 0
Build Time: 100 secs
Health: 750
Shields: 750
Energy: 100
Armor: 1
Produces: Probe, Mothership
Abilities
Chrono Boost
Cast Time: Instant
Energy: 25
Duration: 20 secs
Speeds up train rate for units or the upgrade rate for researches on a targeted building by 50% for duration.
Upgrades
Shields 1-3
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
Pylon
Pylons are the ultimate support unit, providing power to all the other Protoss building units, bar the Nexus. It is therefore essential that you defend these important units, because when destroyed they power down all your buildings within their influence
range.
Minerals: 100
Gas: 0
Build Time: 25 secs
Health: 200
Shields: 200
Energy: 0
Armor: 1
Required: Nexus
Upgrades
Shields 1-3
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
Assimilator
Assimilators are the gas refineries for the Protoss, transforming the raw deposits collected by your Probes into a usable resource. Thus, it is vital you construct these relatively early to ensure you can access the later game units and buildings.
Minerals: 75
Gas: 0
Build Time: 30 secs
Health: 450
Shields: 450
Energy: 0
Armor: 1
Required: Nexus
Upgrades
Shields 1-3
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
Gateway
The foundation for the Protoss race’s unique battlefield abilities, the Gateway rends space and time, constructing a direct path between the Protoss home systems and the front line, allowing for the transport of the major Protoss units. This Protoss building is reliant on a functioning power grid of Pylons and Phase Prisms as it requires massive amounts of energy.
Minerals: 150
Gas: 0
Build Time: 65 secs
Health: 500
Shields: 500
Energy: 0
Armor: 1
Produces: Zealot, Stalker, Sentry, High Templar, Dark Templar
Required: Nexus
Abilities
Transform to Warpgate
Cast Time: 10 secs
Required: Gateway
Researched: Cybernetics Core
Upgrades an existing Gateway unit into a Warpgate.
Upgrades
Shields 1-3
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
Forge
The driving force of Protoss technology, this building unit enables shield upgrades for all other Protoss units as well as weapon and armor upgrades for ground-based units.
Minerals: 150
Gas: 0
Build Time: 45 secs
Health: 400
Shields: 400
Energy: 0
Armor: 1
Required: Nexus
Upgrades
Shields 1-3
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
Researches
Shields 1-3 (Provides an upgrade for all of the Protoss units and buildings)
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 (Provides an upgrade for all of the 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 (Provides an upgrade for all of the Protoss ground 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
Photon Cannon
The essential defensive Starcraft 2 Protoss building, and the cornerstone of any Protoss strategy, with the ability to deal damage to attackers from the ground and air, as well as uncloak opposition units.
Minerals: 150
Gas: 0
Build Time: 40 secs
Health: 150
Shields: 150
Energy: 0
Armor: 1
Required: Forge
Weapons
Photon Cannon
Type: Ground/Air
Base Damage: 20
Range: 7
Speed: Normal
Abilities
Detector
Cast Time: Instant
Allows Photon Cannon to detect burrowing, hallucinating or cloaked enemy units.
Upgrades
Shields 1-3
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
WarpGate
An upgraded Gateway unit, the WarpGate combined with a Phased Warp Prism allows the player to transport units anywhere on the battlefield, a great tool for reinforcement and catching your opponent off-guard.
Minerals: 50
Gas: 50
Build Time: 10 secs
Health: 550
Shields: 550
Energy: 0
Armor: 1
Required: Gateway
Abilities
Transform to Gateway
Cast Time: 3 secs
Required: WarpGate
Downgrades a WarpGate back to a standard Gateway.
Upgrades
Shields 1-3
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
Cybernetics Core
The key to advanced Protoss units for the late-game, the Cybernetics Core is the research foundry for Protoss aerial units.
Minerals: 150
Gas: 0
Build Time: 50 secs
Health: 550
Shields: 550
Energy: 0
Armor: 1
Required: Gateway
Upgrades
Shields 1-3
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
Researches
Air Weapons 1-3 (Upgrade for all of the Protoss aerial 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: Fleet Beacon
Air Armor 1-3 (Upgrade for all of the Protoss aerial units
Level 1 (Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 140 secs)
Level 2 (Minerals: 225, Gas: 225, Time: 170 secs)
Level 3 (Minerals: 300, Gas: 300, Time: 200 secs)
Required: Fleet Beacon
Warpgate (Upgrade for Gateway units)
(Minerals: 50, Gas: 50, Time: 140 secs)
Hallucination (Upgrade for Sentry units)
(Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 110 secs)
Twilight Council
Another of the core building blocks of your Protoss support structures, the Twilight Council is a research unit for Zealot and Stalker upgrades as well as enabling the Shields upgrade for all Protoss units and buildings.
Minerals: 150
Gas: 100
Build Time: 50 secs
Health: 500
Shields: 500
Energy: 0
Armor: 1
Required: Cybernetics Core
Upgrades
Shields 1-3
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
Researches
Charge (Upgrade for Zealot units)
(Minerals: 200, Gas: 200, Time: 140 secs)
Blink (Upgrade for Stalker units)
(Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 110 secs)
Robotics Facility
The main production unit for all the robotic automaton Protoss units, vital as the battle progresses.
Minerals: 200
Gas: 200
Build Time: 65 secs
Health: 450
Shields: 450
Energy: 0
Armor: 1
Produces: Observer, Immortal, Warp Prism, Colossus
Required: Cybernetics Core
Upgrades
Shields 1-3
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
Stargate
The Stargate is a massive version of the WarpGate, allowing the giant Protoss war vessels to materialize onto the battlefield. These vital late-game units provide unparralled firepower.
Minerals: 150
Gas: 150
Build Time: 60 secs
Health: 600
Shields: 600
Energy: 0
Armor: 1
Produces: Phoenix, Void Ray, Carrier
Required: Cybernetics Core
Upgrades
Shields 1-3
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
Templar Archives
This research Protoss building unit is the key building the High Templar, as well as unlocking its awesome Psionic Storm special ability.
Minerals: 150
Gas: 200
Build Time: 50 secs
Health: 500
Shields: 500
Energy: 0
Armor: 1
Required: Twilight Council
Upgrades
Shields 1-3
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
Researches
Psionic Storm (Upgrade for the High Templar unit)
(Minerals: 200, Gas: 200, Time: 110 secs)
Khaydarin Amulet (Upgrade for the High Templar unit)
(Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 110 secs)
Dark Shrine
This Protoss building simply provides access to the Dark Templar unit, and serves no other function.
Minerals: 100
Gas: 200
Build Time: 100 secs
Health: 500
Shields: 500
Energy: 0
Armor: 1
Required: Twilight Council
Upgrades
Shields 1-3
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
Robotics Bay
Formerly know as the Null circuit, this Protoss structure allows access to the Colossus and researches upgrades for that unit as well as the Observer and Warp Prism.
Minerals: 200
Gas: 200
Build Time: 65 secs
Health: 500
Shields: 500
Energy: 0
Armor: 1
Required: Robotics Facility
Upgrades
Shields 1-3
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
Researches
Extended Thermal Lances (Upgrade for the Colossus unit)
(Minerals: 200, Gas: 200, Time: 140 secs)
Gravitic Booster (Upgrade for the Observer unit)
(Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 110 secs)
Gravitic Drive (Upgrade for the Warp Prism unit)
(Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 80 secs)
Fleet Beacon
This Protoss building provides the huge amounts of energy needed by the Stargate to be able to materialize the Protoss capital ships, the Carrier and Mothership, as well as providing researches for both units.
Minerals: 300
Gas: 200
Build Time: 60 secs
Health: 500
Shields: 500
Energy: 0
Armor: 1
Required: Stargate
Upgrades
Shields 1-3
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
Researches
Flux Vanes (Upgrade for the Void Ray unit)
(Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 80 secs)
Graviton Catapult (Upgrade for the Carrier unit)
(Minerals: 150, Gas: 150, Time: 80 secs)
Conclusion
The Starcraft 2 Protoss buildings are amongst the most visually stunning and powerful in the game. Familiarizing yourself with these building units stats, upgrades and researches will help you form a coherent strategy and set you on the path to dominating your opponents in Starcraft 2 multiplayer, be they Terran, Zerg or Protoss, allowong you to wield crushing force as the game moves into its later stages.
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.