Archon

From The StarCraft 2 Wiki

The Archon is a powerful ground unit for the Protoss that is the result of a merger between two templar.

Contents 1 Background 2 Game Unit 2.1 StarCraft II Archon 2.1.1 Upgrades 2.2 StarCraft I Archon 2.2.1 Upgrades 3 Known Archons 4 Related Psionic Creatures 5 Development 6 Gallery

[edit] Background

StarCraft II Unit [e]
Archon
Race:	Protoss
Role:	Heavy Assault
Unit Statistics
Size:	Large
Type:	Psionic, Massive
Speed:	x
Transport Slots:	4/8
Hit Points:	10
Plasma Shields:	350
Energy Points:	N/A
Offence
Armament:	Psionic Shockwave
Ground Attack:	25x2 + 10 vs Biological
Air Attack:	25x2 + 10 vs Biological
Range:	2
Defence
Armor:	Light
Sight:	8
Cooldown:	Normal
Special Abilities
No Special Abilities
Production
Hotkey:	R
Supply:	4
Resources:	0 0
Build Time:	17
Produced by:	2 Templars
Prerequisite:	2 Templars

Every Protoss has a level of psionic capability that is extremely rare among Terrans. The Templar caste devote their long lives to honing their powerful abilities for war. Of these dedicated individuals, only the most adept and disciplined in the ways of the Khala can hope to eventually rise to the honored rank of High Templar. The terrifying power of the High Templar is rightly feared by the enemies of the Protoss. A mere handful of these potent individuals can lay waste to entire armies of foes.

The Dark Templar hail from very different roots, but the powers at their command are no less awe-inspiring. While the High Templar unleash fire and lightning, the Dark Templar stalk the shadows, swathed in darkness. However, both branches of the Templar tradition share the ability to merge their souls to form a deadly Archon.

These swirling, burning effigies of the Protoss spirit radiate incalculable power. Their devastating psionic shockwaves can be unleashed against cowering enemy forces both in the air and on the ground. With the halves of the Protoss race reunited, an Archon can now be brought into being by the merge of two High Templar, or two Dark Templar, or even the unification of a Dark Templar and a High Templar. Although the Protoss are loath to sacrifice valuable templar, those who do achieve this final level of commitment are forever honored in the memories of their people.

[edit] Game Unit

The Archon hasn't changed much since their appearance in StarCraft I.

[edit] StarCraft II Archon

The Archon remains in its original role as the Protoss heavy hitter capable of devastating huge groups of enemy air and ground targets with its Psionic Shockwave. One can be summoned to the battlefield through the merging of any combination of two High and Dark templars.

The Archon is very susceptible to the Terrans EMP shockwave, since 95% of its durability is protected by Plasma Shields.

[edit] Upgrades

• Ground Weapons 1-3
• Ground Armor 1-3
• Plasma Shields 1-3

[edit] StarCraft I Archon

The Archon merge is initiated when at least two High Templar are selected and the Summon Archon command is issued. During this time, the merged Templar are unable to attack and in a highly vulnerable state. Once the two High Templar enter into their Psionic cocoon, the process is irreversible and the High Templar used to merge will be lost forever.

The Archon's attack has a small splash damage, dealing 1/2 damage to all enemy targets within 1-15 pixel radius, and a further 1/4 damage to those within a 15-30 pixel radius. It can target both air and ground units together if they are close by which makes them very effective at taking out stacked Mutalisks and Wraiths.

The weakness of the Archon is with their small HP count. If the shields are removed then the Archon will fall quickly under any sort of attack. It is for this reason the Terran EMP Shockwave is extremely deadly to any Protoss army that consists primarily around Archons, since it will deplete the shields of all caught within its range.

An Archon will not trigger the Vulture's spider mines, is immune to Irradiate and Spawn Broodling and can attack while under Dark Swarm.

StarCraft I Unit [e]
Archon
Race:	Protoss
Role:	Heavy Assault
Unit Statistics
Size:	Large
Type:	Biological
Transport Slots:	4/8
Hit Points:	10
Plasma Shields:	350
Energy Points:	N/A
Offence
Armament:	Psionic Shockwave
Ground Attack:	30
Air Attack:	30
Range:	2
Defence
Armor:	0
Sight:	8
Cooldown:	20
Special Abilities
No Special Abilities
Production
Hotkey:	R
Supply:	4
Resources:	0 0
Build Time:	20
Produced by:	2 High Templar
Prerequisite:	2 High Templar

[edit] Upgrades

• Ground Weapons 1-3
• Ground Armor 1-3
• Plasma Shields 1-3

[edit] Known Archons

• Tassadar / Zeratul (as listed in the StarCraft I editor)

[edit] Related Psionic Creatures

• Archon
• Dark Archon
• Twilight Archon

[edit] Development

The Archon was originally called the Twilight Archon during the development of StarCraft II, but it received a name change in mid March with the Korean WWI ’08 build. It also originally kept the Feedback ability from the Dark Archons of Brood War however this has since mysteriously disappeared. More recently the Archon has been seen with a Power Overwhelming skill that grants an additional 20 points of damage after a fresh creation – it’s unclear if this is still in the current build.

Earlier models for the Archon clearly showed leg plates or "feet". This was removed in the current model due to negative fan feedback.

Recent interviews have also shown that Blizzard has at several times mentioned that they are experimenting with some abilities for the Archon and it is expected to have at least one skill when the Wings of Liberty instalment for StarCraft II is released.

[edit] Gallery

• General StarCraft II Shots
  • In-game Shots
  • Concept Art
  • Unit Models

A closeup of the Archon in StarCraft II.	The old Twilight Archon model.	The Archon portrait in StarCraft II.	Concept art for the Archon.
Three Archons attack a Terran outpost.	A few Archons help defend a Protoss base.	Several Archons help attack the Terrans.	A Psi attack on a Zerg base.
Three Archons in StarCraft I destroying a Zerg Hatchery.	A group of Archons defending a Protoss base in StarCraft I.	A mixed Protoss force consisting of an Archon.

Protoss Units (StarCraft II) [e]
Ground Units:	Probe | Zealot | Stalker | Nullifier | Immortal | Colossus | High Templar | Archon | Dark Templar
Air Units:	Warp Prism | Observer | Phoenix | Void Ray | Carrier (Interceptor) | Mothership
Basic Buildings:	Nexus | Assimilator | Pylon | Gateway | Warp Gate | Forge | Photon Cannon | Cybernetics Core
Advanced Buildings:	Twilight Council | Templar Archives | Dark Obelisk | Robotics Facility | Null Circuit | Stargate | Fleet Beacon
Cancelled Units:	Purifier | Reaver | Star Relic | Tempest (Shuriken)
Cancelled Buildings:	Phase Cannon | War Shrine | War Beacon | Dark Pylon | Observatory

Protoss Units (StarCraft I & Brood War) [e]
Ground Units:	Probe | Zealot | Dragoon | Reaver | High Templar | Archon | Dark Templar | Dark Archon
Air Units:	Shuttle | Scout | Arbiter | Carrier (Interceptor) | Observer | Corsair
Basic Buildings:	Nexus | Assimilator | Pylon | Gateway | Forge | Shield Battery | Cybernetics Core | Photon Cannon
Advanced Buildings:	Robotics Facility | Stargate | Citadel of Adun | Robotics Support Bay | Fleet Beacon | Templar Archives | Observatory | Arbiter Tribunal
Hero ground units:	Dark Templar (Hero) (dt) | Zeratul (dt, arc) | Tassadar (ht, arc) | Fenix (zl, dr) | Warbringer (r)
Hero air units:	Mojo (sct) | Gantrithor (cr) | Danimoth (arb) | Artanis (sct)
(dt) = Dark Templar, (arc) = Archon, (ht) = High Templar, (zl) = Zealot, (dr) = Dragoon, (r) = Reaver, (sct) = Scout, (cr) Carrier, (arb) = Arbiter