Mind Control

From The StarCraft 2 Wiki

Background

StarCraft I Ability [e]
Mind Control
Race:	Protoss
Ability Statistics
Energy Points:	150 + all shields
Cooldown:	2 seconds
Production
Hotkey:	C
Resources:	200 200
Research Time:	120
Researched at:	Templar Archive
Prerequisite:	Templar Archive

Mind Control is a deadly skill that is available to the Protoss Dark Archon. Through a huge effort of will and energy, the Dark Archon dominates the mind of another being making the targeted unit and its powers and knowledge now the property of the caster.

Any unit that is capture with Mind Control are permanently under the Dark Archon's command. It can be cast on all controllable units, thus excluding the Spider Mine, Interceptor, Larvae and Scarabs from the Reaver.

Due to the steep energy cost and the side effect of losing all shields of the caster, it is important to identify the right target to Mind Control and to do so from a safe distance. Less desirable targets, such as a Zergling and Marine should be avoided because the expected output from the newly acquired units will be debatable.

More valued targets include the larger and more costly enemy units, such as a Battlecruiser or Carrier. Another ideal target is the enemy transport, since any units that it happens to be carrying will all be converted to the Dark Archon's side along with the original target. This could give a significant boost to the Protoss by allowing the addition of up to 9 allies with a single cast.

Perhaps the most useful target of a Mind Control is an enemy worker of a different race (whether Zerg or Terran), since it then allows the complete reconstruction of that races colony. This could effectively increase the original Protoss force by an extra 200 supply for each different race already not under the Dark Archon's control, and allow for some truly unique tactics - such as an Arbiter cloaking a group of Terran allies.

The final advantage to Mind Control is the transfer of unique upgrades. As an example, when Mind Control is cast on a Dragoon with the Singularity Charge range upgrade then its improved range technology will also be carried over to other Dragoons in the Dark Archon's army (assuming they do not have the range upgrade to begin with). This will not work with the Ground Weapons, Ground Armor, Air Weapons, Air Armor and Plasma Shields upgrades.

Mind Control will not display the target's knowledge of the current map, nor does it allow the building of units that the Protoss does not immediately have access to. For example, casting Mind Control on an enemy Carrier will now allow the Carrier to be warped in without a Fleet Beacon. Casting Mind Control on a hallucinated unit will destroy it.