Viking

From The StarCraft 2 Wiki

The Viking is the ultimate achievement in versatility. It is built in the form of a jet with a dedicated air attack, but can be upgraded with the ability to transform into a mech for ground attacks.

Contents 1 Background 1.1 StarCraft II Unit 1.1.1 Assault Mode 1.1.2 Fighter Mode 1.1.3 Abilities 1.1.4 Upgrades 2 Development 3 Trivia 4 Media

[edit] Background

StarCraft II Unit [e]
Viking
Race:	Terran
Role:	Anti-Air Support
Unit Statistics
Size:	Medium
Type:	Flying, Mechanical
Speed:	x
Transport Slots:	N/A
Hit Points:	125
Plasma Shields:	N/A
Energy Points:	N/A
Offence
Armament:	MT38 Sidewinders
Ground Attack:	N/A
Air Attack:	10 (x2)
Range:	5
Defence
Armor:	0
Sight:	x
Cooldown:	x
Special Abilities
Assault Mode     3	Transforms to Assault mode to attack ground units.
Production
Hotkey:	V
Supply:	2
Resources:	125 100
Build Time:	42
Produced by:	Starport
Prerequisite:	Starport

The Brood War revealed critical weaknesses in Terran anti-air capability. The new Wraith combat fighters and Valkyrie missile frigates proved to be an unwieldy combination against agile Zerg airborne organisms. Ground-based anti-air support from Goliath assault walkers was too limited in its mobility: all too often airborne attackers would simply move out of the Goliath's range and find less well-defended targets to destroy.

In the aftermath of the war, Terran weapon technicians proposed a radical new concept to resolve both of these problems. Based heavily on the transformation design of the Terran siege tank, the Viking was designed to be the ultimate anti-air and ground-support weapon system. With the ability to change its combat role from an assault walker to an air-superiority fighter, the Viking can switch smoothly to fulfill tactical needs in a developing battle.

The high mobility of the Viking has also led to its expanding beyond the limitations of ground support. Full-scale raids by Viking squadrons can inflict devastating damage and are very problematic to counter. In order to defeat Vikings, the enemy needs to bring a strong ground and air force to bear.

Terrans have had difficulty finding pilots who can master both combat modes. Typically Viking pilots are killed quickly in their first fight as they struggle to handle this complex machine. If they are talented enough to survive, they will last for hundreds of battles, becoming the ultimate Terran aces.

[edit] StarCraft II Unit

The Viking's versatility lies with its ability to transform between Fighter Mode and Assault Mode, allowing it to change tactics mid-battle or quickly escape from a dangerous situation. They are the bread and butter air unit for the Terrans, having replaced the Wraith from StarCraft I as the opening air unit built from the Starport.

[edit] Assault Mode

Assault Mode has less mobility then Fighter Mode, however it allows the Viking to attack ground based units and, more importantly, enemy structures. Assault Mode is best used when defending friendly Siege Tanks or tanking enemy units.

[edit] Fighter Mode

The Viking starts out in Fighter Mode which allows the Viking to fly but attack air-to-air only. With increased mobility over Assault Mode, Fighter Mode is the perfect ability for the Viking to scout or harass the opponent's base and chase down escaping enemy units. Fighter Mode also allows the Viking to be excellent escorts for Medivac Dropships.

[edit] Abilities

• Assault Mode
• Fighter Mode

[edit] Upgrades

• Ship Weapons 1-3
• Ship Plating 1-3

StarCraft II Unit [e]
Viking
Race:	Terran
Role:	Ground Support
Unit Statistics
Size:	Medium
Type:	Mechanical
Speed:	x
Transport Slots:	x
Hit Points:	125
Plasma Shields:	N/A
Energy Points:	N/A
Offence
Armament:	Twin Gatling Cannon
Ground Attack:	10
Air Attack:	N/A
Range:	6
Defence
Armor:	0
Sight:	x
Cooldown:	x
Special Abilities
Fighter Mode     3	Transforms to Fighter mode to attack air units.
Production
Hotkey:	V
Supply:	2
Resources:	125 100
Build Time:	42
Produced by:	Starport
Prerequisite:	Starport

[edit] Development

As part of the Q&A Batch 20 mid November '07, the Viking was moved from the Factory to the Starport to fill the role as the Anti-air unit for the Terrans (from the Predator).

The Viking was then returned to the Factory as part of the Q&A Batch 28 to help cover for the Thor. A short two months later saw the Viking returned to the Starport where it remains to this day.

[edit] Trivia

• It was also confirmed in early February '08 with the Q&A Batch 29 that the Viking was capable of attacking both ground and air while in Assault Mode. This attack bonus has since been removed.

[edit] Media

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

An early model of the Viking in Assault Mode.	An early model of the Viking in Fighter Mode.	An upgraded model of the Viking in Assault Mode.	An upgraded model of the Viking in Fighter Mode.
Concept art for the Viking.	A group of Vikings in flight.	Vikings attack a Terran defense parameter.	Vikings defend in both Assault and Fighter modes.
A group of Vikings outnumbered.	Vikings in a TvT battle.	A squadron of Vikings leading an assault on the Protoss.	Several Vikings repelling some Battlecruisers.
A pair of Vikings attacking the Zerg.	The new Viking model in action.	Battle over a river.	Several Vikings defending a Terran base.
A group of Vikings attacking a Protoss base.	An assault on a Protoss base.	Vikings with a few Nighthawks.	Several Vikings helping to defend against the Zerg.
Battle on the volcanic template.	Several Vikings in an air battle.

Terran Units (StarCraft II) [e]
Ground Units:	SCV | Marine | Marauder | Ghost | Reaper | Hellion | Siege Tank | Thor
Air Units:	Viking | Medivac Dropship | Raven | Banshee | Battlecruiser
Basic Buildings:	Command Center | Supply Depot | Refinery | Barracks | Bunker | Engineering Bay | Missile Turret | Planetary Fortress | Radar Tower
Advanced Buildings:	Ghost Academy | Factory | Merc Haven | Orbital Command | Armory | Starport | Deep Space Relay
Support Buildings:	Tech Lab | Reactor
Hero ground units:	Jim Raynor | Tychus Findlay
Cancelled Units:	Cobra | Firebat | Predator | Medic | Dropship
Cancelled Buildings:	Sensor Tower | Munitions Depot | Starbase | Shadow Ops

Terran Units (StarCraft I & Brood War) [e]
Ground Units:	SCV | Marine | Firebat | Medic | Vulture | Goliath | Siege Tank | Ghost
Air Units:	Dropship | Wraith | Valkyrie | Battlecruiser | Science Vessel |
Basic Buildings:	Command Center (ComSat Station & Nuclear Silo) | Supply Depot | Engineering Bay | Barracks | Refinery | Missile Turret | Academy | Bunker
Advanced Buildings:	Factory | Machine Shop | Armory | Starport (Control Tower) | Science Facility (Physics Lab & Covert Ops)
Hero ground units:	Gui Montag (fb) | Terran Civilian | Sarah Kerrigan (g) | Samir Duran (g) | Alexei Stukov (g) | Alan Schezar (gol) | Jim Raynor (vul, mrn) | Edmund Duke (st)
Hero air units:	Tom Kazansky (wrt) | Magallan (sv) | Hyperion (bc) | Norad II (bc)
(fb) = Firebat -- (g) = Ghost -- (gol) = Goliath -- (v) = Vulture -- (m) = Marine -- (st) = Siege Tank -- (wrt) = Wraith -- (sv) = Science Vessel -- (bc) = Battlecruiser