Cyclone

From Liquipedia StarCraft 2 Wiki
[e][h]Terran Cyclone
Unit Information
Type:
Ground Unit
Description:
Mobile assault vehicle. Can use Lock On to quickly fire while moving.
Built From:
Cost:
 150  100  32  3
Attack 1: Typhoon Missile Pod
Targets:
Ground / Air
Damage:
18 (+1)
DPS:
25.2 (+1.4)
Unit stats
Defense:
120 1 (+1)
Attributes:
Sight:
11
Speed:
4.725
Cargo size:
4
Strong against:

Description[edit]

The Cyclone is a fast hit-and-away vehicle produced from a Factory with an attached Tech Lab. It was first introduced in Legacy of the Void.

The Cyclone has an ability called Lock On which does 20 damage (with or without weapon upgrades) and ignores armor, and has a longer range and allows it to shoot while moving. Paired with a high movement speed, this makes the Cyclone a master at kiting.

For 2 years, from Patch 3.8.0 (Nov 2016) until Patch 4.7.1 (Nov 2018), the Cyclone filled a vastly different role: it did not require a Tech Lab, was not designed for kiting but rather raw damage, and was a little sturdier, too. As a result it was the centerpiece of many an early-game push. The Lock On ability was restricted to air targets for a period.

Abilities[edit]

Caster: Cyclone
Range: 7 (15)
Cooldown: 4.28 s
Duration: 14.28 s
Locks the Cyclone's weapons on the target unit, increasing the Cyclone's range to 15 and allowing it to move while firing. Cancels if target moves out of range.

To use Lock On, a Cyclone must move within 7 range of a target. Once the ability is activated, a Cyclone can move away from the target up to a distance of 15 while still maintaining effect. Lock On lasts for 14.28 seconds after activation, but the effect is broken if the target dies, moves out of vision or exceeds the maximum distance of 15. It cannot be cancelled early by any other means.

By default, Lock On is set to auto-cast. Lock On Auto-Cast range is 7.5 for Ground units and 7 for Air units. Auto-cast will only activate when the Cyclone is not on a move command, and it will only target units (with the exception of Larvae and Broodlings) and combat buildings. When multiple eligible targets are in range, closer targets are prioritized.

Upgrades[edit]

Mag-Field Accelerator
100
100
100
Researched from: Tech Lab
Increases Cyclone Lock On damage. Deals 600 damage over 14 seconds to ground and flying targets.

Once Mag-Field Accelerator has been researched this is visible on all the player's Cyclones: the model gains two red "head lights".

Removed Upgrades[edit]

The Mag-Field Accelerator upgrade was temporarily removed in Patch 5.0.12 and brought back in Patch 5.0.14.

Mag-Field Launchers
100
100
79
Researched from: Tech Lab
Increases Cyclone's attack range by +2.
Rapid Fire Launchers
75
75
79
Researched from: Tech Lab
Increases the attack speed of the first 12 shots of the Cyclone's Lock On.
Hurricane Engines
100
100
100
Researched from: Tech Lab
Increases the move speed of Cyclone's to 4.73.

Competitive Use[edit]

This section may be outdated due to metagame or patch changes. Help us by revising it.
This article was last edited by Aizer123 on 01-Dec-2024 02:49 (UTC+0).


Cyclone uses Lock On
  • Since patch 5.0.12 Cyclones are again buildable from a reactored factory and they are debateably stronger early game due to the Lock On cooldown removal and, because of their anti-mech bonus, cyclones are still good options against early harassing units such as Medivacs, Banshees, Oracles or Warp Prisms.
  • Cyclones lose their mobility advantage against fast mass-produced units and upgrades like Stimpacked Marine/Marauder, Zerglings with Metabolic Boost or Blink Stalkers because their speed has been reduced.
  • Lock On now only has a maximum effective range of 9, far lower than it was before (15). While the Cyclone is still able to snipe off key units from a safe distance after achieving Lock On, it is easier for its target to escape from Lock On's maximum range.
  • Lock On only has 6 casting range however so care must be taken to ensure the Cyclone survives to unleash its full volley due to its limited 110 hit points (a single widow mine one-shots a Cyclone). Also, given the much reduced damage from Lock On and reduced durability of the Cyclone, units may be better off closing in on the Cyclone and tanking Lock On until they kill the Cyclone.
  • The Cyclone's default weapon has the same DPS. As such the only use for the Cyclone's default attack over Lock On is for unusual target prioritization situations.
  • The fast movement speed of the upgraded Cyclone (being close to that of the Hellion) allows for an unorthodox fragile mechanical style composition that excels at pressuring the opponent and sniping.


Vs. Protoss[edit]

  • A counter to early-game Stargate units and Gateway units. Outrange Adepts and Oracles as well as dealing considerable damage to Stalkers since they are mech units.
  • Immortals are a hard counter to them.
  • Can be effectively used early in the game to pressure a greedy Protoss and snipe key units before they become counters such as Stalkers before Blink and Zealots without Charge.
    • Phoenixes are less effective verse Cyclones as the new Lock On ability does not have a cooldown.
    • To a more micro-intensive (and risky) extent, Warp Prisms loaded with Immortals can effectively counter Cyclones with pickup/drop play.

Vs. Terran[edit]

  • Against Banshee openings, a single Cyclone is capable of dealing with a single Banshee if it is micro'd away from the Banshee and maintains detection/vision, do note that the Cyclone is faster and Lock On gives it 9 effective range.
  • Against early Marines + Siege Tank, pushes common in this mirror match, Cyclones do little except spot the attack coming across the map. Mass Hellions to kill the Marines (leaving the Tanks defenseless) is far more useful.

Vs. Zerg[edit]

  • The Hellion/Cyclone style is common against Zerg as the Hellion can cover the Cyclones during Lock On from their counter: Zerglings allowing for effective poke damage and/or sniping bases.
    • Burrowed units (especially Banelings) are highly effective against this extremely mobile force and/or Infestors with Fungal Growth.
    • Vipers can also use Abduct to separate the more dangerous Cyclones from the main army. Beware to not lose the Viper to a Lock On however.

Gallery[edit]

Quotes[edit]

Patch Changes[edit]

External Links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Blizzard Entertainment (15 April 2015). "Legacy of the Void Beta Balance Update -- April 15, 2015". Battle.net.
  2. ↑ Blizzard Entertainment (9 October 2015). "Legacy of the Void Beta Balance Update -- October 9, 2015". Battle.net.
  3. ↑ Blizzard Entertainment (9 October 2015). "Legacy of the Void Beta Balance Update -- October 16, 2015". Battle.net.
  4. ↑ Blizzard Entertainment (23 May 2016). "Legacy of the Void Balance Update -- May 23, 2016". Battle.net.
  5. ↑ Blizzard Entertainment (22 November 2016). "Legacy of the Void - Patch 3.8.0 -- November 22, 2016". Battle.net.
  6. ↑ Blizzard Entertainment (8 December 2016). "Legacy of the Void Balance Update -- December 8, 2016". Battle.net.
  7. ↑ Blizzard Entertainment (14 November 2017). "STARCRAFT II 4.0 PATCH NOTES". Battle.net.
  8. ↑ Blizzard Entertainment (28 November 2017). "STARCRAFT II BALANCE UPDATE -- NOVEMBER 28, 2017". Battle.net.
  9. ↑ Blizzard Entertainment (20 November 2018). "STARCRAFT II 4.7.1 PATCH NOTES". Battle.net.
  10. ↑ Blizzard Entertainment (22 January 2019). "STARCRAFT II 4.8.2 PATCH NOTES". Battle.net.
  11. ↑ Blizzard Entertainment (23 January 2023). "STARCRAFT II 5.0.11 PATCH NOTES". Battle.net.
  12. ↑ Blizzard Entertainment (29 September 2023). "StarCraft II 5.0.12 Patch Notes". Battle.net.
  13. ↑ Blizzard Entertainment (25 November 2024). "StarCraft II 5.0.14 Patch Notes". Battle.net.
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