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Lift off

From Liquipedia StarCraft 2 Wiki
[e][h]Lift off
Ability Information
Cost:
 0  0
Researched from:
No research needed
[e][h]Land
Ability Information
Cost:
 0  0
Researched from:
No research needed

Lift off/Land is an ability that can be used by the Command Center, Orbital Command, Barracks, Factory and Starport. It allows the lifted building to become airborne and mobile, giving it a chance to relocate or escape hostile units. The speed of all buildings is 0.94.

Use[edit]

Primarily used in cooperation with add-ons for specific structures: For example, a Barracks can be enhanced with a Reactor while a Factory is under construction. Upon completion, both can be lifted and the Factory can land and take over the Reactor by landing at the Barrack's previous position.
Lift off can also be used to scout an enemy: A Barracks, being the cheapest among the buildings with this ability, can be flown across an enemy's main base during the early stages of the game.
Can also be used to provide vision for Siege Tanks, which can shoot further than they can see. Barracks are cheaper (to repair) than any airbound unit while being sturdier.
Command Centers - which can load SCVs - or Orbital Commands are often lifted off and flown to seize expansions. Should an existing expansion be mined out, this can save resources for a new one.
Should an overwhelming force attack an expansion or even the main base, lifting off and escaping can preserve a player's tech level and production capabilities. This grants a Terran player more freedom for the so-called "Base Race", where the two armies did not encounter each other: Instead of falling all the way back to defend, players "race" to be the first to destroy all hostile buildings and thereby winning the game. However, this is also known to often end in stalemates.

Notes[edit]

  • It is possible to land by and make use of both allied and enemy add-ons.
  • Enemy units, Zerg creep, and the Sentry ability Force Field prevents a building from landing.