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Viking (Legacy of the Void)

From Liquipedia StarCraft 2 Wiki
This article covers the current multiplayer version of this unit. For other versions see Viking (Wings of Liberty and Heart of the Swarm) and Viking (Wings of Liberty Campaign).
[e][h]Terran Viking Fighter Mode
Unit Information
Type:
Air Unit
Description:
Durable support flyer. Loaded with strong anti-capital air missiles. Can switch into Assault Mode to attack ground units.
Built From:
Cost:
 150  75  30  2
Attack 1: Gatling Cannon
Targets:
Ground
Damage:
12 (+1)
16.9 (+1.41)
Bonus:
+8 (+1) vs Mechanical
Bonus DPS:
+11.3 (+1.41) vs Mechanical
Attack 2: Lanzer Torpedoes
Targets:
Air
Damage:
10 (+1) (x2)
14 (+1.4)
Bonus:
+4 vs Armored
Bonus DPS:
+5.59 vs Armored
Unit stats
Defense:
135 0 (+1)
Attributes:
Sight:
10
Speed:
3.15 (Ground)
3.85 (Air)
Cargo size:
2
Weak against:
[e][h]Terran Viking Assault Mode
Unit Information
Unit stats
Defense:
135 0 (+1)
Attributes:
Sight:
10

Description[edit]

The Viking is an anti-air fighter with the ability to transform into an assault walker, with the transformation taking a number of seconds. The Viking is strongest when supported by units that can protect it from ground-based anti-air attacks. They are best suited for taking down strong, hard-hitting air units such as Void Rays, Corruptors, or Tempests (or Colossi) but do not fare as well against lighter and faster units such as the Mutalisk or Phoenix. Vikings are produced from a Starport (with or without a Reactor) and are generally produced in a set number as opposed to continuous production, in order to eliminate enemy air units cost-effectively.

With a range of 9 in fighter mode, Vikings greatly benefit from proper micromanagement: taking minimal fire from enemy air units while dealing damage, or forcing the enemy to retreat and relinquish air control. However the assault mode, withs its relatively lackluster damage, does not see much use in the current state of the game.

A notable trick to use with large numbers of Vikings is to gather them all at once in a tight formation, which will make them stack onto each other. This will make focus-firing much easier and can sometimes confuse an opposing player by making it difficult to determine the Viking count. Being stacked like this will make the Vikings very vulnerable to area-of-effect and air splash damage, however. Although Blizzard attempted to remove this feature during patch 1.3, a slightly extended procedure achieves a similar result if not the same.[1]

Vikings in Assault Mode can be Loaded into Medivacs.

Abilities[edit]

Duration: 1.67-2.02 s
Transforms the Viking into Fighter Mode where it becomes an Air unit with an anti-air attack.
Duration: 1.67-2.03 s
Transforms the Viking into Assault Mode where it becomes a Ground unit with a ground attack.

Note that the Viking always benefits from Ship Weapons upgrade, even in Assault Mode.

Upgrades[edit]

The Smart Servos upgrade reduces the transformation time for switching between the Viking's modes from 1.67-2.03 seconds to 0.95-1.31 seconds.

100
100
79
Researched from: Tech Lab
Requires: Armory
Allows Hellions, Hellbats, Vikings, and Thors to transform quickly between combat modes.

Transformation[edit]

The Viking is considered an aerial unit during the whole transformation process. This makes it quite good at hit-and-run tactics against ground units that can't hit air, as the Viking can lift off as soon as it is in danger. Conversely, when fighting against air units that can't hit ground, the Vikings will still be pelted while they are trying to land.

Thus, it is actually very dangerous to keep your Vikings on the ground when the opponent has mobile anti-air units: If the opponent flies in his units, your Vikings will either have to stay on the ground, vulnerable to land units, or lift off, taking a beating during the transformation.

Competitive Usage[edit]

Vs. Protoss[edit]

Vikings are mainly useful for infantry support, as they can take out Colossi from a long range. They can also be used to deter Protoss air units, especially Oracle harassment, and Vikings out-range both Void Rays and Phoenices. On an equal supply basis, Vikings will be able to take out Void Rays and without micro will go relatively even against Phoenices and Carriers.

Vikings are primarily used to kill Colossi. The approximate number of Vikings to build depends on the number of Colossi your opponent has, although it is also viable to get enough Vikings to take down Colossi in X number of shots.

Assuming no upgrades, Vikings deal 10 (+4 armored) x2 damage to air per attack. Therefore it takes 5 attacks to almost deplete their shields (140 damage). After that they deal 13 x2 damage to the hull per attack (Colossi have 1 base armor). 6 attacks will deplete their shields and deal 16 damage to the hull. After that it takes 8 shots to deplete their hull health (184 remaining, 26 damage per shot), for a total of 14 shots.

To 3-shot Colossi, therefore, you need 5 Vikings; to 2-shot them, you need 7; to 1-shot them, you need 14.

Vs. Terran[edit]

In TvT, they are used to hold off the opponent's Vikings, Ravens, and Liberators. TvT often revolves around getting Siege Tanks and Vikings very early on. While the Tanks do most of the damage, the Vikings give increased sight so that the Tanks can utilize their full range.

Air dominance is a very important aspect of TvT, as whoever has control of the air will get both the range bonus for his Tanks and the ability to protect his own Ravens, Liberators, and Battlecruisers. In the early mid-game they can also be used for harassing the opponent's mineral line, and in some cases they can supplement the Terran's ground army. Landing them on top of an opponent's sieged Tanks to force them to damage one another is also a popular technique. Another option is to land them on unreachable cliffs, to fire at troops underneath them, especially when the enemy doesn't have air units providing sight.

Vikings are often a key aspect of TvT all game long as they have no clear counter. Thors can be used to keep Vikings at bay, but Thors deal low damage against non-light, non-massive air units, so they don't kill Vikings very easily. Battlecruisers can be a viable option in the late game, but as Vikings have longer range, are cheaper and faster to build, Battlecruisers (especially without Yamato Cannon) do not trade against them cost-effectively.

Vs. Zerg[edit]

Vikings can play both harassing and support roles in TvZ. Apart from scouting, a few Vikings can be used to kill off Overlords to deny scouting. Moreover Overlords are armored, so Vikings get bonus damage for sniping Overlords.

Vikings aren't too cost-effective against Mutalisks, but when built alongside Turrets, Thors and/or Ravens, with their long range, they can be used as a deterrent against Mutalisk harass.

In the late-game, Vikings are very effective against Corruptors and a hard counter to Brood Lords. However when Brood Lords are supported by Corruptors and Infestors or Vipers, care must be taken because exposed Vikings can be caught by Fungal Growth and Parasitic Bomb. To trade cost-effectively the Vikings should be spread out to reduce the number caught in each spell. Additionally, Kiting helps to fight Corruptors, since the Viking has superior range.

Gallery[edit]

Quotes[edit]

Viking's quotes (video and sound) - YouTube video.

Patch Changes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. TL Forum: Sockfolder presents a new technique to achieve the viking flower post patch 1.3
  2. Blizzard Entertainment (22 November 2016). "Legacy of the Void - Patch 3.8.0 -- November 22, 2016". Battle.net.
  3. Blizzard Entertainment (15 May 2018). "STARCRAFT II BALANCE UPDATE – MAY 15, 2018". Battle.net.
  4. Blizzard Entertainment (23 January 2023). "STARCRAFT II 5.0.11 PATCH NOTES". Battle.net.

Lost Viking - Arcade minigame playable in the single player Wings of Liberty campaign.