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The Protoss Conclave - Units and Stuctures

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STARCRAFT
  Race Overview
    Terran
    Zerg
    Protoss Units
    Protoss Structures
      Basic
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  General Strategies
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  Contents

Go to GameSpot's Guide to Broodwar

Assimilator

Aside from the Nexus, the Assimilator is the only Protoss structure that may be constructed outside the influence of a Pylon's psychic link. This inexpensive building is placed over a Vespene Gas geyser and processes the valuable substance for use at the Protoss headquarters. Vespene Gas is required for the production of all high-level Protoss structures and units, so a steady supply of the stuff is vital. Just one Probe may reside within an Assimilator at a time, so in most cases, you won't need a caravan of more than four Probes moving back and forth between an Assimilator and your Nexus.

Hit/Shield Points 450/450
Time to Build 40
Cost 100m 0g
Requires N/A

Select an Assimilator to see how much gas remains to be harvested. Once the geyser is depleted, your Probes will still bring back two units of gas rather than eight - hardly enough to meet your supply needs. You must quickly find additional Vespene Gas geysers lest you be cut off from a crucial resource.

Low-level Protoss units and structures do not require Vespene Gas. Consider holding off on constructing an Assimilator until you already have plenty of Probes mining minerals and two Gateways producing Zealots. The Assimilator amounts to one fewer Zealot, and you'll need all the power you can muster early on.

Gateway

The Gateway warps in fearless Protoss warriors to support the Protoss military campaign. This must be one of the first structures you place in establishing your position, at which point you should immediately begin warping in Zealots and Dragoons to defend your base.

Hit/Shield Points 500/500
Time to Build 60
Cost 150m 0g
Requires Nexus
Special Options   Build Zealot
  Build Dragoon Requires Cybernetics Core
  Build High Templar Requires Templar Archives

One Gateway is never enough. The three types of units generated at the Gateway are powerful and vital to the success of the Protoss, but each is produced very slowly. Because the Gateway is inexpensive, it is in your best interest to construct two early on, then more as necessary later in the battle. That way, you can generate your core military force at a much quicker rate. It often proves convenient to establish multiple Gateways side by side so you can easily keep track of their production queues.