GameSpot's Guide to Starcraft

PC GAMES
  News
  Reviews
  Previews
  Movies/Media
  Downloads
  Hints/Codes
  GameGuides.com
  Special Features
  Beta Center
  Release Calendar
  Forums
  Top Games

PC GENRES
  Action
  Adventure
  Driving
  Puzzle
  Role-Playing
  Simulation
  Sports
  Strategy

SWITCH TO:
  VIDEO GAMES
  GAMESPOT LIVE
  GAMEBUYER
  HARDWARE

SUBSCRIBE TO:
  PC Newsletter
  HW Newsletter

ELITE SERVICES
  Join GameSpot

SEE ALSO
  GameFAQs
  Gamespy Arcade
  Netflix

INFORMATION
  Help
  Contact Us
  International

The Protoss Conclave - Units and Stuctures

Get the
Downloadable
Guide Here!

STARCRAFT
  Race Overview
    Terran
    Zerg
    Protoss Units
    Protoss Structures
      Basic
      Advanced
  General Strategies
  Missions Guide
  Cheats
  Contents

Go to GameSpot's Guide to Broodwar

Shuttle

Strengths:
Inexpensive; fast-moving when upgraded
Weaknesses:
Defenseless; low carrying capacity
The Protoss Shuttle is an automated spacecraft designed to ferry troops from place to place. Fortunately, it is rather inexpensive to produce and is sufficiently well protected to be suitable for sending reinforcements into dangerous areas.

Hit/Shield Points/Size 60/80/large
Time to Build 50
Cost (minerals/Vespene Gas/PSI) 200/0/2
Armor/Strength Protoss Armor 1, +1 per upgrade
Plasma Shields 0, +1 per upgrade
Special Options Load/Unload units

Unfortunately, it is slow and defenseless, and its cargo space is very limited. Its sluggishness may be resolved by researching the Gravitic Drive at your Robotics Support Facility. With this upgrade, the Shuttle becomes the single fastest transport involved in the conflict, easily outmaneuvering both the Terran Dropship and the Zerg Overlord and matching speeds with the dangerous Zerg Scourge. Nevertheless, even with upgraded velocity, Shuttles hardly stand a chance should they come under concentrated enemy fire. For this reason, you'd be wise to deploy them with Scout escort or make sure the coast is clear beforehand with an Observer.

A Shuttle has a capacity of eight slots for transporting ground units. Probes use one slot, Zealots use two, High Templars use two, Dragoons use four, Reavers use four, and Archons use four.

Shuttles are invaluable for transporting Probes to the far reaches of the battlefield to set up expansion bases. In most cases, they are also the only reasonable means of transporting the terribly sluggish Reavers into battle. Finally, keep in mind that units are unloaded from Shuttles one at a time, not all at once, before you fly them into the heart of your enemy's base and hope to deploy the strike force instantaneously.