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The Terran Dominion - Units and Structures
Battlecruiser
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Strengths:
Heavily armored; commands the all-powerful Yamato Gun
Weaknesses:
Very expensive; very slow |
The pinnacle of Terran military engineering is the Behemoth-class Battlecruiser, a massive and heavily armored command warship packed with devastating air-to-air and surface-to-air lasers capable of lancing enemy targets with surgical accuracy. The Terran Battlecruiser is as slow as it is expensive - extremely so, in both cases. It takes a very long time to construct and demands huge reserves of minerals and Vespene Gas, not to mention plenty of Supply Depots. But should your economy become such that you can support several Battlecruisers as part of your fleet, your victory is practically assured.
| Hit Points/Size | 500/large | | Time to Build | 160 | | Cost (minerals/Vespene Gas/supply) | 400/300/8 | | Weapon/Strength | ATA Laser Battery 25, +3 per upgrade | | Weapon/Strength | ATS Laser Battery 25, +3 per upgrade | | Armor/Strength | Vehicle Plating 2, +1 per upgrade | | Special Options | Yamato Gun, 150 energy |
Battlecruisers may be upgraded with the legendary Yamato Gun, researched from the Science Facility's Physics Lab add-on. This cannon requires huge amounts of energy to use and takes several seconds to heat up before it activates, but it inflicts 250 points of damage and will destroy most any enemy target in a single shot as well as put a serious dent into any enemy structure. Most importantly, it is perfect for eliminating anti-air defense structures from out of enemy reach. Protoss Photon Cannons and enemy Terran Missile Turrets are destroyed in a single Yamato Gun blast, though Zerg Spore Colonies will survive the assault. The Yamato gun has a greater reach than the Battlecruiser's field of vision, so using a forward scout or a Scanner Sweep from your Comsat Station to spot for it is often a good idea. Another important upgrade is the Colossus Reactor, also available from the Physics Lab, which adds 50 points of energy to your Battlecruiser's reserve, letting it use the Yamato Gun more frequently. Battlecruisers also benefit greatly from air weapons upgrades from your Armory.
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The Behemoth-class cruiser is hardly invincible in spite of its size and thick plating. Though its laser battery attacks have great range and are extremely powerful against ground and air foes alike, one Battlecruiser cannot defend itself against swarms of opponents nor will it escape from them. The single greatest threat to your Battlecruiser is certainly the suicidal and explosive Zerg Scourge, who will fly headlong into your expensive spacecraft and quickly compromise its hull. Though your Battlecruiser can kill Scourge in a single attack and can hold off a few before they close in, a wise Zerg opponent will keep your cruiser occupied with other problems and send Scourge around back where you don't expect them. Beware of these dangerous foes and always send Battlecruisers in fleets of as many as you can afford, preferably with escort from Wraith fighters or Science Vessels. In great numbers, Battlecruisers can easily hold back as many Scourge as the opponent cares to throw your way.
Because the Battlecruiser is so well armored, it can often survive fierce battles intact. Always make sure and fly surviving Battlecruisers back to base and have several SCVs work together to repair them back to full strength. Another option is to select several SCVs and right-click the cruiser. They will then escort the expensive ship and repair whenever it necessary, even in combat. Make every effort to save your Battlecruisers if they're in danger.
Ultimately, the greatest shortcoming of the Battlecruiser is its cost and build time. Don't even think about building these in a close combat situation and only consider them when you need that extra edge to sway a long battle in your favor.
Next: Terran Structures 
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