Shuttle
From Liquipedia Starcraft Wiki
This article refers to the Protoss unit. For the progamer with the same name, see YoonJoong.
Shuttle| Type: | Large Air Unit |
|---|---|
| Cost: |  200  0  60  2
|
| Defence: | File:Icon Hitpoints.png 80 File:Icon Shields.png 60 File:Icon Armor.png 1 |
| Shortcut: |
S |
| Sight: |
8 |
Contents |
[edit] Description
The Shuttle is the Protoss's transport unit. It is slow at first, however its speed can be upgraded at the Robotics Support Bay. With this upgrade it becomes one of the fastest units in the game. A shuttle can be moved back and forth while dropping so it does not lose acceleration and can make a quick getaway if needed. If you lose the shuttle you have made you have just incurred a high loss because you have lost the money spent on the Robotics Facillity, whatever is in the Shutttle, and the Shuttle. This adds up to quite a lot of minerals and gas. This can put you very far behind and cause you to lose the game in close games. If you patrol move, rather than just moving, to an enemy's base the Shuttle will flee from enemies if it is attacked. This is especially helpful against Turrets.
[edit] Competitive Usage
[edit] versus Zerg
Against Zerg, the Shuttle is used for the purpose of harassment. Whether it is for Dark Templars, High Templars or Reavers, the Shuttle is essential for the mobility it gives to the Protoss. Sometimes 4 Zealots are dropped from the Shuttle into a Zerg base with the intent of destroying either a Hatchery or a tech building.
During the late game it can still be used for harassment, but is less effective due to Zerg having Scourge and static defense by their expansions. Dropping High Templar to Storm mineral lines however, is still an effective tactic.
[edit] versus Terran
Shuttles in PvT can range from anything from Zealot Bombs to Reaver Harassing. Their mobility helps move units quickly around the map and establishes map control early on. The Dark Templar drop has also been known as being very deadly in the early game. Shuttles are also used to protect High Templars from getting sniped by Vultures and sheltering them from a Science Vessel's EMP.
[edit] versus Protoss
When placed in a Shuttle, the slow Reaver becomes a powerful weapon of harassment. Often two Reavers are placed inside a Shuttle to accompany a Dragoon army. This strategy loses effectiveness as the opponent begins to utilize High Templar with Psionic Storm. Sometimes a Shuttle is used to drop Dark Templar into the opponent's main base early in the game.
