Hades451's Guide to Dark Archon Mind Control
A Starcraft: Brood War FAQ
Version 1.0
3/1/99
[email protected]
Mind control was originally in the original starcraft beta. Us beta testers
found that mind control was too powerful and it was taken out, to be put into
the expansion. Although mind control seems straightforward, it has great hidden
potential.
How to get a Dark Archon:
pylon -> gateway -> Citadel of Adun -> Templar Archives -> Two Dark Templars ->
Dark Archon
Dark Templars cost 125/100 and are built at gateways. After you have two, merge
them much in the same way as you would 2 templars. Merging takes about as long
as a normal archon, and costs nothing. You should have researched mind control
while building the two templars.
The first and best MC strategy involves MCing the opponents peons (SCVs/Drones).
By doing this, you can then create buildings and units from that race!!! Don't
try to start up a race as you would normally, there is no need to pump out
zerglings and firebats when you already have a protoss army. However, you can
use the other race to fill in the weaknesses the protoss have. When capturing
zergs, create guardians and ultralisks. The protoss have weak air attackers
except for carriers, and the ultralisks will complement your normal archons.
Magic users are useful as well, but you might find yourself running out of gas
if you create too many magic users from both races. When capturing terrans,
create ghosts, medics, and nuke silos. The medics will keep you zealots and
dragoons healed, the ghosts are good for nuking your enemy when he's too
entrenched. Siege tanks can complement reavers as well. Terran Science Vessels
will give you race specific spells like the EMP pulse and irradiate, useful if
you're playing against other protoss players. Ignore the wraiths and battle
cruisers unless you've already maxed out of psi on protoss carriers. There is
no point in MCing Probes as you can already build protoss. By MCing the other
races, you can double or triple your unit limit!!! This gives you the ability
to ravage your opponents, IF you have enough resources. Be careful not to
divide your resources too heavily between the two. Stick to upgrading your
protoss units already in existence before upgrading other races. This strategy
works best in long term games when you end up having lots of resources to burn.
The second MC strategy involves MCing troop transports. If your opponent tries
reaver drops, just MC his shuttles and you'll control the shuttles as well as
the reavers inside!!! Careful timing is essential here, you'll have to pull
off the MC before he sees your dark archon coming, otherwise he'll just drop a
reaver which will fire and kill at your dark archon once it drains all its
shields MCing the now empty carrier.
MC can also be used to go beyond your unit limit even if you are playing another
protoss opponent. You can MC his carriers (or archons, or any other unit) into
your own army. You can even MC past the 200 psi limit. Theoretically, you
could just create a whole army of dark archons (with the 200 psi limit, minus
about 12 for peons, that's 47 dark archons) and just MC whatever comes your way.
Anyone have the balls to try this strategy!?!
Carrying out successful MCs:
There's no point in MCing a drone only to have it killed by your opponent's
sunken colony. Try to take out wandering drones/SCVs that are scouting/building
expansions. If the drone is currently making itself into a building, send a
zealot in to attack the building, chances are this will make your opponent
cancel the building. Then send the zealots away, MC it, and send in a shuttle
to pick it up. Also, you can shuttle drop ONE Dark Archon, then pick it back up
as well as the now MCed drone/SCV. This works best if you have the shuttle
speed upgrade.
Side Notes:
The amulet upgrade for Dark Archons is essential if you'll be doing mass Mind
Control. Shield Generators are also necessary to keep your Dark Archons alive
as casting MC drains all shields.
The MC strategy should be applied with caution. Early in the game, you won't
have enough resources to support having 2 races at one time. Also, you
shouldn't rely on it, as an undefended early rush will take you out before you
even have a chance to build the templar archives.
If you have Dark Templars that have been heavily damaged (less than 40 armor
left), go ahead and Dark Archon them, they're worth more to you that way. The
Dark Archon created will not have full armor, but will have full shields
eventually.
--hades451
