Predator

[otherguymk2]

I saw this in somebody's blog,who just returned from the blzcon yesterday


Wraiths are back as an anti-air unit called the Predator. They can switch between a form that attacks air units and a form that intercepts incoming missiles and destroys them. When it transforms, the lasers switch positions. It is a three-pronged aircraft just like the Wraith, but cannot stealth.


anyone know how does it works??Or is it true???

[Outcaster]

where did u find this??

[otherguymk2]

here:


http://sc2spot.com/content/view/43/1/


Merged posts. Please read the forum rules and do not double post.


nobody knows...?

[zeratul11]

no idea.

we haven't seen the unit yet in any terran gameplay demo.

[Outcaster]

u can see a sketch of it in the campaign demo, when Jim goes to the armory , on that screen there ,when he uses it,scrolls down a bit, u can see a picture of the model if u look closely

[IO]

Yea its on the campaign demo and it seems to be some form of a double delta wing fighter, anyway its to unclear to judge what it looks like fully but try watching the campaign demo again and freeze it at 7:00 then look on the unit selection bar to find it. Hopefully images will be posted later on to give us a better view of it.

[Hadean]

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Wraiths are back. And in a better anti-air form. Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[PancakeChef]

The blocking and reflecting form is not just for enemy missles as well it said enemy "attacks".

[Shadowdragon]

Where did it say attacks Pancake Chef? A different source? The article otherguy pointed at said:
"Wraiths are back as an anti-air unit called the Predator. They can switch between a form that attacks air units and a form that intercepts incoming missiles and destroys them. When it transforms, the lasers switch positions. It is a three-pronged aircraft just like the Wraith, but cannot stealth."

As for intercepting missiles...sounds remarkably useless. Maybe it will be ok against the terran, but against the protoss and zerg..? I would prefer a form that increases speed but halves attack damage or something like that. Otherwise, it seems more like a waste of resources. After all, it can't cloak.

Than again, if it really can intercept attacks, maybe it'll be ok for guarding fleets.

[PancakeChef]

Alot of other sources I have seen have said "attacks". Also the Predator will be a good anti-air unit against enemy air forces.

The Viking has anti-air capablites but is not the main Terran anti-air ship, as Blizzard has said in their demos "it is a verastile unit, that has good anti-air against Captial ships"

[Shadowdragon]

Can you link a few sources that state it's function? That would be quite usefull. I would love to know more about it, because right now, it sounds like flying trash.

[PancakeChef]

Why do you say that? We havn't seen it in action yet, and only know it is anti-air with blocking/reflecting enemy attacks form. In my opinion that sounds pretty good to me.

www.sc2armory.com
- Predator is an Anti-Air ship
- Predator can transform into an Interceptor which blocks/reflects enemy attacks


The front page news report post on this site also says the same thing about "attacks" rather than missles.

[DKutrovsky]

How is that even remotely enough?

[GuiMontag]

its been labelled as the replacement for wraiths, and they only had 120hp

[FlyingTiger]

... and it is pretty specialized which serves different functions than the wraith. I don't exactly think it really replaces the wraith. The banshee seems more like the replacement or even more so a combo of the banshee and the predator.

100 hp is fine with me. Plus its a lot cheaper (100 minerals 50 gas, compared to the more expensive wraith of 150 minerals and 100 gas --> Banshee has the same cost as the wraith) (Thanks to the screens found by GuiMontag ^_^)

[MarineCorp]

100hp is fine by me and i don't think the Predators are the replacement for the Wraith, to me the Banshees are the replacement for the combo of Wraiths and Valkyrie, to me the Predators are just new units like the Warp ray

[DKutrovsky]

I hope predator > small units since viking > capitol ships or so it seems

[Eye_Carumba]

Predator must be made to beat interceptors. Why else would it have that strange missile intercepting skill? To beat other Vikings and Turrets? A terran anti-terran unit and that's it? Because I didn't see any missile protoss, and can't imagine zergs shooting missiles aswell, lol!

[Ghost]

Where can I find the screenshots found by Gui?

[FlyingTiger]

http://www.starcraft2forum.org/forums/index.php?topic=1665.msg41213;boardseen#new

or this for a direct link

http://www.shacknews.com/gallery.x?game_id=4110

[Nikzad]

can't see sh1t damnit

[BnechbReaker]

is predator is anti-air only? if so

bashee is anti-ground only
viking-air/predator is anti-air only
battlecruiser cost to much and too slow to get

god damnit so many new ships but not a single cheap versatile all purpose one

[Itsmyship]

You don't count Viking as all around, versatile, awesome unit? Wow...you have some high standards :P

[BnechbReaker]

viking is versatile but still to attack ground they need to transform. when they do that, they are susectable to ground fire. unlike wraiths in sc1

[FlyingTiger]

yea the wraith had a crappy ground attack. I rather have upgraded marines.

[Ghost]

Yeah, a couple of upgraded marines cantkae out an uncloaked wraith EASY.

What I love about the Banshee is that its a specialized Air to Ground unit and in SC1 there was only one, the Guardian and it was no were near the awsomeness of the Banshee.

[FlyingTiger]

yea i really love the banshee. the unit model still reminds me of that empire earth unit, but oh well, I still like the model very much.

I love the predator just as much ^_^

[Hadean]

Where are you guys getting information about it's hp and for that matter, how does flying tiger have any clue what the model looks like? Wtf.

[otherguymk2]

guys I got it here...


http://www.shacknews.com/images/image-o-matic.x?/images/sshots/Screenshot/8052/8052_46b67aa0b3ab2.jpg

[Eye_Carumba]

Yeah, wraiths + valks = lame anti-ground. Vikings + predators = fair anti-anti-air . banshees = perfect anti-ground. So the air-ground relationship for Terrans has just improved a lot, if you look carefully. :-)

@ hadean: there are screenshots that show this.

[Hadean]

Okay. I cant view them, and I cant get on the site, probably because it's completely gay.

I'll pay 200 minerals to anyone who will save all the pred pictures they can as well as the carrier, upload it to file shack and then pm it to me or post it here.


*EDIT* NOT FILE SHACK! I meant www.imageshack.us

[Ghost]

What I am really anxious to know is how good will the pred be at "intercepting"attacks in its interceptor mode. If it is like "omgnowtfretreat12bc'scuzofonepred!!" I'll be using them ALOT with my Banshees.

[Eye_Carumba]

Can you imagine it halting a shot from yamato-gun?! O_O

It would actually be a nice thing if predator could force you to use smaller units to atk than bigger stronger ships. Warp Rays already do that, but they can't be the only counter.

[Ghost]

I was thinking that too, maybe it only intercepts big ass attacks like yamato gun or the scourges suicide ability (If scourges havent been scraped that is).

[BnechbReaker]

block all attacks? maybe only aerial attacks or ranged attacks

[Joneagle_X]

They probably mean that it can intercept things like nukes or scourge really well.

I mean if there was a unit that could block any air attack... that's a little strange.

Also, isn't this a pretty strange attempt at adapting a corsair?

[Mikosz]

Indeed... i will miss Wraiths- a perfect unit against everything (with the exception of Valiries :P)

I think people will use Vikings most of the time... :/

[DKutrovsky]

ASPECT OF ....BATTLECRUISER....PEW PEW PEW

[drewcbarnard]

Now that I released a pic of the new Predator which is replacing the Wraith, what do you guys think? I didnt see any special abilities for the Predator yet, I think there will most likely be something like cloak or some sort of special ability, but for now all it has is it's default Flurry attack. Speak your mind and let the world know where you stand on the issue!

[Ghost]

Lol, someone voted: "What is StarCraft?"

I can't really know until it is confirmed if the pred has skills or not, but for now I want the pred as we already have Banshees so Preds and Banshees sounds like a nice 1,2 combo.

[Eye_Carumba]

The predators only do 4 dmg! How can it be a nice combo? o_O And Banshees can be invisible, so they don't need the predator to defend them. They would rather spoil their location than do any help, lol.

I think these 2 are not to be compared. Predators are a defensive ship, not a raider. Wraith's raiding abilities have been split between the Vikings and Banshees. So if you want to compare them strategy-wise, you should do it with them.

Now if you mean comparing looks, well I haven't seen predators' both forms! =) Neither their in-game looks. So I'll be on hold for the voting for the time being. ;-)

[MarineCorp]

Predator because no point putting Wraiths in while there is another unit that can cloak and Predators are like Wraiths without cloaks and there are no need to put in Wraith or the Valkyrie since the Banshee does AoE bomb attacks

[-LT-]

Predator is way better.

[Hadean]

The wraith. The pred is incredibly ugly from what i've seen so far. Hell why not remodel it as a pimped out Wraith, and say they renamed it's newest form Predator. Oh yeah, also, they figured cloaking wouldn't be as effective as blah blah blah.

Boom there we go. The wraith is back.

*Edit*

Actually, looking closer at the pic. It has the same cockpit, the same wings, and the same tail fins. The only diff is it doesnt have a bottom piece and has these two ****ing huge as I dont even know whats nearby the cockpit. So i guess it essentially is an upgrade or another form of the wraith.

[Eye_Carumba]

Great idea! If it's regular form were to be called wraith, and it's second form Predator, it would be cool. The only problem is, it's first form has terrible atk and no ground atk (which doesn't change much from the old wraith anyway). It's better to keep it that way, and leave the air-fights for the vikings.

[Hadean]

With terrible damage like that, it's blatantly obvious that it'll be 4 damage per laser shot from each of those barrels, OR it'll shoot ridiculously fast like the corsair.

[Eye_Carumba]

With terrible damage like that, it's blatantly obvious that it'll be 4 damage per laser shot from each of those barrels, OR it'll shoot ridiculously fast like the corsair.


Nah-uh! Turrets have in it's dmg description saying 'atks 2x'. Predators don't. Turrets also have it saying 'Speed: Fast'. Predators and Cobras have it instead 'Speed: Normal'.

I hate to disappoint you, but if these were about the unit's moving speed, Turrets wouldn't have any! So Predators DO atk only once every time, and atk regularly, just like the Cobras. They're not decent anti-air.

[Ghost]

Then why the hell would they even consider them, I mean if they have low and slow attack that means that they can only attack ground units that cant fight back decently? They must be specialist air units, their interceptor mode must have a powerful ability.

[burkid]

The predators only do 4 dmg! How can it be a nice combo?

maybe the predator shoots 2-4 lasers each doing 4 damage, each individually with a normal attack speed. that would give them 8-16 damage pre volley, and they would therefore be the counter to small air, but very weak to armored units.

[Eye_Carumba]

Then why the hell would they even consider them, I mean if they have low and slow attack that means that they can only attack ground units that cant fight back decently? They must be specialist air units, their interceptor mode must have a powerful ability.


They don't atk ground units. They're only air-air. As I said before, it would be awfull to have an air-unit that can only defend. It should be able to attack as well, otherwise people wouldn't easily make them. Depending of the situation, they can act as attack support, or air-defense system. But it's his interceptor mode is the one that justifies his existence.

@ burkid: that's what I said previously: when a unit launches several volleys of atks each round, it's depicted in their atk window, just like the Turrets'. If there ain't it written there, they don't have it!

[DontHate]

wow, this predator idea is sounding like a stasis orb. a unit that's pretty much useless, but it's ability is only semi- decent.

[Itsmyship]

I would guess that the Predator is like the Corsair in how their main strength is in their ability rather than their attack. It's probably like the Corsair in how its better in packs than just by itself. Blizz also has the power to increase its attack or give it stronger attack if the way it is now just doesn't work also.

[Ghost]

Thats what I mean, its true strenght and usefullness lies in its ability.

[Itsmyship]

Exactly. It'll probably be a cheap, fast unit that works well mostly in packs with a useful ability....just like our friend the Corsair :)

[Ghost]

I hope its amix of the two, like having 1 predator in interceptor mode doesnt do much but as they are cheap, having 12 of them makes it a whole new ball game.

[drewcbarnard]

Ya... thats whats good about the terrans in SC2...everything is all about mass...queue up and move out!

[Ghost]

and bomb the crap out of other who dare mass and move out

[Joneagle_X]

Just because people will use it MOST of the time doesn't mean its any less THERE for the using. Often a unit is never used until it is needed to counter another unit.

[Ghost]

I just hope the predators ability to block incoming attacks make it a puerly defensive type of air unit. That would make it the only one in SC history (except if you count the arbiter)

[zeratul11]

i voted for predator both the look and name alone beats the wraith.

[Ghost]

Well although the wraiths are classics, it seems that they have been beaten down by the newcomers.

[Shadowdragon]

I really wanted a wraith with beefed up AA. I guess the predator will do, but I'll probably end up avoiding most starport units again.

[LordKerwyn]

Eh the Wraith was good but it had a relatively useless ground attack the Predator seems like it will do what the Wraith was best used for more effiently and the Predator seems like it will be a great adaptable air unit which seems to be the terran theme now.

[Eye_Carumba]

An early Starport is great for backup units to the Vikings. Now the transition from factory to Starport will be much smoother. The terran mechanics, just like the Protoss tech-tree, is doing really great so far! Very smoothly! ;-)

@ LordKerwyn: the Predator may not be used to fight the protoss scout. Neither as an air controling unit in T. vs. T., as it's atk is very low. I think the Wraith's role is completely extinct instead: noone can take it's place...

[LordKerwyn]

I could believe that Eye_Carumba i never really played the terran enough to know every units roll positively and either way most of what i say is my opinion which is based a ton on what i have been reading on fourms like these.

[Eye_Carumba]

I could believe that Eye_Carumba i never really played the terran enough to know every units roll positively and either way most of what i say is my opinion which is based a ton on what i have been reading on fourms like these.


No problem. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, based in whatever they think it's best. ;-)

[TheOneInPower]

I think it also depends on how it blocks the attacks. If it sacrifies itself or if it shoots out a volley of flak. I'm not sure I'd be real interested in a suicidal ship unless it was REALLY cheap. (like a scourge)

[Eye_Carumba]

It's not a suicidal ship, that's for sure. It halts atks with it's intercepting lasers.

[drewcbarnard]

and bomb the crap out of other who dare mass and move out

lol...that too

[PancakeChef]

The photo stats of the Predator that has been released calls its attack "Flurry" so it could be possible it fires some kind of volley. Maybe like a single shot aoe flak thing?, similar to how corsairs did splash damage?

The intercept mode is known so far to "block" and "reflect" attacks and we havn't even seen it in action yet so I think it could go either both ways.

As for Predator or Wraith, I will sadly have to say Predator since the Wraith doesn't seem to have a place in Starcraft 2 anymore.

[TheOneInPower]

That's good. I wouldn't like a terran kamakazi.
I think I'd be happier if they just scrapped the whole intercept thing and gave it a light ground attack.

[Hadean]

Pretty sure they said it'll show up in the map editor. All the old units will.

[Joneagle_X]

That would make it a wraith.

[ninerman13]

I voted Predator. This is after all, Starcraft II - and I want to see more new units. I also like the new ability - it sounds like it will be pretty useful. I believe, as some others here do as well, that this ship will work like the Corsair did attack-wise.

That said, I HATE air-to-air only attacks. Ground only attacks are fine - there are more ground targets and it is a critical weakness. But air-to-air only attacks bother me like none other. I hope they give it a really weak ground attack, like the old Wraith had.

[TheOneInPower]

As much as I like to spice up the mix with as many new units as possible, I loved the wraith. They were my favorite unit to mass. They were great until a group of 6 Corsairs took them all out. Ha ha.
Give the Predator a small ground attack and I'll be pleased.

[Itsmyship]

I really wanted a wraith with beefed up AA. I guess the predator will do, but I'll probably end up avoiding most starport units again.


I'm guessing us Terran players are just gonna spawn Banshees like rabbits, so chances are you'll at least be making a Starport for everyone's favorite anti-ground!

[TheOneInPower]

Yeah, I know. I would just rather have the Wraith back. I'm one of the bigger supporters of change units to make a near-completely different game, but I love those Wraiths. I hate to see them go.

[Joneagle_X]

They were a little too inflexible.. I would never really use them for a ground attack against anything larger than marines or hydralisks....

[DKutrovsky]

We really have no idea what the predator is like in normal mode or the "attack enemy missles" mode.

We only know that its 100/50, 2 supply, 100hp and 4 damage, normal speed.

Now speculations, its attack is called flurry, and it has multiple lazer barrels, which razes an eyebrow to say the least. We really have to wait to at least see how it attacks and how its special ability really works to say anything, although from what we're read so far it doesnt seem all that usefull since i dont see it stopping warp ray....rays? Or stalker lazers or marine bullets, or hydra spines.

[Eye_Carumba]

It could still be 4 dmg with aerial AoE? ò_Ô

[DKutrovsky]

Wraiths were great at killing siege tanks if you catch them off guard, or just taking out high templars and raiding overlords and drones. Great for ppl with no detectors

[BnechbReaker]

I'm guessing us Terran players are just gonna spawn Banshees like rabbits, so chances are you'll at least be making a Starport for everyone's favorite anti-ground!


mind you, the banshees looked pretty weak to any kind of air attack

[Heavyarms2050]

give the predator some very strong AA missiles and you get my vote

[Itsmyship]

I'm guessing us Terran players are just gonna spawn Banshees like rabbits, so chances are you'll at least be making a Starport for everyone's favorite anti-ground!


mind you, the banshees looked pretty weak to any kind of air attack


But they also got Cloak, so that should give them a run for their money for a while until you can get out of range.

[TheOneInPower]

Wraiths were great at killing siege tanks if you catch them off guard, or just taking out high templars and raiding overlords and drones. Great for ppl with no detectors

Yeah, exactly. I'll miss them! Hopefully the predator will bring something new and exciting to the table while still being useful.

[BnechbReaker]

mass wraiths > pretty much anything except mass goliaths, mass corsair or gosu storming

[slugonice]

We want STEALTH fighters for the TERRAN