Games - Protoss Reaver

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	Games - Protoss Reaver

---- A Reaver is a Protoss unit in the real-time strategy computer game StarCraft. It is a mechanical unit that, much like the Protoss Carrier, needs to build smaller units inside to use for attack. These smaller units are called Scarabs. Scarabs are shot out of the reaver and explode on contact with an enemy or group of enemies.

Appearance

The Reaver resembles a giant mechanical caterpillar that inches along by expanding and contracting its sections. On the front by its head are "feelers" that assist in the forward motion of the Reaver. Near the front where its "eyes" would be are sensors.

Game Unit

Reavers are produced at Robotics Facilities and require a Robotics Support buildings. Each costs 200 minerals, 100 gas, and requires 4 points of Psi in game. A Reaver has 100 hit points and 80 shield points. They can be upgraded for better armor and shields at the Forge, and for better Scarab capacity at the Robotics Support.

Perhaps the most difficult unit to use properly, Reavers are the most damaging long range units in the game, making them perfect for taking out static defences such as Sunken Colonies and Photon Cannons. However, Reavers have a number of key weaknesses:

They cannot fire at air units.
Reavers move and fire at an exceptionally slow rate, making them vulnerable to enemy ranged ground units as well. A lone Reaver can be killed with relative ease by Dragoons
, Siege Tanks and even Hydralisk
s.
Reavers rely on Scarabs, which cost minerals. Though usually this is a non-issue, if a Protoss suddenly runs out of minerals, their Reavers will run out of Scarabs.

In order to make Reavers truly formidable, they are almost always coupled with Shuttles (each Shuttle can carry two Reavers). Not only does this tactic decrease the Reavers' travel time, Shuttles are also required to quickly move Reavers in and out of firing range.

In small quantities, Reavers are mostly used for Reaver Drops and to counter m&m. Otherwise, Reavers find their use against Zerg and Protoss opponents. Armies of Reavers are rarely used against Terrans, since the Terran Siege Tank (in Siege Mode) has a longer range. When used in large numbers, Reavers always require escort by Corsair (against Zerg) or Dragoons (against Protoss).

Scarabs

A Reaver can carry 5 Scarabs at a time, 10 with the Improved Scarab Capacity upgrade at the Robotics Support. Each Scarab costs 15 minerals and does 100 normal damage, upgraded to 125 at the Robotics Support. Scarabs deal damage to all adjacent units, making them extremely powerful against groups of weak units such as Marines, Zerglings and Hydralisks. The massive damage Scarabs inflict makes them useful against tougher units as well, since it only takes two Scarabs to kill a Zealot, a Dragoon, or a Siege Tank, and five to kill an Ultralisk (four with the damage upgrade).

The first thing to know about Scarabs, is that they actually travel towards their target, having to circumvent trees, buildings and other units. Cliffs pose an impassable barrier to Scarabs, although the latter can go up and down ramps. Also, a Scarab will self-destruct after approximately 5 seconds of chasing its target. No or little damage will be inflicted in this case.

Ordering the Reaver to attack a unit in the middle of an enemy formation, but not blocked by other units, is a very rewarding skill. Entire armies of small units can be annihilated by a single Reaver making full use of its Scarabs.

Reaver-Shuttle

This combo is very powerful. Ideally, the Reaver should only touch the ground to release a Scarab, then return to its Shuttle immediately. The "Shuttle that fires Scarabs" technique compensates for the unit's slow rate of fire and movement, as well as making the Reaver almost invulnerable to ground-only attacking enemies. The reaver "popping" has been nerfed by the time of Brood War. However the speed increase and the ability to flee attack still makes this tactic worth it. Also, it is important to replenish the Scarab supply as the Reaver uses it up. This is next to impossible to perform with a large group of Reavers at once, so they are mostly used to support other units, maximizing the Reavers' potential. When facing Siege Tanks in Siege Mode, it is best to drop the Reaver right on top of the Tanks, in order to prevent the latter from retaliating.

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