The Viking is a unique unit with two different attack modes. It is designed to be a strong air to air fighter with deadly damage against Armored targets. Although it can still be used for some ground support when necessary. The Viking can only use one attack depending on the mode it is in. The weapon and armor upgrades of a Viking are based on the air upgrades and not the vehicles even when in Assault mode.
Transforms the Viking from Fighter Mode to Assualt Mode allowing it to attack ground targets but reducing its movement speed to 2.25 (Normal). The transformation takes a few seconds to complete and is best used out of combat to minimize damage. While in Assualt Mode, the Viking cannot attack air targets and functions like a normal ground unit.
This upgrade causes the Viking's Lanzer Torpedoes to also cause Splash Damage. The extra damage can be very powerful against groups of enemy flyers.
Phobos Class Weapons System(Campaign)
Source: Hyperion Armory
Credits: 90,000
Vikings with this upgrade will increase their attack range by 2 on air targets and 1 on ground. This allows them to hit ground enemies from a long Range, but they can really shine by picking apart air targets from a far safe distance.
The Brood War revealed critical weaknesses in terran anti-air capability. The new Wraith combat fighters and Valkyrie missile frigates proved to be an unwieldy combination against agile zerg airborne organisms. Ground-based anti-air support from goliath assault walkers was too limited in its mobility: all too often airborne attackers would simply move out of the goliath's range and find less well-defended targets to destroy.
In the aftermath of the war, terran weapon technicians proposed a radical new concept to resolve both of these problems. Based heavily on the transformation design of the terran siege tank, the viking was designed to be the ultimate anti-air and ground-support weapon system. With the ability to change its combat role from an assault walker to an air-superiority fighter, the viking can switch smoothly to fulfill tactical needs in a developing battle.
The high mobility of the viking has also led to its expanding beyond the limitations of ground support. Full-scale raids by viking squadrons can inflict devastating damage and are very problematic to counter. In order to defeat vikings, the enemy needs to bring a strong ground and air force to bear.
Terrans have had difficulty finding pilots who can master both combat modes. Typically viking pilots are killed quickly in their first fight as they struggle to handle this complex machine. If they are talented enough to survive, they will last for hundreds of battles, becoming the ultimate terran aces.
• Cost changed from 125 Minerals and 100 Vespene Gas to 150 Minerals and 75 Vespene Gas.
Beta Patch 1
• The armor value for this unit in Fighter Mode has decreased from 1 to 0.
• The damage done by this unit in Fighter Mode has changed from 6 (+8 armored) to 10 (+4 armored).
