Gameplay

After earning enough credits by completing missions, you’ll be able to purchase a wide array of upgrades.

Rory Swann runs the show in the Armory, and he's constantly working on new technology that becomes available as you progress through the terran campaign. After earning enough credits by completing missions, you’ll be able to purchase a wide array of upgrades that can enhance your base, infantry, vehicles, and much more. These each have two available upgrade options, and you can purchase both if you save up enough credits.

Here's a sneak peek at what an Armory Infantry upgrade may look like.

Marines

• Stimpack: Grants the marine higher attack and movement speed at the cost of health.
• Combat Shield: Increases the marine's overall health.

Medic

• Advanced Medic Facilities: Removes the tech lab add-on requirement for training medics.
• Stabilizer Med Packs: Allows medics to heal faster using less energy per heal.

Firebat

• Incinerator Gauntlets: Grants the firebat a wider flame attack while maintaining the same intensity as before.
• Juggernaut Plating: Increases the firebat's armor by reinforcing the unit's helmet and chest pieces.

With enough credits, you'll be able to bolster your forces by purchasing mercenary contracts. You can access the mercenary screen by speaking with Graven Hill in the Cantina between missions. Once a mercenary is under contract, these battle-hardened units can be used at the cost of in-game resources via the Merc Compound during missions. Depending on how many different contracts you purchase, you'll be able to mix and match your available mercenaries however you see fit during battle. Each mercenary has a cooldown before more can be called into action.

When you access the mercenary feature, you'll be presented with a special screen that displays the units available for hire. Clicking on each available mercenary displays additional information, including a short video demonstrating the mercenary's capabilities. Here are a few important things you'll want to know while in the market for hired guns:

Depending on how many different contracts you purchase, you'll be able to mix and match your available mercenaries however you see fit.

• Mercenary Type: In the Mercenary screen, you'll be able to see which mercenaries are available to you at that moment in your campaign.
• Squad Size: Mercenaries deploy in preset squad sizes; there's a limit to how many squads can be called down during each mission.
• Vitals: The mercenary’s vitals are displayed in the unit overview pane, allowing you to gauge how much life and additional power each unit has.
• Cost: Each mercenary has a specific cost. These special units don’t come cheap, but if you keep pulling off jobs, you’ll be able to have the best of the best by your side at a moment’s notice.

You must acquire zerg and protoss research points by completing bonus objectives during individual campaign missions.

Shortly into your campaign, you'll become acquainted with Egon Stetmann, the lab technician on board the Hyperion. With his help, along with some legwork on your end, you'll gain access to a number of significant improvements to your weapon systems and tactical abilities. To use these upgrades, you must acquire zerg and protoss research points by completing bonus objectives during individual campaign missions. Once you've saved up enough of these points, you can put them to use by clicking on the research console in the Laboratory and browsing the available building, unit, and tactical upgrades. Throughout the campaign, Stetmann will inform you of things that he needs in order to create these enhancements.

Here are several examples of upgrades you may be able to acquire while playing the campaign:

• Shrike Turret (Zerg Research): Outfits all bunkers with an automatic turret.
• Perdition Turret (Zerg Research): Flame turret that conceals itself when out of combat.
• Ultra-Capacitors (Protoss Research): Weapon upgrades in the Armory and Engineering Bay increase attack speed by 5% in addition to increasing damage.
• Automated Refinery (Protoss Research): Refineries no longer require SCV's to harvest.

Getting the most out of the Armory, Cantina, and Laboratory features is up to you.

By completing objectives as well as bonus side missions, you'll accumulate credits, which are displayed in the Armory and Mercenary screens. Once you amass enough credits, you'll be able to hire mercenaries and purchase other units and upgrades during the StarCraft II campaign.

Getting the most out of the Armory, Cantina, and Laboratory features is up to you. If you spend your credits wisely, each mission should prove to be a success.