Starcraft 2 Advanced Terran Buildings

Starcraft 2 Terran Units and Structures ---> Terran Buildings (you are here)

In this section of the guide, I will go over all the advanced Starcraft 2 Terran Buildings, their units, technologies, and how to use these buildings effectively. For more specific unit strategies, feel free to look at the Terran unit guides on the left side-bar.

Advanced Starcraft 2 Terran Buildings can be found by pressing the "v" key in game with an SCV. After building a Barracks, the Terran player will gain access to the advanced Starcraft 2 Terran Buildings.

Factory

Cost: 150 minerals, 100 vespene gas
Requires: Barracks
Allows: Starport, Armory
Produces: Hellion, Siege Tank, Thor

The Factory is the key building to the Terran's tier 3 units. It is also the Starcraft 2 Advanced Terran Building responsible for producing mechanical units.

With a Reactor attached, the Factory can produce 2 Hellions at once. When a Tech Lab is attached, the Factory can build Hellions, Siege Tanks, and Thors (provided an Armory is present).

With a Tech Lab attached, players can also research the following:

250mm Strike Cannons (150 minerals, 150 vespene gas) which is a Thor ability which stuns units and deals 500 damage over 6 seconds. It is very powerful but requires 150 energy.

Infernal Pre-Ignitor (150 minerals and 150 vespene gas) is a Hellion upgrade that significantly increase (+10) Hellion damage versus light units.

Finally, players can research Siege Technology (100 minerals, 100 vespene gas) which allows Siege Tanks to go into Siege Mode. This is an essential Terran technology if you plan to use tanks.

Ghost Academy

Cost: 150 minerals, 50 vespene gas
Requires: Barracks
Allows: Ghosts at the Barracks, produces Tactical Nuke (nuclear bomb)
Researches: Personal Cloaking, Moebius Reactor

The Ghost Academy is the headquarters of the Ghost in Starcraft 2 (unlike in Starcraft 1 where the Nuke was produced at the command center). Its presence allows the Terran player to build Ghosts at the Barracks.

Additionally, players can research Personal Cloaking (150 mineral, 150 vespene gas) which is a must-have ability that allows the Ghost to cloak himself at the cost of energy.

The Moebius Reactor (100 minerals, 100 vespene gas) increases the starting energy of Ghosts by 25. This is worthwhile if you are using Ghosts heavily as Cloaking and Snipe can be energy intensive pursuits.

Finally, players can build a Tactical Nuke (100 minerals, 100 vespene gas) which gives the Ghost access to its ultimate ability. Once a Nuclear weapon is built, the Ghost can call in a nuke which causes large amounts of damage in the area where it lands.

Starport

Cost: 150 minerals, 100 vespene gas
Requires: Factory
Allows: Fusion Core
Produces: Vikings, Medivacs, Banshees, Ravens, Battlecruisers

The Starport allows the production of Terran Air units. With a Reactor attached, it can produce 2 Vikings or Medivacs at once. This is one of the key advanced Starcraft 2 Terran Buildings since it unlocks so many units.

A Tech Lab gives the Starport access to Banshees, Ravens, Battlecruisers (provided a Fusion Core was present).

With a Tech Lab attached, players can research the following:

Seeker Missile (150 minerals, 150 vespene gas) - This gives the Raven access to the Seeker Missile. Worthwhile if the enemy is heavily invested in air units.

Cloaking Field (200 minerals, 200 vespene gas) - This gives the Banshee the ability to use its Cloaking ability. Worthwhile if you plan to use Banshees.

Cadaceus Reactor (100 minerals, 100 vespene gas) - This increases the starting energy of the Medivac by 25. Worthwhile if going an MMM build.

Corvid Reactor (150 minerals, 150 vespene gas) - This increases the starting energy of the Raven by 25. I do not consider this worth it as I rarely get enough Ravens to make it worthwhile. Two to Three Ravens is usually more than enough.

Armory

Cost: 150 minerals, 100 vespene gas
Requires: Factory
Allows: Production of Thors at the Factory, research for vehicle and aircraft upgrades

This building is required for Thors and allows for the research of vehicle and air unit weapon and armor upgrades.

Thors are a great unit and Vehicle weapon and armor upgrades are particularly useful, given how balanced a Hellion/Thor/Siege Tank army is. Get this if you plan to go mech!

Fusion Core

Cost: 150 minerals, 150 vespene gas
Requires: Starport
Allows: Production of Battlecruisers

The Fusion Core allows the production of Battlecruisers. It can also research two technologies:

Weapon Refit (150 minerals, 150 vespene gas) - gives Battlecruisers access to the Yamato Cannon ability. This is a must-have if you plan to use Battlecruisers.

The Fusion Core can also research Behemoth Reactor (150 minerals, 150 vespene gas) increases the starting energy of the Battlecruiser. This is only worthwhile if you are constantly producing Battlecruisers (not common in 1v1 matches).

Thus concludes the advanced Starcraft 2 Terran Buildings section!