View source for Viking (Legacy of the Void)

{{Version Hatnote|type=unit}}
{{Infobox unit
|game=lotv
|name=Viking Fighter Mode
|image=SC2VikingFighter.jpg
|race=T
|type=Air Unit
|description=Durable support flyer. Loaded with strong anti-capital air missiles. Can switch into Assault Mode to attack ground units.
|builtfrom=[[Starport]]
|min=150
|gas=75
|buildtime=30
|supply=2
|attributes=[[Armored]], [[Mechanical]]

|attack1_name=Gatling Cannon
|attack1_target=Ground
|attack1_damage=12 (+1)
|attack1_dps=16.9 (+1.41)
|attack1_cooldown=0.71
|attack1_bonus=+8 (+1) vs [[Mechanical]]
|attack1_bonus_dps=+11.3 (+1.41) vs [[Mechanical]]
|attack1_range=6

|attack2_name=Lanzer Torpedoes
|attack2_target=Air
|attack2_damage=10 (+1) (x2)
|attack2_dps=14 (+1.4)
|attack2_cooldown=1.43
|attack2_bonus=+4 vs [[Armored]]
|attack2_bonus_dps=+5.59 vs [[Armored]]
|attack2_range=9

|hp=135
|armor=0 (+1)
|hotkey=V
|sight=10
|speed=3.15 (Ground)<br>
3.85 (Air)
|cargo_size=2
|strong= <!-- as listed in the ingame help section-->
*[[Battlecruiser]]
*[[Brood Lord]]
*[[Tempest (Legacy of the Void)|Tempest]]
|weak=*[[Marine]]
*[[Hydralisk]]
*[[Stalker]]
}}

{{Infobox unit
|game=lotv
|name=Viking Assault Mode
|image=SC2VikingAssault.jpg
|race=T
|attributes=[[Armored]], [[Mechanical]]
|hp=135
|armor=0 (+1)
|sight=10
}}

==Description==
The '''Viking''' is an anti-air fighter with the ability to transform into an assault walker, with the transformation taking a number of seconds. The Viking is strongest when supported by units that can protect it from ground-based anti-air attacks. They are best suited for taking down strong, hard-hitting air units such as Void Rays, Corruptors, or Tempests (or [[Colossus (Legacy of the Void)|Colossi]]) but do not fare as well against lighter and faster units such as the Mutalisk or Phoenix. Vikings are produced from a Starport (with or without a Reactor) and are generally produced in a set number as opposed to continuous production, in order to eliminate enemy air units cost-effectively.

With a range of 9 in fighter mode, Vikings greatly benefit from proper micromanagement: taking minimal fire from enemy air units while dealing damage, or forcing the enemy to retreat and relinquish air control. However the assault mode, withs its relatively lackluster damage, does not see much use in the current state of the game.

A notable trick to use with large numbers of Vikings is to gather them all at once in a tight formation, which will make them stack onto each other. This will make focus-firing much easier and can sometimes confuse an opposing player by making it difficult to determine the Viking count. Being stacked like this will make the Vikings very vulnerable to area-of-effect and air splash damage, however. Although [[Blizzard]] attempted to remove this feature during [[Patch Notes|patch 1.3]], a slightly extended procedure achieves a similar result if not the same.<ref>TL Forum: [https://tl.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=204762 Sockfolder presents a new technique to achieve the viking flower post patch 1.3]</ref>

Vikings in Assault Mode can be [[Load]]ed into [[Medivac]]s.

==Abilities==
{{:SCAbility/Fighter Mode_(Legacy_of_the_Void)}}
{{:SCAbility/Assault Mode_(Legacy_of_the_Void)}}
Note that the Viking always benefits from Ship Weapons upgrade, even in Assault Mode.

==Upgrades==
The '''Smart Servos''' upgrade reduces the transformation time for switching between the Viking's modes from 1.67-2.03 seconds to 0.95-1.31 seconds.
{{:SCUpgrade/Smart Servos}}

==Transformation==
The Viking is considered an aerial unit during the whole transformation process. This makes it quite good at hit-and-run tactics against ground units that can't hit air, as the Viking can lift off as soon as it is in danger. Conversely, when fighting against air units that can't hit ground, the Vikings will still be pelted while they are trying to land.

Thus, it is actually very dangerous to keep your Vikings on the ground when the opponent has mobile anti-air units: If the opponent flies in his units, your Vikings will either have to stay on the ground, vulnerable to land units, or lift off, taking a beating during the transformation.

==Competitive Usage==
==={{Vs Protoss Header}}===
Vikings are mainly useful for infantry support, as they can take out [[Colossus (Legacy of the Void)|Colossi]] from a long range. They can also be used to deter Protoss air units, especially [[Oracle]] harassment, and Vikings out-range both [[Void Ray]]s and [[Phoenix (Legacy of the Void)|Phoenices]]. On an equal supply basis, Vikings will be able to take out Void Rays and without micro will go relatively even against Phoenices and Carriers.

Vikings are primarily used to kill Colossi. The approximate number of Vikings to build depends on the number of Colossi your opponent has, although it is also viable to get enough Vikings to take down Colossi in X number of shots. 

Assuming no upgrades, Vikings deal 10 (+4 armored) x2 damage to air per attack. Therefore it takes 5 attacks to almost deplete their shields (140 damage). After that they deal 13 x2 damage to the hull per attack (Colossi have 1 base armor). 6 attacks will deplete their shields and deal 16 damage to the hull. After that it takes 8 shots to deplete their hull health (184 remaining, 26 damage per shot), for a total of 14 shots.

'''To 3-shot Colossi, therefore, you need 5 Vikings; to 2-shot them, you need 7; to 1-shot them, you need 14.'''

==={{Vs Terran Header}}===
In TvT, they are used to hold off the opponent's Vikings, [[Raven]]s, and [[Liberator]]s.
TvT often revolves around getting [[Siege Tank]]s and Vikings very early on. While the Tanks do most of the damage, the Vikings give increased sight so that the Tanks can utilize their full range. 

Air dominance is a very important aspect of TvT, as whoever has control of the air will get both the range bonus for his Tanks and the ability to protect his own Ravens, Liberators, and Battlecruisers. In the early mid-game they can also be used for harassing the opponent's mineral line, and in some cases they can supplement the Terran's ground army. Landing them on top of an opponent's sieged Tanks to force them to damage one another is also a popular technique. Another option is to land them on unreachable cliffs, to fire at troops underneath them, especially when the enemy doesn't have air units providing sight.

Vikings are often a key aspect of TvT all game long as they have no clear counter. [[Thor]]s can be used to keep Vikings at bay, but Thors deal low damage against non-light, non-massive air units, so they don't kill Vikings very easily. [[Battlecruiser]]s can be a viable option in the late game, but as Vikings have longer range, are cheaper and faster to build, Battlecruisers (especially without [[Weapon Refit|Yamato Cannon]]) do not trade against them cost-effectively.

==={{Vs Zerg Header}}===
Vikings can play both harassing and support roles in TvZ. Apart from scouting, a few Vikings can be used to kill off Overlords to deny scouting. Moreover [[Overlord]]s are armored, so Vikings get bonus damage for sniping Overlords.

Vikings aren't too cost-effective against [[Mutalisk]]s, but when built alongside Turrets, Thors and/or Ravens, with their long range, they can be used as a deterrent against Mutalisk harass.

In the late-game, Vikings are very effective against [[Corruptor]]s and a hard counter to [[Brood Lord]]s. However when Brood Lords are supported by Corruptors and [[Infestor]]s or [[Viper]]s, care must be taken because exposed Vikings can be caught by [[Fungal Growth]] and [[Parasitic Bomb]]. To trade cost-effectively the Vikings should be spread out to reduce the number caught in each spell. Additionally, [[Kiting]] helps to fight Corruptors, since the Viking has superior range.

==Gallery==

[[File:Viking.gif]]

==Quotes==
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
!Quotes
|-
!Built
!Selected
!Annoyed
!Move
!Attack
!Under Attack
|-valign="top"
|
*Ready to plunder.
|
*Transformation systems primed.
*Fight or flight? Yeah, right.
*Let's get into the fight.
*Made for battle.
*You ready for war?
|
*Erik, Balog, Olav, come in. Must have gotten lost again.<ref group="q">from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Vikings The Lost Vikings]</ref>
*We'll grease my gears.
*Coordinates set, Norse by Norse-west.<ref group="q">from [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053125/ North by Northwest], also the title of the sequel to The Lost Vikings</ref>
*I'm the best pilot in all the nine worlds. Oh yeah.
*-Hums to Ride of the Valkyries-
*Shock and awe, baby.
*Raiding and pillaging builds character. Really.
*Blood and glory! Man, I must be losing it.
*By air or by land, all shall fall by my hand! Wait, did.. did I say that out loud?
*Welcome to VIKING, if you want rockets, press 4, if you want weapons, press 5. If you know the enemy you want to kill, press 7.
*Fly the unfriendly skies.
|
*No-one lives forever.
*Victory.
*Hm, bold.
*I like it.
*Very well.
*Ha-haa!
*Agreed.
*Alright.
*Inbound.
*Certainly.
*Yes indeed.
|
*Burn and pillage!
*Weapons primed.
*Strike hard and fast.
*Fortune favors the bold.
*I love a good raid.
*There's the spirit.
*Aggressive, I like it.
|
*Can't hold 'em alone!
|-
| colspan="6" | <references group="q"/>
|}
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t55nKXBAMPo Viking's quotes (video and sound)] - YouTube video.

==Patch Changes==
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
! Patch 3.8.0 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/starcraft2/20372512/starcraft-ii-legacy-of-the-void-3-8-0-patch-notes|title=Legacy of the Void - Patch 3.8.0 -- November 22, 2016|author=Blizzard Entertainment|publisher=Battle.net|date=22 November 2016}}</ref>
|-
|
*Assault mode auto-attack now deals bonus (+8 vs mechanical) damage.
|}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
! Patch 4.3.0 Balance Update<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://starcraft2.com/en-us/news/21785907|title=STARCRAFT II BALANCE UPDATE – MAY 15, 2018|author=Blizzard Entertainment|publisher=Battle.net|date=15 May 2018}}</ref>
|-
|
*Health increased from 125 to 135.
|}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
! Patch 5.0.11 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/starcraft2/23893118/starcraft-ii-5-0-11-patch-notes|title=STARCRAFT II 5.0.11 PATCH NOTES|author=Blizzard Entertainment|publisher=Battle.net|date=23 January 2023}}</ref>
|-
|
*Damage point reduced from 0.12 to 0.04. (Fighter Mode is the flying mode of the Viking)
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Lost Viking]] - Arcade minigame playable in the single player Wings of Liberty campaign.

{{Units and Buildings in Legacy of the Void navbox}}