• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EST 05:31
CET 11:31
KST 19:31
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book15Clem wins HomeStory Cup 289HomeStory Cup 28 - Info & Preview13Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info8herO wins SC2 All-Star Invitational14
Community News
LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals (Feb 10-16)5Weekly Cups (Feb 2-8): Classic, Solar, MaxPax win2Nexon's StarCraft game could be FPS, led by UMS maker7PIG STY FESTIVAL 7.0! (19 Feb - 1 Mar)11Weekly Cups (Jan 26-Feb 1): herO, Clem, ByuN, Classic win2
StarCraft 2
General
How do you think the 5.0.15 balance patch (Oct 2025) for StarCraft II has affected the game? Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book Weekly Cups (Jan 12-18): herO, MaxPax, Solar win Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info Nexon's StarCraft game could be FPS, led by UMS maker
Tourneys
LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals (Feb 10-16) Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament PIG STY FESTIVAL 7.0! (19 Feb - 1 Mar) RSL Season 4 announced for March-April WardiTV Mondays
Strategy
Custom Maps
Map Editor closed ? [A] Starcraft Sound Mod
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 512 Overclocked Mutation # 511 Temple of Rebirth Mutation # 510 Safety Violation
Brood War
General
ACS replaced by "ASL Season Open" - Starts 21/02 Recent recommended BW games [ASL21] Potential Map Candidates BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ BW General Discussion
Tourneys
Escore Tournament StarCraft Season 1 [Megathread] Daily Proleagues Small VOD Thread 2.0 KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Strategy
Fighting Spirit mining rates Zealot bombing is no longer popular? Simple Questions, Simple Answers Current Meta
Other Games
General Games
Diablo 2 thread Battle Aces/David Kim RTS Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread ZeroSpace Megathread EVE Corporation
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas Vanilla Mini Mafia TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Sex and weight loss Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Ask and answer stupid questions here! YouTube Thread
Fan Clubs
The herO Fan Club! The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread [Manga] One Piece
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Play, Watch, Drink: Esports …
TrAiDoS
My 2025 Magic: The Gathering…
DARKING
Life Update and thoughts.
FuDDx
How do archons sleep?
8882
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 3119 users

[I] A weird idea to fix medivacs

Blogs > BluzMan
Post a Reply
BluzMan
Profile Blog Joined April 2006
Russian Federation4235 Posts
October 14 2010 07:22 GMT
#1
To me, medivacs are the worst design flaw in the whole game. They completely eliminate the whole idea behind the 'mobility costs money' formula. In SC, when you go a drop build as T, you sacrifice your army to get mobility. You know you won't be able to do a head-on attack or timing push because of the extra money you have to spend on dropships, but on the same time you gain the ability to attack in small numbers in places that are not easily defended.

This mechanic was not just a balance concern (although it was, in fact, a balance concern), it also was one of the production facilities for playstyles. One player could focus on getting the most units possible and that would be macro style. The other could play defensive, keeping his opponent at bay with constant drops and map control through threat not numbers (that playstyle, IIRC, was dubbed Yangachi terran and was practiced by UpMagic of the more recent players).

But medivac does both. It would be a cost-efficient unit even if it didn't have the ability to drop. It directly influences the power of your army. On the other hand, it provides drops essentially for free. Add in the capability to use a reactor to produce 2x medivacs from just one starport, and you will see the whole picture. The unit is broken, it eliminates playstyles (there's no point NOT to drop when you go MMM) and gives terran a significant edge in whatever TvP. Blizzard, however, cannot remove a unit from an already working game, besides, terran really needs both medics and dropships in some form.

So the solution proposed here is:

Healing Drone:

A unit produced from factory, costs 50/50, has 60 health/1 armor and 2,25 movespeed. Doesn't require tech lab. Mechanical/Light. Does essentially what medivac does, but being a ground hovering unit, doesn't fly or drop. The range of healing is 1 cell less than that of the medivac and maybe healing rate slightly reduced.

Dropship:

A unit produced from StarPort, costs 100/75, has 120 hp, drops. Replaces the medivac. Doesn't require tech lab.

Medical attachments:

An upgade in StarPort tech lab, allows attachment of Healing Drones to Dropships. Costs 50/50, researches for 1 minute game time.

Medivac:

Once Medical attachments are researched, a Healing Drone can permanently attach itself to a dropship, making it a medivac and giving it the ability to heal.


Goals reached:

1) Medivacs are still in the game.
2) You cannot just get medivacs straight off the bat. In fact, to build them, you need a rather inexpensive upgrade.
3) You don't get both drops and healing on the same time for a small price.
4) If you still need drops, you can do them for the same price, which is not achieved when going the most obvious route of increasing medivac costs.
5) You can go a healing ground army without starport tech.
6) Eliminates the ridicule of Factories being so worthless that they are being used as a scouting suicide unit.


Opinions?

*
You want 20 good men, but you need a bad pussy.
Sufficiency
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
Canada23833 Posts
October 14 2010 07:25 GMT
#2
I just think we should bring Medics back.

I guess Blizzard could bring the Medics back to ladder play... in an expansion.
https://twitter.com/SufficientStats
KTF_CloaK
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
Netherlands1338 Posts
October 14 2010 08:31 GMT
#3
They should just bring the medic back...(and the reaver and the scourge and the old hydralisk and thedefiler) the thing is, sc2 i just a differnt game
KT Rolster for the win!! Lee-Young-Ho hwaiting!!
Patriot.dlk
Profile Blog Joined October 2004
Sweden5462 Posts
October 14 2010 08:40 GMT
#4
Well you start off by assuming it broke and that it needs to sacrifice army size while protoss can warp in units all over the map and zerg has the fastest units, has nydus and can make all ol to dropships

this is not sc1
mustache
Profile Joined April 2010
Switzerland309 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-10-14 09:20:37
October 14 2010 08:47 GMT
#5
I believe its a horrible idea. Medivacs are needed the way they are.

From my experience (playing and watching) you need the medivac for the harassment that T NEEDS to do vs P and Z because they can rolfstomp you with their eco (chronoboost,Warpgates, larva injection)

You're essentially making medivas a later unit (where you should have needed it already) and more expensive 150/125.

As P you shouldn't have too much trouble with dropships as you have

a) obs scattered around, you shouldnt be caught of guard by these
b)blink stalkers to jump under the medivas
c) warp in so you can warp to the battle directly
d)Feedback to instakill dropships
e) storm to rape MnM

Edit: You be reintroducing the medic basically as well, meaning there is less incentive to even get that starport. Why would you get the SP when you can have healing+ a bigger army on fact racks tech?

would make early mnm pushes even stronger, and create less diverse play by not "forcing" the terran to get the dropship
jaybrundage
Profile Joined December 2009
United States3921 Posts
October 14 2010 08:48 GMT
#6
Idk seems like it is not really needed protoss can beat drops its just hard. Keep in mind that the recent stats that blizzard put up shows that Protoss actually beat terren statistically.

The whole reason Blizzard made the medivac was cause the mnm pushes from broodwar were so strong and with this they have to tech up to starport first. The great thing about medivacs IS that they can do a drop and heal the army that is what makes them unique. And THAT my friend is what makes sc 2 a great game the races big differences



+ Show Spoiler +
BluzMan Russian Federation. October 14 2010 16:22. Posts 3009 PM Profile Blog Quote #
To me, medivacs are the worst design flaw in the whole game. They completely eliminate the whole idea behind the 'mobility costs money' formula.


Mobility Does costs money, it does thats why you have to build a factory and a starport to get it. Also if you introduced this Medic Drone as you say it would maybe give terren a bigger advantage because it would give them healing capibilites sooner and make for more devestating timing pushes. A change like you say would change the game quite a bit.

Altogether i think that Medivacs are fine the way they are maybe while i did play broodwar a bit and loved it there is not need to see sc 2 thru a bw filter i mean i remember when Hellions were getting ripped apart because they were not similar enough to old bw vultures. But Hellions are FREAKEN awesome look at how TLO uses them in his match against Losira.

Also the fact that Medivacs have the special abiltiy to heal also means that the have the ability to get feedbacked my templars and if you have not done that yet try it it feels awesome :D There is always tradeoffs and that is one of them with a medivac.

So in summary medivacs are not broken. Just really versatile. And there here to stay
The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in battle.
evanthebouncy!
Profile Blog Joined June 2006
United States12796 Posts
October 14 2010 09:08 GMT
#7
I mean you make a solid point that once you go MMM there's no reason not to drop.
But maybe MMM+Drop is a tactic, while Mech is another, and so on so on.

Then once you abstract tactic to a higher level it seems okay still.
Life is run, it is dance, it is fast, passionate and BAM!, you dance and sing and booze while you can for now is the time and time is mine. Smile and laugh when still can for now is the time and soon you die!
Qikz
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
United Kingdom12024 Posts
October 14 2010 09:11 GMT
#8
One reason why the medivac is needed is Banelings, Medics would get totally owned by Banelings it wouldn't even be funny.
FanTaSy's #1 Fan | STPL Caster/Organiser | SKT BEST KT | https://twitch.tv/stpl
HTX
Profile Joined February 2010
Germany265 Posts
October 14 2010 10:04 GMT
#9
Or you can just go back to Medics and Dropships and after loading the medic in the dropship you got the medivac.

The internet: a horrible collective liar
pzea469
Profile Blog Joined September 2008
United States1520 Posts
November 28 2010 07:39 GMT
#10
I'm not fond of the solution, but I agree. Medivacs kinda broke the whole "mobility should cost you" thing. If they didnt serve as dropships, terran would STILL make them. Not to mention that terran goes bio basically every game unlike bw, meaning its always useful.

Honestly, they should just bring the medic and dropship back. Maybe allow medics that are in a dropship to heal infantry underneath them or something, idk.

I didnt like the medivac from the beginning like a lot of people, because it just seemed weird to be healed by a ship. However this isn't a "I don't like the medivac" thing anymore. Mobility should cost money, not be something u get on the side.
Kill the Deathball
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
The PondCast
10:00
Episode 81
CranKy Ducklings26
LiquipediaDiscussion
PiG Sty Festival
22:20
PiG Sty Final Qualifier
Rogue vs NightMareLIVE!
ShoWTimE vs Krystianer
PiGStarcraft415
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
PiGStarcraft415
SortOf 170
ProTech139
FoxeR 52
Livibee 20
StarCraft: Brood War
Calm 8636
Flash 2802
Sea 2077
actioN 701
Bisu 460
Shuttle 355
Jaedong 327
Soulkey 232
Stork 212
Mong 195
[ Show more ]
Britney 180
Pusan 156
Leta 151
Larva 147
Mini 125
Soma 122
ZerO 116
Snow 110
Last 88
Light 86
Sharp 84
Shine 83
JulyZerg 56
Barracks 44
Killer 42
Rush 40
ToSsGirL 31
Aegong 30
GoRush 30
Backho 25
NaDa 22
Hm[arnc] 17
Terrorterran 15
sorry 13
Sacsri 12
scan(afreeca) 11
ajuk12(nOOB) 9
Dota 2
NeuroSwarm112
XcaliburYe40
League of Legends
JimRising 354
Counter-Strike
shoxiejesuss1385
byalli552
kRYSTAL_37
Super Smash Bros
Mew2King136
Other Games
gofns18388
Liquid`RaSZi895
ceh9583
Happy345
XaKoH 193
Fuzer 143
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick748
StarCraft: Brood War
Kim Chul Min (afreeca) 745
UltimateBattle 31
lovetv 19
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 12 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Jankos1248
• Stunt506
Upcoming Events
LiuLi Cup
29m
Scarlett vs TriGGeR
ByuN vs herO
Replay Cast
13h 29m
Online Event
23h 29m
LiuLi Cup
1d
Serral vs Zoun
Cure vs Classic
Big Brain Bouts
1d 6h
Serral vs TBD
RSL Revival
1d 16h
RSL Revival
1d 23h
LiuLi Cup
2 days
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
2 days
RSL Revival
2 days
[ Show More ]
Replay Cast
2 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
2 days
LiuLi Cup
3 days
Replay Cast
3 days
Replay Cast
3 days
LiuLi Cup
4 days
Wardi Open
4 days
Monday Night Weeklies
4 days
OSC
4 days
WardiTV Winter Champion…
5 days
Replay Cast
5 days
WardiTV Winter Champion…
6 days
Replay Cast
6 days
The PondCast
6 days
KCM Race Survival
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-02-10
Rongyi Cup S3
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals
Nations Cup 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual
eXTREMESLAND 2025
SL Budapest Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 8

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S1: W8
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Bellum Gens Elite Stara Zagora 2026
RSL Revival: Season 4
WardiTV Winter 2026
CCT Season 3 Global Finals
FISSURE Playground #3
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League Season 23
ESL Pro League Season 23
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.