So something that has bugged me for a while is hearing commentators and people on IRC talk about how when you upgrade protoss shields, all it does is upgrade the regeneration rate of said shields, and therefore is a pointless upgrade.
I believe this to be wrong. Please watch this video:
Ok so, the DT kills the probes in 2 hits (with 3hp remaining after the first dt hit) with 3 shield upgrade and 1 hit without the shield upgrade. This to me infers that the shield upgrade is just like the +armor upgrade, reducing the damage taken per hit by that life source.
Am i right? Am i wrong? Have i missed something important?
It seems to me that while in most cases armor is a better thing to upgrade, what about late game ZVP play. If the zerg is using defilers (note my own level is barely D+), and plague is destroying your units HP reguarly, wouldn't you be better off upgrading shields? seeing as they're now your only source of hit points on your units?
Preeeetty sure shield works just like armor upgrade, except obviously only relative to the shield health itself (and armour is only relatively to the units health after shield is gone)... I have no idea where you heard the regeneration thing but i've never heard of that :|
Someone in IRC says they heard it from tasteless, i think i heard it from cholera etc etc. I'm just trying to debunk said myth, but it seems like i was the only one listening
Yeah I remember tasteless saying it but it's not true. it works just like any armor upgrade except for shields. the reason people sometimes get confused about it is because shields take full damage from any source, so vultures will still rape goon shields even though they should only do 25% etc which confuses people
On December 21 2009 19:42 Kiante wrote: imo the argument can be made to upgrade shields over armor when playing vs a competant zerg to combat plague
I guess but remember that shields are usually less than hitpoints and your zealots will take full damage in the shields from hydras. Shields are more expensive... you're best off going armor or both imo. But it's arguable I guess ;p
On December 21 2009 19:42 Kiante wrote: imo the argument can be made to upgrade shields over armor when playing vs a competant zerg to combat plague
While this is true, there are a few things to consider a: shields take full damage against everything, causing the shields to disappear rapidly, thus less hits (and less damage reduction) will come into play. More hits required on armor = more damage reduction. b: shields are very expensive. C: Plauge doesn't come into effect until the lateish game. Therefore, Armor is almost always preferable to shields until you can actually afford shields. + Show Spoiler +
On December 21 2009 19:42 Kiante wrote: imo the argument can be made to upgrade shields over armor when playing vs a competant zerg to combat plague
While this is true, there are a few things to consider a: shields take full damage against everything, causing the shields to disappear rapidly, thus less hits (and less damage reduction) will come into play. More hits required on armor = more damage reduction. b: shields are very expensive. C: Plauge doesn't come into effect until the lateish game. Therefore, Armor is almost always preferable to shields until you can actually afford shields. + Show Spoiler +
Yes, this is all really obvious.
I think you forget to factor in the regeneration of shields, WHen your zealot hits 0 shield and starts taking hits to his health, every other hit the shield will have regenerated 1 point, making the hit do -3 damage on the shield and then doing damage to the zeal (A 0-0 zergling vs a 0-0-3 zealot would then do 1 damage to the hitpoints instead of 5.)
Dunno how often the shield recharges but this really makes it worth it.
You need shield upgrades in lategame PvZ, or ultralisks will own your archons (Though ultras will still be slightly better than archons, which is why you either add in dark archons or reavers lategame). Armour doesn't help archons at all, which is why you need shields. And shields do act as armour for shields, removing damage taken when the shielded unit is hit.
EPT
