History Characters / StarCraftII

[[redirect:Characters/Starcraft]]

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No units here, just the main characters of ''VideoGame/{{Starcraft II}}''. Click [[Characters/{{StarCraft}} here]] to return to the main index.

[[foldercontrol]]

!Introduced in ''VideoGame/StarcraftIIWingsOfLiberty''
!!Terrans
[[folder:Tychus Findlay]]
[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/200px-TychusFindlay_SC2_Head4_6006.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:200:[[PoisonousFriend Raynor's drinking buddy]].]]
-->''"[[LampshadeHanging Hell,]] it's about time."''

-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/NeilKaplan

An old war friend of Jim Raynor, when he and Raynor came onto the wrong side of the law he was captured and sentenced to life in prison while Raynor escaped. In ''VideoGame/StarcraftII'' he's released and joins up with Raynor to collect some alien artifacts at the behest of the Moebius Foundation.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* AerithAndBob: Above the Hyperion: Matt, Jim...and Tychus, a Gaelic name.
* ArmchairMilitary: Considers the NonEntityGeneral to be one.
--> "Okay, Armchair General."
* {{Badass}}: He's a six-foot ex-con with a chaingun.
* BadassBaritone: All he has to do is to start talking for you to immediately feel that this is a dangerous, ''dangerous'' man.
* BadassBoast: In the Odin:
--> "It's time to kick ass and {{chew bubblegum}}."
* TheBigGuy: Hell, he was big ''before'' he got the huge power suit.
* {{BFG}}: A minigun similar to that one of ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'''s Heavy.
* BlatantLies: In a rather clever way: his initial story about why he's out of prison is a ridiculous tale of him singlehandedly fighting his way out of the most fortified spot in the sector. When Raynor calls him on this, Findlay admits he was sprung by Moebius. Raynor assumes Findlay lied because he was embarrassed at having to be let out, and therefore doesn't question the second story, which is also a lie: [[spoiler:Findlay was really sprung by Mengsk. Of course, for whatever reason, Raynor is able to hook up with Moebius via Tychus - which is entirely unrelated to Mengsk at all except for the fact that it is run by Mengsk's son. Until ''Heart of the Swarm'' reveals that Moebius is ''really'' being run by Narud, who ''is'' in league with Arcturus Mengsk]].
* BlessedWithSuck: Although it keeps him from fulfilling certain non-hygienic bodily functions.
* BloodKnight: The Odin. This is the only mission thus far where he ''really'' gets fired up, because he finally gets to take the field. When controllable on foot, he's considerably less jolly. He probably misses his titan of destruction.
* BoisterousBruiser: Tychus is all over this.
* BoxedCrook: Subverted as he is imprisoned in a marine suit, and [[spoiler:he would be freed if he kills Kerrigan]].
* ButtMonkey: Is on the receiving end of a lot of punishment, and surprisingly functions as a source of comic relief in-between being a badass.
* ClingyCostume: Tychus' marine power armor is ''welded'' onto him so he can't take it off. It's also revealed that [[spoiler:it's hooked into his life-support system (the suit itself is life support; so 'life support system' might just mean his vitals). It can be remotely triggered to shut down all of his organs]].
* ComedicSociopath: He works with Jim Raynor. He doesn't care about Raynor's freedom values, though. Notably, for someone so emotionless about Raynor's Raiders, he sure loves that Odin with a fiery passion. Perhaps because, as a weapon of destruction, the Odin is one of Tychus's personal favorites and thus he features in the Rebellion Missions solely so he can have fun with the Odin while also following the instructions of Raynor's Raiders.
* TheCorrupter: Raynor was once a normal, upstanding citizen and military man, until Confederate corruption made him disillusioned with them, at which point he went off with Tychus and became a criminal. Although it was implied the Cofederate corruption was ultimately this for both Tychus and Raynor. Tychus was just disillusioned earlier.
* CursedWithAwesome: Trapped inside seven-foot-tall PowerArmor that lets him rip tables out of the floor and carry a minigun.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: All that's known about his early life is that he was born on Mar Sara and ran away from home when he was twelve. The next time he appears, he's a sergeant in the military and is already corrupt and self-serving.
* DrowningMySorrows: Near the end of ''Wings'', when he's uncertain if he can go through with his mission. Both got better. [[spoiler:But he then got worse]].
* EvilAllAlong: Played with, people constantly warn Raynor Tychus can't be trusted, but he never betrays him. [[spoiler:Until the ending, anyway. Even then, it may not be a [[SubvertedTrope straight example]], given his past actions of helping Raynor out of trouble. See SuicideByCop]].
* {{Foreshadowing}}: The entire introduction of his character. He claims he's a "model citizen now" on introduction, and was just released. Quite the accurate title, considering he is [[spoiler:controlled by Mengsk and has an otherwise mobile prison suit just to prove it.]]
* GatlingGood: His WeaponOfChoice while on foot. He's also seen operating a dual-gatling defense turret in the main menu background while on Char.
* GeniusBruiser: Downplayed but present. Tychus may act a bit slow and talks it too, but he is not DumbMuscle. For instance an early cutscene implies he successfully hacked the ''Hyperion'' databank to get access to their logs.
* GoodIsNotSoft: Tychus shows this consistently throughout the campaign and his backstory.
* GoodScarsEvilScars: Who knows how he got his, since he looks like he was mauled by a ''cougar.''
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Though he's pretty gruff, he really isn't a bad guy. In the ending, it's strongly shown that he didn't ''want'' to [[spoiler:shoot Kerrigan]], but he had to, or else [[spoiler:Mengsk would shut down his suit and kill him]].
* KickTheSonOfABitch: Tychus tends to pitch his missions on behalf of the Moebius Foundation this way, reasoning that even though what they're doing is nothing short of stealing alien artifacts from the Dominion/Tal'darim and selling them for profit, the Dominion is TheEmpire and the Tal'darim are scary [[KnightTemplar religious fanatics]], so it's okay.
* KnightInSourArmor: What Tychus became due to witnessing corruption in the Terran Confederacy.
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: After getting his PowerArmor, his response to getting fielded as a Marine is "Hell, it's about time!", an intentional nod to the Starcraft II's production gap.
* LeeroyJenkins: [[spoiler:When commandeering the Odin]], Tychus has the communicator stuck on transmit, so he can't hear your orders and will run heedlessly into enemy bases without you to tell him no. Fortunately [[spoiler:the Odin is pretty beefy]], so he's not going to get himself killed as long as you back him up, and he breaks in-between bases so you can repair his unit and get an escort ready to help him out at the next one.
--> ''"Well if you ain't going to tell me not to have a little fun... I'm going to have a little fun hehe. Here I go!"''
** And, of course, it's entirely possible that he jams the transmitter on purpose.
* LimbSensationFascination: When Tychus gets his new PowerArmor the first thing he does is clench his fist.
* ManChild: At least when it comes to being on the battlefield and he acts like a little kid with a new toy with [[spoiler:the Odin]].
* MightyGlacier: [[spoiler:While commanding the Odin]]. Big. Slow. Get out of the way or die a quick and painful death.
* TheMole: [[spoiler:The only reason he was released was on the condition that he infiltrate Raynor's unit until he got close enough to Kerrigan to kill her]].
* NonEntityGeneral:
--> "[[LeaningOnTheFourthWall Okay, armchair general.]]"
* NotInThisForYourRevolution: He makes this patently clear to Raynor on several occasions. [[spoiler:While he claims that he's only after the money, his actual goal is to kill Kerrigan at Mengsk's behest, thereby securing his freedom.]]
* OhCrap: His lines during the NightOfTheLivingMooks mission tend to be a mixture of this and {{Squick}}.
-->"Infested ''Marines''? Aw hell no, Jimmy, I do ''not'' like that concept, not one little bit!"
* OneManArmy: [[spoiler:When piloting the Odin]] Tychus is without question the most powerful unit in the entire campaign, boasting more HP than entire buildings and killing most enemy units in one or two shots. He ''easily'' puts all of the hero units in the original game to shame.
* OnlyInItForTheMoney: He's partnering up with Raynor so he can get his cut of the take, nothing else to it [[spoiler: or so he claims]]. He seems particularly aggravated whenever [[DudleyDoRightStopsToHelp Raynor stops to help out colonists]] who probably can't remunerate them well, though he'll certainly do a job for free [[BloodKnight if he gets a great fight out of it]] (i.e. the Odin mission).
* PoisonousFriend: Tychus manages to be equal parts amusing and incredibly threatening at all times, due to his deliciously low drawl. He's best buds with Jim Raynor, but the two of them have grown quite different. Jim's looking out for the little people, while Tychus is mostly just interested in guns and money and grumbles whenever Raynor goes off to save "dirt-farmer" colonists. (That being said, later in ''Wings'', he admits that [[GoodFeelsGood fighting the good fight feels great]]...) Swann outright states this after [[spoiler: Raynor makes an alliance with Valerian.]]
--> '''Swann:''' You've been nothing but poison since you got on this ship.
* PowerArmor: One he can't get out of, and [[spoiler: which can kill him if he disobeys his employer.]]
* PluckyComicRelief: Tychus may not be plucky, but he's definitely the main source of comic relief in ''Wings''. Just look at his one-liners:
--> "It followed me home... can I keep it?" (He's talking about an impossibly HumongousMecha with bigger guns than a tank)\\
"Luckily I brought me some liquid refreshment." *cracks a beer*\\
"Make room for the ''Big Dawg''!"\\
(While on [[spoiler:Char]]) ''"Boys, I hate to interrupt, but the natives are getting restless!"''
* RatedMForManly: Even without the PoweredArmor he's huge and muscular, smokes enormous cigars, drinks hard, fights hard, carries a minigun, pilots a gigantic war machine that qualifies as a OneManArmy... Face it: You want to be this guy.
--> "Aww, most people just ain't ready for the ''raw'' sex appeal I'd unleash into their grey little lives."
* RememberTheNewGuy: Justified. He's Raynor's old partner-in-crime, but being locked up for the entirety of ''Starcraft 1'' and ''Brood War'' means he's been out of the action up until the sequel.
* SmokingIsCool: To the point where his on-foot model sports a flare-like cigar.
* SuicideByCop: It's hinted that he let himself be killed by someone else rather than letting the puppetmaster controlling his armor do it. [[spoiler:If he really wanted to carry out his order of killing Kerrigan, he could have simply done it rather than letting Raynor know he was aiming at Kerrigan and explaining directly he was working for Mengsk. Throughout the rest of the story it's hinted he's having second thoughts about the mission, tries to talk Raynor out of confronting Kerrigan in hoping he won't have to carry out the mission, and then gets drunk and angry when he realizes Raynor isn't backing down and is fully-intent to take them to Char.]]
* TattooedCrook: In the introduction, his ShirtlessScene shows us his back and arms have tattoos, and he's got an impressive rap sheet.
* TrappedInVillainy: It's revealed at one point that Tychus Findlay's armor is both unremoveable and can be remotely activated to kill him. [[spoiler: So at the climax, he's about to shoot the now deinfested Kerrigan or be killed by Mengsk (it's the only reason he was released from prison in the first place). Raynor shoots him.]]
* TwentyFourHourArmor: Though it would hopefully have self-cleaning capabilities...
--> "These Dominion eggheads [[TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything really thought of everything]]" *flushing sound*
* TheWatson: Some of the time. It's less of him asking the relevant questions and more of him suggesting the [[AttackAttackAttack most direct approach]] before Raynor explains why that's not an option.
* WhatDoesThisButtonDo: How he figures out the commands for [[spoiler:the Odin]]. First time he invokes the trope he activates [[spoiler:the bombardment cannons]]; the second time, [[spoiler:he launches a nuke]]. Both times, he gleefully rejoices in the carnage he causes.
--> "Now how did I miss this button with a skull on it?"
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Matt Horner]]
[[quoteright:180:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/180px-MattHorner_SC2_Head2_7108.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:180:Is he wearing a wool sweater under the uniform?]]
-->''"We can't be everywhere at once, sir. The important thing is that we set an example and gave them hope. Every time we help folks in need, it's another step on the road to a better future."''

-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/BrianBloom

The Hyperion's captain and Raynor's second in command. Horner has strong moral principles. He has a desire to make the universe a better place and thus is opposed to the murder and torture of innocents. He is not only a fair combatant but is also an excellent ship pilot and a decent starship tactician.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* AccidentalMarriage: He didn't know the prize for winning the poker game. [[http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/Mira_Han A portrait of his lovely wife.]] Needless to say, he made little to no effort to stay in touch with her. This didn't stop her of using the alias "Mira Horner".
--> ''[before the mission "Cutthroat"]''\\
'''Mira Han:''' Oh and, um, say hello to Matthew for me...ask him why he never calls.\\
'''Matt Horner:''' ''[does the "I'm not here!" gesture]''\\
''[after said mission]''\\
'''Matt Horner:''' If Mira calls, just tell her I'm busy.
* CanonImmigrant: Appeared in novels before ''Wings'' was released.
* TheCaptain: The Captain of the ''Hyperion''.
* CaptainSmoothAndSergeantRough: Inverted; Raynor's a {{cowboy}}, Matt's a boy scout. Okay, Matt technically ''is'' a captain, but he's Raynor's subordinate.
** Shown expertly in their dress, with Horner always in a military uniform while Raynor looks one hat short of walking in from a bar in a John Wayne movie.
* CharacterDevelopment: Happened offscreen. When he is introduced in ''Queen of Blades'', the Hyperion's captain is [[JumpedAtTheCall young, idealistic and a little naive.]] He matures in the next couple of years, and by ''Wings of Liberty'' the naivete has been polished away in favour of maturity, but (defying Raynor's prediction) the idealism remains intact.
* FourStarBadass: After ''Legacy of the Void'', he's promoted to Admiral.
* TheHeart: Most of the time when Raynor isn't.
* HeroicBSOD: He is devastated after the ''Legacy'' mission to recover [[spoiler: the xel'naga Keystone]] and seeing all of the dead terrans.
* TheLancer: To Raynor.
* MissionControl: Still has this role in a few missions in ''Heart of the Swarm''. He also serves as this to Nova in the Covert Ops DLC.
* NaughtyByNight: Mild example: When he's in the cantina talking to Raynor, he's much more informal, and even drops the s-bomb once. When he's on the bridge, he's as straight-laced as can be.
* NumberTwo: To Valerian in the WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue.
* OnlySaneMan: One of the few in Raynor's crew who isn't obsessed with revenge or with ulterior motives in mind.
* PuttingOnTheReich: The usual implications of evil with this trope are inverted with him, whose clothing design was clearly taken from fascist dress uniforms. He's idealistic and fights in a revolution for freedom.
** Possibly played straight in that he may have kept it from his Confederate days.
* RankUp: In ''Legacy of the Void'', he serves the Dominion as an admiral.
* ShoutOut: To many science-fiction starship captains. Some of his unit quotes from ''Heart of the Swarm'' include [[Franchise/StarTrek "Engage!", "Make it so,"]] and even [[WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}} "Hit that bullseye, and the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate."]]
* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: He fights for freedom instead of simply killing Mengsk or hoarding wealth, which puts him at odds with Gabriel Tosh and Tychus Findlay, respectively.
* TheRevolutionWillNotBeVillified: He does his damnedest to make sure that this is true.
* ThoseTwoGuys: After [[spoiler: Jim gets captured,]] he and Valerian take over command of the Raiders and are Kerrigan's primary Terran contacts in ''Heart of the Swarm.''
* TimeToStepUpCommander: Matt gives this to Raynor a couple of times when Raynor's feeling down.
* WeHelpTheHelpless: Practically his mission statement in the quest for "a better tomorrow".
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Gabriel Tosh]]
[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/200px-GabrielTosh_SC2_Head2_6017.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:200:[[CrazyAwesome A crazy man with an awesome hairstyle]], [[CatchPhrase brother]].]]

-->''"You guys did good. Now me and my spectres will finish the job. We'll kill Mengsk...and burn his Dominion to the ground."''

-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/DaveFennoy

A mysterious man encountered by Raynor when he gave him a job for mining minerals in a dangerous place, [[CatchPhrase brother]]. He turned out to be one of the subjects of Dominion's Specter project. He is seemingly capable of reading minds like Kerrigan did. He has an extreme hatred for the Dominion, especially Arcturus Mengsk.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* AmbiguouslyEvil: He pays you handsomely for your aid and scouts out the region to help you, but he's also very creepy, shifty, and definitely has a hidden agenda. [[spoiler:He's ultimately a very cynical and shady AntiHero who sticks by the Raiders to help them if they see his mission through with him.]]
* AssassinOutclassin: [[spoiler: If you side with Nova (the non-canon option), she out-Ghosts him and literally stabs him in the back. It's implied that Tosh was distracted in that moment by being extremely pissed off at Raynor.]]
* {{Badass}}: Oh yes. During the one mission you control him, he racks up a higher body count solo than the rest of his supporting forces behind. On the lower difficulties, you can even finish the map ''solo'' running ahead of your reinforcements and doing everything by yourself.
* BadassBaritone: Has a very deep, accented voice.
* BadPowersGoodPeople: He's not evil, but his personal set of powers is rather dark. To wit: a MindRape brain blast, a LifeDrain he uses on his ''allies'' to restore his own energy, and of course nukes.
* CanonImmigrant: He's from the same storyline as Nova Terra is, and he was another character recovered from the cancelled StarCraft: Ghost game.
* CassandraTruth:
** While the others (except Raynor) have their initial mistrust of [[spoiler: Tychus Findlay]], Tosh is the only one to openly suspect him and turns out to be right all along (having psionic abilities helps).
** In one mission epilogue, Tosh casually mentions smelling a Protoss on board the Hyperion, and Raynor has no idea whether he's joking or not. It turns out there ''is'' one, it's [[spoiler: Zeratul]].
* ColorCodedCharacters: Red and black to Nova's blue and silver.
* CreepyGood: He's ultimately on Raynor's side, though the others are weirded out by his powers, his cynicism, and his general sketchiness.
* ADayInTheLimelight: You can control him during the Folsom liberation mission, and his abilities really shine.
* DeadpanSnarker: Not every mission's epilogue on the Hyperion necessarily involves Tosh giving out good advice. In fact, some dialogue speeches are where Tosh snarks at Raynor about specific items such as engaging in piracy when he dislikes it, teasing Raynor about smelling a protoss onboard the Hyperion, and the snark that perhaps Ariel Hanson isn't all sweet like Raynor and others think.
* DreadlockWarrior: His hair is in dreadlocks and he's a powerful fighter.
* EveryoneWentToSchoolTogether: Tosh was actually in the same squad as Nova during their days in the Ghost Academy. [[spoiler: Oddly enough, he used to support her back then during mission training, and kissed Nova once. However, any chance of a relationship was made naught by the rules of the Ghost Academy, which would also neurally re-socialize (i.e. mind-wipe) its students on a regular basis. The final break probably came around the time when Tosh became a Specter and Nova received a full re-socialization that had virtually eliminated her original personality.]]
* HeWhoFightsMonsters: The singular known reason why Matt Horner is uncomfortable with him.
* HollywoodVoodoo: [[AllThereInTheManual In his backstory]], his grandmother initially believed his psionic abilities to be Voodoo. In ''Wings'', he'll even whip out a voodoo doll on Raynor if he decides to screw Tosh over. For some reason, it works on [[CrowningMomentOfFunny Tychus instead]]. Also explained in ''Wings'' that most Specters grow eccentric after their training and may carry trinkets and totems because they believe in their enhancing powers even if they may know nothing about Voodoo.
* HoneyTrap:[[DiscussedTrope Discussed]] with Raynor about Doctor Ariel Hanson.
--> '''Tosh:''' She's a lovely thing that one. Full of honey. Or maybe, that's just what she wants you think.
* KnifeNut: Ironically, [[spoiler:this is also how he was killed in the non-canon mission "Ghost Of A Chance"]].
** [[spoiler: In the cinematic after the mission "Breakout," Tosh throws his knife carelessly at a table, perhaps to avoid hurting Matt Horner for politically disagreeing with him ideologically. However, Raynor understands Tosh and gives him his knife back.]]
* KnightInSourArmor: You know the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism? Tosh may be a trustworthy, nice individual who doesn't mind helping Raynor fight the good fight, but when it comes to society and the Dominion, he lands ''hard'' on the cynicism side.
* MonochromaticEyes: Possibly the result of [[ElectronicEyes Ocular Implant]] surgery. According to [[ExpandedUniverse Ghost Academy manga]] he got them after getting caught in Nova's psionic explsion on their last mission as trainees. Same incident also rendered him immune to telepathy and mind wipes directly leading to him going rogue.
* MultipleChoicePast: Play ''Breakout'', and it turns out Nova's full of it. Play ''Ghost of a Chance'', and he really is an AffablyEvil PsychoPrototype trying to screw you over.
* NotSoDifferent: Raynor acknowledges that he and Tosh are the same in their pursuit of revenge against Mengsk being their primary objective, and any good they do in the meantime (like bending to save Ariel Hanson and her colonists, fending off the zerg or [[spoiler:releasing political prisoners during Tosh's attack on New Folsom]]) is a strike against Mengsk or a happy coincidence.
* NotSoStoic: Normally calm and collected, Tosh reacts pretty badly to the psychic "scream" of the Hybrid that Raynor's team encountered. It's hard to blame him really.
* OnlySaneMan: [[spoiler:He's almost the only member of the Hyperion who can see that Tychus is a mole working for the Dominion. Although knowing that was probably more due to him being psychic]].
* OneManArmy: You get sent waves of RedShirt reinforcements during Tosh's mission, but you likely won't even need them.
* PetTheDog: In ''Heart of the Swarm'', he ''volunteers'' to lead the mission to [[spoiler:break Raynor out of prison. A prison that Matt says "makes New Folsom look like a nursery."]] Kerrigan refuses the offer, but that Tosh made the offer at all shows how truly loyal he's become to the Raiders.
* PsychicPowers: A requirement to be a Ghost or Spectre.
* PsychoSerum: Terrazine, according to Nova. According to Hanson (if she still is with you after the mission "Breakout"), [[spoiler:Nova was lying, though a more charitable explanation is that she was mistaken or even lied ''to'']]. To be more precise, Terrazine has a number effects on its users in that it is addictive and can cause insanity if used by itself according. ''Spectres'' indicates that its effects can be controlled when used in conjunction with Jorium (AKA, the Yellow/Rich Minerals) and in carefully regulated doses... Problem is, Tosh does neither.
* PutOnABus: In ''Heart of the Swarm''. While WordOfGod confirms it was canonically Tosh who Raynor sided with, his only appearance is a brief background shot when Matt mentions he could help.
* {{Revenge}}: [[spoiler: If you choose to help out Nova over him, he does ''not'' take it well. Amusingly, he somehow got Tychus' voodoo doll mixed up with Raynor's but still.]] Apart from that, this is his personal motivation for getting involved with Raynor's Raiders (well, other than profit). After everything Mengsk did to him,
* TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized: Unlike Matt Horner, he does not believe that overthrowing Mengsk will be a tea party and things will not be happy-ever-after once the Dominion is overthrown.
* ScaryBlackMan: WitchDoctor-like creepiness and Jamaican accent included. Notwithstanding, Tosh really isn't all that scary to Raynor, let alone a good majority of the cast. Only Swann and Tychus mention Tosh being anywhere remotely close to scary.
* SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids: Tosh is usually quite calm, but becomes visibly angry at Matt's optimistic outlook in the cinematic A Better Tomorrow.
* TheSociopath: According to Nova, who states he is a psychopath who might backstab Raynor everyday and that this happened to all Spectres as a side-effect of the program. [[spoiler: ''Wings'', however, tends to suggest he actually is a subversion; despite Nova's statements, Tosh, while cynical, never betrays Raynor, and only attempts to kill him when understandably pissed off if you choose to side with Nova against him (see YouBastard below). In fact, if you happen to finish his story arc before Ariel Hanson's, she reveals to Raynor that studies on the Spectres found no traces of psychotic side-effects, meaning Nova was either wrong or lying]]. The novel ''Spectres'' shows that he's not sociopathic per se, but he ''is'' rather insane otherwise, suffering from hallucinations and hearing voices.
* SoulBrotha: He has this speech pattern.
* SuperSoldier: Being a Spectre, who are experimental versions of the Ghosts.
* SupportingLeader: [[spoiler: You only control Tosh in the mission "Breakout". You have Raynor and Horner rooting for you the entire time, and you fight against Mengsk, Nova, and the Dominion, who as far as the Wings of Liberty campaign are concerned one of many {{Big Bad}}s.]]
* VerbalTic: Gabriel Tosh always ends his speeches with "brother", brother.
* WeUsedToBeFriends: Tosh's relationship with Nova as a Ghost was... complicated; ([[spoiler:We know they shared their first kiss, and liked it, at minimum]]) but that all went south after he discovered the truth behind the Dominion and went rogue.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: WordOfGod is that, while Raynor canonically sided with Tosh, they wrote the games to not contradict the player's freedom of choice in the matter. Thus, if Tosh survived ''Wings of Liberty'', he gets a ''very'' small cameo in ''Heart of the Swarm'', and so far has never been seen again.
* WhatTheHellHero: He calls out Raynor and Matt if the player decides to side with Nova, calling it cold-blooded betrayal and vowing revenge.
* YouBastard: [[spoiler:Side against him during the last leg of his mission arc and he scolds you for betraying him when he's been straight with you so far.]]
* YouDidntAsk: Various characters have commented on how Tosh isn't telling the whole truth about him, with Dominion assassin Nova running with the idea the furthest. On the other hand, especially if you choose to side with Tosh rather than Nova, one can make a viable argument that he doesn't tell you everything about him simply because he ''doesn't know any better'' than telling you only things he can see you thinking of asking (such as the locations of the mineral and terrazine gas deposits- you are collecting those for him, after all, whereas the Spectre is something you didn't even know, let alone ask, at the beginning). He might be a telepath, but he can't see any question that is ''not'' on your mind.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Valerian Mengsk]]
[[quoteright:180:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/180px-ValerianMengsk_SC2_Head1_4066.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:180:EvenTheGuysWantHim.]]
-->''"Everyone wonders if I will be as good an emperor as my father. But I want something more. To prove that I will be a better emperor. And a better man."''

-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/JoshKeaton

Son of Arcturus Mengsk and heir apparent of the Dominion. He is interested in archeology, especially the relics of the Xel'naga. It turns out he owns and runs the Moebius Foundation when Raynor's planned meeting with the company's ships turned up meeting up with the Bucephalus, the Dominion's flagship.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* AdventurerArchaeologist: As revealed in the Dark Templar novels, he ''desperately'' wishes he was one. Hinted at in ''Wings'' by his obsession with the Xel'naga artifacts.
* AgentPeacock: Lampshaded in the ''Flashpoint'' novel.
* AmbiguouslyEvil: In the ''Dark Templar Saga'' and ''Wings of Liberty'', everyone is wary of him because he may seem nice and trustworthy, but he's still the Emperor's son and is obviously keeping secrets from his allies. In ''I, Mengsk'', he outright tells his father that he won't end up like him and his good side is obvious, but it's also clear that he hasn't quite grasped the ideals of [[TheRepublic Umoja]] or his grandfather. ''Flashpoint'' and ''Heart of the Swarm'' clear up the ambiguity with several scenes to establish his honor and morals are genuine.
* AntagonisticOffspring: Inverted, Valerian is a good man with a wicked father. Come ''Heart of the Swarm'', he's pretty much openly abandoned Arcturus' administration, and [[spoiler:Arcturus is apparently content to kill his son alongside Kerrigan in order to see her dead]].
* ArchnemesisDad: His relationship with Arcturus totally breaks down come ''Heart'', and we all know Arcturus himself is no angel...
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: He tries to prove it at least. While he's yet to take the field in a game so far, he ''does'' orchestrate a lot of things by aiding allies, so he mostly succeeds. In the novel ''Flashpoint'', he's also able to subdue some street thugs with his martial arts and swordplay skills.
* {{Badass}}: As told above, he took out two street thugs with martial arts and could have killed a third with a throwing knife, but spared him willingly. He proved an able gunfighter and swordsman in ''I, Mengsk'' as well. Given he had the same tutor as his father, this is no surprise. When he was a kid, however, he was a wimp which '''infuriated''' his father.
* BadassBoast: In ''Flashpoint'' after Matt sees him in action in the above conflict.
-->'''Matt:''' Can you kill me with a spoon? \\
'''Valerian:''' Only amateurs need spoons.
* BadassBookworm: In addition to his fighting skills, he is very well-read and intelligent.
* BigGood: After the series, as shown in ''Nova Covert Ops'' DLC, Valerian has developed into this for the new, good Dominion, putting his trust on his allies during ''Void'' and Nova as well in terms of the troubles with the Defender of Men.
* ButtMonkey: In ''Heart of the Swarm'', occasionally; Kerrigan trolls him in the first mission and almost strangles him later after mistakenly believing he left Raynor behind (though this one wasn't played for laughs), Mira Han calls him "princess" and the list goes on.
* CallingTheOldManOut:
** It's easily his CrowningMomentOfAwesome, since he had no real reason of telling this to Arcturus except to rub it in his face. The kid just wanted to gloat.
--->'''Valerian:''' Father, I am about to accomplish that which you could not. Today I will [[spoiler:defeat the Queen of Blades and secure peace throughout the Dominion]]. By this act, the people will finally know that I am a worthy successor to you.
** He does this much more in ''Flashpoint'', letting Arcturus know several times that he is officially fed up with his father putting selfish vendettas above the safety of the Dominion and its people.
* CanonImmigrant: Before ''VideoGame/StarcraftII'', he debuted in the Dark Templar novels.
* TheChainsOfCommanding: Feels them in the ''Flashpoint'' novel. Of the twenty-five battlecruisers he took with him to [[spoiler:Char]], each with thousands of crew, less than half survived the invasion, and the ones that did, all of them were either destroyed by [[spoiler:Arcturus's own half of the fleet]], or were damaged and captured, their crews likely to be executed for treason. And they all knew from the start it was treason, especially when [[spoiler:Valerian directly turned on Arcturus]], but they did it because they wanted to help their prince. The deaths of thousands of good soldiers who believed in him does not sit well with him, and Raynor notes when they next meet in person that the kid is letting it show on his face.
* CharacterDevelopment: When he starts out in ''Wings of Liberty'', it's still unclear what kind of person he is, and he clearly underestimates Kerrigan, his invasion of Char only being saved by Raynor's help. By ''Heart of the Swarm'', he shows more obvious signs of concern for his forces and allies, and turns out to have developed enough guts to [[spoiler:call out [[HumanoidAbomination Kerrigan]] for her impatience about saving Raynor]]. Kerrigan is genuinely impressed.
-->'''Kerrigan:''' You've done some growing up since Umoja.\\
'''Valerian:''' Zerg aren't the only ones who adapt.
* TheChessmaster: Aspires to this in ''Wings of Liberty'', orchestrating [[spoiler:Raynor's retrieval of the artifacts through the Moebius Foundation in planning to ally with him and lead an invasion of Char]]. Raynor notes that Valerian sees him as a pawn to be used, but Valerian counters by asking if Raynor cares if cooperation will get him what he wants; Jim admits that no, he doesn't.
* CivilWar: Takes half the Dominion's military to the expedition on Char. Arcturus' half destroyed or took over the survivors of the expedition. However, [[spoiler: Valerian has the last laugh as the ''Zerg'' under Kerrigan dispatches Arcturus at the end of ''Heart'']].
* DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu?: In ''Heart''.[[spoiler:Yeah, she's on his side and all, but still: He called out Kerrigan. And it ''worked''.]]
* TheEmperor: He becomes this by the time of ''Legacy'', after his father's defeat at the hands of Kerrigan at the end of ''Heart of the Swarm''. though TheGoodKing will probably be more apt.
* EnemyMine: With Raynor, though he did manipulate him for a great deal through Tychus. However [[spoiler:he was not aware of his father's plans with Tychus]]. Come ''Flashpoint'' and ''Heart of the Swarm'', [[spoiler:his treachery is made aware to Arcturus and he's become an almost-honorary member of the Raiders, since his fleet is gone and he and his men are now stationed on the Hyperion.]]
* AFatherToHisMen: Has shades in ''Flashpoint''. With most of his fleet crippled or on the verge of destruction, he refuses to let any of his men perform a HeroicSacrifice for his benefit, and gives Raynor a WhatTheHellHero for even suggesting that some of them be left to die.
* ForScience: The reason he's so intrigued by Xel'naga artifacts. Raynor has to caution him that ancient alien devices are not toys. He's also curious enough about Kerrigan and the Zerg to let her have control of a few of them in the ''HeartOfTheSwarm'' tutorial mission. By the end, she's destroyed most of the laboratory sector to prove the point that the [[EvilIsNotAToy the Zerg aren't his experimental playthings]].
* TheGoodKing: It's no secret even in ''Wings of Liberty'' that he wants to be "the best emperor our people could ask for," [[spoiler:and as of the end of ''Heart of the Swarm'', he got his wish. It's likely the first time the Koprulu Sector has ever been ruled by a good leader. He even sent an expedition ''into the freaking Void'' to help defeat Amon.]]
** Deconstructed in ''Nova Covert Ops''. [[spoiler: Valerian finds out that even with him being an objectively better emperor than his father, there is still resistance to his rule, resistance that may one day need to be dealt with through overt violence. It's up to Nova to save his reputation]].
* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: In contrast to the dark-haired Arcturus, Valerian is blond and is a much better person.
* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:Initially served The Dominion, sworn enemies of Jim Raynor, but come "Flashpoint" and ''Heart of The Swarm'', he now fights against the Dominion alongside Raynor's Raiders. He was especially aware of the prophecy involving Kerrigan, the reason why he refused to hand her over to his father. Subverted however, because from the beginning, his EnemyMine with Raynor was part of his agenda to prove himself a better man than his father. Furthermore, he did not treat Raynor as the enemy his father made him out to be.]]
* HeroicBSOD: [[spoiler: After Moebius Corps' attack on Augustgrad,]] he had no words to describe the death and carnage which surrounded him.
* IAmNotMyFather: Outright states this, then goes on to prove it.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He's definitely a better man than Arcturus, if a bit naive at times. But he's still a Mengsk, and is confident to the point of arrogance. By the end of ''Heart of the Swarm'', thanks to the events of ''Wings of Liberty'' and ''Flashpoint'', he's undergone a subdued BreakTheHaughty and lost some of his naivete, becoming more level-headed.
* MissionControl: In ''Heart of the Swarm''.
* TheNicknamer: Like Raynor, inverted. He's at the receiving end of lots of nicknames, such as "Junior" (Raynor), "Scooter" (Swann) and "Princess" (Mira Han). Only Kerrigan ever calls him by his actual name.
* NotSoDifferent: While he may be a better person than his father, and his rise to power was less bloody, Valerian still became emperor due to the zerg destroying the previous administration, just like his father before him.
* OddFriendship: With both Raynor and Kerrigan. Despite him being the Crown Prince of the ruling government, Raynor actually seems to genuinely like Valerian by ''Flashpoint'', and Kerrigan, while disdaining his ForScience attitude toward the Zerg, is impressed by his courage and listens to his request to spare civilian centers [[spoiler: during her invasion of Korhal.]]
* OverlordJr: Defies this trope in all flavors. Arcturus's poor parenting coupled with his ruthless methods of keeping order in the Dominion have shattered any idealized image Valerian had of him, while his mother emphasized he grow to be a good, proud man. It's mostly worked -- he's arrogant and naive, but Valerian is a very different person from Arcturus, and as his page quote demonstrates, wants to prove to the Dominion he's both a better ruler and a better man.
* {{Pride}}: He has this as his major flaw. Like father, like son. He eventually gets fed a humility pill and he gets better about it.
* PrinceCharming: Referred to as this by Rory Swann.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: His overriding goal is the safety and security of the Terran Dominion, which contrasts with his father, who just wants power. [[spoiler:After ''Heart of the Swarm'', when he takes the throne, the first thing he does is dig up his father's black-ops research projects, call the scientists who have been shanghaied, and start actually ''paying'' them, in addition to removing the psychopaths his father liked to put in charge. And of course, if the scientists want to go back to their families instead, that's fine too]].
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Wants to prove himself as this, which he does by [[spoiler:defeating Kerrigan alongside Raynor]].
* SinsOfOurFathers: Averted. While the Raiders and Kerrigan initially distrust him due to the Mengsk name, the phase passed quickly. After his [[spoiler: ascension to the throne]], the Mengsk name did not seem to hurt his reputation with Dominion citizens. To be fair, he did work darn hard to distance himself from his father. The Defender of Men in ''Nova Covert Ops'' is trying to make the trope played straight by sabotaging his Empire to make it look like Valerian turned out like his father after all.
* SixthRanger: [[spoiler:Joins with Raynor's Raiders after the Flashpoint Conflict, and is now working with them come ''Heart Of The Swarm'']]
** Inverted come ''Legacy'', when [[spoiler: the Raiders join the Dominion (now under Valerian), with Horner and Raynor taking up leadership roles.]]
* SunkCostFallacy: "I've invested far too much in this endeavor to see it fail." He doesn't even have the excuse of having the Zerg on the run.
** DeathOrGloryAttack: What the Char expedition essentially boils down to.
* ThoseTwoGuys: After [[spoiler: Jim gets captured,]] he and Matt take over command of the Raiders and are Kerrigan's primary Terran contacts in ''Heart of the Swarm.''
* TokenEnemyMinority: [[TheEmpire The Terran Dominion]] and [[LaResistance Raynor's Raiders]] are at war. [[spoiler:Dominion Crown Prince Valerian fights alongside the Raiders as of "Flashpoint".]]
* WarriorPrince: Tries to be one, anyway.
* WellDoneSonGuy: Subverted. Though flashbacks in ''The Dark Templar Saga'' show he was this as a kid, Arcturus was an AbusiveParent and Valerian grew out of it once he realized that. Now his goal is to be his own man rather than just Mengsk Jr., and is more interested in proving to the people that he's not his father and can be a better ruler than him.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: He might be an aversion but comes off as one to Jake because his assistant (who was a mole for his father) altered his orders without him being aware of it.
* WideEyedIdealist: He's usually good at hiding it, but his entire plan pretty much hinged on the universe rewarding nobility and courage. Of special note is his first meeting with Raynor, which revolved around the idea that Raynor was a noble revolutionary who would want to kill Arcturus personally, rather than the terrorist rebel he was painted as. The Dark Templar Saga novels also have his servants note this, as he doesn't suspect many of them are spies for Arcturus so he can keep tabs on Valerian's private matters.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:General Horace Warfield]]
[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/200px-Horace_Warfield_SC2_Head1_134.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:200:Now, ''this'' is a general.]]

-->''"You missed your calling, Raynor. You would have made an outstanding staff officer."''

-> '''Voiced by:''' GaryAnthonyWilliams

Mengsk's replacement for the deceased Edmund Duke, General Warfield is a very different kind of military leader than his predecessor. Smooth-talking and well-mannered, Warfield makes very few appearances in ''Wings of Liberty'', mostly acting as SupportingLeader for Mengsk or an offscreen antagonist. Warfield does make an appearance at the end of the story, however.

----
!!Provides examples of:
* AntiVillain: Warfield has basically no villainous traits, and only falls short of being a HeroAntagonist in ''Wings of Liberty'' because he works for TheEmpire.
* ArmCannon: [[spoiler:Near the end of ''Wings'', he has his poisoned arm amputated and replaced with an arm cannon that transforms into a hand.]]
* ArmorPiercingQuestion: ''"What if Raynor could see you right now?"'' It gets [[BerserkButton a reaction]].
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: He eats rocks and spits out gravel.
* {{Badass}}: He's a frontline-fighting general that eventually gets an ArmCannon. [[spoiler:In ''Heart of the Swarm'' he not only clings to life with two steel beams piercing his torso, but he has the strength to attempt to pull them out, then to try and attack Kerrigan as she stands over him.]]
* BadassBoast: Almost every line of dialogue he has is a boast of how he will win the day.
* BadassGrandpa: Like Duke, he's probably in his fifties ''at least'', but he, like Fenix, "throws down with the best of them." And if you want a ''real'' explanation, all you need to know is that [[spoiler:he punched a hydralisk to death and lived to tell about it.]]
* BlackComedy: Near the end of ''Wings'', he [[spoiler: loses the use of one of his arms]]. Cut to this conversation:
-->'''Raynor:''' Good to see you on your feet, General.\\
'''Warfield:''' Yeah, well, we'll see how long that lasts.
* CoolOldGuy: He's one of the more popular new characters out of ''Wings'', and for a good reason: [[spoiler:He {{bayonet|Ya}}ed a zergling, kills a hydralisk by punching it to death, and is so tough he shrugs off enough poison to kill an ultralisk, ''and'' gets a shiny new ArmCannon out of the deal.]]
* {{Cyborg}}: [[spoiler:During the assault on Char, he loses his arm to zerg venom and gets it replaced with an ArmCannon]].
* AFatherToHisMen: Not spelled out exactly, but pretty heavily implied, given his warm demeanor and tendency to fight on the front beside his men, and [[spoiler: him demanding that Kerrigan spare his retreating soldiers despite heavily wounded and more or less at her mercy.]]
* FireForgedFriends: When they first meet, he obviously doesn't think too highly of Raynor, accusing him and "his terrorist friends" of hiding while he was busy leading the Dominion against the Zerg. After Raynor saves his life and takes command in Warfield's absence, he sees things a little different.
-->'''Warfield:''' All these years, Mengsk made you out to be the devil himself. But I've seen you put it on the line for men who'd otherwise be hunting you down. \\
'''Raynor:''' Your Emperor's the one 'should be brought to justice. All I ever wanted was for folks to live free. \\
'''Warfield:''' Charging into battle with a stranger -- taking enemy fire, holding the line shoulder to shoulder -- that's the great equalizer of war. It's a honor to fight at your side.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: [[spoiler:The BlackComedy above becomes a FunnyAneurysmMoment, as he dies early in ''Heart of the Swarm'' (Char).]]
* FourStarBadass: Though oddly enough, he only has three stars on his uniform (which from our point of view, would give him the rank of lieutenant general at the most).
* FrontlineGeneral: He takes the field with his Marines and takes on an entire zerg force ''by himself''. He seems to have internalized the lesson that tactical subtlety and staff officers don't help much against the Zerg.
* GangstaStyle: Does this as he runs low on ammo.
* IAintGotTimeToBleed: Gets impaled through the arm by several Hydralisk spikes. It barely slows him down.
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: [[spoiler:In ''Heart of the Swarm''.]]
* InformedAbility: Warfield is allegedly a hyper-competent general, but his one opportunity to demonstrate this prowess [[GoneHorriblyWrong goes horribly wrong]].
** He is, however, very well aware of the strategic value of taking down the Zerg [[DeathFromAbove air support]] rather than the ground-based [[MookMaker nydus worms]]. The final mission with the zerg air support uncrippled is considered by many to be the ''hardest'' mission in ''Wings'' by a significant margin. [[note]]Siege tanks turn anything ground based into nice big craters, and removing the zerg flyers means there's no way for the Zerg to counter a mass of them other than Kerrigan herself. And since you face Kerrigan in both versions....[[/note]]
** Justified in the sequel, Warfield is likely used to fighting Broods under the command of Broodmothers, who only use [[HollywoodTactics limited tactics]], or even just feral zerg. The forces on Char were under the command of Kerrigan, which is a whole different thing entirely. Notably, he ''[[CurbStompBattle curbstomped]]'' Zagara prior to Kerrigan's arrival and was preparing to commence mop-up operations.
* MeaningfulName: Warfield.
* TheMenFirst: [[spoiler: His last act is to request his men to be saved...[[PetTheDog which Kerrigan grants]].]]
%% Don't add MythologyGag here. It's already in ShoutOut/Starcraft.
* MyMasterRightOrWrong: Sticks with Arcturus right to the end, although he did join Valerian on the expedition to Char (which was technically treason against Arcturus).
* OneManArmy: When every man with him is dead, he just presses on and takes out the rest of the Zerg host by himself.
* PunchClockVillain: He's an honorable and gruff man in his own right, and comes to respect Raynor (though he didn't think much of him at first). But much like Edmund Duke before him, being Mengsk's top general means he's usually against you in missions.
* RememberTheNewGuy: According to his backstory, he's been one of Mengsk's top officers ever since he began his rebellion against the Confederacy, which would mean Warfield was out there somewhere kicking ass for the entirety of the original game and ''Brood War''.
* RetiredBadass: He was retired prior to ''Starcraft II''; Mengsk brought him back into service at the beginning of ''Wings of Liberty''.
%%* TheSouthpaw
* SuddenSequelDeathSyndrome: [[spoiler: Defeated by Kerrigan, he is mortally wounded...and she murders him the second he [[BerserkButton mentions Raynor's name]].]]
* WelcomeBackTraitor: By joining Valerian on his expedition in ''Wings'', Warfield was effectively committing treason against Arcturus. In ''Heart'', while Valerian is directly attacked by Arcturus's men, Warfield was left alone, by and large.
* WhatTheHellHero: Gives one to Kerrigan in ''Heart of the Swarm'' when she begins her RoaringRampageOfRevenge against Mengsk on Char, killing the same Dominion soldiers who freed her, while also calling out that she's betraying Raynor's trust in her [[spoiler: which might have gotten through to her, but since Kerrigan had already heard the UNN say that Raynor was executed, somebody working for Mengsk talking about turning against Raynor turned out to be a BerserkButton for her. It wasn't completely ineffective, however; after killing Warfield, she let the remaining Dominion forces go]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:November Annabella "Nova" Terra]]
[[quoteright:180:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Nova_SC-G_Art2_9381.png]]
[[caption-width-right:180:Even if ''Ghost'' never came out, there's still the ''Covert Ops''.]]

-->''"Failure is never an option."''

-> '''Voiced by:''' Music/GreyDeLisle

A human female Ghost and assassin for the Terran Dominion. Also the would-be star of ''[[{{Spinoff}} Starcraft: Ghost]]'', a game stuck in DevelopmentHell, although she was properly introduced in the ''Wings of Liberty'' campaign for ''Starcraft II''. Nova's adventures have become something of their own sublicense within the franchise, with her backstory and training covered in a manga series and a pair of novels.

She is the star of the [[VideoGame/StarCraftIINovaCovertOps first DLC campaign]] released by Blizzard after ''Legacy of the Void''.
----
!!Provides examples of:

* TheAce: She's one of the most powerful Ghosts in the history of their existence; her psi index of 10 is equal to Kerrigan's prior to her infestation, and she completed her training in a record two and a half years when it normally takes four.
* ActionGirl: She's a Ghost. Naturally, this means that she's a badass psionic assassin.
* AllThereInTheManual: Pretty much everything about her is learned in the ''Ghost'' novels and manga; in-game all you ever learn about her is that she's a Dominion Ghost that hunts Specters.
* AntiVillain: Type IV, she's just working for Dominion, and the only problems she has with Valerian Mengsk are whether he is a better man then his father or not.
* AscendedExtra: After having one optional mission in ''Wings of Liberty'' and one brief cameo in ''Heart of the Swarm'' she became a star of her own campaign.
* AwesomeMcCoolname: Her real name is November Anabella Terra.
* BerserkButton: Don't touch Malcolm Kelerchian if you want to live.
* BoobsOfSteel: One of the bustier Terrans in Starcraft II and capable of throwing a marine in full power armor over her shoulder.
* BreakTheHaughty: Downplayed. She was fed a humility pill in ''Nova Covert Ops'', having been framed with treason against the Dominion, and thus a need to prove her loyalty, but neither [[spoiler: Matt Horner]] nor Valerian Mengsk believed she was a traitor.
* BreastPlate: Her Ghost outfit does a lot to highlight her ample chest.
* BrokenBird: Suffice it to say, her time spent as a telepathic slave for a mob-boss was so traumatic that the mandatory mind wipe was considered an incentive for becoming a Ghost.
* TheCameo: A shrine dedicated to her can be seen in ''WorldOfWarcraft'', as well as a cloaked Blood Elf female.
* CanonImmigrant: From the game stuck in permanent DevelopmentHell, Starcraft: Ghost.
* ClearMyName: During ''Covert Ops'', after another session of mind wipe, Nova was accused of treason against the Dominion and conspiring with the Defenders of Man. Those who checked out the 'Defenders of Man Access Point' custom map can know exactly what happened: The Defenders of Man captured Nova's team and then made footages of Nova assassinating Dominion agents. Needless to say, with amnesia at hand, it's just up to her skills to convince everyone that she's still loyal to Dominion.
* ColorCodedCharacters: Nova wears blue and silver to Tosh's red and black.
* DependingOnTheArtist: Though Nova has pale blond hair in her official high-res ''Ghost'' render, in-game images had her with brighter yellow hair. In the graphic novels, her hair is orange.
* TheDragon: Top assassin of the Terran Dominion. Raynor even calls Nova Mengsk's "pet ghost". This role is even more apparent during her attack on the Umojan lab. By comparison, Valerian Mengsk, despite being crown prince, doesn't necessarily fit the bill for being a dragon. Neither Kerrigan nor General Warfield toe the line despite the former being second in command to the Sons of Korhal and the latter being C-in-C to the Dominion Military.
* EnemyMine: Approaches Raynor with the offer of taking out Tosh's Spectres, after which she gives him the schematics to make Ghosts of his own. Jim notes the risk she takes by doing so. [[spoiler:If Raynor sides with Tosh instead, Dr. Hanson claims that spectres are no more prone to insanity than normal people, this may or may not be correct. Siding with Nova however reveals a note of jealousy with Ariel]]. However, ''Wings'' makes it clear that the only reason Raynor has to trust a Dominion assassin is because Tosh is a potentially more dangerous choice. Some of the news reports in ''Wings'' suggest that the Spectres have been running a terrorist campaign against the Dominion, and leaving a lot of dead civilians in their wake. But overall, the choice between Nova and Tosh is definitely one of the weaker ones, at least from a storytelling perspective.
* FauxAffablyEvil: While the "Evil" part depends on [[PunchClockVillain what she was told to capture]], [[spoiler: she does thank Raynor for his help against Tosh in ''Wings of Liberty'' (had you done so) before capturing him]].
* {{Foil}}: To Kerrigan; they're both powerful Ghosts that serve (or have served) Arcturus Mengsk and are emphasized as beautiful but dangerous. The key difference is that despite being given a chance to break away from Mengsk and become something more, Nova remained loyal. Swann ribs Raynor over the similarities between the two, and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaA9YNrpNrc Blizzard is also aware of their similarities]].
-->"No, I am ''not'' Kerrigan, and if I had my own game you'd know that."
* HeelFaceTurn: Sort of. [[spoiler:She keeps working for the Dominion after Arcturus' death and Valerian being crowned the new Emperor, meaning she has technically become a good guy without actually defecting. The irony of it all is that the Dominion believes she did the exact opposite]].
* HiddenDepths: In ''Covert Ops'', she proves to be an adept field commander in addition to being a skilled Ghost. Also, she does have a sense of morals, as seen when she expresses her doubts on [[spoiler: whether Valerian is truly better than his father as Emperor]].
* KnifeNut: It's a Ghost thing, apparently. A closer look at the cutscene shows that Nova actually swiped Tosh's balisong, complete with voodoo decal, although she certainly handles it with familiarity.
* MsFanservice: A green-eyed blonde with a curvy body zipped up inside a skintight Ghost suit. Aside from Kerrigan, Nova is the main source of female eye-candy in the series.
* MyCountryRightOrWrong: After the mind-wipe is reversed, she still abides by her oath to serve the Dominion, though she's perfectly willing to bend the rules here and there to suit her. [[spoiler:Interestingly, she is loyal to the Dominion itself rather than Arcturus - which means she becomes a good guy when Valerian becomes the new emperor. Also, in ''Covert Ops'', it's clear that she is initially cynical about Valerian being truly different from his father as Emperor, a sentiment which Valerian managed to dispel.]]
* TheOjou: Before a terrorist attack killed her parents.
* PetTheDog: Helps a young telepath evade the reach of the Ghost Academy in ''Spectres,'' and find a home where her gifts can be cherished.
* PsychicPowers: Second only in power to Sarah Kerrigan herself, although she surpasses Kerrigan's powers when Sarah was in her Ghost self. She's able to do stuff like disable enemy weapons with her mind or kill an entire city block with her telekinesis. Of course, Kerrigan's now a planetary-level consciousness since her infestation, and she's basically in a league of her own.
* PunchClockVillain: She only does what the Dominion orders her to do. She's willing to help Raynor in ''Wings of Liberty'' when she's in the hunt of spectres, [[spoiler: but when Raynor is the Dominion's target in ''Heart of the Swarm'', she does not think twice before capturing him. In ''Nova Covert Ops'', she is investigating an anti-Dominion organization at Valerian's behest.]]
* SuperSoldier: As a Ghost, this is her role in the Terran military.
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Rory Swann sees her as one towards Kerrigan.
* TheUnfought: Despite her reappearance early on in ''Heart of the Swarm'', you never actually get to fight her.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Doctor Ariel Hanson]]
[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/200px-ArielHanson_SC2_Head2_7832.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:200: [[HotScientist I think I need a medical check...]]]]

-->''"You're a good man, James Raynor."''

-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/AliHillis

A selfless and altruistic scientist who was rescued by Raynor's Raiders after the planet Agria was overrun by the Zerg. She decides to help out his cause after learning that the Terran Dominion had pulled out of Agria, declaring the Agrian colonists expendable. Hanson tries to steer Raynor towards doing the right thing, being described as the angel on Jim's shoulders, as opposed to Tychus, who is the devil.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: InUniverse example. Tosh keeps referring to Ariel as a "Honeypot" and implies that there's more to her than meets the eye. In the aftermath of the non-canon mission "Haven's Fall" mission [[spoiler: he's proven right. He outright says that all of the infested colonists were a time bomb waiting to happen and says Hanson was a honey trap from the start.]]
%% Do not add non- InUniverse or Fanon examples here; they belong on the YMMV subpage.
* AndThenJohnWasAZombie: [[spoiler:If you choose to help the Protoss on Haven, she becomes infested. Given Horner's comments during the mission, it's implied she did it to herself.]]
* BodyHorror: [[spoiler: Her infested form. ''Yikes.'']]
* ButNowIMustGo: [[spoiler: If the player decides to side with her, then she settles in Haven after the fight, and invites Raynor to stay. Raynor declines, because he has to "finish the job", and says that "guys like me don't get second chances"]]. The worst part is that, unless the player skips the missions post-Meinhoff (thus losing the chance to use the Vikings in further missions), it doesn't matter if the player decides to side with or against her, [[spoiler:she doesn't stick around]].
* TheChick: Dr Hanson doesn't get herself involved in combat at all, and she tries to be TheHeart to Jim whenever he talks to her.
* DespairEventHorizon: She loses all hope (and sanity) if you side with the Protoss and kill all the infested colonists.
* DudeMagnet: Almost the entire ''Hyperion'' crew is in agreement that Ariel Hanson is quite the looker.
%%* DullSurprise
* TheHeart: Appeals to Jim to fight the good fight, as opposed to Tychus.
* HotScientist: She's a doctor and is quite pretty, considered attractive by nearly the entire crew of the Hyperion.
* MadScientist: The choice between Hanson and [[spoiler:Selendis]] guarantees this trope if you notice the reactions both take to your choice. [[spoiler:Selendis]] is rather calm and understanding regardless of the choice Raynor makes ([[spoiler:Selendis]] challenges Raynor to "friendly combat" if Hanson is the choice made, and is rather sympathetic to Raynor's challenge of saving the colonists even if he has to kill some). Hanson, on the other hand, [[spoiler:flips her lid if you choose Selendis, which says a lot about her rational thinking if you know what happens after "Haven's Fall"]]. It's also implied that, in the "Haven's Fall" choice, [[spoiler:she infests herself at Haven in a desperate attempt to save the colonists]].
* {{Meganekko}}: Envisioned by Blizzard as a "doctor lady with glasses who looks really cute".
* MotherlyScientist: She cares for all the infested and ill as if they were her children.
* NotThatKindOfDoctor: She has a doctorate in bioengineering, though apparently she also gives out thorough [[http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/game/hero/ariel-hanson examinations and sick notes.]]
* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: Downplayed. She's got a medical background, although she's not a general practitioner. However, she knows her stuff when talking about the Xel'Naga artifact too. But she's quick to say that Jim knows more about zerg and protoss than her.
* ProfessorGuineaPig: [[spoiler: It's unknown if her self-infestation was partly out of desperation to come up with a cure.]]
* SillyRabbitCynicismIsForLosers: Rejects the Protoss dogma of "all traces of Zerg must be purged" and insists that she needs just a little more time to come up with a cure. If you agree to fight the Protoss, she ultimately succeeds.
* SuicideByCop: Heavily implied to be the case if you side with the Protoss.
* ThisIsUnforgivable: She loses all trust in Raynor if he [[ShootTheDog puts the infested colonists out of their misery.]]
* WallCrawl: [[spoiler: Infested!Ariel attacks Jim this way]]
* WideEyedIdealist: She persists in the fairly naive belief that the universe will bring her people to good fortune if they just hold out long enough... despite the fact that she grew up in a sector of space that has only been ruled by power hungry despots and is regularly besieged by genocidal alien species. Also refuses to even consider the notion that the zerg infestation, one of the deadliest and most indefeatable plagues ever created, cannot be cured.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Egon Stetmann]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/stetmann.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Stetmann; before and after GoMadFromTheIsolation kicked in.]]

--> ''"Zerg are so fascinating. I wish we knew more about their physiology."''

-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/ScottMenville

A geeky young scientist dedicated to Raynor's Raiders. He spends most of his time in the Hyperion's research laboratory, requesting Protoss and Zerg samples to further his research for Raynor.

After ''Wings of Liberty'', Stetmann left the Raiders and became an independent researcher. He serves as MissionControl for the Co-op Mission "Mist Opportunities."

----
!!Provides examples of:

* AllThereInTheManual: His Battle.net profile explains a lot about him the game barely alludes to.
* ApocalypticLog: Subverted. The research logs have every sign of being the first entries in one ("Swann wonders why the ship generates additional energy. I'll best not tell him about this fascinating Protoss crystal that does it." "If it becomes dangerous, I'll throw it out the airlock, but until them I'm researching it!" "The Zerg sample evolved a cortex and started to attack the walls of its containment canister -- better study how it did that rather than chuck it out"), but it all seems to work out all right; as of ''Heart of the Swarm'', the ''Hyperion'' is still operational.
* ButtMonkey: Stetmann began working on his own between ''Wings of Liberty'' and ''Heart of the Swarm'', and went to Bel'shir to study terrazine. The wars and political upheaval in the resulting years meant he was just sort of forgotten about, and he went mad from isolation and terrazine exposure.
* CombatMedic: When deployed in the field, his role is mainly this.
* CompanionCube: His harvester robots are his only friends on Bel'shir. He talks to and about them as if they were sapient beings. He even talks to the planet itself, insisting the other players just can't hear it.
%%Don't add Expy here. It's already in ShoutOut/Starcraft
* ForScience: Averted, he quit a Dominion science project and was almost executed by criminals because of his morals. His logs on the Protoss and Zerg samples also highlight this. In an early log for the Protoss artifact, he states that if it becomes a threat to the ship he'll destroy it. He refuses to apply Zerg regeneration to a biological use for humans, calling that horrifying; and recognizes that he will have to destroy the Zerg sample eventually, but he wants to wait until he has learned all he can from it.
* GeniusDitz: With emphasis on the "ditz" part.
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: His exposure to terrazine by the time of his Co-op appearance has given him glowing purple eyes, a sign of just how bad his state is.
* GoMadFromTheIsolation: Sure, it was mostly the terrazine you can thank for his madness, but being all alone on Bel'shir with only his harvester bots for company probably didn't help much.
* HollywoodNerd: Most soldiers wear bandoleers of ammo strapped to them. Egon straps cans of energy drink to his body.
* HopeSpot: When his ''Co-op'' mission is won, he implies that the research the gathered terrazine will let him do is his ticket to finally getting off Bel'shir, and by association, maybe a chance to recover his sanity and career.
* MadScientist: Averted in ''Wings of Liberty'', where he was interested in research but not to amoral ends. Played very straight in ''Co-op'' now that he's gone off the deep end, but he's still a benign version.
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Thanks to his exposure to terrazine, he claims he can communicate with the planet Bel'shir. Sure, it's easy to write him off as just cuckoo... except all his information that he claims he gets from Bel'shir is accurate. He may just have conventional monitoring equipment, or maybe Stetmann really has made contact with some sort of planetary consciousness. Stranger things have happened in this universe, after all.
* TheMedic: In the "Belly of the Beast" mission, he serves as the group's medical healer.
* MustHaveCaffeine: His model in "Belly of the Beast" includes cans of energy drink.
%%Don't add MythologyGag here. It's already in ShoutOut/Starcraft
* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: He appears to be an expert in xenobiology, metallurgy, and weapons development, and probably half a dozen other fields, in addition to being a combat medic in the commando mission. (Although the protoss crystal he's tinkering with in the lab is supposedly helping him.)
* SanitySlippage: His exposure to terrazine, coupled with a couple years of isolation, has driven him more than a little crazy.
* SeriouslyScruffy: Abandoned and forgotten on Bel'shir, he's grown out his beard. It helps highlight how crazy he is now.
* TheSmartGuy: Chief scientist of the Raiders.
* ThereWillBeToiletPaper: He has a very telling piece of bloody toilet paper on his cheek.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Rory Swann]]
[[quoteright:210:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/RorySwannHead2medium_3480.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:210:"Space Dwarf"? Why in the world would they say that?]]

--> ''"Jimmy, you need stuff fixed, I'm your guy. This crawlin' around in caves... that guy I ain't."''

-> '''Voiced by:''' FredTatasciore

The Hyperion's chief engineer, spend most of his time in the ships armory, and is responsible for the upgrading the Raiders weapons. Formerly a miner, he lost his arm in a revolt against the Combine, and was saved by Raynor's Raiders, where he joined them later on.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* ArmCannon: He has a mechanical hand that can transform into a rocket launcher much similar to the Marauders'. It's also apparently capable of doubling as a wrench, which makes sense since he's a super-mechanic.
* ArtificialLimbs: His left arm below the elbow is a giant mechanical claw that doubles as a Marauder's grenade launcher.
* BadassBoast: "If you can name it, I made it better."
* BigApplesauce: Has a rather thick New York accent.
* CatchPhrase: "I got something new for you, cowboy."
* TheEngineer: It's even his title. Swann is the man behind all the new units of Raynor's arsenal, also being in charge of deploying explosives and upgrading the Hyperion in individual missions.
* GadgeteerGenius: He knows how to tinker with just about anything to make it better.
* ICallItVera: He calls his deployable turret Flaming Betty. Its rank is listed as "Swann's BFF."
* MrFixIt: He can fix up and make better just about any mechanical device in the world.
* MyGreatestFailure: He considers an anti-Dominion uprising he led on Meinhoff to be so. Raynor doesn't agree.
* TheNicknamer: He has one for just about everyone. He calls Raynor "Cowboy", Valerian "Scooter", Nova "Ace", and Artanis as "Skippy" (once he gets past his DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu vibe). The latter three react oddly.
* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: Of the mechanical variety. He has a deep knowledge of weapons and vehicles of all types and is able to redesign the Odin to make it field-buildable despite knowing nothing about it prior to its capture by Raynor's Raiders.
* ShipperOnDeck: For Raynor and Nova. Granted, the entire basis of his dialogue regarding this is entirely for humor and referring to a certain other Ghost who Nova reminds him of.
* TheSmartGuy: A much rougher example than usual, making him come off as a very sophisticated auto mechanic.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Graven Hill]]
[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/graven_hill.png]]
--> ''"Lots of folks willing to fight. For the right price."''

-> '''Voiced by:''' John Gloss

A mercenary captain serving aboard the ''Hyperion''. He's Raynor's contact for when he needs to bolster his standing forces with hired guns.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* AllThereInTheManual: His Battle.net profile provides a detailed backstory for him dating back to the Guild Wars and his upbringing at Umoja. None of that comes up in-game, though.
* AscendedExtra: A minor character in ''Wings of Liberty'', he acts as MissionControl in the "Oblivion Express" Co-op mission.
* BecauseImGoodAtIt: After the Confederacy destroyed his original merc ring, Graven eventually built up a new one and kept hiring mercenaries. Not necessarily because it's the best thing he can do or because he likes it, but because he's good at it and knows nothing else.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: He joined up with an anti-Confederate Morian militia during the Guild Wars, then started supplying the Confederacy with contracts because it was more profitable. When the Sons of Korhal came on the scene, Graven made a killing by supplying both of them. Then the Confederates found out, attacked his operation, and he ended up supplying no one. By the time Raynor and his men rolled onto the scene with the Dominion, Graven started working for them, and once the End War is over he's now working for the Dominion under Valerian.
* EliteArmy: His mercenary contacts can only be hired in limited numbers, but they have higher stats than normal units.
* EqualOpportunityEvil: For a given value of "evil." His merc contracts include former Confederates, UED remnants, Dominion deserters, Kel-Morian security personnel, and Graven even expresses interest in hiring ''protoss'' to work for him.
* GoodScarsEvilScars: Graven's got a huge scar on his left eye, which hints at his very rough and not-all-that moral past.
* MissionControl: Manages one of the Co-op missions on Tarsonis.
* NotInThisForYourRevolution: Played with. While Graven keeps his business with Raynor and his men purely professional, some of the crew think he personally sees helping them as a way to atone for his past, or at least to fight for something more than money.
* OnlyInItForTheMoney: While it's zigzagged with Graven himself, the mercenaries he hires only work for Raynor because he's willing to pay.
* TheQuietOne: He keeps to himself on the Cantina and apparently only talks to Raynor, and then only to talk business.
* RealMenWearPink: He's gruff and badass, yet drinks fruity cocktails.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Kate Lockwell and Donny Vermillion]]
[[quoteright:210:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/200px-KateLockwell_SC2_Head1_9195.JPEG]]
[[quoteright:210:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/200px-DonnyVermillion_SC2_DevStory1_3796.jpg]]

--> ''"What is wrong with that woman? Tell her not to interrupt my interviews!"''
-->-- '''Donny, regarding Kate.'''

-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/RachaelMacFarlane (Kate) and BlairBess (Donny)

Two reporters working for the UNN, Kate being the field reporter and Donny the desk anchor. Kate tries to be impartial and truthful, but often gets blocked by her coworker Donny who is a staunch Mengsk supporter. After Vermillion suffers a breakdown, Kate gets promoted to chief anchor.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* BlatantLies: Very often, due to being controlled by Terran Dominion, often in a very unconvincing manner. During one broadcast, a Dominion Marine even shows up to shut it down.
-->'''Kate Lockwell:''' In fact, Donny, survivors have credited Raynor's Raiders--\\
'''Donny Vermillion:''' I'll have to cut you off there, Kate! We've got a breaking story. Uh...uhm...g-go to commercial. Yes. Commercial.\\
\\
'''Donny Vermillion:''' I assume casualties were high as a result of Raynor's terrorist actions.\\
'''Kate Lockwell:''' Actually the only civilian deaths appear to be collateral damage from overzealous Dominion security forc--\\
'''Donny Vermillion:''' Thanks, Kate. You heard it here first! Jim Raynor: Killing women and children on Mar Sara.
* BreakTheHaughty: When Mengsk's hand in the fall of Tarsonis is exposed, Donny falls into a HeroicBSOD and is eventually committed to a mental institution, his faith in the Dominion completely shattered.
* TheCameo: Kate's voice can be heard in the last cinematic of ''Legacy'''s epilogue campaign.
* CanonImmigrant: Kate Lockwell appeared in the comics before she did in-game.
* CatchPhrase:
--> '''Donny:''' You heard it here first!
* DoubleStandard: Donny answers the question posed by some viewers that ask what's wrong with Raynor rebelling against the Dominion when it was founded after Arcturus rebelled and overthrew the Confederacy. His response? "Yes, but Emperor Mengsk didn't do it during an alien invasion!" This completely ignores the fact that while Mengsk may not have ''begun'' his rebellion during an alien invasion, the arrival of the Zerg and Protoss did nothing to dissuade him from stopping. And, in more ways than one, he twisted it to his advantage.
--> '''Raynor:''' Everyone's a critic.
* HotScoop: Kate. In fact, the ''Crown Prince'' has a crush on her, although it's hard to tell if he's telling the truth or teasing.
* HypocriticalHumor: "What is up with that woman?! Tell her not to interrupt my interviews!"
* KentBrockmanNews: UNN Live with Donny Vermillion. Raynor shoots at the screen with a broadcast in the first cinematic on Mar Sara, and got a note from the bartender mentioning that [[BrickJoke the screen would be put on his tab!]]. That's why there's a "don't shoot the screen" warning sign attached to the big TV screen in the ''Hyperion'' cantina.
* NewsReel: The UNN, which has been around since StarCraft. Used by the Confederacy, then by the Dominion as a propaganda machine.
* OnlySaneMan: Kate is the Only Sane Woman.
%% Don't add TheOtherMarty here. It belongs in the Trivia tab.
* ShipTease: Kate asks Valerian if there's any woman he has an eye on. He actually says (on a live news broadcast, remember) that he's quite taken with ''her''. Considering she's an honest reporter dedicated to ferreting out the truth and he hates his father, he was probably being serious.
* ShowWithinAShow: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlkAwH2UOuY The UNN]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uWDfA26LyM newscasts]], which is based on CNN.
* TheBusCameBack: After last being mentioned in the final newscast of ''Wings of Liberty'', Donny returns as MissionControl for the Co-op mission "The Vermillion Problem." Lore established that he was eventually rehabilitated and came back to the UNN as a reporter.
* TheWorldMustKnowTheTruth: Why Kate tends to be impartial and talk against the Dominion according to ExpandedUniverse sources. She became disillusioned after meeting Michael Liberty.
* ThoseTwoGuys: In ''Wings of Liberty''.
* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: Kate delivers one after the last "Epilogue" mission. [[note]]She points out that Valerian is emperor, Horner is now an admiral and working with Valerian, and peace talks with the protoss are going well.[[/note]]
%% Don't add WhatCouldHaveBeen here. It belongs on the Trivia tab.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Mira Horner ''(née Han)'']]
[[quoteright:195:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mirahan_sc2_head1_9702.jpg]]
-> '''Voiced by:''' KathSoucie

A mercenary who leads the Mira's Mercs, and who sports an eastern-european accent. She and the Mercs help the Raiders during a mission... by having them to pay an amount of minerals before another empolyee of her does. In ''Flashpoint'' it's revealed she's one of the major powers in Deadman's Port, a haven for pirates and outlaws.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* AccidentalMarriage: That surname? Matt Horner won a poker game, and the prize was her. Needless to say, he doesn't stay in touch with her.
* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: '''M'''ira's '''M'''arauders
* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: One-sided. While Matt mostly just respects her as an ally and has no romantic interest, Mira does have genuine affection for him, though "love" may be a stretch. In ''Flashpoint'', some of her men sell them out to the Dominion, and Mira is ''very'' angry that Matt is hurt in the escape and tells him he's going to live because she's not ready to be a widow.
* ElectronicEye: Her right eye has evidently been replaced by a cybernetic implant, so it has an overlarge pupil, red iris and black sclera.
* FriendlyNeighborhoodGangster: Considering she's a powerful crimelord and mercenary, she tends to come off as one of the better characters, morally speaking, outside Raynor's little circle. In ''Flashpoint'', she [[PetTheDog helps out refugees from the zerg invasions]].
** If nothing else, she does give somewhat favorable behavior toward Jim Raynor. When Colonel Orlan tries to buy her services with minerals, she turns around and gives Jim the same offer rather than simply accepting the one given her.
* TheGadfly: Her perpetually cheerful attitude and love of teasing easily makes her this.
* GogglesDoNothing: She's never seen doing anything with the goggles on her head.
* HiddenDepths: In ''Flashpoint'', it turns out she's taken in refugees from planets lost to the zerg invasion.
* HonorBeforeReason: [[spoiler:She refuses to let Matt speak to Colonel Orlan in ''Heart of the Swarm'' because Raynor is her client, and all a mercenary has is their word. The "before reason" part is that they need Orlan because ''Raynor has been captured and they need to hack the Dominion to find him'', and Mira knows this]].
* IGaveMyWord: "A mercenary's word is all she has, darling."
* {{Mercenaries}}: She is one.
* PunchClockHero: She ''is'' a mercenary after all. According to Jim, she'll work for whoever pays the most.
* RoseHairedSweetie: Manages to be all three types -- she's a battle-hardened mercenary who teases Matt sexually and is generally perky and friendly.
* TheTease: To Matt. He doesn't appreciate it. ''At all''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Emil Narud]]
[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Starcraft_-_Narud_1654.jpg]]
--> ''"The Swarm has served its purpose. It is a broken tool, fit only for the scrap heap."''
[[caption-width-right:200:Click the note to see (spoiler alert) his true form.[[note]]http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cne8xuf.jpg[[/note]]]]

-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/ArminShimerman

A Terran scientist and researcher, he's the head of the Moebius Foundation that studies Xel'naga artifacts. Through Tychus he contracts Raynor to track down the pieces of the Xel'naga relic. In the ''Flashpoint'' novel between ''Wings of Liberty'' and ''Heart of the Swarm'', his alliance with them is dissolved when he sells them out to Mengsk. ''Heart of the Swarm'' and ''Legacy of the Void'' reveal that he is far more than what he appears to be.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* AffablyEvil: Even when trying to kill the heroes, he acts friendly and personable.
* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: [[spoiler: Is this to Abathur. He states Narud's work on Stukov is beyond his abilities to replicate, not to mention creating Hybrids which Abathur could never pull over.]]
* ArchEnemy: To [[spoiler: Stukov]].
* {{Badass}}: [[spoiler:Kerrigan mentions in ''Heart of the Swarm'' that he's the most powerful being she's ever met, and he lives up to the boasting, showing off a LaserBlade of psionic energy and psionic skills rivaling Kerrigan's and nearly killing her in their fight. He's also apparently able to cloak without technological means as described in ''Flashpoint'']].
* BackFromTheDead: [[spoiler: In ''Legacy of the Void'', he came back, but it didn't last as he was killed off shortly afterwards, with Stukov sending his best regards.]]
* BeamOWar: [[spoiler:With Kerrigan in one ''Heart of the Swarm'' mission]]. And until [[spoiler:Stukov]] de-powered him, he was slowly winning.
* BeardOfEvil: A narrow and white one.
* BondVillainStupidity: [[spoiler: He's Ouros's jailer, but somehow fails to detect that his prisoner is calling out to help beyond the Void]].
* TheChessmaster: [[spoiler:He's behind most of the events of the sequel trilogy's first two parts, manipulating events to revive Amon and destroy Kerrigan.]]
* DoubleSpeak: [[spoiler:When Raynor is evacuating Moebius's base as Kerrigan attacks, Narud comments "That Queen of Blades, really is [[SpannerInTheWorks quite a nuisance]], isn't she?" as CasualDangerDialogue.]]
* TheDragon: [[spoiler:To Amon.]]
* EqualOpportunityEvil: His forces include members of all three races.
* EldritchAbomination: [[spoiler: His true form in ''Legacy of the Void'' is revealed to be this.]]
* EvilMakesYouMonstrous: [[spoiler:Narud gets glowing eyes and green VolcanicVeins when he reveals his apparent true form and attacks Kerrigan in ''Heart of the Swarm''.]]
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: [[spoiler:Has them on and off in ''Heart of the Swarm''. In a mission they're green, but in the following cutscene, they're [[RedEyesTakeWarning red]].]]
* TheHeavy: In ''Starcraft II''. While his master is sidelined, Narud is the one calling the shots.
* HeelFaceMole: To Raynor and Valerian. He reveals his true colors in ''Flashpoint''.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: [[spoiler:Keeping Stukov alive as a lab rat backfires on him in the end.]]
* {{Humanshifting}}: He's able to impersonate other Terrans this way.
* HumanoidAbomination: [[spoiler: He masquerades in human form, but it's ultimately revealed that he's an eldritch horror of the same side of the void as Amon.]]
* HumiliationConga: In ''Heart of the Swarm'' and [[spoiler: ''Legacy'']]. [[spoiler: Kerrigan banishes him back to the Void in ''Hearts'' and all three races, which he has crossed at some point, beat down on him in ''Legacy'', with Stukov getting the final kill.]]
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: [[spoiler:Courtesy of Kerrigan's bone wings, ''after'' he pulls this trope on her with a blade of psionic energy.]]
* KarmicDeath: [[spoiler: In ''Legacy of the Void'', he was KilledOffForReal by none other than Stukov, whom he experimented on like a lab rat.]]
* LaserBlade: [[spoiler:Wields one in ''Heart of the Swarm'' to combat Kerrigan.]]
* MadeOfIron: Kerrigan calling a [[spoiler:Nydus Worm to slam him through rock]] doesn't have any visible effect on him.
* TheManBehindTheMan: [[spoiler:To the Tal'darim, perhaps to Arcturus and Ulrezaj -- it's unclear how much influence he had over Arcturus, and Ulrezaj may work for him or report to Duran or Amon.]]
* MeaningfulName:
** The name Emil shares its latin roots with the verb "emulate", and in ''Wings of Liberty'' Kerrigan claims Narud is someone else pretending to be him. [[spoiler: He is.]]
** In ''Whispers of Oblivion'', [[spoiler: Zeratul explains that Duran and [[SdrawkcabName Narud]] are the same being]].
* TheReveal: [[spoiler:''Heart of the Swarm'' reveals he controls the Tal'darim, serves Amon, and is using the hybrids to try and revive him. ''Whispers of Oblivion'' then directly confirms he's Samir Duran in another form. And he is revealed to be xel-naga in ''Legacy of the Void''.]]
* SdrawkcabName: [[spoiler:He is another form of Samir Duran.]]
* ThisCannotBe: [[spoiler:As Kerrigan slowly overpowers him in ''Heart of the Swarm''.]]
* TheUnreveal: It's heavily hinted that [[spoiler:he is actually Samir Duran]], but ''Heart of the Swarm'' didn't confirm it outright. ''Whispers of Oblivion'' does, however.
* VillainousBreakdown: He starts to lose his composure as [[spoiler:Stukov depowers him and Kerrigan begins to win their BeamOWar.]]
* WalkingSpoiler: He's on your side in ''Wings of Liberty'', but he's actually a main antagonist. Everything ''about'' his role as an antagonist is another layer to the trope, namely that [[spoiler:he's actually Samir Duran and is working with the Tal'darim to revive Amon.]]
* WarmUpBoss: [[spoiler: He's the guy to beat for the first epilogue mission in ''Legacy of the Void''.]]
* YouAreTooLate: [[spoiler:When Kerrigan kills him, he lets her know that Amon has already been resurrected.]]
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Holds this opinion of the Swarm, as shown in his quote.
[[/folder]]

!!Protoss
[[folder:Praetor Karass]]
[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/200px-Karass_SC2_Head1_9929.jpg]]

-> '''Voiced by:''' GuerinBarry

A Protoss High Templar. He encountered Zeratul on Ulaan, and with his substantial forces fought the Zerg masses guarding the final portion of the prophecy. After Kerrigan shows up, he and his forces engage them to give Zeratul time to escape the planet and are ultimately slain.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* {{Badass}}: Such a kick-ass High Templar, he's able to use all of their abilities plus a powerful direct psionic attack (he hits harder than an Immortal against unarmored targets), making him a peer of ''Tassadar''. In-universe, he's a legend.
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: Like all Protoss, he's a non-evil example.
* HeroicSacrifice: In the first Protoss mission, he stays behind and faces the Queen of Blade in a hopeless fight, buying Zeratul enough time to escape with the prophecy.
* PowerFloats: It's hard to see since he only appears as a sprite, but he hovers above the ground.
* SmallRoleBigImpact: He appears in exactly one mission for about five minutes, is never mentioned again, and so far doesn't have a mention in any other missions or novels. But in that one mission, he and his men help save Zeratul and, by proxy, the Universe.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Urun]]
[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/urun_sc2_head1.JPEG]]
-> '''Voiced by:''' JonathanCook

Urun is the leader of the Auriga Tribe and a member of the Protoss Hierarchy. In ''Wings'', he's seen as part of the Overmind's vision, taking part in the final stand on Shakuras against a hybrid-controlled Swarm. He rallied the remnants of the Great Fleet and had a small ground force gathered as well. Alongside the remnants of his species, he did battle, however, for all their valor, it was to no avail, and Urun fell alongside his people, declaring that there were "too many of them".

----
!!Provides examples of:

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: He's not just an admiral, he's the chief of the Auriga Tribe.
* CoolHat: his face is completely obscured by the visor. Considering that this is pretty much everything his profile model consists of (besides the back of the cockpit and the starry backdrop that is) people would joke about Urun himself being just a cool talking helmet floating in space.
* CoolStarship: Pilots an awesome Phoenix.
* LastStand: During "In Utter Darkness," like the other protoss he dies fighting the endless wave of zerg and hybrid.
* TheresNoPlaceLikeHome: He desperately wants to return to Aiur, and even wants to find clues regarding Zamara, a missing preserver.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: He doesn't appear in the ''Legacy of the Void'' campaign at all, with no mention of his fate.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Mohandar]]
[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/200px-Mohandar_SC2_Head2_2932.jpg]]

-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/ArminShimerman

Mohandar is an elderly leader of the Dark Templar caste, and a member of the Hierarchy. In ''Wings'', Mohandar was killed in the Overmind's vision of the protoss' final stand against the Dark Voice. He went into battle leading the remaining void rays. As his ship was destroyed, Mohandar declared he was returning to the Void.

In the current timeline, Mohandar dies fighting Nerazim insurgents in the months leading up to the reclamation of Aiur. His position on the Hierarchy is taken by Vorazun.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* ADayInTheLimelight: He's a prominent character in the "Children of the Void" short story released leading up to ''Legacy of the Void''.
* BadassGrandpa: He's ancient, even by Protoss standards, and is still capable of putting up a good fight with or without his AceCustom Void Ray.
* CoolStarship: as with Urun, he too appears piloting an awesome Void Ray.
* CoolOldGuy: Especially to Vorazun.
* DroppedABridgeOnHim: Is killed off in a short story leading up to ''Legacy of the Void''. No matter which timeline occurs, he dies anyway.
* KilledOffForReal: Not In Utter Darkness, but in the Children of the Void short story.
* LastStand: During "In Utter Darkness," he dies fighting the zerg-hybrid forces of Amon.
* MasterApprenticeChain: Mohandar mentored Vorazun, who then mentored Taelus, who later turned on him.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Selendis]]
[[quoteright:180:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/180px-Selendis_SC2_Head2_7730.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:180:Should you choose to resist us, we will meet in glorious combat!]]
--> ''"The only cure to Zerg infestation is purification by fire! You know this to be true, James Raynor!"''

-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/CreeSummer

The current Protoss Executor, originally having been a student of Artanis's before his ascension to Hierarch. She possesses a strong sense of duty and honor as a Khalai Protoss. Although she feels threatened by the Dark Templars and the Terrans, she is more than willing to put aside their differences to bring the battle to the Zerg. Selendis oversaw Ulrezaj's defeat over Shakuras and slew the infested Terran Ethan Stewart.

The ''Dark Templar Saga'' novels establish she was the Executor who accompanied Zeratul to Aiur in the ''Dark Vengeance'' optional campaign that accompanied ''Brood War''. She may or may not be the Executor of Episode IV as well.[[note]]The timeframe of ''Dark Vengeance'' implies that the Executor of that campaign and Episode IV are the same character, but it was also clearly stated in Episode IV that you were the same Executor as in Episode III. WordOfGod is that Artanis was the Executor in Episode III, but in Episode IV Artanis was the new ''Praetor'', a separate character from the Executor the PlayerCharacter. Blizzard has not yet clarified if the Episode IV Executor is Selendis, or if the Episode IV Executor has been RetGone with Artanis taking their role (and rank).[[/note]]

----
!!Provides examples of:

* AdvertisedExtra: Early promotional materials heavily played up her role in the trilogy. In the final product she appears for only two missions in ''Wings of Liberty'' and spends most of ''Legacy of the Void'' being PutOnABus until the final mission and ending.
* AllThereInTheManual: The first time she was mentioned was in the ''Dark Templar saga'' novels. Said books also state Selendis was actually the PlayerCharacter in one of ''Brood War'''s bonus campaigns.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Sure, we only see her participate in one battle, but Selendis is miles ahead of the only other Protoss female seen in the series when ''Wings'' was released.
* BadAss: The finale of ''Legacy of the Void'' shows us that before becoming a fleet commander, she was a hell of a foot soldier.
* CoolStarship: Commands a suped-up Carrier in the tradition of Tassadar's ''Gantrithor''.
* DemonicPossession: [[spoiler: By Amon for most parts of ''Legacy of the Void''.]]
* FantasticRacism: She harbors considerable mistrust of the Dark Templar, with several Khalai protoss stating she's biased against them. {{Downplayed}}, however, as she is perfectly willing to work alongside them.
* GracefulLoser: If you win the "Safe Haven" scenario, she bears no malice against Raynor, and prays that he's right.
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: In the Overmind's vision, "In Utter Darkness". She pilots a Carrier.]]
* HotBlooded: She wants to kill Zeratul immediately when he shows up in the beginning of ''Legacy of the Void''. Artanis talks her down.
* ImportantHaircut: Once [[spoiler: the Keystone nullifies Amon, Selendis is the first to sever her nerve cords, reclaiming her sanity.]]
* IShallTauntYou: [[spoiler: While under Amon's thrall.]]
* LadyOfWar: Selendis pilots a carrier in battle, being the only major named female Protoss character at the time of ''Wings'' to participate in battle. In the final cutscene of ''Legacy of the Void'' we see her fighting on foot along with the rest of the corrupted Templar, but she subverts it then, as she is a brutal slugger of a warrior.
* LimitedWardrobe: Along with Raynor, she's the only character in the series to [[AvertedTrope avert]] this. In ''Wings of Liberty'', she uses a unique BlingOfWar not unlike other protoss commanders. In ''Legacy of the Void'', she just uses a power suit. [[spoiler: Considering she actually takes part among the possessed Protoss ground forces in "Salvation", it's possible that's why she was using one]].
* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: She spends her time offscreen in ''Legacy of the Void'' along with the Golden Armada, delivering a CurbStompBattle after another to Terran enemies. [[spoiler: Shame they were under Amon's DemonicPossession and were attacking Valerian's Dominion the whole time]].
* PutOnABus: She spends much of ''Legacy of the Void'' off-screen and inactive, since [[spoiler:she and the rest of the Golden Armada are busy being possessed by Amon. However, it's stated she's beating up the Dominion.]]
* PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo: As said above, she may be the Episode IV Executor, and for sure is the Executor from Dark Vengeance. [[HonorBeforeReason With some aspects of her personality revealed]], some of the plot issues of Brood War are cleared up--as well as underlining why she was still the protagonist.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: In the "Safe Haven" mission, she seems excited to get to fight with a hero like Raynor.
-->'''Selendis:''' If you choose to resist us, we shall meet in glorious combat.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: Her normally blue eyes glow red [[spoiler: when possessed by Amon.]]
* TheSmurfettePrinciple: At the time of ''Wings of Liberty'', she was only the second female Protoss to appear, the first being Raszagal. The next two expansions added more, both as characters and units.
* UndyingLoyalty: To the Daelaam as a whole and Artanis in particular. After Artanis [[spoiler: frees her from Amon's possession]], her first words are "En Taro Artanis!"
* WellIntentionedExtremist: She sees the infestation on Haven and determines that they only way to deal with it is torch the whole planet, believing that despite what anybody, herself included, hopes, infestation can't be cured. Despite Raynor being an ally to Protoss, she's willing to fight him if he gets in her way, though she doesn't have any malice towards him.
* WildMassGuessing: It is possible that she was the unnamed Executor in Episode IV, seeing as how she worked under Artanis.
* WorthyOpponent: If you choose to fight her in the canonical last mission of Dr. Hanson's branch in the campaign, she says it would be an honor to fight you, and shows no malice if you drive her off (and indeed hopes you are right).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Nyon]]
[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Starcraft_-_Taldarim_2518.jpg]]
--> ''"We will follow you to the ends of the universe, James Raynor! A thousand deaths cannot atone for your wanton sacrilege"''

-> '''Voiced by:''' GaryAnthonyWilliams

Nyon is a Tal'darim executor that was dispatched along with a group of followers to harvest terrazine, but Nyon was driven insane in the process, and went rogue. His Tal'darim forces were also often seen guarding the Xel'naga artifact pieces Raynor's Raiders were looking for. Acts as the Protoss antagonist of the ''Wings'' campaign.

----
!!Provides examples of:
* AllThereInTheManual: His name was initially only given via the achievement that rewards his portrait. Alarak finally names him in ''Legacy of the Void''.
* ArcWelding: ''Legacy of the Void'' provides some context for his actions being at odds with the rest of the Tal'darim.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: He pilots a beefed-up mothership with all the toys attached.
* BadassBoast: Before he brings in his [[CoolStarship Mothership]]:
-->'''Executor:''' Make peace with your Gods, defilers! You will now answer for your crimes!
* BossBanter: The guy ''never'' shuts up on any of the missions you encounter his men on. The only way to shut him up is to kill him, which you can't do until the "Maw of the Void".
* CoolStarship: In "Maw of the Void" commands a Mothership.
* GetBackHereBoss: When he finally takes the field in "Maw of the Void", he fights you for a bit, then teleports away when he starts to take too much damage.
* {{Jerkass}}: He is clearly not the nicest person to be around.
* HateSink: This guy is a ''huge'' {{Jerkass}} fanatic, serving no purpose but to antagonize the player and make your day in each Tal'darim mission miserable. What's worse is that he won't see reason, and will never stop talking about Raynor's "defilement". There's also the fact that he imprisons all protoss who defy them. It all makes the player want to kill him the more he says something, which is what can be done in "Maw of The Void."
* TheHeavy: He's not the real leader of the Tal'Darim, just their commander in ''Wings''. Then, we later find out from Alarak that he's a ''renegade'' Tal'darim commander.
* TheHeretic: Ironically, given he declares everyone ''else'' to be one. His prolonged exposure to terrazine drove him insane and he went rogue from the bulk of the Tal'darim.
* NoNameGiven: Even the subtitles just use "Tal'darim Executor". He was finally named in-game in ''Legacy of the Void''.
* ScaryDogmaticAliens: He and the other Tal'darim are KnightTemplar versions of regular Protoss.
* SenselessSacrifice: He and his men "gladly march towards death to [ensure] your doom". At least "Maw of the Void" shows he isn't too wimpy to attempt this himself.
* TakingYouWithMe: Tries to stall Raynor's Raiders in "Supernova" in case they cannot outright eliminate them - in that case, having everyone consumed by the eventual supernova is acceptable.
* TooDumbToLive: In ''Legacy of the Void'', Alarak does not think highly of Nyon, due to the task he was assigned to and his final fate.
* TheUsualAdversaries: Whenever Raynor meets the Tal'darim executor, the Executor makes a number of over the top threats (like the page quote) at Raynor. Raynor mostly reacts with mild to medium annoyance.
* WeHaveReserves: Nyon's forces could even rival the zerg in this department - Nyon's Tal'darim often have several bases deployed in each mission with '''a lot''' of unit-producing buildings, more than the vast majority of enemy bases on other missions.
** WeaksauceWeakness: Fortunately for Raynor's Raiders, these building clusters are often supported by only one Pylon, which means that can be depowered very quickly.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: In ''Legacy of the Void'', Alarak implies Nyon was sent to harvest [[PsychoSerum terrazine]], and Nyon's prolonged exposure to it drove him insane.
[[/folder]]

!!Other
[[folder:Amon (The Dark Voice / The Fallen One) ]]
[[quoteright:184:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/thefallenone_8248.png]]
[[caption-width-right:184:Our new BigBad.]]
[[caption-width-right:184:[[labelnote: Click here (Spoiler Alert)]]http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/amon_sc2_lotv_portrait1.jpg[[/labelnote]] to see his true form]]

-->''"Foolish, prideful children."''

-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/RickDWasserman

An ancient and mysterious [[PowerOfTheVoid Void]] [[EldritchAbomination entity]], it orchestrated the creation of the Zerg/Protoss Hybrids. He is later revealed to be a rogue Xel'naga that desires the destruction of the galaxy and all life within it.

----
!!Provides examples of:
* AbusivePrecursors: He and his faction [[spoiler:uplifted the protoss and created the zerg with the eventual goal of mutating them together to form the hybrids. After that, he intends to render both species extinct. Also, he created the Khala as a means to enslave the protoss, which is what he did in much of ''Legacy''.]]
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: [[spoiler: His true form is ''huge''.]]
* BackFromTheDead: [[spoiler:Up until just before ''Heart of the Swarm'', Amon was long dead, but Kerrigan's [[DePower deinfestation]] gave Narud and his hybrids the power needed to bring him back. ''Legacy of the Void'' clarifies that his "death" merely sent him back to the Void, and he's only now gotten the power to exert his influence outside of it.]]
* BadassBoast: Nearly ''all'' of his dialogue is this or a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech.
* BigBad: The main antagonist of the sequel trilogy, though he doesn't take center stage until ''Legacy of the Void''.
* BlueAndOrangeMorality: [[spoiler:He sees the Xel'naga's cycle of rebirth into races as a defiance of the natural order of existence. His solution? ''Kill everything'', so that with no new races for them to reincarnate into, the cycle will end.]]
* BodySurf: [[spoiler:As a Xel'naga dwelling within the Void, he has no body of his own, which is why he uses the Protoss and later his hybrid host body as vessels to allow him to act in the real world. He uses Selendis as his primary host in the meantime, but also slips into Rohana at times. Stopping him from doing this is a plot point -- when his host body is destroyed and the Protoss sever their nerve cords, Amon has no bodies left to dwell in, and so he's forced back into the Void.]]
* BondVillainStupidity: [[spoiler: By imprisoning Ouros, but not keeping an close eye on him. Ouros managed to inform Zeratul on how to undermine Amon and eventually banish him back to the Void. Made worse in the epilogue, where Ouros managed to call out to Kerrigan to rescue him. Kerrigan answered, together with the terrans and protoss as backup.]]
* TheChessmaster:
** [[spoiler:Everything in the Zerg and Protoss backstories was his doing: he uplifted the Protoss and then the Zerg, and enslaved the former to the Overmind in preparation to use the two races to forge the Hybrid for him. When his fellow Xel'naga found out his plans and acted to stop him, he had them killed by the Zerg. Though dead, the Overmind was still compelled by its instincts to carry out Amon's will to find and infest the Protoss for him.]] The only reason his plans derailed at all was because [[spoiler:the Overmind created Kerrigan (someone strong enough to lead the Zerg and not bound to Amon's will), and then committed SuicideByCop.]]
** Even before his demise, but after [[spoiler: his expulsion from Aiur by the ancient protoss, he and /or his faction left artifacts behind so that future Protoss generations would have the chance to reconnect themselves to the Khala, aka give him another opportunity to enslave the Protoss. This was unwittingly carried out by "Khas". Indeed, the scenario came to pass in ''Legacy''.]]
* CivilWar: [[spoiler: Started one within the Xel'Naga, which pitted him and his supporters and the uplifted Zerg against all other xel'naga.]]
* ClippedWingAngel: [[spoiler:His physical body ends up this; the Protoss manage to weaken it while it's still sleeping by damaging its power sources, and when it ''does'' start to awaken, they just proceed to deliver it an OrbitalBombardment with their entire weaponry, destroying it before Amon can even do anything.]]
* ComesGreatResponsibility: [[spoiler: He wanted the powers that come with being a xel'naga, but not the responsibility of continuing the cycle. His solution was to eliminate life from the universe.]]
* DarkIsEvil: Like the Dark Templar, he takes his power from the darkness of the Void. Unlike them, he's definitely an evil entity.
* DemonicPossession: He is capable of doing this to [[spoiler:the Khala Protoss]]. For some like [[spoiler:Rohana]], he only goes in and out, though.
* DidntThinkThisThrough:
** It becomes obvious after a few times he [[spoiler: tries to taunt Artanis and Vorazun through Rohana that he never took into account the great control she had over the Khala, as a Preserver. Rohana finds out Amon's true motives in the End War (He just wants to KillEmAll out of spite) and what was he doing with the protoss on Aiur]]. {{Downplayed}} since the Daelaam were going to come across what he was making anyway - in the end, all she got were mere details. However, [[spoiler: her reminder that the Golden Armada could use Aiur's psi-matrix to warp back and help Amon prompted Artanis to devise the operations to blow the matrix up.]]
** If what he says in the epilogue campaign is true, then [[spoiler: his StartOfDarkness is also caused by this trope - when he found out he would be ascended from whatever species he was to Xel'naga, he was delighted at the power he would get. Once he learned [[ComesGreatResponsibility what the Xel'naga actually have to do]]... he ends up despising the Infinite Cycle and starts to arrange his plan, to make sure his cycle was the final one]].
* TheDreaded: If you hear anybody not working for this guy talk about him, then they're terrified of him. Even Kerrigan doesn't deny that she's afraid of him.
* EldritchAbomination: [[spoiler:In the purest sense of the trope: he's a giant amorphous Xel'naga that dwells within the Void.]]
* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: What would've happened if Kerrigan ended up dying.
* EqualOpportunityEvil: Played with; on one hand, he has no qualm using servants from all three races to do his bidding. However, [[spoiler:he actually has nothing but disdain for them and pretty much intends to pull a YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness on all of them until only the Hybrids remain. His Void Warriors include units from the three races, but they seem to be ghost-like imitations rather than the real thing (though every unit causes ''real'' damage and has the same abilities as their real counterparts), so it's questionable whether they count or not]].
* EvilCounterpart:
** WordOfGod compares him to Artanis; while Artanis sees a galaxy full of chaos and strife and wishes to unite the Protoss to bring peace to it, Amon sees an "ordered" galaxy as chaotic thanks to his BlueAndOrangeMorality, and decides to destroy it all to fix the problem.
** The true depth of his backstory and motivations makes him one to Kerrigan. [[spoiler:Like Kerrigan, he's a pawn in a game he didn't even want to play, that being his unwilling participation in the Xel'naga's cycles. And much like Kerrigan during ''Brood War'', his solution is to flip over the table and kill everyone as a way to take control of his own destiny again.]] Amon even gives her a NotSoDifferent speech that notes the similarities between them.
* EvilerThanThou: [[spoiler:In Zeratul's vision, Amon has established himself as the biggest fish in the pond of villainy by wiping out all the other bad guy factions. The Zerg Swarm will then be wiped out by his hybrids when the protoss are killed.]]
* EvilIsHammy: The way that he speaks, it's already a sign that he's hungry for massive scenery devouring action.
* EvilOverlord: He has a great power enough to destroy civilizations either through his own or through his enormously large army. This army is not just one species but many, enough to overwhelm his foes.
* EvilSoundsDeep: Has a deep, booming voice.
* TheGhost: Before ''Legacy of the Void'', his true shape was unknown; he was represented by an edited Protoss unit with its face in shadows. Ends up being doubly justified since [[spoiler:the Xel'naga can take many different forms and host bodies, anyway, and up until ''Legacy of the Void'', he didn't have a body of his own.]]
* GenericDoomsdayVillain: Came out as this in the first two ''Starcraft II'' campaigns, where very little was known about him aside from the fact he is antagonistic to pretty much everyone, really powerful and wants to destroy all life in the Universe. ''Legacy of the Void'' eventually gives him a bit more backstory and fleshes out his motivations, giving him shades of WellIntentionedExtremist and WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds.
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: All that can be seen of him is his glowing red eyes glaring out from his portrait. It's not until the last epilogue mission of ''Legacy of the Void'' that his true form is seen.
* AGodAmI: Being a Xel'naga, he has full rights to the title. He's a creator of life and the dark master of the Void.
* GodIsEvil: Artanis is horrified to learn that [[spoiler:the Xel'naga that uplifted the Protoss were Amon and his accomplices, and only did so as part of his plans.]]
* GreaterScopeVillain: [[spoiler: He's behind the creation of the Protoss Khala and the Zerg Overmind, which makes him directly responsible for the ''entire franchise'' and most of the conflicts within it. However, he's been sealed in the Void and inactive until ''Legacy of the Void'' where he finally acts the BigBad.]]
* HumiliationConga: In ''Legacy of the Void''. [[spoiler: Amon's corruption of the Khala was his last success. The Protoss under Artanis proceeded to escape under his nose, rescue their Nerazim brethren (and blowing up a good chunk of his Zerg forces at the same time), reclaim the Purifiers (who then also nuked his Zerg forces in their vicinity), retrieve the Keystone (while rescuing the Dominion, a future ally), destroy his Hybrid production facility along with what's left of the Moebius Foundation, lure his Tal'darim followers over and used them against him, destroy his physical body on Aiur, break his mind control over the Khalai Protoss and banish him back to the Void. In the epilogue, the three races venture into the Void and finally kill him there.]]
* IShallTauntYou: About eighty percent of his dialogue is a mocking taunt.
* {{Hypocrite}}: In the final mission [[spoiler: he calls Kerrigan a murderer and a hypocrite, clearly forgetting that he himself is one. He talks about bringing salvation and ending suffering, but he intends to kill everyone on the universe, aside from himself and his hybrid. Also, Kerrigan spent most of her time as Queen of Blades partially following the directive Amon put on the Zerg. After being cleansed from Amon's corruption, she turned into a NobleDemon, showing regret for her past actions and trying her best to avoid unecessary losses, as seen on Char and Korhal.]]
* KillEmAll: His goal is to eradicate all life in the galaxy.
* KnightOfCerebus: Even though Starcraft II starts of LighterAndSofter than ''Brood War'' any appearance made by Amon is a sign things will get bad. The reveal of his existence comes in a BadFuture that ends with a KillEmAll. When he finally shows up in ''Legacy Of The Void'' it sets up the darkest campaign of the trilogy with much of the Protoss failing prey to a DemonicPossession by him [[spoiler: Zeratul's death]] and most victories against him are bittersweet.
* LargeHam: He fancies himself a god and definitely acts the part.
* LastOfHisKind: [[spoiler:He was one of the only ''three'' Xel'naga in existence, aside from Ouros and Narud. The destruction of his species was a result of his own actions.]]
* MadScientist: Can be viewed as one, especially among his fellow xel'naga, since the uplifting of the protoss and the zerg were [[spoiler: essentially illegal experiments being conducted by him.]]
* TheManBehindTheMan: [[spoiler:To Duran and the Overmind, and in turn to the Tal'darim, the Hybrids, the Zerg Swarm, and more than likely Ulrezaj. ''May'' also be this to Mengsk and the Dominion; the full extent of Duran's dealings with Mengsk are unknown. He's also this, to an extent, to the Conclave: the Khala is his creation, and as Artanis comes to realize, the Khalai's adherence to it has only ever caused them trouble and war.]]
* MeaningfulName: Amon is the demon prince of Wrath in Christian demonology. You know what's another name for Amon? {{Satan}}. It also means "the hidden one".
* MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch: [[spoiler:He sees the Xel'naga cycle of reincarnation as a defiance of the natural order, while he himself is a Xel'naga.]]
* OmnicidalManiac: [[spoiler: Apparently, his plan is to bring eternal darkness to the whole Universe, remaking it in his name.]]
* OutsideContextProblem: Until ''Legacy of the Void'', everybody knew literally ''nothing'' about this guy, and his influence is [[TheChessmaster so well hidden]] that only the [[spoiler: Overmind's vision of the future]] revealed it. Apart from anybody that's seen that, almost nobody even knows he exists.
* OverarchingVillain: Of the sequel, as Amon's plan to return and rule the universe spans the entire trilogy. His existence was hinted at in the first game, and ascends to the BigBad role in the sequel.
* PowerOfTheVoid: Is a Void-based entity, but unlike the Dark Templar, DarkIsEvil is in full effect.
* {{Pride}}: This guy makes ''Arcturus'' look humble by comparison. He never questions the effectiveness of his actions, and [[spoiler: up until the end]], he never thought that any action of his was wrong.
* ReasonYouSuckSpeech: Every time he interacts with other characters, his dialogues are mostly composed of this. [[ShutUpHannibal Artanis, however, does deliver him some spectacular comebacks]].
* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: His entire color scheme. His Moebius servants use red as their faction color with some unique decals to add more black, the Tal'darim wear black armor and red psionics, his Void energy manifests as mists of red and black energy, and [[spoiler:his bodies, both his Hybrid host body and his true form, are red and black.]]
* RedEyesTakeWarning: The Dark Voice portrait sports these, and not much else. [[spoiler:His true form has ''ten'' glowing red eyes.]]
* ShroudedInMyth: There's a line in the prophecy about him, and that's about it.
* SinisterSilhouettes: His portrait before his true form was revealed was a shadowed figure with red eyes.
* SpannerInTheWorks: To most of the other [[spoiler:Xel'naga. He began by undermining their work on Aiur. Eventually, he waged an all-out war against them, after creating the zerg Overmind.]]
* UltimateEvil: Is one of the most ancient and powerful forces in the cosmos, and all who know him either worship him or are terrified of his coming.
* VillainousBreakdown: By the [[spoiler: ending of the ''Legacy of the Void'' campaign and the epilogue, you can hear Amon starting to lose his composure, even going as far as to hurl insults at his enemies instead of giving {{Badass Boast}}s.]]
* VoidBetweenTheWorlds: [[spoiler:He dwells in the Void, the rift between different universes.]]
* WellIntentionedExtremist: According to Rohana, this is how he considers himself.
** [[spoiler:In his eyes, the eternal cycle of the Xel'Naga only results in perpetuating conflict and suffering, and by breaking it he intends to end what he sees as an endless torment for all of existence. [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] when Rohana reveals near the end of the ''Legacy of the Void'' campaign that this is just an excuse; beneath his grand vision, Amon really is only driven by his hatred and spite for all living things.]]
** [[spoiler: His dialogue in the epilogue mentions that [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds he was ''forced'' to become a Xel'Naga]], rather than by choice. Apparently, his idea of preventing other races from losing everything they are and will be is to destroy all life in the universe.]]
* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: [[spoiler:WordOfGod is that he initially wanted to become a Xel'naga, but later came to regret it when he discovered that being a god wasn't all it was cracked up to be. The Xel'naga cycle involves them seeding life around the universe, and then they spend their lives sleeping until it's time to pass their power onto a new generation of Xel'naga, so it's not hard to agree with him.]]
* XanatosGambit: [[spoiler: His faction's expulsion from Aiur did little to scuttle his plans for the protoss.]]
** If the protoss slaughtered themselves due to the loss of the Khala (which was what happened during the Aeon later), [[spoiler: it's of little loss to him as his ultimate aim ''is'' to exterminate them.]]
** If the protoss reconnect themselves to the Khala, [[spoiler: he'll just return when the time is right, "reclaim" the protoss, and use them to snuff out life in the galaxy, then pull a YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness on them. He pulled off the first two in ''Legacy''.]]
* YouAreTooLate: [[spoiler: In the alternate timeline in ''In Utter Darkness'', he reveals to the Protoss that he could have been stopped by Kerrigan, but by that point, she was already dead. Fortunately, the Overmind was listening from the past.]]
* YouFool: [[spoiler:To the Protoss.]] See the quote above.
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: This is his plan for his biological servants after everyone else is gone. Only his hybrid will be spared.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Maar]]
[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/200px-HybridDestroyer_SC2_Head2_5142.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:200: He likes to EMPHASIZE meaningful WORDS!.]]

--> ''"Your life is FORFEIT... surrender to DESPAIR!"''

-> '''Voiced by:''' ???

Maar is a Protoss/Zerg hybrid that appeared in the Protoss world of Zhakul. Zeratul had to fight against him and the Protoss forces he had recruited/possessed in order to access the Preservers, who can decipher the prophecy.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* BoldInflation: [[SelfDemonstratingArticle His in-game SPEECH emphasizes random WORDS in the SUBTITLES]].
* CameBackStrong: ''Repeatedly.'' Every time you defeat him, he charges himself up with more protoss energy from the elders and comes back physically larger, with more hit points and a stronger attack. The longer it takes to finish the mission the harder it gets.
* LargeHam: Is prone to a lot of shouting and uses grandiose phrases. Just look at his profile quote.
* HybridMonster: May be the first Hybrid to awaken, showing players a taste of their power.
* MindControl: Pulls this on an entire Protoss base.
* MiniBoss: Routinely strikes throughout the mission and needs a lot of firepower to beat.
* PsychicPowers: Has several abilities stemming from psionic power, including Psionic Shockwave.
[[/folder]]

!Introduced in ''VideoGame/StarcraftIIHeartOfTheSwarm''
!!Zerg

[[folder:Naktul]]
The first Broodmother Kerrigan encounters in the Heart of the Swarm campaign. The leader of a zerg colony living around the Dominion's base in "Rendezvous", she is found by Kerrigan, who is then looking for an army to help her prevent the Dominion force from destroying the Hyperion. Naktul gladly provides Kerrigan with her forces, allowing her to destroy the base. Kerrigan then leaves, with Naktul promising to wait until she comes back. She later rejoins the swarm in a between mission cutscene, near the end of the campaign.

----
!!Provides examples of:
* BloodKnight: Openly relishes death and mayhem.
* MissionControl: For the duration of "Rendezvous," she serves as this.
* SupportingLeader: For the most part, Naktul offers her units to Kerrigan with only minimal questioning as to what happened to her.
* SycophanticServant: Oddly enough, she is one of the few Broodmothers to outright not try to follow Kerrigan's policy of "only the strong rule" in a literal sense. Naktul does not betray Kerrigan at all, in fact spending nearly the entire mission giving her her brood almost without question.
* SequenceBreaking: She appears at the end of the mission in person to help out with the battle (although you cannot control her). However, the place she spawns will likely still be heavily fortified by siege tanks and other terran units, and she can be killed like any other unit. If she is killed, she still carries on the conversation as if nothing happened. She can actually die fast enough without a first-time player realizing she had shown up.
* UndyingLoyalty: Asks if Kerrigan plans to return to Phaeton or not, but otherwise is eager to fulfill her instructions. In fact, she seemed ''delighted'' to see Kerrigan had come back.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Izsha]]
[[quoteright:205:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Starcraft_-_Izsha_3782.png]]

-->"Your Majesty used to store all her ideas, thoughts and plans within me."

-> '''Voiced by:''' KarenStrassman

Kerrigan's primary advisor in the Zerg Campaign, Kerrigan once stored her thoughts, memories and plans in her while the Queen of Blades.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* AllThereInTheManual: Her past as Amanda Haley. [[note]]This is never mentioned in the game itself, but was mentioned in the previews for ''Heart of the Swarm''. Whether or not this is actually canon is up in the air.[[/note]]
* ArmorPiercingQuestion: Tends to ask these, but since she always has the same tone of voice, it's hard to tell if she's trying to rile Kerrigan or genuinely curious. Kerrigan's responcse is either "Shut up, Izsha" or silence.
* EvilFeelsGood: Strongly admires Kerrigan from her time as the Queen of Blades. Though she seems to admire her more for how powerful she made the Swarm than for her atrocious acts.
* MissionControl: She serves much the same role as the Terran AI adjutants.
** In the Coop Missions of ''Legacy of the Void'', she even replaces the classic Zerg adviser when playing as Kerrigan or Zagara. This was done to prevent confussion between the voices of the Zerg Queen advisor featured in the campaign or multiplayer and Zagara.
* MrExposition: Female version. She's Kerrigan's equivalent of an adjutant, and explains mission objectives and the like.
* NonActionGuy: Female version. Her role is one of an adviser rather than a fighter, and as a result she never takes part in fight personally. She does, however, lead Kerrigan's protection during [[spoiler:her transformation into the Primal Queen of Blades]] if you didn't get Zagara at this point.
* TheNoseless: One of the many visible modifications to her once-human body.
* PrehensileHair: Sort of. Her "hair" is now a set of several tentacles protruding from the top of her head. She uses them for manipulation. Her "hands," meanwhile, have fused into her body in a folded posture.
* ReforgedIntoAMinion: Her backstory.
* RoboSpeak: Speaks in a stilted, monotone manner.
* SocialDarwinist: A notably less evil version; she does seem to accept this as a reasoning, but rather than deduce that the weak should be crushed, this makes her concerned with making the Swarm as strong as possible so they ''won't'' be crushed.
* TokenGoodTeammate: WordOfGod describes her as more sympathetic than Abathur, her concept "was to strike a balance between human and monster." She indeed comes out as the least sinister of Kerrigan's lieutenants (despite taking pleasure in killing and conquest), excluding perhaps [[spoiler: Stukov]].
* VoiceWithAnInternetConnection: Her body is fused into the flesh of the Leviathan, and she can't personally fight.
* WasOnceAMan: Formerly Amanda Haley, a psychic Terran medic who ended up infested by Kerrigan.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Abathur]]
[[quoteright:212:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Starcraft_-_Abathur_4298.png]]

-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/SteveBlum

-->"Abathur. Evolve Swarm, spin strands and sequences. Served Overmind, then served Queen of Blades. Now serve you."[[note]](In case you are wondering, he is talking to Kerrigan-he doesn't recognizes her at this point due to her Terran appearance.)[[/note]]

The Genetic Library of the Swarm, he is in charge of all evolutions in the name of strengthening the Zerg. Abathur was a unique Zerg specimen created by the Overmind specifically for this purpose, who has been working for the Swarm ever since, both for the Overmind and Kerrigan under her two personna. His work consists in looking for potential creatures with useful genetic potential that can be added to the Swarm, or alternation that could improve the Swarm. He is extremely amoral in the approach of his work, uncaring about the pain of his test subjects. While he does his best to improve the Swarm, he doesn't intend to make them perfect: by his own words, perfection is impossible to attain, but to always chase it through mutation and adaptation is the only way the Zerg can live.

Dialogue with him reveals he was the one who put Kerrigan into the chrysalis and turned her into the original Queen of Blades.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* AffablyEvil: As amoral and greedy for essence as he is, he is always well-mannered and honest when talking with Kerrigan.
%%* TheAntiNihilist
* BeigeProse: [[TerseTalker Short sentences. To point.]] [[StrangeSyntaxSpeaker No articles.]] Efficient. Need sample?
--> '''Abathur:''' Spin strand backward? No. Inside out zergling. Not efficient.
* BerserkButton: When someone shows proficiency rivalling or surpassing his in genetics, he gets unnerved -- something with abilities superior to his own means they could create beings that surpass the Swarm, and that is not acceptable. The primal Zerg assimilating some of the Swarm's exclusive strains for their own use prompts a suggestion they be killed, while [[spoiler:his admission that he can't replicate an infestation as deeply ingrained as Stukov's]] has him suggest to Kerrigan they join with the enemy force rather than be defeated by a clearly superior foe.
* CantKillYouStillNeedYou: Kerrigan doesn't like him and is actually infuriated when she remembers that [[spoiler:he was the one who turned her into the original Queen of Blades (mentioning that what she felt was essentially him taking her apart and rebuilding her)]]. She still allows him to live because he's far too useful to her. Though if you talk to him just before the last mission, she says she seems to be growing to like him a bit. [[WhatCouldHaveBeen In an earlier version of Heart of the Swarm]], she has him killed and replaced with a duplicate.
* ComedicSociopathy: Half his humor comes from the fact [[ObliviouslyEvil he is completely unable to realize how horrible what he does to his test subjects is]]...
* TheComicallySerious: And the other half comes from how deadpan he is even when considering [[MadScientist the craziest ideas and concepts]].
-->"Must solve Zergling lemon-juice allergy."
-->"Spin strands backwards? No. Inside-out zergling. ''Not'' efficient."
* CreepyMonotone: He never really changes that robotic tone of his. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVOBLTS0lJc#t=18s Listen for yourself]].
* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife: Why he gladly serves Kerrigan, as he becomes lost and purposeless when he has no one to serve. To him it's a FateWorseThanDeath and one that he suffered from when the Overmind was killed until Kerrigan found him.
* EvilCannotComprehendGood: A toned down version, but he actually seems a bit confused when Kerrigan acts nicer toward him at the end of the campaign.
-->'''Kerrigan''': "You know, sometimes you're not so bad, Abathur." \\
'''Abathur''': "Unclear... "
* EvilSoundsDeep: Not surprisingly, given that he's voiced by Creator/SteveBlum using his [[VideoGame/MassEffect2 Grunt]] voice.
* EvilutionaryBiologist: Granted, he is on the side of Kerrigan, but other than that he fits the trope in every aspect.
* FingerTenting: Does a fingertips-touching variant, though since he only has two per hand, it looks a bit odd.
* ForScience: He is perfectly aware that it's pointless to dissect Lassara, since he cannot integrate Protoss DNA to Zerg. He still wants to do it because he likes trying, as its part of his role of assimilating other species into the swarm and one of the goals of the swarm has always been to assimilate the Protoss.
* GiantSpider: Part of his aesthetic; Blizzard envisioned him as a huge spider who visualized DNA as webbing.
* HumansAreFlawed: He seems to believe this, as he's unimpressed with Terran DNA. He makes exception for certain humans with psionic potential, being willing to go through the effort to assimilate them and break down most of their flawed humanity while trying to keep the psionics intact, but otherwise finds humans not worth his time. He's outright relieved when Kerrigan tells him she won't be assimilating humans anymore.
** Not just humans, but he has this view of the zerg as well. He seeks to perfect the species, but admits outright that it's utterly unattainable. However, it's still worth trying.
* HiddenDepths: He can be surprisingly philosophical about some things, such as his short discourse on the concept of perfection or his views on having a driving purpose and what it means to the Swarm as a whole.
* LackOfEmpathy: A central part of his amoral characterization. When he has a failed experiment, he simply has it tossed back into a [[AcidPool reclamation pool]] without bothering to MercyKill it first, seeing that as a waste of time, despite it still possessing an obvious pain response. He even considers making a creature with a ''heightened'' sense of pain, as it's an important sensory feedback mechanism.
* MadScientist: He seems just as much in it to see what interesting things he can do with essence as to improve the zerg.
* MixAndMatchCritters: Kerrigan notes that she's never seen a being like him and asks what genetic strands he was made from. Abathur replies the Overmind made him personally for his specific purpose by combining many strands.
* MoralMyopia: He is infuriated after seing that the Primal Zerg stole some of the Swarm's sequences, but in the following mission, Abathur creates the Swarm Host from stolen primal sequences. Not to mention that most of the evolution missions are mostly stealing sequences from various species across the sector.
* MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch: Sniffs that the focused evolutions of the Swarm are much more impressive than the natural, "sloppy" evolutions of the Zerus Zerg, and advises Kerrigan to take what evolutionary strands are worth interest and wipe them out after. Though since ''he's'' the one who handles said evolutions, he's hardly un-biased.
* NonActionGuy: Just like Izsha, he wasn't created for fight and serves only as a genetician. However, his dialogs mention him wandering the tunnels of Char after the death of the Overmind and in an earlier version he talks about killing and eating every creature he came across during that time. So it seems that he is pretty capable of fighting and defending himself, he's just far too useful and valuable to simply be send on to the battlefield.
** Heroes of the Storm [[WordOfSaintPaul seems to support]] this theory, since Abathur is a controllable hero that can fight on the front line, but is much more effective as a support unit working inside his team's base.
* NotSoStoic: Implied; when Kerrigan starts remembering [[spoiler:he was the one who turned her into the Queen of Blades]], he shows subtle signs of fear by trying to dissuade her from investigating further into it. He also becomes noticeably angry when he discovers the Primal Zerg have "stolen" the Swarm's designs.
--> '''Abathur:''' ''"UNACCEPTABLE!"''
* MissionControl: For the Evolution missions.
* ObliviouslyEvil: The only thing that matters for him is his goal, which is to make the Swarm stronger, and he doesn't seem to realize when he's doing amoral or horrible things while chasing this goal. For example, he dissolves failed experiments into biomass alive and conscious, not because he ''enjoys'' their pain, but because he doesn't see the point in giving them a MercyKill--they'll become biomass either way, what's the difference?
* PragmaticVillainy: He actually expresses satisfaction when Kerrigan orders him to stop experimenting on human subjects, because he feels like [[HumansAreFlawed they are uninteresting and too weak]] to bring anything useful, with the exception of psychics. He also doesn't seem to like being feral (i.e. without direction) as he's "less" for it.
* RememberTheNewGuy: He's apparently a long time servant of the Swarm, but he's never been seen on screen till ''Heart of the Swarm.''
* SdrawkcabName: Just like Artanis in reverse would be [[Music/FrankSinatra Sinatra]], a reverse of his name would be 'ruhtaba'. Ever heard of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutabaga Ruhtaba(ga)?]]
* SingleSpecimenSpecies: He's the only one of his kind among the swarm and was created to learn how to best assimilate other species by the Overmind. In his own words: "Brood of one."
* TheSmartGuy: Similarly to Egon and Swann in ''Wings of Liberty''. He's the one in charge of Zerg evolution and DNA analysis.
* TheSpock: Has a tendency to suggest the most pragmatic or efficient course of action for Kerrigan and the Zerg to take.
* StrangeSyntaxSpeaker: Speaks short sentences. Skips articles. Similar to [[Characters/MassEffect2PartyMembers Mordin Solus]]. Also geneticist. Likely coincidence.
* ThirdPersonPerson: "Person" may be a stretch of the word but, since he [[TerseTalker doesn't use pronouns]], he refers himself as "subject Abathur".
* TokenEvilTeammate: WordOfGod describes him having an evil and diabolical nature and Kerrigan actively hates him, both for what he does and his demeanor while doing it.
* UndyingLoyalty: Towards Kerrigan by the end of ''Heart of the Swarm''. He outright calls her the Swarm's greatest leader. In his eyes Kerrigan has led the Swarm even better then Overmind or her old self.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Nafash]]

One of Kerrigan's former lieutenants who decided that Kerrigan was no longer worthy of leading the Swarm following her defeat on Char. Kerrigan tracks her down as one of her first missions in the game, only to find out she was already killed by Protoss.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* BaitAndSwitch: The Kaldir questline starts with Kerrigan reaching the planet to track her down, suggesting she is going to be your first opponent the same way Zagara is on Char. Instead, it turns out she was already killed, and the Protoss take her place as the questline's antagonists.
* PosthumousCharacter: By the time Kerrigan finds her colony, she has already been killed by the Protoss.
* TheStarscream: Sort of subverted, since she's following Kerrigan's own policy of "the strong rule".
* TheUnfought: Gets killed by the Protoss before Kerrigan can even meet her. The closest you can get to meet her in-game is finding her corpse not far from her colony.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Zagara]]

[[quoteright:319:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Starcraft_Zagara_picture_109.jpg]]

-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/NikaFutterman

Another of Kerrigan's broodmothers, in control of the Zerg on Char. Subduing her is Kerrigan's first task to take back the planet for the Swarm. When she rejoins, Kerrigan begins to groom her as a replacement leader for the Swarm if she should be incapacitate or killed somehow.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* BastardUnderstudy: An unusual example. While she intends to take over the Swarm if the occasion presents itself, her loyalty toward Kerrigan is genuine. She knows Kerrigan is a more fitting leader in the current situation, and wants to learn more from her as a pupil. Until then, she will keep serving loyally.
* BloodKnight: She's always eager to unleash the Swarm's wrath on their enemies.
* CharacterDevelopment: Invoked in-universe, after her defeat Kerrigan asks if Zagara understands how Kerrigan defeated her, and Zagara's only answers are that she was faster or stronger. Kerrigan has Abathur evolve her and takes Zagara under her wing to instruct her, teaching her the finer aspects of being a shrewd and cunning leader now that she is capable of understanding such concepts.
* CuriousAsAMonkey: Zagara shows a lot of curiosity in the differences between other people. She pities the terrans for not having a hive mind, expresses desire to learn about Stukov's origins. It's hinted that her time with Abathur makes her better able to grasp more complex thoughts.
* DefeatMeansFriendship: Goes from one of the first Broodmothers to oppose Kerrigan and a blatant SmugSnake in her introduction to a devoted, borderline SycophanticServant after Kerrigan defeated her.
* TheDragon: After rejoining the Swarm, she serves as Kerrigan's right-hand Zerg, commanding the Brood when she can't and being a close advisor. Kerrigan at one point tells her that if she dies, the Swarm will fall to Zagara's control.
* EveryProperLadyShouldCurtsy: Performs the gesture when talking to Kerrigan.
* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Zagara gets very confused when Kerrigan goes out of her way to save Raynor. She doesn't make an issue of it though, assuming that it's part of some clever plan to crush the Terrans in the long term, and busies herself with trying to work it out. Kerrigan wryly comments she's [[ThePowerofLove probably not going to crack this one.]]
** She seems to have made some connection by the end of ''Legacy Of The Void''; [[spoiler:if her forces fall in the second epilogue mission, she pointedly orders Raynor to defend Kerrigan to his dying breath.]]
* HumansAreFlawed: She pities the Terrans since they are not a HiveMind like most zerg and are alone inside. She wishes to help them [[BlueAndOrangeMorality by killing and assimilating them into the swarm]].
* IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer: A comedic, non-romantic case in ''Legacy of the Void''. [[spoiler:If her base is overrun by Amon's forces during the second mission of the epilogue, and Raynor is the only one left to defend Kerrigan, she warns him that should he fail to protect her and survive, she will send the Swarm after him.]]
* RecurringBoss: Like Maar before her, she respawns if killed.
* RuleOfTwo: She is quite plain about her desire to lead the Swarm herself, and even tells Kerrigan that as long as there is more for her to learn, she will be content to follow. It's heavily implied that if she ever felt herself to be Kerrigan's equal, she would challenge her for the right to rule.
* TeethClenchedTeamwork: Averted. In ''Legacy of The Void'', [[spoiler:one would think she wouldn't take kindly to fighting alongside Raynor, given her attitude towards humans, but they seem to get along just fine to the point that they have a conversation]].
* TheStarscream: Zigzagged during the game and ultimately subverted. She's rebelling at first in-line with Kerrigan's rules, is loyal again when she's defeated, but as Kerrigan has Abathur evolve her she feels stronger and wishes to take the Swarm for her own. However, she recognizes she isn't as good a leader as Kerrigan yet, and so resolves to learn from her in preparation for when she comes to power. That said she's entirely loyal, commanding the brood in Kerrigan's place if she's incapacitated and acting as her second-in-command. When Kerrigan is injured she even asks why Zagara is helping heal her instead of seizing control, and Zagara says she still has much to learn from her before she's ready for that. This is a factor of her CharacterDevelopment, as her expanded ability to think abstractly and make long-term plans helps her realize that she will have better ultimate success by waiting and learning from Kerrigan than taking the first opportunity she sees to usurp control. [[spoiler:When she ''does'' eventually become the new leader of the Swarm, it's from Kerrigan [[YouAreInCommandNow willingly handing the title down to her]] rather than through betrayal. Zagara was somewhat saddened at her queen leaving]].
* TheSwarm: Not only is she the leader of one, but her play style in co-op empathizes it heavily. She has lowered unit cap (100 to the normal 200) and none of her units are super powerful, but they all build very fast, cost half the value they normally would, and several spawn in groups allowing her to quickly and cheaply reinforce her losses. This makes her shockingly effective at getting a solid resource income then simply overwhelming her foes with wave after wave of zerg.
* UndyingLoyalty: Ironically; as long as Kerrigan is still a better leader than her in her eyes, she'll remain obedient and indisputably loyal to her. [[spoiler:In ''Legacy of the Void'', when Kerrigan is about to become a Xel'naga, Zagara admitted that she was honored to have served her, with a regretful tone. She assured Kerrigan that she would remember her lessons.]]
* WeaponOfChoice: She prefers prolific usage of banelings, and to a lesser degree, aberrations. The two units are the ones her mission chain introduces, aberrations spawned banelings on death in earlier versions of the game, and banelings fit with Zagara's limited understanding of tactics: mutate lots of BoringYetPractical suicidal units and send them at the enemy in massive numbers. In Co-op Missions, her abilities focus on her being even better at it by giving her Swarmlings (more zerglings = more banelings), giving her an ability that launches banelings at a target point, upgrading aberrations to spawn banelings on death, and upgrading her baneling nests to periodically spawn banelings.
* WrongGenreSavvy: When Kerrigan teams up with Raynor's Raiders to [[spoiler:save Raynor]], Zagara believes her Queen is just [[ManipulativeBastard tricking the Terrans to better defeat them on a long term]]. This would be completely in-character for Kerrigan's original Queen of Blade personna. Not so much for her current self.
* YouAreInCommandNow: [[spoiler:At the end of ''Legacy of the Void'', she takes control of the Swarm once Kerrigan becomes a Xel'naga.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Niadra]]

-> '''Voiced by:''' Courtenay Taylor

-->"[[CatchPhrase I am Niadra!]]"

A newborn broodmother created by Kerrigan to infiltrate, destroy and infest a Protoss vessel.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* TheCorruption: Can infest other units and take control of them.
* {{Expy}}: Ever wanted to play a video game based on the first Franchise/{{Alien}} movie as the Alien? Niadra's your gal.
* FromNobodyToNightmare: From larvae to broodmother that infests a Protoss craft.
* ObsessedWithFood: She is very enthusiastic about consuming biomass. Justified as she's newly grown and needs the energy to feed her rapidly maturing body.
* ParentalAbandonment: [[spoiler:With the Protoss eradicated she calls to Kerrigan and receives no answer, realizing she and her brood have been left behind with their purpose fulfilled]].
* SpawnBroodling: Can create fast-hatching Zerglings, Hydralisks and Roaches. In mere seconds she can have an army at her heel.
* TookALevelInBadass: The entire point of her mission is to grow from a single larvae into a broodmother that can crush the Protoss. And she does just that.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: [[spoiler:She's never mentioned again after her mission ends, not even in ''Legacy of the Void''.]]
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: [[spoiler:After she infests the ship and destroys the Protoss, Kerrigan abandons her with no other orders. Niadra takes it in stride though, and vows to fulfill her given mission -- kill Protoss -- and expand her brood [[ChekhovsGunman until one day Kerrigan has use of her again]]]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Packleaders]]
In contrast with the Swarm, the Primal Zerg on Zerus operate in Packs that constantly fight and devour each other to become stronger. The Packleaders are the strongest, and as such are recognized by weaker Primal Zerg as their leaders. They oppose Kerrigan on general principle, calling her Swarm "corrupted."

!!Tropes applying to all of them:

* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Brakk is the smallest of them, and he is ''Ultralisk-sized''.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: This is how they became leaders in the first place.
* BossBattle: Of the RPG type, rather than the RTS type, complete with attack patterns and dodging. Except Brakk who is fought normally.
* EldritchAbomination: All of them (except Brakk) have ended up becoming this through millennia of evolution. They're vaguely recognizable as being related to Zerg base strains, but they are heavily mutated.
* FlunkyBoss: All of them can spawn Primal Zergs to defend themselves in the fight.
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Kerrigan kills and consumes all of them by the end of the Zerus missions]].
* KingMook: They all resemble giant, mutated versions of base strains. Brakk is an Ultralisk, Yagdra is an Ash Worm, Kraith is a mitoscarab, and Slivan is a Swarm Host.
* TheSocialDarwinist: Zerg fights Zerg, whoever wins absorbs the essence of the loser and grows stronger, and the strongest rule the packs. That's just how Zerus is.
* TimeAbyss: While they all look different and have different abilities, one thing in common is that they are all old, as primal zerg don't age provided they consume.

!Brakk
[[quoteright:152:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/brakk_sc2-hots_head1_2279.jpg]]
-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/JimWard

-->"Brakk speaks now! You intrude on my territory, corrupt zerg! We will devour your flesh!"

One of the Primal Zerg leaders on Zerus who first opposes Kerrigan when she tries to awaken Zurvan. Though he is defeated by the end of the mission, his horde continues fighting her later.
----
!!Provides examples of:

* DumbMuscle: He frankly didn't seem to be very intelligent for a pack leader. Justified in that he wasn't that powerful compared to later ones.
* FantasticRacism: Towards the Swarm, as mentioned below.
* HulkSpeak: He clearly wasn't the smartest of the Primal Zerg packleaders.
* LargeAndInCharge: Common for the pack leaders. Though compared to the ones you meet later in the game, he sure wasn't the biggest.
* MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch: Proudly proclaims himself and his forces superior to the "corrupted" Zerg of the Swarm.

!Yagdra
[[quoteright:152:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/yagdra_sc2-hots_head1_3394.jpg]]
The second Packleader to oppose Kerrigan. A Worm-like creatures, he has the ability to dig underground and spit acid. He is first introduced when he tries to fight the Swarm and the remnants of Brakk's tribe at the same time.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* BreathWeapon: He can breath a fire-like acid.
* ChekhovsGunman: He initially appears briefly as he sends his Pack to consume Braak's and tries to prevent [[spoiler:Kerrigan's mutation into a Primal Zerg]]. The next mission, he is one of the bosses you have to fight.
* GetBackHereBoss: He has the ability to dig underground in order to escape. [[FlunkyBoss He also leaves eggs behind to keep you busy]].
* HandicappedBadass: One of his arms is skeletal, held together with only a few remaining tendons.
* OhCrap: He basically has this reaction when he realizes Kerrigan has come for him.
-->'''Yagdra''': The Queen of the Broken Pack? [[BigNo No]]!\\
'''Kerrigan''': Is that fear, Yagdra? You ''do'' know you never had a chance, right?\\
'''Yagdra''': [[BelievingTheirOwnLies Your change means nothing]]! I will melt the flesh from your bones!
* TunnelKing: He's the only pack leader who can burrow underground.

!Kraith
[[quoteright:170:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kraith-206288-full_43.jpeg]]
-->"I feel your strength...You will be worth killing, worth the blood!"

The third Packleader to be introduced. The least intelligent of the Packleaders, Kraith is described by Zurvan as "mindless, consumed by hatred."

----
!!Provides examples of:

* TheBerserker: His only tactic is to rush at you without thinking.
* BeTheBall: An intended attack of his was to curl into a ball and roll around, but it was cut during development.
* BloodKnight: Doesn't seem to care about getting hurt, as long as he's fighting.
* BullfightBoss
* TheBrute: He's a mindless, hateful creature who will just charge at you and try to crush you without much thinking.
* DumbMuscle: Even stupider than Brakk, it seems.
* HulkSpeak: Averted. Despite being dumber than Brakk, he's slightly more eloquent.
* LeeroyJenkins: His main tactic is to charge right at you.

!Slivan the Eternal Mother
[[quoteright:152:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/slivan_sc2-hots_head1_2742.jpg]]
-->"More! There must be more!"

The fourth Packleader to appear. Basically a giant swarm host, Slivan has the ability to spawn armies of Creepers (essentially primal Banelings) to attack her enemies.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* MookMaker: All Packleaders (minus Braak) have an ability to spawn mooks, but she's the only one to actually make it her main move.
* OneBadMother: Definitely, seeing how her children ''[[SuicideAttack blow themselves up to protect her]]''.
* TheSmurfettePrinciple: The only one amongst the Packleaders to be referred as female.
* WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer: She has an acid breath attack she uses rarely, but mostly her "strategy" when fought is to just run around the arena shedding Creepers for you to fight. Considering, again, Creepers are essentially primal Banelings, this is perfectly effective since one wrong move can result in the obliteration of your entire army in a burst of green acid.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Dehaka]]
[[quoteright:196:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Starcraft_-_Dehaka_7437.png]]

-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/SteveBlum

A Primal Zerg leader from Zerus who willingly joins Kerrigan, hoping she will help him to get more '''''ESSENCE''''' to collect.

----
!!Provies examples of:

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: Although he's not as obsessed with power as the other packleaders, he's still strong enough to lead is own pack. [[spoiler:As the other packs joined the swarm after their respective leaders death, it's possible that Dehaka serves as the leader of the whole primal zerg within the zerg swarm.]]
* BadassBeard: [[NonMammalianHair For some reason]], he's apparently evolved a goatee somewhere along the line.
* TheBigGuy: He has no hive mind connection and thus cannot take advantage of the Zerg's unique upgrades, nor does he have psionic skills. What he does have is finely evolved traits like powerful legs to leap and massive claws to rip apart enemies.
* BoldInflation: [[SelfDemonstratingArticle His. Entire.]] ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLyMnqPnncU Dialogue]].'' ''[[SelfDemonstratingArticle Especially]]''. [[SelfDemonstratingArticle The word]]. '''''[[BoldInflation ESSENCE]]'''''.
* ChekhovsGunman:
** He just hangs around on the Leviathan as someone to talk to after joining, neither he or his pack taking an active stance in things. That is until Kerrigan [[spoiler:assaults Korhal and finds they have a Psi Destroyer which destroys any Zerg in its range of effect via their psionic hive mind]]. Hm, now where are we going to find some Zerg without a connection to the hive mind....heeey!
** Prior to him appearing in person to Kerrigan, he shows up in two levels as a "Strange Creature". Given that Blizzard is known for putting in easter eggs, especially ones in inaccessible places or runs off immediately, most people probably wrote him off as a in-joke. Several Missions later, the above happens.
* FashionableAsymmetry: Sort of. As you can easily see whilst he's hanging around the Leviathan, his large right arm has been severed (and you can actually find it as an EasterEgg in one mission) but he still has a much smaller arm on that side. However, he's supposed to have always had four arms, one large pair and one small pair -- however, he's lost his large right arm and his left small arm. If you click on him enough, he expresses bafflement as to why his biology hasn't evolved him a new arm yet. Also, one tusk is half-broken and the other one is whole.
* GeneticAdaptation: Champions this as the strength of the Zerg, the ability to evolve and adapt to combat any enemy and survive any weapon or environment. When Kerrigan questions his distaste for a Terran base's design, Dehaka boasts he does not need technology to make walls and weapons to defend himself, he can evolve armor and claws.
* GeniusBruiser: Despite his speech patterns and obsession with '''''ESSENCE''''', Dehaka tends to wax philosophical and can be eloquent when he wants to.
--> '''Kerrigan''': Do you think the remaining Packleaders will join me now?\\
'''Dehaka''': They are a rock, a tree, a hill. They will stand against the wind. They seek power.\\
'''Kerrigan''': And you?\\
'''Dehaka''': I am a river. I will flow. I seek '''''ESSENCE'''''.
* GlassCannon: He has less health than Kerrigan, and his melee attacks put him at point blank range. However, his damage output is higher than hers, and he triple it by creating a pair of CannonFodder spawn.
* HandicappedBadass: He's missing his right arm[[note]]which can be found in a mission and is noted to be still bleeding profusely[[/note]], but he's still the leader of his pack and a hero unit with appropriate levels of power.
* IFightForTheStrongestSide: He makes this clear to Kerrigan when he joins her, he's only with her because she is strong and will defeat many enemies, so he sides with her to take part and absorb more '''''ESSENCE'''''. Kerrigan lampshades that she's had shakier allies, and asks a couple times if he's considering leaving to join an apparently superior foe.
* MesACrowd: One of his abilities consist of him spawning smaller versions of himself.
* MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily: Has this opinion of himself, according to one StopPokingMe quote.
-->'''Dehaka''': All these teeth! [[CrowningMomentOfFunny I will evolve a toothbrush.]]
* MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch: Unlike the other Primal Zerg Packleaders, he choses to join Kerrigan right ahead rather than fight them when [[spoiler:it appears she's gaining in power]]. It is implied that he did so at great risk as his arm can be found and it's still bleeding.
* NoSell: Due to lacking a connection to the Swarm Zerg's Hive Mind, he is completely immune to any attack targeting it. [[spoiler:That makes him a key element to destroy Mengsk's Psi Destroyer.]]
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Comes with being a Primal Zerg.
* TheSocialDarwinist: As with the other pack leaders.
* WorthyOpponent: Primal zerg seek this as part of their nature, but Dehaka talks about it a lot. When Kerrigan talks about terrans, Dehaka mentions he'll consume their '''''ESSENCE''''' and discover them himself if they are worthy.
* YourSizeMayVary: He's a lot bigger in when used in Death From Above than when he appears in the Leviathan.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Zurvan/The Ancient One]]
[[quoteright:334:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the-crucible-leviathan-scenes-starcraft-ii-heart-of-the-swarm-single-player-3_8144.jpg]]
-->"[[SocialDarwinist We shall be devoured and become stronger;]] [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy that is the Zerg inheritance]]."

-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/FrankWelker

An ancient and powerful Zerg sleeping on Zerus. Under the advice of Zeratul, Kerrigan re-awakens him so he can guide her in getting the power of Zerus for herself. After being awoken, he acted as a guide to her, provided her with informations about the Zerg's history and inheritance, and helped her to acquire the power of Zerus.

----
!!Provies examples of:

* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: His ''head'' alone is building-sized. Even the other pack leaders are puny by comparison.
* BecauseDestinySaysSo: In an odd sense. [[spoiler:Given that consuming other beings is what Zerg are meant to do, he seems to be of the opinion that fighting each other and devouring the loser's essence is the destiny of all Zerg.]]
* BigEater: You wake this guy up with food.
* BreathWeapon: [[spoiler:His DesperationAttack is to exhale a cone of lightning.]]
* CombatTentacles: [[spoiler:Strikes with his limbs from behind in battle.]]
* EldritchAbomination: An ancient and powerful Zerg who remembers the creation of the Overmind, older than any existing Zerg save for perhaps Abathur, and so evolved and primal that his base breed is unrecognizable.
* EvilSoundsDeep: With PowerEchoes for good measure.
* {{Expy}}: In-game, he's like Belial of ''VideoGame/DiabloIII''. WordOfGod also admits his final design looks like [[WesternAnimation/MonstersInc Mr. Waternoose]].
* GracefulLoser: [[spoiler:He is of the opinion that it is natural that he and Kerrigan will fight to prove their power and the winner will consume the loser and grow stronger, and if he loses and is absorbed, it's just how things are.]]
* TheMentor: Sort of acts like one to Kerrigan, teaching her about the Zerg inheritance and helping her to [[spoiler:become a Primal Zerg]].
* MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily
* MrExposition: He conveys a lot of information on the nature of Zerg, Amon's influence on them, and how Kerrigan can control the planet.
* MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch: While he does acknowledges the Swarm Zerg's "corruption" like other Primal Zerg, he doesn't become hostile on sight and explains Kerrigan how to get stronger rather than just try to kill her.
* PivotalBoss
* TheSocialDarwinist: Like Dehaka, he sees such as the way of life for Primal Zerg. [[spoiler:It's how he rationalizes fighting Kerrigan.]]
* TheStarscream: [[spoiler:A very weird exemple; he helped Kerrigan only so she would grow strong enough for him to consume after she would be done with the Packleaders, but he does it more in a case of BlueAndOrangeMorality than out of treachery, and Kerrigan isn't the least bit surprised by it. When asked by her if he knew that would happen, Dehaka pretty much answers he did but didn't bother telling to Kerrigan because Primal Zerg consider such an attitude normal.]]
* TimeAbyss: His age is never specifically stated, but he's the oldest primal zerg alive, old enough to witness the birth of the Overmind and remember the Xel'Naga, and it's been mentioned some of them are million years old.
* TopHeavyGuy: A variation. He's massive, but his rear legs are disproportionally small compared to his arms and head, though he's sitting on an even bigger mass of tentacles.
* TurnsRed: Inverted. He will change his attack pattern when brought to low health, but the fight itself actually becomes easier when it happens, as he stops summoning aids (who can be quite deadly if not dealt with as quickly as possible) and starts blasting you with an easily avoided BreathWeapon.
[[/folder]]

!!Protoss

[[folder:Expedition Leader]]
-> '''Voiced by:''' Jamison Price

The leader of a Protoss scientific expedition on Kaldir. When Kerrigan arrives, he is determined to call Shakuras to inform them of her presence.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* ArcVillain: He's the villain of the Kaldir missions.
* DidntThinkThisThrough: Despite the fact (according to Lasarra) the Protoss force he leads isn't a military force, he still engages Kerrigan in open combat. Additionally, if you do the Zerus missions first, he resolves to contact Shakuras because Kerrigan came to Kaldir apparently without much of her swarm; this assumes that the Golden Armada could reach Kaldir before Kerrigan's forces do, which is unlikely.
* GeneralFailure: His various plans to contact Shakuras are smart in concept, but terribly executed. When Lassara tells Kerrigan their expedition isn't a militia force, it's believable.
* HeroAntagonist: He's just trying to get his people to safety and contact the bulk of the Protoss to let them know their archenemy and one of the most dangerous beings in the sector has been depowered and is vulnerable.
* PoorCommunicationKills: Kerrigan merely came to Kaldir to collect more Zerg she could use to fight Mengsk, and frankly didn't care about fighting the Protoss anymore by this point. Had they been able to clarify this point, she probably would have been fine with letting his group go if they agreed to not call the Golden Armada to kill her; sadly, her reputation as TheDreaded and a ManipulativeBitch pretty much destroyed any chance of him listening to her, leaving violence as the only option for both of them.
* TheUnfought: He's apparently killed when Niadra conquers the protoss ark ship, but isn't fought as a unit.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Lassara]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Lessara_SC2_DevGame1_-_Copy_2412.jpg]]

-> '''Voiced by:''' Courtenay Taylor

A member of the Kaldir scientists Kerrigan abducts during her passage on Kaldir. Initially antagonistic toward her captor, Lassara essentially reminds Kerrigan of her past as the Queen of Blades.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* ChestBurster: [[spoiler:Her final fate in the released game.]]
* DemotedToExtra: In earlier versions of the game she was to be initially hostile to Kerrigan, remembering all she did as the Queen of Blades, but seeing Kerrigan show mercy to the other colonists softened her and she began to speak more familiar and openly to her. This entire subplot was dropped from the final game and Lassara is little more than a Protoss to talk two for all of two missions.
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: Dies at the end of her three-mission chain.]]
* MoralityPet: Tries to act as one, telling Kerrigan that they're peaceful colonists that she could let live, leave the moon now that she has what she wants. Kerrigan can't do that though because she knows they'll contact Shakuras and bring the fleet down on her if they find out she's de-powered, and fleeing will just encourage them to chase her. By the end, Lassara stops trying.
* TheyWouldCutYouUp: The only reason Lessara is even kept alive after the first mission was that Abathur was hoping to use her biomass. When Kerrigan points out protoss DNA is incompatible, Izsha remarks that Abathur wanted to try anyway.
* WhatTheHellHero: Calls out Kerrigan to killing the entire Protoss colony of non-combat researchers to save her own life. Kerrigan [[ShutUpHannibal replies the Protoss have killed millions of Zerg and neither of them has any moral high ground here]].
[[/folder]]

!Introduced in ''VideoGame/StarcraftIILegacyOfTheVoid''
!!Protoss

[[folder:Talis]]
[[quoteright:152:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/talis_sc2_lotv_head1.png]]
-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/MaryElizabethMcGlynn

A praetor leading a fleet investigating the Moebius Foundation. She is Zeratul's aide in ''Whispers of Oblivion''.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* EarlyBirdCameo: She's an Adept, a unit that will be introduced in the multiplayer of the campaign.
* {{Expy}}: Pretty much the equivalent of Karass from ''Wings of Liberty''.
* FantasticRacism: If her dialogue is any indication, she doesn't hold Terrans in very high regard. Or the Zerg. Or the Tal'darim, for that matter.
* HeroicSacrifice: She stays behind to hold off the Tal'darim until Zeratul escapes.
* TheLancer: Zeratul's companion and ally in the campaign.
* YouShallNotPass: Last seen holding off the Tal'darim as Zeratul flees.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Ma'lash]]
[[quoteright:152:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/malash_sc2_lotv_head1.png]]
-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/NeilKaplan

The Tal'darim Highlord, first introduced in ''Whisper of Oblivion'' as operating a shrine of Amon. He is the leader of all Tal'darim.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* AdvertisedExtra: The advertised part is {{downplayed}}, but despite the facts he is the Highlord of the Tal'darim and TheDreaded, he gets a surprisingly small role in ''Legacy of the Void'', only appearing in two cutscenes (In ''Whispers of Oblivion'') and one mission. Contrast him with Moebius Corps leader and fellow Amon-worshipper [[spoiler: Narud]] that has a more relevant role in the first two games of the trilogy, [[spoiler: his role in the prequel notwithstanding]].
* ArcVillain: Of the ''Whispers of Oblivion'' prologue and the Tal'darim questline in the campaign.
* {{Badass}}: According to Alarak, he was challenged countless times for his title, and defeated every single of his opponents. He has such a reputation as a badass, Tal'darim believe him to have been blessed by Amon, hence his RedBaron alias.
* DisneyVillainDeath: [[spoiler:Eventually dies at the hand of Alarak in Rak'Shir, resulting in him falling to his death in a sacrificial pit.]]
* TheDragon: His rank as "Highlord" designates him as the Tal'Darim leader, which makes him Amon's general and right-hand.
* TheDreaded: Zeratul pretty much ''knows'' things are bad the moment he is informed the Tal'darim Highlord is here in ''Whisper of Oblivion''. Later in ''Legacy of the Void'', Alarak confirms he has a fearsome reputation even among his people.
* EvilSorcerer: He's a High Templar and prefers to fight with psionic blasts and other energy attacks, wielding no hand-to-hand weapons.
* {{Expy}}: He's the Tal'Darim Executor version 2.0, spouting the same type of taunts and boasts and filling a similar role in the story.
* FaceDeathWithDignity: [[spoiler:As Alarak pushes him to the edge of the Pit of Sacrifice, his final words are a warning that Amon has already won and Alarak will lead the Tal'darim to their death.]]
* HiddenEyes: His modified High Templar armor covers his eyes.
* {{Hypocrite}}: He spreads the word that Amon will ascend the strongest of the Tal'darim into hybrids, when he knows it's not true, according to the short story "Ascension". Ma'lash keeps Amon's intent to KillEmAll ([[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness Tal'darim included]]) a secret.
* InformedAttribute: He's spoken of as a ruthless and powerful warrior who has felled dozens of challengers in Rak'Shir, and operates as a cruel and calculating warlord over the other Tal'darim. While he definitely is evil, he has too little screentime to actually see him display his cruelty, and the one mission he is seen fighting is his duel against Alarak, where the two of them are equally powerful and you are forbidden from taking directly part in the fight. Granted, Alarak ''is'' shown later on to be a formidable fighter and a OneManArmy, so the fact Ma'lash could go toe-to-toe with him suggest he was indeed very powerful.
* MalevolentMaskedMan: His armor includes a mask that conceals his upper face.
* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: As with the other Tal'Darim he wears black armor with red psionics.
* RedBaron: He is known as "Amon's Blade" among the Tal'darim.
* TrappedInVillainy: [[spoiler:His final words imply he knew Amon intends to invoke YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness on the Tal'darim, but Amon is so powerful and his plans so close to completion, that Ma'lash saw no point to rebelling.]]
* VillainExitStageLeft: When Zeratul reaches the altar in his temple, he warps out.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Alarak]]
[[quoteright:347:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alarak_blizzcon_art2.jpg]]
-> "Amon has betrayed my people. Retribution will be claimed for this, and if your Hierarch survives, he will aid in it."

-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/JohnDeLancie

First Ascendant of the Tal'darim and their field commander. Upon learning the truth about Amon's motives, he betrays him and allies with Artanis, eventually overthrowing Ma'lash as the Highlord.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* ALighterShadeOfBlack: For all his flaws, he's still a better leader than Ma'lash.
* {{Badass}}: He's a very powerful combatant: as a hero unit he's virtually invincible thanks to his LifeDrain passive and powerful damaging abilities, and [[spoiler:he's equal in power to Ma'lash, the leader of the Tal'darim, which by their customs we know means the two are the most powerful of ''all'' Tal'darim.]]
* BloodKnight: There's little that makes him happier than killing.
* BlownAcrossTheRoom: If Alarak brings his psionic abilities to bear in combat, someone's probably going to go flying, as demonstrated against Vorazun and a hapless Zealot. His hero unit has an ability that blows away everything in front of him that isn't anchored to the ground.
* BreakoutCharacter: Initially one of several "generals" that advised and aided Artanis in ''Legacy of the Void'', he proved very popular due to his badassery and snarky {{Troll}} behavior, the latter helped by John de Lancie's voice acting. He since appeared in ''Heroes of the Storm'', was added to ''Co-op'' as a commander, was one of the first two voice packs announced for purchase by streamers, and [[spoiler:returns in the main story in ''Covert Ops'' aiding Nova.]] Blizzard even acknowledged his popularity as the reason why he's in ''Co-op'':
-->"When we were deciding on who we’d introduce as the next Co-op Commander, the choice seemed to be clear: the community wanted Alarak, and they wanted him now."
* BringIt: Goes hand-in-hand with his personality, against anyone that would oppose him.
--> '''Alarak:''' Highlord, hear me! I invoke the rite of Rak'Shir. Fight me according to our laws, or die a coward! \\
\\
'''Alarak:''' [[spoiler: So, Amon intends to lay siege from all directions. Step forth, Dark One, and face Alarak, Highlord of the Tal'Darim!]]
* BrutalHonesty: He makes no apologies for any of his opinions, and has no problem telling the other Protoss around him that he thinks they're idealistic morons.
* CardCarryingVillain: He is totally up front about his intentions with everyone, since they begrudgingly need his help. When asked about his people's freedom from Amon, he clarified that they simply switched masters, and completely forgot that the other Protoss were his ''allies'', not his slaves, during his ritual duel. The fact that he completely ignored Artanis during the latter's "ahem" moment is just the icing on the cake.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: He rose to the rank of First Ascendant not by killing those above him, but by convincing those ranked above him to challenge those ranked even higher. Regardless of who won, someone higher in rank than Alarak died and he moved up the chain accordingly. His final play is in the short story "Ascension," where he takes advantage of a Rak'Shir between the First, Second, and Third Ascendants, against Ma'lash, to ensure the former all died and he moved up from Fourth to First in the aftermath. [[spoiler:Then, during the game, he uses the Daelaam to usurp Ma'lash and become Highlord. He doesn't betray them, he just voluntarily leaves them]].
* CurbStompBattle: Delivers one to Vorazun when he breaks into the Spear of Adun when she mistakes him for an enemy.
* DeadpanSnarker: He's constantly making dry jokes at the expense of others, usually Artanis and Vorazun.
* DefectorFromDecadence: He betrays Ma'lash when he learns Amon's [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness true plans]] for the Tal'darim.
* DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu: He is not at all shy about letting everyone know that Amon betrayed the Tal'darim, and that he intends to make him pay for it. [[spoiler: A line of his in the final mission of the main campaign has him flat-out ''daring'' Amon to face him.]]
* {{Expy}}: He (and the Tal'darim as a whole as of ''Legacy'') are essentially the [[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer40000}} Dark Eldar]]. Sadistic? Yes. Spiked black armor? Check. Heretical faction of his race? Indeed. Imbibes in a drug to power up and commune with his dark god? Oh yes. They are also very much like how the Sith are characterised in the Star Wars Expanded Universe.
* TheDragon: He's the second-highest ranked Tal'darim, behind Ma'lash, and in charge of the fleet while he remains on Slayn.
* DragonWithAnAgenda: Becomes one [[spoiler:when he figures out the full extent of Amon's plans and decides to usurp Ma'lash.]]
* EnemyMine:
** In ''Legacy of The Void'', he forms an alliance with the Tal'darim's mortal enemies, the Daelaam Protoss, to get vengeance on Amon, in return offering the end of hostilities between their peoples.
** In ''Covert Ops'' he offers to help Nova recover her memories and defeat the Defenders of Man because they ambushed a Tal'darim outpost. Not that this stops him from having Ji'nara compete with her for Terrazine to weed out the weaklings in his forces. Befitting the Tal'darim's culture, these types of challenges are typical.
* EvilOverlord: Becomes the new Highlord of the Tal'darim after [[spoiler:killing Ma'lash]].
* {{Foil}}: Alarak is cynical, disrespectful, and [[ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer intensely pragmatic]] when it comes to dealing with enemies or potential enemies. Contrast with Artanis's idealism, respect towards others, and eagerness for diplomacy. Even their armor contrasts: ShouldersOfDoom, a waist cape, and two prongs jutting up from their backs. While Artanis's helmet covers the top half of his head, Alarak's covers the bottom.
* FrontlineGeneral: ''Literally.'' His troops occupy the center during the final battle, and being on the front lines means his troops take the brunt of Amon's assault. Being a BloodKnight, this is just how Alarak wants it.
* GeniusBruiser: He's not only a very powerful combatant, but a smart and calculating schemer. While he rose to the rank of First Ascendant mostly by plotting and manipulating others to avoid getting his hands dirty, his ability to match Ma'lash in battle proves he could have just fought his way up the chain if he wanted to.
* HeroicComedicSociopath: After he joins Artanis. A good chunk of humor comes from the fact he keeps thinking, acting and speaking like an EvilOverlord despite being technically on the side of good.
* IGaveMyWord: For all of his ruthless ways, [[spoiler: he actually upholds his end of the bargain regarding taking the Tal'darim out of the conflict and siding with the Daelaam against Amon.]]
* JerkassHasAPoint: As much as he is an advocate for violence and ruthlessness, he is right to point out that Artanis's optimism is dangerous, and that they cannot expect to save everyone. [[spoiler:This proves very prudent during the final defense of the Keystone, that as much as Artanis wanted to save the possessed templar, the Daelaam had to kill off a number of their brethren in defense, which was a rather painful choice]].
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Very arrogant, [[{{Troll}} constantly annoys his allies ]](especially Artanis and Vorazun), power-hungry, ruthless, and likes to state solutions ([[spoiler:like exterminating the mind-controlled Protoss from orbit rather than trying to free them]]) that are considered immoral by the others. However, he always upholds his end of a bargain ([[spoiler: like taking the Tal'darim out of the End War and leaving the Daelaam alone after they defeat Amon]]) and cares about his people (see his PetTheDog entry for more).
* LaughablyEvil: As a snarky, [[BrutalHonesty brutally honest]], NobleDemon {{Troll}} voiced by John De Lancie, it's impossible not to laugh with him.
* LifeDrain: One of his passive hero abilities absorbs the essence of fallen enemies to heal him.
* LoopHoleAbuse: How he became the First Ascendant. When he was the Fourth Ascendant he got roped into a Rak'Shir with Ma'lash and the top four highest ranking Ascendants (himself included), he avoided declaring allegiance to either the then Nuroka First Ascendant or Ma'lash and attacked the subordinate Ascendants of both before finally declaring his allegiance to Ma'lash and killing the Nuroka (whom had earlier provoked him into pulling out his blades outside Rak'Shir, a death sentence against a superior). It's customary to declare allegiance at the start of a Rak'Shir, but not mandatory, till then there was no laws about who he could attack.
** Also how he became Fourth Ascendant. When someone dies in the Chain of Ascension, everyone below them is promoted until the gaps are filled whether or not they participated in Rak'Shir. He set up a previous Rak'Shir so that many of his superiors would participate and then sat it out.
* MightMakesRight: A firm believer in this, since the Tal'darim champion the ideology of AsskickingEqualsAuthority. He repeatedly says that some Tal'darim question what he's doing, but he doesn't care: they obey him because he's their leader, and that's all that matters to him or them.
* NominalHero: Every thing about him screams that he's an enemy who you should be fighting (and you do actually fight him in one early mission). But he's willing to take the Tal'darim out of the war if Artanis helps him kill Ma'lash, so he's tolerated (barely).
* NobleDemon: For all of his posturing and self-admitted lack of respect for freedom as a concept, he does care about his people.
* NoSell: In his introductory cutscene, Vorazun traps him in a force field, which he shatters as soon as it becomes inconveneint for him.
* NotInThisForYourRevolution:
** He doesn't give a crap about Artanis' cause and aspirations to rebuild the Protoss society or his goal to save their people. However, he ''does'' want to [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge make Amon pay in the most violent way possible]], so they have a common enemy.
** In the short story "Ascension," he feels pretty much the same way about the Tal'darim and their worship of Amon. He knows which traditions of theirs are only traditions and thus can be broken, and the ones that are religious doctrine, he finds loopholes to get around them. While other Tal'darim see the Chain of Ascension as a sacred rite, Alarak just sees it as a game he can play to get more power and influence for himself.
* OneManArmy: In addition to his normal attacks being strong, he has an area-of-effect ability that deals 50 damage to all enemies across a large area, has a single-target high-damage Charge ability, and has a passive LifeDrain ability that heals him every time something dies near him. When you take control of him in a mission, with good micro it's possible to solo his part of the mission (save for sections where you're forced to use Vorazun instead). His one weakness is that he can't attack air units, but his area-of-effect ability can so that works out to a minor inconvenience.
* PetTheDog: Surprisingly, he gets one [[spoiler:in the epilogue]]: when [[spoiler:deciding to create his own society rather than join Protoss society, he allows those among the Tal'darim who disagree one chance to join the Templars instead]]. Considering he pretty much stated he considered his minions as slaves at the beginning of the game, this is quite impressive.
* PreMortemOneLiner: Drops one on [[spoiler:Ma'lash, right when he is about to win Rak'Shir]].
--> '''Ma'lash:''' Our master has already won, Alarak. You will [[spoiler:lead our people to their doom.]]
--> '''Alarak:''' You're right about one thing, Ma'lash. [[spoiler:I ''will'' lead them.]]
* {{Pride}}: Sweet mercy, '''YES'''. Artanis repeatedly lampshades he's far too arrogant and cocky for his own good, but Alarak ignores him.
* RageAgainstTheHeavens: In his eyes, he plans to destroy his former god for lying to his people about their purpose.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure:
** Sure, he may be ruthless, bloodthirsty, and power-hungry (so are all the other Tal'darim), but he's not a crazy fanatic like Ma'lash.
** During the Defenders of Man conflict, even though Nova interfered with his forces, he isn't mad and knows she and the Dominion aren't as bad as the Defenders. If anything, he recognizes that Nova doesn't like the Defenders any more than he does, and felt it would be more beneficial for them to cooperate against them.
* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: Like all Tal'darim, he has black armor with red psionics. [[spoiler:Subverted when he turns out to be a fairly reasonable, if brutal and violent, warrior, and performs a HeelFaceTurn along with the rest of the Tal'darim.]]
* RedOniBlueOni: The snarky, arrogant and bloodthirsty Red to Artanis' respectful, humble and calm Blue.
* ReformedButRejected: Inverted. [[spoiler:At the end of ''Legacy of the Void'', the Tal'darim are welcomed by the Daelaam thanks to their HeelFaceTurn, but Alarak chooses to take them away from Aiur to seek their own civilization again. His subjects, however, are allowed one choice to join the Daelaam, but they are not allowed to reconsider later.]]
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Happens in "Salvation" if you let his base be overrun.
-->'''Alarak''': "I have no intention to die for this cause, Artanis!"
* ShootTheDog: Alarak thinks it's easier if Artanis just puts the corrupted Khalai Templar out of their misery than the far more complex solution of trying to free them from Amon's control. [[spoiler:Talandar]] and Artanis are not amused by this.
* SnarkToSnarkCombat: With Vorazun.
* TheStarscream: He intends to kill and usurp Ma'lash as the new Highlord with Artanis' help so he can then lead the Tal'darim against Amon. [[spoiler:He succeeds.]]
* TheFriendNobodyLikes: He's only around for his own motivations, and while he is helpful, most of Artanis's other allies either expect a betrayal, or think that war will result after Amon is defeated.
* TokenEvilTeammate: The only reason he's among the honorable Protoss alliance is because he desires exacting vengeance on Amon in the most bloodthirsty way possible. In the meantime he's an EvilOverlord who is still violent, cruel, and self-interested.
* TranquilFury: ''Barely''. When you speak to him on the ''Spear of Adun'' he mostly stays calm, but in missions where he fights, he lets loose his rage with hammy shouts and merciless bloodshed. [[spoiler:His entire campaign against Amon is basically a RoaringRampageOfRevenge for betraying the Tal'darim.]]
* {{Troll}}:
** He's constantly annoying Artanis and everyone else for his own amusement. [[spoiler:His first mission has Artanis kill four other Ascendants for him. While Alarak gives the flimsy justification later that they would have aided Ma'lash in their duel and challenged Alarak's reign when he won, he admits the main reason he told Artanis they had to be eliminated is because he just wanted to see them die. After becoming leader of the Tal'darim, he entertains the idea of fully allying with Artanis, on the condition that they submit to his rule of course.]]
** In the short story "Ascension," when the then-First Ascendant Nuroka duels Ma'lash in Rak'Shir, Alarak lends Nuroka his power and Nuroka pushes Ma'lash back to the pit. Then, as Nuroka is about to win, Alarak swiftly declares his allegiance to Ma'lash, switches his power flow to him, and Ma'lash crushes Nuroka easily. Given Alarak's thoughts and conversation afterward, it's clear he was planning to side with Ma'lash all along; siding with Nuroka to let him come close to winning and then pulling the rug from under him was obviously just for the sake of this trope.
* VetinariJobSecurity: How he survived despite Ma'lash seeing how much a threat to his reign he was. The Rak'Shir that elevated Alarak to the First Ascendant left all the other highest ranking Ascendants dead so there was nobody who could take his place.
* ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer: He usually suggests just attacking enemies to kill or subjugate them, rather than waste time trying to find a non-violent resolution.
* VitriolicBestBuds: His relationship with Artanis develops into this. While he is constantly trolling the Hierarch, snarking at him and questioning his idealism, he also has moments where he claims that he enjoys their conversations and [[VillainRespect acknowledges his value]]. He also admits they are NotSoDifferent after hearing [[TranquilFury how Artanis feels about Amon's actions]], and the fact that Artanis can show him backbone.
* VillainRespect: After Artanis proves his mettle repeatedly on the battlefield, Alarak's opinion of him starts to improve.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Karax]]
[[quoteright:308:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/20150727174501a0e5qnqgse4tne01.jpg]]
-> "My expertise is yours."

-> '''Voiced by:''' Travis Willingham

A Phase-smith serving under Artanis aboard the ''Spear of Adun'', he is in charge of the various functions of the ship, and would be recognizable to Terrans as an engineer. As a member of the Khalai caste, he not a warrior like Artanis and his other advisers, but has incomparable technical expertise.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* {{Adorkable}}: He frequently talks in an enthusiastic tone whenever talking about the Spear of Adun and walks in a very funny manner. More evident when seen right next to other Protoss warriors.
* BlingOfWar: Subverted. Contrary to the Templar Protoss who dress in elegant and ceremonial robes and armor, Karax is of the Khalai caste, the engineers and craftsmen. He dresses for function, not aesthetics, and his clothing is much bulkier and crude than the rest of the Protoss seen in the series.
* CreativeSterility: While the Protoss as a whole in the series have had limited technological innovation, Karax proves they are not stagnant by averting this trope personally. Over the course of the campaign he's constantly researching ways to optimize and expand the ''Spear of Adun's'' capabilities, and puts what he's learned doing so to use upgrading Artanis' forces.
* TheEngineer: He is in charge of maintaining and researching the Protoss war machines.
* HeelFaceBrainwashing: He can forcibly take control of robotic units and structures with one of his hero abilities.
* {{Knighting}}: After "Templar's Charge" Artanis [[spoiler: promotes him to a Templar in recognition of his abilities, throwing out all the old caste rules.]]
* NonActionGuy: He's of the Khalai caste, an artisan and technician, not a warrior or leader like the Templar. When he eventually takes the field as a hero unit, his support abilities are his true worth; he can defend himself in a fight, but he isn't suited for a frontal assault. And even then, his normal attack is to have a pair of {{Attack Drone}}s fight for him; Karax himself just directs them. [[spoiler:However, in "Templar's Charge," he proves his worth as a capable strategist and leads the Protoss into a successful battle against Moebius Corps.]]
* ShoutOut: He attaches several robotic arms to himself in order to improve his ability to work with the solar core of the Spear of Adun. Similar to [[Film/SpiderMan2 Dr. Octopus]].
* StatusBuff: His aura not only powers up Protoss buildings, but boosts their speed exponentially as well. Build a gateway, stargate or robotics facility next to him, and they can produce a whole army in seconds.
* TheSmartGuy: Like Swann and Abathur before him, he's your engineer, and he runs the Solar Core in the Spear of Adun.
* TookALevelInBadass: In the beginning of the game, Artanis needs to rescue him so he can power up the ''Spear of Adun''. By the end, he's taking the field as a hero unit and helping to lead Artanis' forces into battle.
* WeirdBeard: A Protoss variation: He has bone-like protrusions coming from the lower part of his face that looks kind of like a beard.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Vorazun]]
[[quoteright:225:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tumblr_inline_neqnnp6p0z1qbhn1g.png]]
-> "Nerazim, ready your blades!

-> '''Voiced by:''' Rachel Robinson

Matriarch of the Dark Templar on Shakuras. Raszagal's daughter.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* ActionGirl: She's a dark templar and has a good arm with a warp scythe. Also the first protoss female to take the field and fight personally, as Selendis pilots a carrier.
* CombatPragmatist: In Co-Op Missions, fittingly for the Matriarch of the Dark Templar. Her abilities overall focus on using cloaked units, disabling the opponent's ability to defend against cloaked units, and generally using sneaky and subversive tactics, culminating in taking down defenseless units by using Time Stop.
* DanceBattler: Her fighting involves a lot of spinning and fluid movements.
* DeadpanSnarker: Does this when communicating with Alarak. Unfortunately, Alarak's tongue is just a hair sharper than hers.
* EnemyMine: She and Artanis are frequent political opponents, but they've buried the hatchet in the face of TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt.
* FantasticRacism: Towards the Tal'darim. Sure, anyone in-universe has just as good a reason as any to hate the Tal'darim, but Vorazun sees them as barbarians and liars.
* FireForgedFriends: She doesn't actually ''dislike'' Artanis, and after he saves her people from extermination, she's his closest ally on the ''Spear of Adun'', and his primary adviser.
* [[AFatherToHisMen A Mother To Her Men]]: She may be a tough cookie sometimes, but Vorazun loves her people.
* FlashStep: Her special ability lets her rapidly warp around the battlefield striking enemies. She also has a variant of the Stalker's Blink ability to teleport around.
* {{Foil}}:
** To Raszagal. Both are fiercely dedicated to their people, but Raszagal was said to be far more accepting of the idea of protoss united under one banner, while Vorazun wasn't as much, mainly because she feared that her culture would diminish and that her people would lose their lives for a cause that she believed didn't involve them (she gets better). Furthermore, their demeanors contrast with each other as well.
** She's also one to Artanis. Artanis is very ideological, whereas Vorazun is quite jaded. Also, while Artanis has a lot of HumbleHero moments and almost cripplingly low self-esteem, Vorazun is very confident and pragmatic.
* HeadbuttingHeroes: Not a fan of [[spoiler: Alarak]], and wonders whether the alliance with the [[spoiler: Tal'Darim will change the Daelaam for the worst.]] When he arrives, Vorazun spends her time in the War Council room to stay away from him. [[spoiler:Ironically, she is teamed up with him during the mission to destroy the Matrix on Aiur.]]
* LadyOfWar: She fights in the traditional manner of the Dark Templar with a double-bladed beam scythe, and she makes it look both graceful and ridiculously deadly.
* TheLancer: To Artanis. She is frequently the second in command whenever the Hierarch goes on solo missions.
* [[LikeFatherUnlikeSon Like Mother Unlike Daughter]]: They both share a striking resemblance in appearance, but Vorazun and Raszagal's personalities are different, something that is constantly lampshaded in the ''Children of the Void'' short story.
* NumberTwo: Once she comes on the ship, it's clear that she's helping Artanis run things.
* PromotedToPlayable: When Artanis [[spoiler: is in danger of being taken by Amon's trap within the Temple of Unification]], Vorazun handles his normal pre-battle duties like adjusting the Solar Core or picking troops in the War Council.
* TakingYouWithMe: Non-suicidal version. [[spoiler:Although it's clear that the Protoss cannot hold Shakuras against Amon's relentless army of Zerg, she and Artanis hatch a plan to destroy the planet after luring as many Zerg there as they can, to kill them all with the planet's destruction. Thankfully, they can warp to avoid getting killed]]
* WhereIWasBornAndRazed: A surprisingly benevolent version. [[spoiler: In the ''Legacy of the Void'' campaign, Amon's zerg had completely overrun Shakuras. Instead of letting it stay that way, Vorazun decided to destroy the planet. She justifies this by saying that Auir was always her people's true home, even if she's never seen it for herself]].
* YouAreInCommandNow: Represents the Nerazim on the Twilight Council [[spoiler: after Mohandar's death]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Rohana]]
[[quoteright:339:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/20150727174729a0e5qnswyq0vcc3d.jpg]]
-> "You dare too much, Artanis. Your youth makes you rash."

-> '''Voiced by:''' Claudia Christian

A Protoss preserver in service to Artanis, she uses her collective knowledge of history to advise him in the campaign. She is the last of the grand preserver sisters, three powerful preservers from the time of Adun; each entered stasis aboard one of the three arkships, and Rohana was the one sealed on the ''Spear of Adun''.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* DemonicPossession: [[spoiler:Amon regularly possesses her to speak to Artanis through her, but unlike other Protoss, she is trained to resist]].
* FantasticRacism: Towards the Terrans. She has no idea why Artanis would bother helping such inferior lifeforms, what with their brutishness and their usage of facial orifices to speak. She likewise doesn't particularly care for the Dark Templar. She gets over the Dark Templar after [[spoiler: they destroy Shakuras to stop the Zerg, and didn't mind having Vorazun with her. Likewise, she begins to accept the Terrans after the mission to Bennett Port.]]
** Considering their past history, she's also heavily prejudiced against the Purifiers. [[spoiler:It takes her a bit longer, but she does eventually get over it after Cybros.]]
* FishOutOfTemporalWater: She's from the time of Adun, and spent the centuries since in stasis aboard the arkship.
* GoingNative: Rohana eventually submits to [[spoiler: Artanis' "heretical" way of thinking.]]
* HeroicWillpower: Amon regularly attempts to take her over. She just regularly fights him off, but the more she peeks into Amon's mind, the harder it becomes to resist.
* IgnoredExpert:
** [[AvertedTrope Averted]] in the lore. She, as well as her sisters, foresaw the fact that the arkships would be needed only when the threat of extinction was imminent, lest they be squandered needlessly in an earlier conflict. The Conclave of the time ''agreed'' with them and sealed the three arkships below Aiur's surface.
** Played straight in the campaign. Much of her advice to Artanis is ignored, or taken with a grain of salt. It's also justified, since she's from a time when cultures and views were very different, and the protoss today are not the people they were in her era.
* ImportantHaircut: Defied. [[spoiler:Despite her nerve cords connecting her to the Khala and thus making her susceptible to Amon's control, she endures it to find ways to use the connection to her advantage. However, she eventually does it once Artanis decides she's learned enough.]]
* MissionControl: Her job during the [[spoiler: reclamation of Aiur]] is to coordinate the Daeelam's various factions and the executors.
* NonActionGuy: For the most part. Her expertise is in history and knowledge. She's shown to have a psi blade handy (all Protoss can ignite one), but it isn't for combat. However, she's the commander on board The Spear of Adun [[spoiler: when Artanis and Vorazun are both on Aiur's surface]] in the last mission of the main campaign of ''Legacy''. [[spoiler: She fights off the entire Golden Armada.]]
* PowerFloats: She levitates rather than walks.
* ProperlyParanoid: She and her sisters advised the arkships be sealed beneath Aiur and used to help the protoss ''after'' a crippling disaster befell them, as if they were available while said disaster was available, the arkships might be lost trying to stop the inevitable. Indeed, if the protoss had used the arkships before ''Legacy of the Void'', they probably would have been destroyed during the zerg invasion.
** An exchange during the campaign between Artanis and Rohana confirms the other two Arkships were destroyed during the Zerg invasion of Aiur, though it's unclear under what circumstances.
* Really700YearsOld: Technically speaking, this is all protoss, but Rohana originally lived in the era when ''Adun'' was alive. Only Raszagal had been that old. Considering that the maximum protoss lifespan is around a thousand years (with some exceptions), she could definitely be considered this. Zigzagged when you consider that her chronological age is unknown, and that she had spent a ''long'' time in stasis (and thus stopped aging).
* SpearCounterpart: To Aldaris early in the campaign then averts this later on.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Kaldalis]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/maxresdefault13.jpg]]
A Zealot, and friend of Artanis, whom volunteers to be part of the first wave of Aiur's invasion force. He is the scarred Zealot from the ''Legacy of the Void'' opening cinematic.

----
!!Provides examples of:
* {{Badass}}: Even when he was last standing soldier in khundelar[[note]]"The tip of the spear" in Khalani; essentially the Forlorn Hope[[/note]] -- something he apparently volunteered to do -- he was fully prepared to kill as many Zerg as he could before reinforcements arrived even if it meant his death.
* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Plays this for Artanis in the ''Reclamation'' animation, when Artanis is plagued by doubts over the logic of retaking Aiur.
* HandicappedBadass: His left eye is scarred over, but he still decides to join what every Protoss realizes is almost a suicide mission, and is the only survivor of his squad.
* OldFriend: Of Artanis.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Standard for all Protoss, but he takes particular glory in the possibility of dying as part of the invasion of Aiur.
* TakingYouWithMe: Appeared to be fully intending to do this with [[spoiler:Amon's]] Zerg when the rest of his squad was killed in the opening cinematic. Averted when back up arrived just in time.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: He doesn't appear in the main campaign at all, with no mention of his fate.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:"Fenix"/ Talandar]]
[[quoteright:299:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/maxresdefault10.jpg]]
-> "[[CallBack It is good to see you]], young Executor!"

-> '''Voiced by:''' Marc Graue

Yes, ''that'' Fenix, the protoss templar from the first game: he's back, [[SubvertedTrope but not really]]. When Artanis goes to an abandoned Conclave research facility that was researching the Purifiers, they find a prototype unit that was uploaded with Fenix's brain scans between the time of his original death and his revival as a dragoon. This robot, with most of the memories of the original Fenix and an identical personality, comes to serve aboard the ''Spear of Adun''.
----
!!Provides examples of:

* {{Badass}}: He does the real Fenix proud as a mighty Templar warrior in his own right.
* TheBigGuy: He is physically the strongest hero in the whole campaign. He can plow through enemies with his sheer strength.
* BladeBelowTheShoulder: He has dual blades mounted on his right wrist.
* BrainUploading: How he was given the original Fenix's memories.
* DivergentCharacterEvolution: His entire character arc is to invoke this: he has Fenix's memories and personality (as well as Dragoon Fenix's general shape), but he is ''not'' Fenix, and over time he comes to accept this and seeks to establish his own legacy separate from the real Fenix. [[spoiler: This is why he eventually chooses a new name, Talandar.]]
* HeadbuttingHeroes: Like Vorazun, he has a difficult time getting along well with [[spoiler: Alarak]] onboard the Spear of Adun, because he does not fully trust the Tal'darim ([[spoiler: promising Artanis that should Alarak betray the Daelaam, Fenix will slay him.]]) and considers Alarak to have a low sense of honor and respect. Unfortunately, this is ''[[DeadpanSnarker Alarak]]'' we're talking about here:
-->'''Alarak''': [[TryToFitThatOnABusinessCard Artanis. Hierarch of the Twilight Council. Warlord of the Templar]]. [[ExpectingSomeoneTaller I had expected so much more.]]
-->'''Fenix''' : (annoyed) [[BerserkButton Arrogance!]] [[ImpliedDeathThreat Watch your words, or my blade will watch them for you!]]
-->'''Alarak''': (unimpressed) Oh, that's hardly a way to speak of one who saved your master's life.
* LightningBruiser: He may be big but beware for his hero can quickly move from place to place that has enemies in them and deals an ass-whooping damage.
* MeaningfulRename: InUniverse example. By the [[spoiler:end of the campaign]], he goes from being called "Fenix" to [[spoiler:"Talandar", which means "one who bears a strong heart" in khalani.]] Artanis comments that it suits him. Considering the original Fenix's stalwart personality, it really does.
* MythologyGag:
** A lot of his quotes are taken directly from the real Fenix back in the original ''Starcraft'', or are at least paraphrases. He also says Fenix's "I fear no enemy, for the Khala is my strength" lines as a StopPokingMe quote, while noting it was Fenix's personal mantra that he recited in battle.
** He generally looks like an Immortal, though with blade weapons instead of the Immortal's cannons. According to lore, the Dragoons (of which the original Fenix was one) were upgraded into the Immortals.
* OneManArmy: One of the ''Spear of Adun's'' abilities is to call him down to fight in the field for 30 seconds. Calling him down quickly makes it clear why he's only around for 30 seconds; with his battle prowess, it's still plenty of time for him to tear through a base's defenders, and probably a bit of the base itself, too.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: The original Fenix was a shining example of this trope in a race of this, and the robot continues the tradition.
* SuperPrototype: There's a couple hints he's a prototype immortal. But he's far more badass and advanced than them.
* TomatoInTheMirror: When he awakens, he thinks he's the real Fenix, and everyone, including Artanis, feels uncomfortable with enlightening him. It takes some time for him to learn the truth and comes to terms with it.
* ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer: He's quick to use violence to solve his problems. He is a templar, and it's what he's trained to do.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Clolarion]]
[[quoteright:150:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zealotsentinel_lotv_portrait.jpg]]

The Executor leading the Purifiers on Cybros.
----
!!Provides examples of:

* FamedInStory: Apparently; the original Clolarion was such a skilled Executor his deeds are still taught in Protoss culture long after his death. Artanis nearly squees upon realizing who he is talking to.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Initially bitter and distrustful of the Daelaam, but eventually still agrees to join them on the condition the Purifiers are treated like Protoss. Granted, considering his past experience, he has ''very'' good reasons to react like this.
* MinorMajorCharacter: In the setting, he is the closest thing the Purifiers have of a leader. In the game, however, he appears only sporadically, gets very little focus and doesn't even have a heroic unit. Heck, he doesn't even get a unique portrait and is stuck borrowing the one used by the Sentinels.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: While initially distrustful toward the Daelaam, he still agrees to listen to Artanis' offer, consider it and eventually accept it along with the other Purifiers after deliberation.

[[/folder]]

!!Other
'''WARNING: THE FOLLOWING PROFILE CONTAINS UNMARKED SPOILERS FOR THE END OF THE GAME'''

[[folder:Ouros]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ouros_sc2_lotv_cine1.jpg]]
-> '''Voiced by:''' Michael Dorn

An ancient Xel'naga, long sealed in the Void by Amon. Unable to do much against Amon in the Void, he appeared to Zeratul, and later Artanis, in the guise of Tassadar, to guide them to information and relics that would lead to Amon's defeat.

----
!!Provies examples of:

* AFormYouAreComfortableWith: Why he chose to appear as Tassadar.
* BequeathedPower: Given to Kerrigan so that she may continue the Cycle. He doesn't survive it, and is fully aware and accepting of the fact all along.
* BigGood: If it wasn't for him contacting Zeratul as he did, [[UnspokenPlanGuarantee Amon's existence would still be an enigma till it would be far too late to counteract him]], making him indirectly responsible for changing the course of events.
* EldritchAbomination: He's a gigantic amorphous mass with tentacles on his face and ten eyes.
** DarkIsNotEvil: He's also a prime example of the benevolent Xel'naga faction.
* EyeLightsOut: His eyes go out when he has finished transferring all his powers to Kerrigan so she can become a Xel'naga.
* GentleGiant: Guy's ''huge'', but is a NonActionGuy.
* GodGuise: Inverted; he chose to appear to the Protoss as Tassadar because he knew they would trust him in such a form, while appearing as a [[EldritchAbomination Xel'naga]] might not give the same result.
* GoodCounterpart: To Amon.
* LastOfHisKind: Sole survivor of the "good' Xel'naga; at least Amon has Narud as a companion.
* MeaningfulName: Taken from "Ouroboros," the snake that eats its own tail, in reference to the Xel'naga cycle of infinite rebirth.
** Alternatively, it may be taken from the Greek word οὖρος (ouros), meaning watcher/guardian, to distinguish him from the villainous Amon and Narud.
* PeacefulInDeath: He knows that [[SuperEmpowering transferring his essence]] over to Kerrigan will kill him, and does so willing without a second thought [[HeroicSacrifice to protect their inheritors]]. He doesn't even ''seem'' the least bit pained when he finally goes.
* PowerEchoes: Fitting, as he ''is'' [[PhysicalGod a Xel'naga]].
* SpannerInTheWorks: His efforts in appearing to Zeratul on Aiur are ultimately what leads to Amon's eons long scheme being slowly undermined throughout the trilogy.
* UnreliableNarrator: The revelation that he impersonated Tassadar's spirit throws all of the "spirit"'s words in doubt, including the Overmind's true intentions (although these are confirmed to an extent by Zeratul's scans of its corpse).
[[/folder]]

!Co-op and DLC characters
!!Introduced in ''VideoGame/StarcraftIINovaCovertOps''
[[folder:Delta Emblock]]
!! Delta Emblock

A younger trainee in the Ghost Academy working with Nova. She eventually graduated and became a member of Nova's covert ops team. In-game, her first appearance is in ''Nova Covert Ops''.

----
!!Provides examples of:
* AscendedExtra: Played with. While she went from appearing in the ''Ghost Academy'' graphic novels to appearing in the games, she actually has a comparatively smaller role in the games, only appearing in one mission (so far) as a brief cameo, while she was a major character in the graphic novels.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Implied, though not elaborated on.
* GenkiGirl: Very hyper and energetic, as well as younger than Nova and her friends.
* MindRape: She eventually completed her Ghost training and was resocialized and memory wiped into obedience to the Dominion.
* PlayingWithFire: Has the power of pyrokinesis.
%%* StepfordSmiler: Possibly.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Reigel]]
!!Reigel
[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/reigel_sc2screen.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:250:"It's science. Use it well, and we shall find what we're looking for."]]

A Moebius Foundation scientist tasked to help Nova's special ops team by Valerian.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* ArtificialLimbs: He has two robotic arms.
* BaldBlackLeaderGuy: He's bald, he's black, and while not the leader of Nova's crew, he's her MissionControl while she takes the field.
* MissionControl: Informs Nova of new mission objectives and general status updates.
* TheSmartGuy: Fills the role of the DLC's technical specialist, outfitting Nova and her crew with upgrades and equipment.
* SpockSpeak: He speaks in a stiff and articulate manner.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:General Carolina Davis]]
A high-ranking member of the Dominion military.

----

!!Provides examples of:

* {{Foil}}: To generals Duke and Warfield. Like them, she is a commander in the Dominion military and one of Mengsk's most loyal soldiers going back years. However, she is fairly friendly and personable while still being professional, whereas Duke and Warfield were gruff and hard. [[spoiler: Like them, Davis's loyalty was to Arcturus only; she's working to overthrow Valerian.]]
* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Aside from Nova, who is a special ops agent, Davis is the first female ranking officer of the Dominion to be seen.
* TheStarscream: [[spoiler:She's leading the Defenders of Man to overthrow Valerian and seize control of the Dominion.]]
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: [[spoiler:She's well-liked by the Dominion and its citizens even as she plots attacks against it to discredit Valerian's rule.]]
* WalkingSpoiler: [[spoiler:She's the BigBad of the ''Covert Ops'' DLC, as the leader of the Defenders of Man.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Stone]]

A Dominion ghost and member of Nova's team. He is the first to contact Nova during her escape from the Defeners of Men facility, and the one with the most current screentime amog Nova's team.

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!!Provides examples of:

* MissionControl: For the first mission of the DLC.
* PsychicPowers: A prerequisite for being a ghost.
* SuperSoldier: He is a ghost, so this is a given.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse?: After the first mission the entirety of Nova's team pretty much disappears from the plot. Their fates are not elaborated on in the first mission pack. Regardless, he never reported back.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theodore Pierce]]

A Dominion Ghost and another member of Nova's team. Pierce is the oldest member of the team with 9 years of service in the Confederate ghost program.

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!!Provides examples of:

* PsychicPowers: A prerequisite for being a ghost.
* SuperSoldier: He is a ghost, so this is a given.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse?: After the first mission the entirety of Nova's team pretty much disappears from the plot. His fate isn't mentioned in the subsequent missions.
[[/folder]]

!!Introduced in Co-op
[[folder:Sergeant Hammer]]

Bama Kowalski, better known by her monkier "Sgt. Hammer," is a Terran Siege Tank operator who was attacked by Amon's forces on Char. More famously known for her appearance in ''VideoGame/HeroesOfTheStorm'' than in this game.

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!!Provides examples of:

* BoobsOfSteel: She's very busty and commands one of the most famous heavy-hitting siege units of the franchise.
* CanonForeigner: A very confusing example. She appeared in ''Heroes of the Storm'' as a hero representing the ''Starcraft'' franchise, but had never actually appeared in any of the games at the time, with her Siege Tank being the actual representative. ''Legacy of the Void'' saw her arrival in Co-op mode.
* DeepSouth: Has a very pronounced southern accent.
* DistaffCounterpart: She was created to replace General Duke as the Siege Tank hero in ''Heroes of the Storm'', and has some similar mannerisms to him (though she's a lot nicer than [[{{Jerkass}} Duke]]).
* DistressedDamsel: She's the focus of the Co-op mission "Void Thrashing"; her fortress is under attack and your allied forces save her.
* TheLadette: A female soldier who is rather muscular, has tomboyish mannerism and is implied to like drinking (she offers to pay you a drink next time you pass by if you win her mission).
* LooseCanon: No pun intended. Both ''Heroes of the Storm'' and Co-op mode are treated like this, and the only other mention of Sgt. Hammer is in [[AllThereInTheManual an art guide for the trilogy]]. It's actually dubious if she canonically exists at all.
* TankGoodness: She's a famous Siege Tank driver.
* WrenchWench: She practically goes {{Squee}} when Moebius Corp shows up with an [[HumongousMecha Archangel]] and gets you to destroy it... so that she can put it back together later.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Ji'nara]]
-> "What a pathetic display. When the time comes, I hope Alarak proves a more fitting challenge."

A Tal'darim Ascendant, ranked directly under Alarak. When he becomes Highlord, Ji'nara rises to become his First Ascendant.

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!!Provides examples of:

* AscendedExtra: She featured in a single novella leading up to the release of ''Legacy of the Void'' and nowhere else, then got featured in a Co-op mission and even got voiced dialogue for it. [[spoiler:She also appears in ''Covert Ops'' in missions.]]
* CombatPragmatist: She, like Alarak, has no trouble calling in outside forces to help her defeat Amon's champion in Rak'shir.
* TheDragon: She is Alarak's second-in-command as First Ascendant of the Tal'darim. The Co-op mission implies that while he was on the ''Spear of Adun'' representing the Tal'darim in negotiations with the Daelaam, Ji'nara was back on Slayn keeping things organized there. The short story "Ascension" also suggests she's been Alarak's accomplice in his schemes for a while before he became Highlord.
* MoralityPet: Played with in regards to Alarak's relationship with her. He seems to treat her well enough and thinks of her in better terms than he does the Daelaam, but it's ambiguous if he actually cares about her personally, or just sees her as a useful minion and would rather not lose her because of it. In the short story "Ascension," he tells her he'd "hate to kill someone of [her] competent" in a thinly veiled threat she understands to be a warning not to participate in Rak'Shir. But again, it's not clear how much of that statement is sincere.
* TheRival: To [[spoiler: Nova in ''Cover Ops'', competing with her to claim terrazine.]]
* TheStarscream: She intends to one day challenge and kill Alarak to claim his title. Given how the Tal'darim [[KlingonPromotion operate as a culture]], however, it would be weird for her ''not'' to be this trope.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Corporal Faraday]]
-> "That's the thing about the Dominion. Even in a crisis, our rule of law holds firm."

A Corporal in the Dominion, Faraday leads the Korhal Defense Force, and defends the capital city of Augustgrad when Amon attempts to use Void Shards to destroy the city.

----
!!Provides examples of:

* CommandingCoolness: His rank is technically corporal, but he is in charge despite this low rank.
* CurtainsMatchTheWindow: His eyes and hair are both brown.
* MissionControl: He helps coordinate two commanders in destroying the Void Shards.
* NiceHat: Quite a stylish one.

[[/folder]]

* {{Badass}}: Amon's champion in the Co-op mission receives power directly from him, but she's still able to match him in battle. It takes the force of ''several'' Hybrids aiding the champion to be able to overwhelm her.

* TheDragon: She is Alarak's second-in-command as First Ascendant of the Tal'darim. The Co-op mission suggests that while he was on the ''Spear of Adun'' representing the Tal'darim in negotiations with the Daelaam, Ji'nara was back on Slayn keeping things organized there. The short story "Ascension" suggests she's been Alarak's accomplice for a while before he became Highlord.
* MoralityPet: Played with in regards to Alarak's relationship with her. He seems to treat her well enough, and thinks of her in better terms than he does the Daelaam, but it's ambiguous if he actually cares about her personally, or just sees her as a useful minion and would rather not lose her because of it.

[[caption-width-right:350:Stetman; before and after GoMadFromTheIsolation kicked in.]]

[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/200px-EgonStetmann_SC2_Head1_7851.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:200:A brilliant scientist still learning how to shave himself.]]

* MadScientist: Averted in ''Wings of Liberty'', where he was interested in research but not to amoral ends. Played very straight in Co-op now that he's gone off the deep end, but he's still a benign version.

* CompanionCube: His harvester robots are his only friends on Bel'shir. He talks to and about them as if they were real beings. He even talks to the planet itself.

* SeriouslyScruffy: Abandoned and forgotten on Bel'shir, he's grown out his beard.

* MadScientist: Averted in ''Wings of Liberty'', where he was interested in research but not to amoral ends. Played very straight in Co-op now that he's gone off the deep end.
* TheMedic: In the "Belly of the Beast" mission.

* BreakoutCharacter: Initially one of several "generals" that advised and aided Artanis in ''Legacy of the Void'', he proved very popular due to his badassery and snarky {{Troll}} behavior, the latter helped by John de Lancie's voice acting. He since appeared in ''Heroes of the Storm'', was added to ''Cop-op'' as a commander, was one of the first two voice packs announced for purchase by streamers, and [[spoiler:returns in the main story in ''Covert Ops'' aiding Nova.]] Blizzard even acknowledged his popularity as the reason why he's in ''Co-op'':

* BreakoutCharacter: Initially one of several "generals" that advised and aided Artanis in ''Legacy of the Void'', he proved very popular due to his badassery and snarky {{Troll}} behavior, the latter helped by John de Lancie's voice acting. He since appeared in ''Heroes of the Storm'', was added to ''Cop-op'' as a commander, was one of the first two voice packs announced for purchase by streamers, and [[spoiler:returns in the main story in ''Covert Ops'' aiding Nova.]] Blizzard even acknowledged his ppularity as being why he's in ''Co-op'':

* BreakoutCharacter: Initially one of several "generals" that advised and aided Artanis in ''Legacy of the Void'', he proved very popular due to his badassery and snarky {{Troll}} behavior, the latter helped by John de Lancie's voice acting. He since appeared in ''Heroes of the Storm'', was added to ''Cop-op'' as a commander, was one of the first two voice packs announced for purchase by streamers, and [[spoiler:returns in the main story in ''Covert Ops'' aiding Nova.]]

* HeadbuttingHeroes: Like Vorazun, he has a difficult time getting along well with [[spoiler: Alarak]] onboard the Spear of Adun, because he does not fully trust the Tal'darim ([[spoiler: promising Artanis that should Alarak betray the Daelaam, Fenix will slay him.]]) and considers Alarak to have a low sense of honor and respect. Unfortunately, this is [[DeadpanSnarker ''Alarak'']] we're talking about here:

* HeadbuttingHeroes: Like Vorazun, he has a difficult time getting along well with [[spoiler: Alarak]] onboard the Spear of Adun, because he does not fully trust the Tal'darim ([[spoiler: promising Artanis that should Alarak betray the Daelaam, Fenix will slay him.]]) and considers Alarak to have a low sense of honor and respect. Unfortunately, trying to argue with a DeadpanSnarker of Alarak's class always ends with the Purifier on the receiving end. Just listen to this exchange:

* LaughablyEvil: As a snarky, [[BrutalHonesty brutally honest]], {{NobleDemon}} {{Troll}} voiced by John De Lancie, it's impossible not to laugh with him.

* LaughablyEvil: As a snarky, [[BrutalHonesty brutally honest]], [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold arrogant yet noble]] {{Troll}} voiced by John De Lancie, it's impossible not to laugh with him.

--> '''Alarak:''' [[spoiler: So, Amon intends to lay siege from all directions. Step forth, Dark One, and face Alarak, Highlord of the Tal'Darim!]]

* BreakoutCharacter: Initially one of several "generals" that advised and aided Artanis in ''Legacy of the Void'', he proved very popular due to his badassery and snarky {{Troll}} behavior, the latter helped by John de Lancie's voice acting. He since appeared in ''Heroes of the Storm'', was added to ''Cop-op'' as a commander, and [[spoiler:returns in the main story in ''Covert Ops'' aiding Nova.]]

--> '''Alarak:''' Highlord, hear me! I invoke the rite of Rak'Shir. Fight me according to our laws, or die a coward!