StarCraft 2 Balance Patch Calibrates Protoss and Terran to Better Fight Zerg

Blizzard has released a fresh StarCraft 2 balance update, continuing a multi-patch effort aimed at improving matchup dynamics—specifically “calibrating” Protoss and Terran “to help deal with Zerg.” The patch includes a major economic tweak for Terran, several targeted Protoss changes, and a temporary disablement of a recently added transport behavior.

Release timing and availability

The update is live now as a new set of StarCraft 2 patch notes. Blizzard previously rolled out a large economy overhaul by reducing starting workers from 12 to eight, with further balancing in June; this latest patch arrives roughly two months after that transformative change.

Terran economy: Command Center cost drops by 25%

The biggest headline change affects Terran’s Command Center. Its cost has been reduced from 400 minerals to 300 minerals, cutting the price of the key Terran expansion structure by 25%. Blizzard frames the change as a direct lever for early expansion timing and also impacts late-game behavior for players who want to add multiple bases.

To contextualize the shift, Protoss’s Nexus remains at 400 minerals, while Zerg’s Hatchery costs 300 minerals—but Zerg must also spend a Drone (worth an additional 50 minerals) and use larva to produce the Hatchery. The patch also notes that Terran Command Centers provide +15 supply and enable expansion in a way that becomes even more attractive with the reduced price.

Planetary Fortress and Orbital Command stay mostly in check

To counter unlimited expansion spam, upgrades for the defensive follow-up structure were adjusted. The Planetary Fortress upgrade cost has increased from 150 minerals / 150 gas to 250 minerals / 150 gas. The economy-focused Orbital Command upgrade cost is unchanged.

In another Terran supply-related adjustment, the Ghost supply cost continues to change over patches: it has been reduced from 3 back down to 2. The notes also highlight that this parameter has been moving back and forth previously, leaving open the possibility of another reversal in a future balance update.

Protoss adjustments: fewer big swings, more targeted tuning

Protoss receives several changes, none described as as economically dramatic as the Terran Command Center cut, but still meaningful in combat flow and control.

• Colossi damage distribution: Colossi damage has been shifted so more power sits in its base attack. The base values change to 12 (+3 vs Light) instead of 10 (+5 vs Light).
• Adept scaling with upgrades: Adepts effectively gain double the buff they receive with each attack upgrade compared to the prior behavior.
• Gateway production tempo: Gateways now train units 50% faster (up from 40%) after Warpgate tech is researched.
• Warpgate transformation time: Switching between modes is faster and simplified, with transformation time reduced to 4 seconds in both directions.

There’s also a quality-of-life change for selecting production structures: when players select all buildings of a single type, Warpgates and Gateways are treated as separate categories. If both exist in the same selection, Warpgates take priority.

Finally for Protoss, the “phantom weapon” range on Disruptors has been reduced. Blizzard introduced this mechanic recently to help Disruptors maintain more optimal distance when attack-moving as a group, but it left Disruptors lagging behind the rest of the formation—this reduction is intended to correct that.

Transport behavior temporarily disabled

Blizzard has temporarily disabled a feature that allows players to command transport vehicles to “load nearby units.” The change is likely responding to exploits or unintended results where the system pulled units that normally couldn’t embark—specifically called out are Siege Mode Tanks and burrowed Widow Mines.

Blizzard says it plans to reintroduce the feature later, implying the disablement is a temporary fix rather than a permanent removal.

What this likely means for players

The Command Center price reduction is the most immediate gameplay shift in this update, because it changes how quickly Terran can afford expansions and how cheaply additional bases can be added. The Planetary Fortress cost increase is designed to slow down straightforward base spam by raising the price of the upgraded defensive structure.

On the Protoss side, the mix of changes targets production pacing (Gateway training speed, Warpgate transformation timing), combat damage distribution (Colossi), and unit upgrade effectiveness (Adept), with additional attention to Disruptor behavior during group movement.

With transport loading temporarily disabled, players who relied on the new command style for positioning or tactical boarding will need to adjust until the feature returns in a corrected form. What remains unclear is how Blizzard will continue to refine the patch goals—especially the stated intent to improve Protoss and Terran tools “to deal with Zerg”—and how quickly these economy and unit-utility decisions will stabilize across future balance updates.