| The most basic combat unit of the Terran army, the | | | | the cost of 150 minerals and 150 gas. Because of the |
| Marine is a cheap but effective infantry unit, vital to | | | | relatively expensive cost, the Combat Shield upgrade |
| Terran strategy. Marines wear reinforced | | | | should only be taken if you plan on having a strong |
| environmental suits that allow them to deploy in | | | | infantry force composed heavily of Marines. The |
| ordinarily dangerous environments and provide the | | | | second upgrade available to Marines is the Stimpack, |
| Marine with a base of 45 life. Although they don't | | | | which greatly increases movement and attack speed |
| provide any armor, these suits can be upgraded for | | | | of the Marine for approximately 5 seconds at the |
| +1 armor a maximum of three times. Marines are also | | | | cost of losing 10 life. This cost of life is offsett by |
| standardly equipped with C-14 Gauss Rifles. These | | | | the ability to kill enemies more quickly, and can easily |
| rapid fire rifles do a base of 6 damage, and may be | | | | prevent more HP loss than if you had chosen not to |
| upgraded for +1 damage a maximum of three times. | | | | use it. Stimpack is also helpful when retreating or |
| Marines provide the Terran player with a unit that is | | | | catching up against enemy units. Both Combat Shield |
| cheap and quick to build. Marines are most effective | | | | and Stimpack syngerzie extremely well with Terran |
| when massed together into a "bio ball" that provides | | | | Medivacs. |
| the player an effective means to eliminate enemy | | | | Because of the tendency to mass Marines together, |
| melee units such as Zerg Zerglings and Protoss | | | | they are vulnerable to units which are capable of |
| Zealots before they can even reach your Marines. | | | | area of effect affects such as the Zerg Baneling, |
| For this very same reason, the Infantry Weapons | | | | Zerg Infestor, Protoss Collosus, Protoss High |
| upgrade located at the Terran Engineering Bay is | | | | Templar, Terran Siege Tank, and Terran Hellion. |
| extremely effective for Marines and generally a | | | | Marines are also extremely vulnerable to the Zerg |
| better choice than Infantry Armor. A +1 damage | | | | Broodlord who has the ability to spawn melee units |
| increase is much more effective than a +1 armor | | | | right on top of them. However, Marines are generally |
| increase because of the Marine's low health and your | | | | effective against similar but more expensive units |
| ability to more swiftly eliminate incoming enemy | | | | such as the Zerg Hydralisk and Terran Marauder as |
| melee units. | | | | Marines are more easily produced and massed, |
| Marines have access to the Combat Shield upgrade | | | | especially if you have a Terran Reactor attached to |
| located at the Terran Tech Lab building which must | | | | a Terran Barracks. They are also very effective |
| be attached to a Terran Barracks. The Combat Shield | | | | against Protoss Immortals' Hardened Shields, as even |
| upgrade increases the health of all Marines by 10 for | | | | a fully upgraded Marine does only 9 damage. |