Stukov

Stukov
"Victory above all!"
Basic Info
Title	Infested Admiral
Role	Support
Franchise	StarCraft
Price	750 / 10,000
Release Date	July 11, 2017
Base Stats
Attack Type	Melee
Health	1765
Health Regen	3.7
Resource	500 Mana
Armor	0
Attack Speed	0.67
Attack Range	1.5
Attack Damage	261
Data Page

Alexei Stukov, the Infested Admiral, is a melee support hero from the StarCraft universe. Alexei Stukov had a hard life, and an even harder death. He has been betrayed, shot into space, resurrected and infested, almost cured, and then experimented upon as the infestation returned. Now, his infestation spreads within the Nexus...

Background

This section concerns content exclusive to the StarCraft universe.

In the 25th century of Earth's history, the United Earth Directorate Expeditionary Fleet was dispatched to the Koprulu Sector, with the aim to subjugate the terran colonies, enslave the new zerg Overmind, and use their controlled zerg broods to pacify the protoss. Of the formidable commanders tasked with this imperative endeavor, Vice Admiral Alexei Stukov was second-in-command, with his old friend Admiral Gerard DuGalle leading the fleet.

The UED smashed into the sector, quickly disarming and seizing the Terran Dominion. However, unbeknownst to the UED at the time, their ranks had been infiltrated by a powerful shape-shifting xel'naga that took the name Samir Duran, that sought to sow confusion among the ranks of the Directorate. When Stukov violated DuGalle's orders to destroy a device named the psi disrupter that could cut zerg off from their hive mind, Duran convinced DuGalle that Stukov was a traitor, and the admiral ordered Stukov to be executed. Duran put a bullet through Stukov and vanished. Stukov's dying transmission convinced DuGalle friend that the disrupter was the key to defeating the zerg and that Duran was the traitor, before he bled out and died on the floor. Stukov's body was launched into space and given a hero's burial, with news reports saying that he died in the final assault on Char to claim the Overmind. After the UED's defeat in the sector, grief stricken over what he had done to his old friend, DuGalle committed suicide.

However, Stukov's coffin was discovered by the zerg, and his body infested and resurrected by the cerebrate Kaloth, who desired a new leader for their renegade Swarms. After participating in some covert operations to advance the New Swarm's agenda, the resurgent Stukov caught the eye of Artanis, who enlisted the aid of Jim Raynor and the ancient protoss hero Taldarin to deliver an experimental nanite cure to the infested human. The joint terran-protoss force fought through zerg and terran mercenaries, eventually delivering the cure to Stukov, and he was returned to his human state. Stukov was then turned over to a terran science group named the Moebius Foundation to study to the cure.

Unbeknownst to all, the same alien who had killed Stukov, Samir Duran, secretly ran the Moebius Foundation, and Stukov was experimented on and tortured. The protoss cure slowly failed, returning him to his infested state, and Duran's modifications made Stukov more and more powerful as he used him as a test subject to advance his protoss/zerg hybrid breeding program. Years later, Stukov was able to escape Duran's lab and contact the leader of the zerg, Sarah Kerrigan, and aided her in destroying Duran's hybrid breeding operation, raising his lab and banishing him to the xel'naga's home dimension of the Void. Stukov then was given command of Kerrigan's infested terran legions, and assisted Kerrigan in bringing down the Terran Dominion and killing Emperor Arcturus Mengsk. He would later aid her in her war to bring down Duran's master, the xel'naga Amon.

During the final assault on Amon in the Void, Stukov once again confronted Duran, and personally delivered the final killing blow to the xel'naga, avenging his death and years of torture. The expedition was successful in killing Amon, and ending Duran's grand schemes.

Gameplay

Stukov is a Healer that brings high amounts of disruption from long range.

Strength

• Burst Healing
• Sustained Damage and Healing
• Crowd Control

Weaknesses

• Mobility
• Escape

Abilities

D

Bio-Kill Switch

Cooldown: 16 seconds

Activate to detonate all of Stukov's Viruses. Each Healing Pathogen heals its target for 450 health, and each Weighted Pustule does 100 damage and Slows its target by 70% for 2 seconds.

• Can be cast while channeling Lurking Arm.

Q

Healing Pathogen

40 Mana Cooldown: 10 seconds

Infest an allied Hero with a Healing Pathogen that heals the target for 222 Health over 4.5 seconds. Healing Pathogens can spread to a nearby allied Hero every 0.75 seconds, and a single Healing Pathogen can spread to each allied Hero 1 time.

• Can cast it on self, and spread to self.
• Cannot spread to targets to whom it has already spread.

W

Weighted Pustule

50 Mana Cooldown: 10 seconds

Hurl a pustule that impacts all enemy Heroes in its path, dealing 20 damage and Slowing by 5%, increasing to 50% over 3 seconds. Deals an additional 80 damage upon expiring or being removed.

E

Lurking Arm

100 Mana Cooldown: 10 seconds

Channel at a target location, creating an area that Silences enemies inside and deals 136 damage per second to them. Deals 50% reduced damage to non-Heroes. Does not cost Mana while Channeling, and lasts until canceled or interrupted.

---

Range: 11

---

• Deals 4 ticks of 34 damage per second. Each tick applies 0.3 seconds Silence.
• Does not damage Structures.

R

Massive Shove

50 Mana Cooldown: 20 seconds

Extend Stukov's arm. If it hits an enemy Hero, they are rapidly shoved until they collide with terrain, taking 190 damage. Stukov gains 50 Armor while shoving an enemy.

• Enemy Heroes are revealed as long as they being shoved.
• Enemy Heroes that collide with terrain are stunned for 0.5 seconds.
• Massive Shove gets cancelled if the arm collides with terrain before hitting a Hero.

R

Flailing Swipe

100 Mana Cooldown: 80 seconds

Swipe 3 times in front of Stukov over 1.75 seconds, dealing 48 damage to enemies hit and knocking them away. Each swipe is larger than the previous.

Talents

1

Spine Launcher

Basic Attacks become ranged and Slow enemies by 20% for 1.5 second, but deal 40% less damage.

---

Type: Attack modifier / Damage modifier / CC
Affects: Self / Self / Enemies
Range: 5.5
Properties: Slow

Fetid Touch

❢ Quest: Hit Heroes with Weighted Pustule. Reward: After hitting 15 Heroes, reduce the cooldown of Weighted Pustule by 2.5 seconds.
❢ Reward: After hitting 30 Heroes, reduce the cooldown of Weighted Pustule by an additional 2.5 seconds and remove its Mana cost.

Low Blow

Lurking Arm deals 100% more damage to enemy Heroes below 30% Health.

Poppin' Pustules

Detonating a Weighted Pustule with Bio-Kill Switch within 1.5 seconds of its expiration increases its damage by 100% and applies its damage and Slow in an area.

4

One Good Spread...

After a Healing Pathogen infests 3 targets, restore 10 Mana and reduce the cooldown of Healing Pathogen by 2 seconds.

Biotic Armor

Healing Pathogen grants 15 Physical Armor to its targets while active on them. Detonating Bio-Kill Switch increases this bonus by 35 for 2.5 seconds.

Vigorous Reuptake

Bio-Kill Switch heals for 30% more when detonating 3 or more Healing Pathogens.

7

The Long Pitch

Increase the range of Weighted Pustule by 50%. Detonating 2 or more Weighted Pustules causes Stukov's Bio-Kill Switch and Basic Ability cooldowns to recharge 100% faster for 3 seconds.

Growing Infestation

Lurking Arm's area expands by 50% over 2.5 seconds, but it cannot be Channeled for longer than 4 seconds.

Targeted Excision

Detonating exactly 1 Weighted Pustule (but any number of Healing Pathogens) with Bio-Kill Switch reduces the cooldown of Bio-Kill Switch to 5 seconds.

10

Flailing Swipe

Cooldown: 80 seconds
Swipe 3 times in front of Stukov over 1.75 seconds, dealing 48 damage to enemies hit and knocking them away. Each swipe is larger than the previous.

Massive Shove

Cooldown: 20 seconds
Extend Stukov's arm. If it hits an enemy Hero, they are rapidly shoved until they collide with terrain, taking 190 damage. Stukov gains 50 Armor while shoving an enemy.

13

Reactive Ballistospores

When taking damage below 50% Health, instantly spread a Weighted Pustule to all nearby enemy Heroes and reset the cooldown of Bio-Kill Switch. This effect has a 10 second cooldown.

It Hungers

Increase the range of Lurking Arm by 20%. If Lurking Arm damages enemy Heroes 12 times, its cooldown its reset and its Mana cost is refunded.

Lingering Spines

Lurking Arm persists for 1.5 seconds after it is canceled.

Virulent Reaction

Detonating a Weighted Pustule on an enemy who is inside of Lurking Arm Roots them for 2 seconds.

16

Superstrain

Whenever an ally with Healing Pathogen is Stunned or Rooted, they are instantly healed for 250 Health.

Universal Carrier

Healing Pathogen can continually spread through Stukov, but its healing is reduced by 50%.

Pox Populi

Bio-Kill Switch no longer removes Healing Pathogen but instead sets its duration to 3 seconds.

20

Controlled Chaos

Flaing Swipe gains 2 additional charges, but each use only swings 1 time, at maximum range. Additionally, its cooldown is decreased to 30 seconds, and its Mana cost is reduced from 100 to 50.

Push Comes To Shove

Massive Shove slows its target by 50% for 4 seconds upon colliding with terrain. If Massive Shove pushes a target for more than 1.25 seconds, its cooldown is reduced by 15 seconds.

Top Off

Healing Pathogen's heal over time is increased by 30% while its target is above 60% Health.

---

• Stacks additively with the Universal Carrier healing reduction.

Bio-Explosion Switch

Bio-Kill Switch now also detonates Lurking Arm, applying a Weighted Pustule to enemy Heroes inside and Silencing them for 2 seconds.

• Detonation instantly removes Lurking Arm, even if affected by Lingering Spines talent.

Skins

Stukov Skins
Stukov
Backstory: Alexei Stukov had a hard life, and an even harder death. He has been betrayed, shot into space, resurrected and infested, almost cured, and then experimented upon as the infestation returned. Now, his infestation spreads within the Nexus...
750 / 10,000 Infested Admiral	Free UED	Free Dictator	100 Kaldir	100 Zerus
Admiral Krakenov
Backstory: Decades ago, a mutiny forced the Admiral of the Three Anchors to walk the plank. On moonless nights, his form haunts Blackheart's Bay, calling itself "Krakenov" and demanding a lot of fish.
Features: Altered voice-over, themed abilities.
Notes: This skin theme is part of a shared theme of Mistharbour skins.
400	400 Reef	400 Ghost	400 Vice	400 Tideswept
Imperator
Backstory: Thanks to the sound military tactics and fierce loyalty of Viper's soldiers, the Imperator has crushed his enemies and established a new world order. It is only a matter of time before his robotic fist snuffs out the dying embers of rebellion.
Features: Altered voice-over, themed abilities, themed animations.
Notes: This skin theme is part of a shared theme of Viper organization skins.
1,600	1,600 Noxious	1,600 Arctic

Portraits

Stukov Portraits
Admiral Krakenov 40	Carbot Stukov 100	Gingerbread Stukov 60	Remastered Stukov 40	Stukov Emblem 40	Stukov Hero	Stukov Icon 40
Stukov Mastery

Sprays

Stukov Sprays
Carbot Stukov 100	Admiral Krakenov 40	Cartoon Stukov 100	Gingerbread Stukov 100	R.I.P. Stukov 60	Stukov Icon 40	Tattoo Stukov 40
Zerg Russian 40

Emojis

Stukov Pack 1			Stukov Pack 2
Emoji	Name	Shortcut	Emoji	Name	Shortcut
	Stukov Happy	:stukovhappy: :stukhappy:		Stukov Angry	:stukovangry: :stukangry:
	Stukov ROFL	:stukovlol: :stukovrofl: :stuklol: :stukrofl:		Stukov Cool	:stukovcool: :stukcool:
	Stukov Sad	:stukovsad: :stuksad:		Stukov Embarrassed	:stukovoops: :stukovembarrassed: :stukoops: :stukembarrassed:
	Stukov Silly	:stukovsilly: :stuksilly:		Stukov in Love	:stukovlove: :stukovinlove: :stuklove: :stukinlove:
	Stukov Speechless	:stukovmeh: :stukovspeechless: :stukmeh: :stukspeechless:		Stukov Surprised	:stukovwow: :stukovsurprised: :stukwow: :stuksurprised:

Imperator Stukov Pack
Emoji	Name	Shortcuts
	Imperator Stukov Lurking Arm	:lurking:
	Imperator Stukov Pustule	:pustule:
	Imperator Stukov Shove	:shove1:
	Imperator Stukov Shove	:shove2:
	Imperator Stukov Shove	:shove3:

Quotes

Main article: Stukov/Quotes

Development

Nate LaMusga's early vision was that Stukov would be very focused on his infestation fantasy, both healing and damaging through infectious pathogens, and having a choice of heroics that could revive a fallen ally as a powerful infested zerg unit for a short duration. Originally only his "E" skill used his arm.

The developers tested these "infested resurrect" heroics pretty extensively, but they just weren't creating enjoyable gameplay. It was extremely confusing to be revived as a strange new unit with unfamiliar controls and having only precious seconds to try and figure out how to play it effectively - it never really felt good to be the one resurrected. Around the same time, the Live Design team expressed a desire to see more Support heroes with displacement abilities, and they saw an opportunity with Stukov to try and make that happen.

The developers all got in a room and talked through the ideas that came out of that, and two favorites quickly rose to the top: Flailing Arm and Massive Shove (though at the time it was called "Big Arm Mega Shove"). With Massive Shove in particular, it only took them a single playtest to know they had a winner.

There was definitely an awareness that by making this change they would move some of the focus from an established aspect of his fantasy (infestation), to a much less-established aspect of his fantasy (crazy zerg arm). This is something they discussed at length within the team, and ultimately decided that they were comfortable with. The Art team was excited to explore the arm aspect of Stukov's character, and the Design team was thrilled with the fun gameplay they got out of the heroics. They still had the infestation theme covered in three of his abilities (Q/W/D) and to them it felt like a very cool kit with a good balance of flavor that represented the character well.

According to Lana Bachynski, Stukov was hard to animate. From a technical standpoint, making sure that his various FX were correctly connecting to his base model. Massive shove, in particular was exceedingly challenging to get working 'just so' and it took an incredible effort from all disciplines to get it where you see today. "Artistically -- Stukov is a stoic military bro who is ashamed of the monster he's become. I went to school to animate monsters -- all I wanted to see was Stukov go full Rage Mode with that Zerg limb, but he's supposed to be restrained. Calm. (Compelling character -- but what an obnoxious justaposition!) Keeping a half-man half-alien looking upright and put together on the battlefield.. but also threatening and tough. Not exactly the simplest task. Emotionally -- Now, this is getting real deep into animation nerddom, but I really struggled with getting his acting choices just right! In the end, I'm pretty satisfied with the balance I found. It's probably best seen in his Quick Match hero select screen: When Stukov is out of combat, he stands with his arm tucked behind him - as he wants to present his best most human self to you. Upon hitting ready, Stukov looks at his arm, resigned, and says 'Victory or Death' - because winning battles is more important to him than his cosmetic flaws, and he will use every advantage he has in order to do so. When he's readied up, he has forgotten any insecurities and is ready to fight. And when Stukov unreadies, it's almost as if he's coming to his senses. As if, perhaps the animalistic, zerg mentality has affected more than just his arm, and he's back to his militant, disciplined self."

Stukov was subject to a lot of this after his kit was revealed. Many fans did not expect Blizzard would place Stukov in the support role. Instead, the popular theory was that he would be a specialist and summons infested Terrans, similar to his role in Starcraft 2.

Trivia

• Stukov made his debut in StarCraft: Brood War (November 1998)
• Despite being a support, Stukov has the highest basic attack damage in the game, but also the lowest attack speed in the game, tied with Hanzo.
• Stukov's Home Screen music is from the StarCraft: Brood War cinematic "UED Victory Report."
• Stukov is voiced by Victor Brandt in StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm, StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void, and Heroes of the Storm.
• Blizzard hinted at a new StarCraft hero related to a failed research project at the Moebius Foundation. Stukov was confirmed the following day.
• Stukov is the third StarCraft Support hero in the game, the first two being Tassadar and Lt. Morales, and the first and only Zerg Support hero.
• UED Stukov is based off of the UED tint from StarCraft: Brood War, where normally they would be represented by white colored terrans.
• Dictator Stukov is based on M. Bison from the Street Fighter series (August 1987), who is sometimes referred to as "Dictator" due to having different names in different versions of the game. Stukov's "it was Tuesday" joke also makes a reference to the dialogue spoken by M. Bison in the Street Fighter film (December 1994).
• Ghost Krakenov is based upon the undead pirate LeChuck from the Monkey Island series of games, with his colours matching his appearance in Monkey Island II: LeChuck's Revenge.

Gallery

General

• 

  Stukov's artwork

• 

  Stukov home screen

Abilities

• 

  Q: Healing Pathogen

• 

  W: Weighted Pustule

• 

  E: Lurking Arm

• 

  R1: Massive Shove

• 

  R2: Flailing Swipe

• 

  Unused Viper skin

External links

• Stukov Hero Week
• Stukov - Heroes of the Storm
• Alexei Stukov - StarCraft Wiki
• Stukov Build Guide on Icy Veins
• Stukov Balance Changelog - Heroes Patch Notes