This is the first post of the Metagame Build Orders series, and it provides a build order for each match up that can be used on ladder.

I usually focus more on the analysis of the build orders and they shape up with the metagame than actually provide a simple build order that you can copy and use straightaway. The Metagame Build Orders posts emphasize on the build order itself, and less on the explanation. You can read more about the specific analyses in other TerranCraft articles.

I aim to make a post like this every month.

Vs. Protoss

Protoss mainly either go for two base Colossus, or early third Nexus with Adept Phoenix. You can still do the usual 1-1-1 with some minor adjustments based on opponent’s choice. The build order I put down here is based on the standard 1-1-1, but it is aimed to play against the popular Adept Phoenix.

14 – Supply Depot
15 – Refinery
16 – Barracks
@100% Barracks – Reaper and Orbital Command
@400 mineral – Command Centre (@100% – Orbital Command)
@100 gas – Factory
@50 gas – Reactor
@75 mineral – Refinery
@100 mineral – Supply Depot
@100% Factory – Starport and Widow Mine
Constant Marine production and build Supply Depot accordingly hereafter
@100% Widow Mine – Cyclone
@100% Starport – Viking
@100% Cyclone – Widow Mine
@100% Viking – Liberator

The minor changes made are the Cyclone and Viking. The Cyclone allows you to have a good push at the third Nexus at 4:15, and it is something that is popularised by TY (read the Adept Phoenix post). The Viking is debatable, but the thinking behind it is interesting. The Widow Mine is now put on the rally path of the Oracle, and hopefully it catches that Oracle. If it does not, you need something in base to defend against the Oracle, and the Viking does the job. It is hard to tell whether the Medivac or the landed Viking is better for the attack at the third.

Ryung used this against Stats.

Vs. Terran

The TvT is still 15/16 Reaper Cyclone expand oriented.

14 – Supply Depot
15 – Refinery
16 – Barracks
@100% Barracks – Reaper and Orbital Command
@400 mineral – Command Centre (@100% – Orbital Command)
@100 gas – Factory
@100% Reaper – Reactor (@100% – Marine production)
@75 mineral – Refinery
@100 mineral – Supply Depot
@100% Factory – Cyclone
@100 gas – Starport

It is what you do next that varies, and that depends on the map and preferences. Some go for another Cyclone and a Medivac for a push. Others prefer to have a Tech Lab on the Factory after the Cyclone, and use that for a Raven when Starport completes.

Below is an example of both players using the same opening, and they went on to pick different options.

Vs. Zerg

TvZ is a match up that you really have a wide range of options now. The most common build is arguably the Hellion Banshee, and there are many variations with it as it is simply the shuffling of the 1-1-1 with Reactor and Tech Lab.

If you use the most standard 15/16 Reaper expand into Cloaked Banshee, you do not have anything that can shoot up to prevent Overlord from scouting. Some players like to get a Marine with a 16/16 opening to deny Overlord as much as possible, and then do the same build. Others get a Viking first with Starport, and then they follow up with a Banshee. The build order I mention below is a more aggressive version that uses a Hellbat attack with Medivac, then follow up with Cloaked Banshee.

14 – Supply Depot
15 – Refinery
16 – Barracks
@100% Barracks – Reaper and Orbital Command
@400 mineral – Command Centre (@100% – Orbital Command)
@100 gas – Factory
@100% Reaper – Reactor
@75 mineral – Refinery
@100 mineral – Supply Depot
@100% Factory – Starport. Swap the Factory onto the Reactor for 2x Hellions.
Constant Hellion and Marine production.
@100% Starport – Medivac
@100 gas – Armory, then Supply Depot
@100% Medivac – Tech Lab (@100% – Cloak research and Banshee)

Obviously you attack by transforming your Hellions into Hellbats (rally more Hellion) when the Armory is completed. The vod above shows how INnoVation executed it. He purposely made it a point to kill the Queens, as that will make his Banshee more effective later on.

In the vod below, ByuN did something a little different by shuffling the resources. I suspect he wanted to do the basic Hellion and Banshee, but he wanted to switch it up since the Overlord saw it. ByuN made a Medivac first, but his build order is messed up. He spent the first 100 gas after the Medivac on Cloak, but it is better if he had spend it on the Armory. This will then allow him to make a Hellbat attack properly. Since his Armory does not line up with his Medivac timing, it turns into a Hellion drop. If you want to do a Hellion drop, you should not put down an Armory as it is not in line with the plan to trade your Hellions for Drones before you have the access to Hellbat tech.

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