Guides and Builds

This page serves as a catalog for bookmark-worthy posts. The list is not exhaustive. Many of my posts are not listed here.

General tips

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These tips are not restricted to any expansion.

• The concept of convergent points
• The concept of build order blocks
• Playing against economic-oriented openings
• Terran control group set up
• Rally point on a building
• Reaction to economical builds (update with a specific example)
• Centring the town hall
• How to wall
• Scouting basics
• Hiding information
• Idle worker after build command
• Attention based harassment
• Tips from Polt

Thought provoking

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These articles are not exactly tips, but discuss topics beyond game play.

• Better marketing for better RTS games
• Think about thinking – How to make better decisions in StarCraft
• War Chest Team League controversy – A marketing case study
• The hidden side of GSL tournament format
• Fast is not better – The effects of increasing starting worker count
  • Commentary by Neuro
  • Commentary by brownbear
  • Commentary by negativezero
  • Behind the scene and response
• My response to the Blizzard and Hong Kong protest incident
• The effects of game design philosophy on map making
• Thinking about talking balance
• Making sense of our reaction to AlphaStar
• Region lock: A clash of ideology
• WCS system (with brownbear)
• THERIDDLER versus avilo WCS controversy
• Content creation and community reaction
• Scouting on non-two player maps
• An era of global Starcraft
• Attention as another dimension of mechanics
• DeepMind (Alpha Go) and what it means to Starcraft
• What good balance argument is not
• Match fixing scandal 2015
• Why I don’t subscribe to GSL [anymore]
• Attribution in Starcraft
• Value of casters
• Dilemma of change
• Balance appreciation

The Elementary Series

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The Elementary Series covers important topics that can be applied broadly at all levels.

This is an ongoing project.

• Setting up
• Mindset
• Mechanics
  • Part one: Basics and macro
  • Part two: Micro and trade off
• Hotkeys and control groups
• Stages of the game
• Composition and unit utility
• Build orders
• Scouting
• Relative role to the opponent’s

Legacy of the Void

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Basic guides and builds

• The concept of convergent points
• The concept of build order blocks
• 2-1-1 for each match up (some parts are outdated)
• Builds for beginners and intermediate players
• Siege Tank positioning
• Reaper openings
• Attention based harassment execution
• Differences between 1-1-1 and 2-1-1

Terran vs. Protoss

• Engineering Bay block expand
• Marine fast expand
• Early wall off main ramp
• Third Command Centre before 2nd and 3rd Barracks
• 3-1-1 framework
• Securing expansion at the natural
• Mag-Field Accelerator Push at the Third Nexus
• Basic Reaper Expand into Stim Medivac Move Out
• Banshee and Siege Tank two base timing
• Proxy (outdated)
  • sOs’ answer to proxy (outdated)
• Cloak Banshee
• Mass Widow Mine drop
• Versus proxy tech builds (Stargate or 2x Robotic Facility; some parts are outdated)
• 2-1-1 builds
• Basic scouting guide (some parts are outdated)
• Engineering Bay mineral block
• TY’s 3CC defensive build
• Two base Tankivac Raven push (outdated)
• Versus Adept Phoenix
• Early Pylon Overcharge attacks (outdated)

Terran vs. Terran

• Maru’s framework
• Using bio against mech
• Defending against proxy Reaper
• Mass Cyclone with early 3CC (outdated)
• Double Refinery Reaper opening
  • 16 and 17 Refinery variation
  • Expansion
  • Tech
    • Hellion variation
    • Cyclone variation (outdated)
      • Auto Turret Tank drop variation
  • Maru’s reaction against mirror opening
• 15/16 gas first Reaper expand (a detailed framework)
  • With Cyclone (outdated)
• Relativity and framework
• Mid game transition (include standard build order; outdated)
• Relative roles of offender versus defender

Terran vs. Zerg

• A strategy perspective in understanding fast 3CC builds
• Overlord hunting with floating Barracks
• Battlecruiser mech
• Zergling, Baneling, and Hydralisk
• Triple Barracks Reaper (some parts are outdated)
• Reaction against Spawning Pool before Hatchery
  • Reaction against one-base early Roach Ravager
  • Reaction against economical two-base early Roach Ravager
• Battle mech
  • 0-2-0 Hellion and Cyclone mech (outdated)
• 2-1-1: Double Medivac Stim timing (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4)
• Sky Terran composition (Part 1 and Part 2)
• Early third Command Centre
  • 3-1-0
  • 1-1-1
  • 2-1-1
• Reaper expand into 1-1-1 variants
• Double Liberator into double drop
• Zerg’s three phase tech switch
• Polt’s safe all-rounded Tank and Banshee opening (outdated)

Wings of Liberty & Heart of the Swarm

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 Basic guides

• The Case for Build Order of Terran
• Convergent point (Part 1) and (Part 2)
• Understanding build orders in blocks
• Reaper expand in all match ups

Terran vs. Protoss

• Third Command Centre before 2nd and 3rd Barracks
  • Three-pronged harassment attack build
• Scouting and key timing
• Midgame game plan (Part 1 and Part 2)
• Learning TvP from Flash
• Taeja’s gas first aggression (Part 1 and Part 2)
• Reaper expand
  • Prototype by Bomber
  • 3 Barracks
  • 3 Barracks 9:00 timing
  • Early +1 upgrade
  • Answer against early proxy Oracle
  • Widow Mine drop (Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3)
• MMA’s anti-meta defensive opening
• Polt versus Blink Stalkers (tactical movement)
• Bomber’s Hellbat and bio mid game aggression
• SCV pull
• Polt’s tactical movement
• 15 gas opening
• Defend against proxy Oracle
• TY’s mid game approach

Terran vs. Terran

• Offender versus defender
• Gas first opening
  • Cloaked Banshee
  • Reaper with Refinery at 12
  • Reaper with Refinery at 11
  • Auto Turret Tank drop
• 15 gas opening reaction against Banshee
• Banshee into Stim Medivac drop
• 2 Rax Reaper aggression

Terran vs. Zerg

• Scouting
• 7:00 1-1-1 Hellion and Marine drop
• Proactive counter against +1/+1 Roach timing
• Hellbat timing
• Mech-Bio composition
• Reaper opening details
• Bomber’s counter intuitive approach
• Command Centre first build arrangement on high ground
• Two base timing
  • Without Hellbat
  • With Hellbat
• 7:00 Hellbat timing
• 3CC defensive Banshee (Part 1 and Part 2)