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ToRPeek · Mon, 16th-Jul-2012, 9:51 PM

BTW, if anyone has any questions, or any area you'd like me to talk about, please mention it, i might not have thought of it yet

nirvAnA: I've helped you add some basic BB Codes to tidy it up a bit. Awesome share!

Everything I know about Terran By ToR Peek

Introduction

Hey sc2sea, i originally started to write this since I'm taking a small break from actually playing sc2, i thought it wouldnt hurt to put all of my knowledge (not alot of it) and thoughts regarding match ups and build orders that I've picked up. Still gonna be watching streams and such though, so i thought it would be nice to write down everything i know for ToR FB, however it since has gotten A LOT longer, and will have A LOT more to add. Also, any high level players that see anything you think is wrong, i'm very open to debate it, esp banshee openings and mech, i don't know enough about the two, would love to learn more. Also through out the guide i might seem quite "up myself" but since i wrote this for my clan, i hope you understand.

Shout out to iaguz and rossi for being inspirations for some of hte builds, i'll give them specific shout outs as i explain more indepth, please understand this is still very much a WIP. only the geenral stuff and early game on tvz is "complete"

I hope you learn something

Peeka's thoughts and builds.

All the builds in this document assume non stop scv and unit production unless stated other wise.
Basic opening for 1 rax fe into double gas.

12 rax
16 orbital (cut marine production after 1 marine unless its TvP)
16 command center
17 double gas then depot, or vice versa, either is fine.

For TvP

12 rax
16 orbital
16 depot
18 bunker

Terran vs Zerg

+ [General Tips] +

+ [General Stuff & Marine Tank] +

Two main compositions that terran can utilize:

Mech
Bio-Mech
Vs two main midgame zerg styles:
Muta
Infestor

spoiler]

In the current metagame, both of these tech paths involve well upgraded lings, and potentially a few banelings. Muta/Infestor can be called the support tech while lings make up the backbone of the zerg army.

Zerg's aim is to tech to hive without taking (too much) damage from a terran 3 base push. (If terran is still on two base, you don't need to start your hive, if you simply just keep check on his third, while getting your 4th base gases. And you can guarantee a win by simply trading mass ling bling on four base vs two.

On the off chance that they play turtle mech on two base, then tech to hive. No point trying to be agressive vs terran when they're only on two base. (obvious exception being all ins).

Terrans goal on the other hand is to try and deal with bases as they come up, either push the third when its building or before the economy from it kicks in (10 mins), or you take a fast third of your own, either relying on banshees or tank for defence, or no defence at all after scouting that the zerg has given up all of their agressive options (six queen builds).

So two main ways to deal with a zerg third, try to punish it, or take one of your own (the latter being the more favoured option in the current metagame.However the method to deal with zerg taking their hive is much more universal, it is to do a strong push at around ~15minutes (or when 2 2 finishes). The main point of this is to limit the gas income of the zerg player, making their hive tech a lot weaker, and also hamper their ability to strongly switch between the two extremes (ultras and broodlords). Behind this your own fourth should be going up.

When it gets to the late game, your goal is to have the production capability of 2 to 4 reactored starports (4 to 8 vikigns) at anyone time, as well as five techlabbed raxes. As well as a strong back bone of rougly 8 reactored raxes and 3 techlabbed factories, for either ToRs or tanks. From this point, the name of the game is trading cost efficiently while maintaining a good eco behidn it, and hampering zerg's eco with drops.

This is what's considered standard TvZ and is usuallly the game flow (for marine tank), and the key to being good at it is just all around solid mechanics.

+ [Mech play] +

+ [Viable Non-Standard Unit Compositions] +

+ [Early Game] +

+ [Mid Game] +

+ [Late Game] +

Moving into the late game, hopefully you've denied the zergs their 7+ gases, this severely hampers their ability to tech switch like a madman between the two, so you can focus on "countering" one hive tech for the time being. As I've said before, if you were able to severely reduce the muta count <7, then you can start dropping, ALOT. Drops are good vs all zerg hive tech, you usually want to do double drops in pairs, or some variant of a doom drop. Now the key thing about non top tier zerg players, is that they will most probably send their lings and infestors (if they're decent, some anti air) to your double drop/doom drop. Now if they're careless, and you know the general location of their army (usually the focal point of all their bases (e.g. on daybreak its their zelnaga). You know how much time you have, what usually happens is the lings will arrive first, trying to deal with your clumped up marine ball (hopefully against the wall/in a choke) and you will trade really well. Now here you have to make teh decision of whether or not to get out, or just trade effectively and buy time. If there is a massive discrepancy between their anti medivac units arriving, you can pick up, and drop somewhere else safely. If you're doing two kinds of these attacks at once, you severely cut on the ling count, which is the buffer when you need to engage hive tech.

These drops not only let you trade with the zerg as well as buy you time, it also lets you scout the zerg's comp if they are planning to switch, so that you can switch accordingly.

Also note that if you did a massive amount of damage with your 2 2 push, and you're severely ahead all game. A maxed out 200 200 push vs 160 160 zerg, regardless of tech choice, should trade pretty well, and you can pretty much over power the zerg. Zerg hive tech is pretty bad, until the units start to stack up.

Now the optimal number of scvs you want is around 65. So little you ask? Yes, CAUSE WERE MAKING SOME MOTHER ******* MULES, always have 1 cc building at anyone time, if you're maxed you might even make 2 or 3.

So behind all of this relentless agression, you want to make non stop orbitals, as well as get to the desired production. I'm intersted in pro players opinion on this, but i'm starting to think that there is such a thing as "too much production". I think that what you should have is around 15 raxes, 9 reactors 6 techs, 4-5 factories, 3 reactored starports. Because the only "fast" remax unit is lings, the dangerous units won't come after a big trade for atleast a minute. So what i propose is, when you're maxed instead of adding more production, make more OCs, Make some extra pfs near your rally point and frontral bases. And just try to match their tech to yours, while trading better with a strong eco, and you should turn out ahead.

Side note: On your outlying bases, make it a pf, then surround the side not covered by scvs with naked raxes, just to stop the ling surround, if you have the minerals, it might be worth full walling off the pf with raxes and depots. Again, very open to debate this, because imo, if the broodlords are there, you either need your own army, or theres no way you're gonna hold it off. These completely shuts down ling and ultra counters. However its quite mineral heavy. Hence, MAKE SOME OCS MUDDA FUKKA

That's all you need to get GM level TvZ tbh, just strong standard play, WITH LOTS A MULES.

Also, every ORBITAL CONSTANTLY MULING is worth roughly four scvs, if you have something like 6 macro mules, sacrifice 24 scvs, and use that for army supply. Note that if you scan A LOT (WHICH YOU SHOULD), sacrifice maybe two scvs per orbital.

THATS IT FOR GENERAL STUFF, NOW ON TO BUILDS

Terran vs Zerg build orders

+ [Build Orders] +

1 Rax FE
1 1 1 Transitions

Hellion Banshee 3OC
http://www.gosubuilds.com/terran-bui...ellionbanshee/ I feel like this link explains the build and proper transitions very well already, no need for me to do it .
Fake Banshee Hellion Drop (SHOUT OUT TO NvDETH)
Note: Practically auto lose vs roach based zerg all ins.
Now the optimal scenario for this build, is that the zerg scouts a tech starport, and a reactored factory, and he will assume banshees, if he's opening fast third, his response will be to bring all of his queens to the third, (the medivac also comes out 30 seconds earlier, allowing the drop to hit even faster). This will hopefully catch the zerg off guard, or at the very least force them to make spores. Obviously a BoX type build, because this won't work as well the second time. Transitions into 3OC tank play.
Note: you want the zerg to scout you with this build, but not the medivac. (it can be very hit or miss, but a hellion drop by itself is still very strong)
- Same basic opening as hellion banshee build
- Swap the techlab as normal, but make a medivac instead of a banshee (if zerg scouts at this timing, try to let them scout your techlabbed starport but NOT the medivac (you can also research medivac energy) to trick the zerg)
- You should have 6 hellions 1 medivac, drop the zerg's main with four, if undetected, try to drop the other two, if not run in with four (DO NOT LOSE THEM, USE YOUR MEDIVAC). At the same time, you can try to run in with your other two hellions, to potentialy do massive damage at the nat, especially if they pulled everything back to main.
- Lift starport, Land factory on techlab, and start tank production
- Make a viking to kill ovies
- @100% techlab on the rax, lift it and make a techlab of its own to start stim, then combat
- During all of this, @400 mins, make a cc, and then double ebay as your minerals allow.
- Double gas right after double ebay, transition into marine tank
- Add production as necessary
Hellion Banshee Thor 13 minute timing.
This build again tries to take advantage of the fact that hellion banshee is now a really common opening in TvZ, but the follow up that's in the metagame atm is a 3rd OC, in this case however we throw down an armory, two factories, and start double thor production, We finally hit with six thors, BFH, and banshees.
- Same opening as before, but making non stop hellions and banshees.
- As your gas allows, you make 1 armory,
- two more factories
- double gas right after the factories.
- @100% factories 2 techlabs
- @100% armory plus 1 armor
- (Play with the gas timings a bit, I haven't done this build in a while, 3rd and fourth gas timings are a bit forgotten, but you want 400 gas, when you're double factories finish their techlabs.)
- Cut one banshee for BFH
- Cut a few hellions for a third.
- Hit with 6 thors, BFH and banshees.
- Behind the push, get siege, plus 1 mech, and transition to 3 base mech.
The main problem with this build is that it hits at around 13 mins, however you don't have the third OC, to "show" the zerg that you went fast 3OC, if this is the case he might start suggesting something, if he suspects mech, heavy amounts of roaches are not good for you. This is part that gives this build away. But against low amounts of roaches, the build is still insanely strong.
Vs players who went muta ling bling, you should auto win. The only problem with this build is deny the scout post 11 minutes.
But if they have to open muta to clear out your hellion banshee, you've already forced them into an unfavourable tech.

Rax Heavy Play

With regards to these rax heavy play builds, pretty much all of them are better vs heavy queen defence, because they deal vs those a lot better than they do vs tech. Use the same scouting pattern as i mentioned in the early game section, and remember that when speed "should" kick in, is when you're treading dangerous water. However even if they mined gas, but still take a relatively fast third, don't be afraid to poke at it with 12-16 marines, What you shouldn't do however is over commit for too long, stay if you know you can force damage or kill it, if not go home, and wait for stim/medi tech. And if you scout any kind of roach bane all in, rely on your marine numbers, fall back to your nat and make four bunkers.

6 rax all in
This build basically metagames the sixqueen fast third opening, because queen's even in numbers are bad vs marine scv, to deal with any kind of marine scv pull, you need some form of gas tech, whether it be roaches or banelings, or at least speed. by putting their tech so far behind by going sixqueen hatch, this plans to hit right before the zerg gas and eco kicks in.
On maps like daybreak and cloud kingdom (where zergs can put an ovie on the natural cliff to spot army movement), it is imperative that you deny this overlord. But if you do, your build should look identical to normally, move out with three marines, clear the towers, with a massive marine scv pull behind it.
- 1 rax fe
- 3 marines then cut temporarily
- add 5 raxes
- constant marine and scv production
When to hit with this build, like before you should re scout at 630, if you confirm a sixqueen build with a third, you can delay it for an extra minute, and aim to hit right when the hatchery finishes (or when you somehow get scouted), when you deny ovies, only attempt to deny wiht 2 or 3, add a few extra if your raxes are going to be seen. Vs four queen tech, youw ant to hit a lot earlier, you want to hit at around 8 minutes (HIT, NOT MOVE OUT) But vs sixqueen openings, a proper execution of this is extremely hard to hold
3 rax 1 gas tech
Now this is a build that i straight up stole from Mr NvRossi, it is basically "bomber's tvp", so you open with 3 rax 1 gas, and you use it to get combat shielded marines, and hit with around 12 - 13 of them. Pressuring the zerg's third, behind this, you're getting out factory tech, a third cc, and then double ups. The choice of transitioning into mech or bio mech is up to your personal preference, and should depend on the zerg's tech choice.
- 2 rax after fe
- Gas right after 3rd rax
- @25 gas techlab
- @100 gas combat shields
- @400 minerals 3rd cc
- Double gas after CC
- @100 gas fact
- @100 gas double reactor, (around this time, you should be having about 300 mins floating, make two more raxes, and reactor those when they finish)
- @100% fact, reactor and starport
- Double e-bay as the your minerals allow after 4th and 5th rax.
- Heavy marine medivac play off two base, when you get to three, decide on bio or bio mech.
4 rax 2 gas tech
This build was taken from mkp, similar to the three rax tech 1 gas build, however you hit with 16 marines unupgraded, rather than combat shields, and you can just transition into a strong bio play, or strong bio mech play.
- add 3 rax,
- double gas at 550
- double tech labbed,
- stim when tech finishes
- start ebay when stim starts
- plus 1
- combathsields
- factory
- starport and recator fact
- cc as minerals allow
- double gas
- switch to marauder production only after cc and starport
3 rax 1 gas plus 1 3OC (SHOUTOUT TO NvROSSI)
This is my current standard TvZ.
This is a modified version of Rossi's build, but i sneak in plus 1 attack, and hit at 8:40 instead, this variant is VERY strong vs six queen play, the plus 1 and combat both finish at around 840, allowing you to push with roughly 20 marines, zerg's tech shouldn't have kicked in if they go six queen, and if they go four queen, it's down to whether or not you can snipe the banelings that he'll have to try and deal with your shit. Now with this build, if you scout gasless, you start your pressure the moment you have 3 marines, and keep pressuring until you have 20 marines. With your marine rally pressure, also try to force him to transfuse instead of not spreading creep, but never lose a marine unless you traded EXTREMELY well.

Note: NEVER EVER OVER COMMIT, do not go on to creep for more than a few seconds, you can go on creep, get a volley off on a queen, and run away, hopefully this forces some lings. Your goal is to stop them from making only drones, but if you lose your marines, you SEVERELY weaken your 840 push, pressure but don't commit until your gas tech kicks in. This is the ideal situation vs six queen zerg. Vs four queen tech, be a bit more wary, and don't try to kill the third unless you're VERY confident in your baneling focus fire. Transition into 5 rax marine medivac on two base, while you take your third, re search siege mode during this time (you don't necessarily have to use it), when you decide you want tanks, you can start production. And add more facts as necessary.
Two rax after FE
Gas after third rax
@25 gas Engineering Bay
@100 gas plus 1
@25 gas tech lab
@100 gas combat shields
@400 mins 3rd OC
Two refinery after 3rd OC
@100% combat shields stim
@100% plus 1 plus 1 armour
@100 gas factory
@100 gas double reactor
Double barracks during reactor building, reactor when finished
@100% factory, reactor and starport (swap when finishes)
@60% plus 1 armour, second ebay and armoury.
@100% starport, lift factory, make techlab, and research seige.
This is my FAVOURITE build atm, because every zerg and their mother is opening queen heavy, it's strong vs queen openers, you can easily hold off roach bane all ins with bunkers and good micro, and it has a strong midgame with good ups that are either better or keep up with the zerg. this build. Only weakness is it's rough vs four queen tech defense.

Bio Hellion Timing Variants

Polt Plus1 Stim Combat No Medi Timing
Bio Hellion Medivac Timing
MKP Variant.
Bio BFH Timing (possible open for BIO BFH style)

Peek's FUNK builds

CC first 3 rax (SHOUT OUT to XGKingIaguz)
Double armory 18min3-3 Mech
Reaper Hellion Midgame

two marines after fe for a total of 3 (after that cut production)

@ 70% low ground cc, 3 refineries

@100 gas factory

@150 mins 75 gas 3 techlabs

@100% factory, reactor on factory, and starport

make a total of 9 reapers, three waves of production,

four hellions, two waves of production

two medivacs , two waves of production.

pressure at 9 mins with reapper hellion medivas
TRANSITION

Swap factory with barracks

Lift 1 (of the two remaining raxs and make a reactor)

Siege mode and siege tank

double ebay, third cc

4th refinery after 3rd cc

start stim, then combat

production as necessary

+ [things to talk more about] +

Quick Comments

	Nemo:	Awesome ! Where's my +rep already ?
	nirvAnA:	Nice! +1

ToRSpookToR · Mon, 16th-Jul-2012, 9:54 PM

die zerg die!!!

iM yang · Mon, 16th-Jul-2012, 9:59 PM

looks great, with some proper formatting could be a monster of a post, wd

SLCN.CautioN · Mon, 16th-Jul-2012, 9:59 PM

You just made my day

♥!

SanG · Mon, 16th-Jul-2012, 11:39 PM

Very good post. Mech sucks tho, cause roach drop op

**Nemo** · Tue, 17th-Jul-2012, 12:29 AM

Use that: http://www.sc2sea.com/misc.php?do=bbcode

And th tool bar just above of the editing box.

Shieldz · Tue, 17th-Jul-2012, 1:11 AM

looks amazing

ToRSpookToR · Tue, 17th-Jul-2012, 1:19 AM

i held a roach drop.... once....

Theend · Tue, 17th-Jul-2012, 1:23 AM

If a zerg can follow a built order blindly and win, everything is wrong.

ROCCAT_Savior · Tue, 17th-Jul-2012, 1:23 AM

There are 3 styles that you can use against Zerg; Mech, Bio Mech, and Bio, each are strong against different Zerg comps, except Mech which forces one. Bio is strong against infestor play if your consistently attacking; Bio mech ie. marine tank medivac, is strong against ling bling muta, ect ect, to a certain extent it's like a love triangle, except with shit killing shit

Bloodmyst · Tue, 17th-Jul-2012, 9:52 AM

I gotta' say. Nice post man. Interesting read.

Personally, I'm loving pure Bio play in T v Z.

I've found that if your aggressive enough, you can potientally at least limit the gas bank a Zerg would have by the time he hits Hive tech. Multiple times now this has happened, by the time Zerg gets his infestor, brood/ultra composition out.... this is all he has and doesn't have enough gas to resupplement the army.

But I believe it's very dependant on what the Zerg does against Bio. If he delays getting out Hive tech units, I just mix in red flame hellions to supplement my MMM ball to give it that extra AOE. However, if my early - midgame MMM engagments don't exactly end up being as cost effective as I'd like them to be, I transition into MMMG (nukes).

Transitioning into nukes is something which I've only just started to experiment with. At times it has worked out beautifully for me, whereas sometimes it's just worked out horrible. The way I see it, if your going MMM, you already have 3/3 Marauders if he chooses to go Ultra tech. To deal with Brood/Corrupter, for some reason I feel much more comfortable using nukes to deal with this. Broods move so slow that it isn't as difficult to get a direct nuke hit as many think (however, it's still pretty damn hard).

In regards to Marine/Tank, is it only me who feels as though Tanks are just wasted supply as soon as Hive finishes? My problem with Marine/Tank atm is that I feel if you don't hit a nice timing where you do a great amount of damage before Hive tech..... it makes the lategame feel much more difficult.