Starcraft 2 Thoughts: Special Tactics in SPL 2014 Maru vs Super

Link for those that don't want embeded video http://youtu.be/Oxe42fznuXs

Link here to jump right before things start to happen http://youtu.be/Oxe42fznuXs?t=3m26s

I can't say how very much I enjoyed this game, it was exceptional!

Been so long since I have seen a game that I felt was worth a Starcraft 2 Thoughts post.

Really cool game, not simple cheese, I'm not sure it is even an all in, need to do some testing to see if it is.

Go back and watch replay again, note that Protoss is constantly making Probes, found it particularly funny that as one caster is saying this is an "economically light" build Probes are being made.

Though to be fair, hard for the English casters to follow everything since they don't have full access to game, they are basically just viewing what Korean Observer is showing, just like we are, and they aren't always aware when the production or unit tab will be open.

Reason I not sure I would classify this as Cheese, is that IMHO, Cheese relies on not being scouted to be effective.

I doubt think this build relies on that at all, not just because Super won after it was scouted early, but because Probe production was constant.

Also Protoss take Natural during the attack.

Will take some serious testing, but I suspect this build works, at least on this type of map vs Reaper opening, even if Oracle(s) don't do any direct damage at beginning.

It will Pin Terran in their base, also forces minerals into early bunkers and/or Turrets.

I wonder if the strongest Terran defense to this would be to counter attack all in with SCV pull?

Or maybe counter attack with few SCV's to tank for Marines, but not full all in?


I suspect Mines might also be one of the better Terran responses to this if they can make some fast enough, depending on Terran build.

Though full wall off is probably critical as well, part of what made this a game ending attack instead of just gaining a modest advantage, was the fact that a Zealot & Stalker were able to get into the main.

This allowed serious attacks from multiple angles (similar concept to flanking & surrounding), as well as buying time for critical mass of Oracles for the small number of Marines.

Hard to say without some testing, would really like to see Day9 or Artosis work with MVP and go over some of the in house practice and testing of this build.

But really doubt that they would be willing to do that, because it would reveal lot of info to other teams on how they specifically prepare, among other issues.

Really awesome game!

Lot of depth to this game, many things that happened long before actual match.

Really cool!

For more posts like this exploring Strategy & Tactics in SC2 click on the Label: Starcraft 2 Thoughts or for somewhat related posts see Starcraft 2 Skills.

Selected Labels can be found in the Label Cloud at left side of blog, and every blog post has Labels at bottom left of post, so you can easily cross reference topics.

CSL Grand Finals Day 1: Spanishiwa Innovation

Thanks to Thewaldo for the heads up and link!

Many of you have heard of the Spanishiwa build, he calls it the Icefisher build, well here is another example of Spanishiwa's creativity, he reminds me of TLO at times.

The game, cast by Day9, starts at 1hr 29 minute mark here http://www.twitch.tv/cstarleague/b/320173842

For today's games, Day 2 CSL Grand Finals, the stream is http://www.twitch.tv/cstarleague/

Morrow vs Hasuobs

I am definitely on a Morrow kick right now, so here is another Morrow game.

Morrow vs HasuObs, practice game from Red Bull LAN Orlando, cast by djWheat & Day9

A comment with spoiler below VOD



I am really liking Morrow's recent play.

I am big fan of Nydus play, part of the reason I like players like Morrow, Violet, & Zinger, is because they use Nydus play in a sophisticated, thoughtful fashion, not always just trying to sneak a Nydus into the enemy's base.

Morrow really shows that he is thinking about what he is doing with the Nydus in this game, he actually cancels his Nydus in this game to have more resources to defend the big push by HasuObs.

Looking at the Pros and Cons of TvP Mech play VOD's

These are some older games, the VOD are bit over a year old, so this greatly predates Day9's comments on State of the Game # 59 about using Mech vs Protoss.

There should be six VOD's total in this series, if they don't show up after the video finishes you can use this link or this link.

Go Watch Day9's Show, Special Episode #400

http://www.twitch.tv/day9tv

He is doing a special episode about clearing misconceptions!  Very Good!!

<3 Day9

Check out Teamliquid's "This Week in Replays"

If your looking to continually improve your play, then one source of information to keep an eye on is Teamliquid's "This Week in Replays".

Current edition http://www.teamliquidpro.com/news/2011/12/07/this-week-in-replays-15-tyler

If you want to see previous articles click this link http://www.teamliquidpro.com/news & then select "replays" from the leftmost drop down menu.

Starcraft 2 Skills:PvT Warp Prism, SaSe style

[Couple of Edits for Clarity 12/11/2011]

In his written comments for this VOD, Day9 states that "PvT is widely considered to be the hardest matchup in the game."

Note early in the VOD, what Day9 says about getting to a specific look, I think of that as my Goal, Plan, or Strategy, I want to get there no matter what path I have to take to get there.  So the enemy is forced to react to me.

If I can force the game into my Strategy, then I have an advantage, since I have practiced my Plan more than other ways of playing.  Ideally your main opening/build order should force your enemy to play the kind of game you want.  Or failing that, at least prevent enemy from forcing you into your weaker styles of play.


Warp Prism play works to Pin enemy in base like DT or Cloaked Banshee pin the enemy in base.  The Warp Prism is a stronger Pin, because of Warpgate technology, as long as the Warp Prism is kept alive, you can reinforce attack quickly.  And there is always the threat of a Backstab attack. 

It is also the only strong Pinning attack I know that doesn't require gas, SaSe's style does use Sentries, but WhiteRa does Warp Prism play with Zealots.

The mobility of the Prism also allows for warping Zealots in the rear of attacking enemy, allowing Zealots to kill reinforcements, or attack enemy army from rear.  So it provides a defensive Force Multiplyer.

Final point, Drops can follow Phoenix Play as a safe transition to strong Colossus/Zealot late game (Terran will have to make more Vikings than normal, or Thor to counter Phoenix, making Chargelots stronger).

Part 1 below, Part 2, Part 3. My Comments below VOD.



One additional Tactic of Warp Prism play, if you have enough Sentry energy for the number of Force Fields needed, that works well as a follow up to dropping mineral line.  Is to push at the Natural, to draw the enemy to the front, Force Field choke at enemy's Natural so they can't counter attack & Force Field the Ramp [Edited to add "The Ramp" cut it out by accident in a revision, sorry. Cliff], then drop/elevator/warp into the main with the Warp Prism.

This is more difficult to do, but it is stronger because of that complexity.  It also has elements of Yin/Yang, which I find appealing.  You show an attack to the enemy to provoke a response, then fade away from it and attack enemy where he is weak.  Or another way of thinking of it, from Martial Arts, is attacking enemy where they are weak.

By poking at the front, you will be forcing enemy to respond to you the way you want to, so you are controlling the enemy.  If they refuse to be drawn, you can simply attack the Natural while Force Fielding the Ramp, the standard play.

You can also try as a fallback plan if you attack the Natural, but the enemy's army is to strong, and you advanced to far (overextended attack) to retreat.  Not likely to work, but if your going to lose your units anyway, it may be worth trying.

That is very difficult to pull off, I don't recommend trying it on purpose though, unless your High  Masters or above.  Rather it is just attempting to make the best of a bad situation.  Zealots are very good at killing workers, and take time to kill.

A Partial Answer to SOTG #59 TvP Mech play: NEXSickness vs Tobacco [PvT]

If you haven't seen or listened (VOD or mp3) to latest SOTG #59 you should
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/State-Of-The-Game/~3/SAB0di_zuvU/sotg-ep59.html

Around the halfway point of the cast Artosis and Day9 start talking about how they would like to see Terran try Mech vs Protoss.  Incontrol didn't seem to think that was a very viable concept, I agree with Incontrol on this topic.  I think this game featuring NEXSickness vs Tobacco [PvT]cast by Duckvillelol covers pretty much all of the ideas Artosis & Day9 had for Terran to try including early Hellion, tanks, & even Raven & Banshee.

Day9 Number 100, Day9's Autobiography of his Starcraft life

Everyone into Starcraft should see this VOD from Day9, for more Day9 check out his links http://www.youtube.com/user/day9tv or http://day9.tv/ or http://twitter.com/#!/day9tv

GSPA -Bo5 SlayerSRyung vs Stephano cast by Day9 & Husky

"VERY PEOPLE GAMING TIME"

This game was cast in September I believe, not sure when it was played (cast from Replay AFAIK), looks like Stephano had not quite refined his build and strategy at the time this was played.

Day9 Trivia, this is the series were Day9 just talked and with his mouth full of water because Husky left him hanging.

This was from the GSPA event, they have replays and more on their webpage.




Game 2

Game 3

Game 4

Game 5

Day[9]TV new & improved!

Check out Day[9]TV! If you haven't recently DayJ has really jazzed up the site. Looks lot better.

If your new to Starcraft 2 & don't know who Day9 is the way I describe him to people familiar to American Football [NFL football, not what is called Soccer in the US] is that he is the John Madden of SC2.