Deep Six (vs. Protoss)

Deep Six

Matchups:	TvP
Type:	Opening
Creator:	Heartcutter
Popularized By:	Unknown

Overview

The Deep Six TvP build is an all-in timing attack with Medics and Marines out of six Barracks in addition to Siege Tanks out of two factories. The name either refers to the number of barracks or the colloquial expression deep-six which means "to an unrecoverable depth": if the push fails to outright win the game, the Terran will not have the necessary Factory count or upgrades to stay in the late-game. The timing it aims for is when the Protoss player either cuts units for fast two base arbiters or a quick third; similar to a 6 Fac Timing Push, but slightly faster.

In modern professional games the Deep Six is rarely seen anymore. Protoss players have become better at cutting probes after taking a third to place more gates and generally are less vulnerable to two base allins. Concealing the build is also quite difficult; even if they do not spot the mass rax, Protoss players will become suspicious when the Terran player doesn't attempt vulture harass. In the few instances it was used during the 09-10 season, Terrans adapted to the faster Protoss third base by using either 4 or 5 barracks instead of 6.

Build Order

Prerequisites

• Open by taking your natural with either the Siege Expand or the 1 Rax FE

Next steps

• Natural gas @%100 natural CC
• 2nd Factory with addon, constant Tank production
• Engineering Bay
• Academy
• Turret ring
• 4-6 Barracks
• Stim and Range @%100 Academy
• +1 Infantry Armor @100% Engineering Bay

Notes

It is key that the Protoss does not scout the build until you push out. You should ideally plan a turret ring around the location of your barracks, as well as academy and engineering bay since normally Terran will not research anything at them; see Best vs Classic for an example sim city. It's possible to skimp on turrets and proxy or hide the barracks, but it's also riskier. Float your first barracks near your other rax, and keep all your infantry rallied inside your base. Normally, the Protoss army at this point in the game will consist of mainly Dragoons, since the Protoss will be expecting to face a normal Tank/Vulture army. Deep Six takes advantage of this, since the combination of Marine/Medic/Tank is stronger against Dragoons than Vulture/Tank. However, if a Protoss scouts this, they can prepare by either adding Templar tech or Reavers. The +1 armor for the Marines is so an unupgraded DT won't oneshot the marines.

Push right after their third base completes or before stasis is ready. The key is that you need to use your M&M to be able to create a covering army for your Tanks. The stimmed Marines supported by Medics also put out very high damage per second (DPS) to the Zealots and Dragoons, and this also creates a more mobile force. If Protoss is able to delay you too long with dragoon micro, they will be able to finish storm or reavers or add enough gateways to shut down the deep-six.

Mentality

This build is an all-in build, which means that you need to be able to do significant damage with the push to win, e.g. killing their natural and third. It requires significant speed to execute since clumped marines are quickly dispatched by Reavers or Storm.

Countered By

Hard Counters

• Fast Storm
• Reaver openings - especially if the Reaver wasn't killed during the initial harass

Counter To

Soft Counters

• Fast third
• 2 base Arbiters

Notable Maps

Strong

This build is good on any map that has short pathing distances such as Medusa or at close positions in general, as well as sufficient space to hide all the barracks.

Weak

Maps with many ridges or chokes such as Sin Peaks of Baekdu or Heartbreak Ridge

Notable Games

VODs

• Forgg vs Kal Arena MSL Ro32 on Tiamat
• Flash vs SangHo Shinhan Winners' League on Andromeda
• Bisu vs go.go Bacchus OSL Ro16 on Return of the King
• BeSt vs Classic @ SKT vs eSTRO Set 3 - A variation with 5 barracks and Firebats.
• NATE MSL 09 Ro32 Group A - Winner's Match, BeSt vs ForGG - Example of a failed Deep Six push.
• Best vs Midas @ SPL Playoffs - Another failed Deep Six vs Best with 4 barracks.
• Infernal vs Terran - 5 rax version used in the TSL2 on Andromeda

Sources

1. http://www.battlereports.com/viewreports.php?reportnum=1633