Protoss Strategy

From Liquipedia Starcraft Wiki

Contents 1 Overview 2 General Concepts and Techniques 3 Matchup Guides 4 Matchup Strategies 4.1 PvZ Builds 4.2 PvT Builds 4.3 PvP Builds 5 Matchup Techniques 5.1 PvZ Techniques 5.2 PvT Techniques 5.3 PvP Techniques

[edit] Overview

This article depicts how the Protoss Strategy information is organized in Liquipedia.

[edit] General Concepts and Techniques

Some concepts and techniques are relevant to every race. Those can be found on top of the Strategy Overview page. They cover concepts from outside the game such as How to practice, meta-game concepts such as Threat, as well as general considerations like The Importance of Upgrades, or basic unit management techniques like Drop Techniques, Sliding Through Mineral Lines, and Magic Boxes.

[edit] Matchup Guides

The Protoss Strategies are split into the three matchups, Protoss vs. Zerg (PvZ), Protoss vs. Terran (PvT) and Protoss vs. Protoss (PvP). For each of the three, a matchup guide and a timing page exist. The matchup guide leads you through the most common openings while the timing page indicates windows of opportunity or weakness that may arise through the build you choose. Therefore, the Guides for PvZ, PvT, PvP, as well as the Timings for PvZ, PvT, PvP are a good point to start off with.

[edit] Matchup Strategies

Since the Guide articles only go into medium detail, there exist a plenitude of articles covering individual builds. Those again are separated into the three matchups.

[edit] PvZ Builds

See also: Category:PvZ Builds and Protoss vs. Zerg Guide

The most aggressive opener is the classic 2 Gateway Opening. The alternative is fast expanding with the aid of a Forge and creating a narrow choke point at your natural (called "walling" and referred to as "Sim-City"). From there, several branches split off: The most basic is using a Citadel of Adun and several Gateways for a so-called +1 Speedzeal Rush, that hits just when the +1 Ground Weapon Upgrade and the Zealot Legspeed Upgrade are done. More complex ones involve getting a Stargate and a Corsair to scout. These branch off into

1. Openings that employ Templar Tech: Bisu Build, Corsair/Dark Templar, and 4 Gate 2 Archon
2. Openings that employ Robotics Tech: Corsair/Reaver
3. Openings that employ Early Timing Windows to achieve a compromise between Stargate builds and +1 Speedzeal rushes

There is also an "old school" 1 base Tech opening, focused either on Corsair/Dark Templar harass while expanding, +1 attack speed Zealot rush into Zealot/Templar/Archon army, Reaver Drop with Dragoon support or 3 Gate Dragoon exotic rush. Finally, there are lategame options such as Corsair/Carrier

[edit] PvT Builds

See also: Category:PvT Builds and Protoss vs. Terran Guide

Protoss vs. Terran can be played very agressively with a 2 Gate Opening. The most greedy build, the 14 Nexus, involves getting a Nexus even before the first Gateway. The most commonly used Build Orders open with Dragoons. The essential opener is the 1 Gateway Cybernetics Core, that continues into any of 2 Gate Goon or one of the Dark Templar techs, with Drop or without.

[edit] PvP Builds

See also: Category:PvP Builds and Protoss vs. Protoss Guide

This matchup revolves heavily around Dragoons in the early and midgame. Still there are options between the very aggressive 2 Gate, the passive 1 Gate Core, and the more cheesy variants such as 4 Gate Goon, 2 Gate DT, or 3 Gate Speedzeal.

[edit] Matchup Techniques

For each matchup, mastering some micromanagement techniques and learning basic moves of adaptation is vital. We cover both of them as Techniques. All Protoss Matchups benefit from knowing How to use Reavers well, especially PvT and PvP. As a harassment technique, Storm Drops are highly effective.

[edit] PvZ Techniques

Against Zerg, creating a proper Forge Wall-in is essential for standard play. You might also have to fight a Lurker Contain.

[edit] PvT Techniques

Against Terran, the most necessary techniques are used when the Terran sets up a Push. These are Push Breaking, Zealot Bombing, and Mine Dragging. If you want to be aggressive before Observers come out, you might want to learn Mine Defusing without Observers. If you opt for a fast expansion, you may need to deal with a 2 Factory Push. You will most likely want to know the considerations of using Recall effectively to deny the Terran expansions or destroy his factories in the mid to late game

[edit] PvP Techniques

Here army positioning is especially important.

Any sort of all in fast aggressive play in this matchup is quite unorthodox, so generally no defensive Wall-in is required. Players will tend to build few Zealots early on, and tech to Dragoons early.

In PvP games, the Reaver will become the players most crucial unit. It is an ideal counter to the large Dragoon army which each player will most likely have. It is key that Reavers are controlled and microed correctly with a Shuttle. The key technique here is to drop the Reaver at maximum range, so that it can fire its Scarab to deal splash damage to the enemy, and get it back inside the Shuttle before it takes fire from enemy units. It is possible for a player to load the Reaver into the Shuttle whilst an enemy Reaver's Scarab is traveling to the opponent's Reaver.

Players will often opt to build Observers early too, so that they may gain an advanced insight into their opponents build order / strategy. If this situation arises, players will often attempt to 'snipe' each others Observers with their own Observer and Dragoon combination.