Protoss Strategy

Protoss Strategies

Matchups:	PvZ, PvT, PvP
Type:	Racial Overview Page

Overview

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

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.

Matchup Guides

The Protoss Strategies are split into the three match-ups, Protoss vs. Zerg (PvZ), Protoss vs. Terran (PvT) and Protoss vs. Protoss (PvP). For each of the three, a match-up guide and a timing page exist. The match-up 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.

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 match-ups.

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

PvT Builds

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

Protoss vs. Terran can be played very aggressively 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.

PvP Builds

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

This match-up 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 aggressive variants such as 4 Gate Goon, 2 Gate DT, or 3 Gate Speedzeal.

Matchup Techniques

For each match-up, mastering some micromanagement techniques and learning basic moves of adaptation is vital. In all match-ups, Protoss players benefit from knowing how to use Reavers, and High Templars for both harassment and as part of the main army. Unit control and building placement can be critical, as in the case of Protoss wall-ins against Zerg or AI Pylons against Protoss and Terran.

PvZ Techniques

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

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

PvP Techniques

Here army positioning is especially important.

Any sort of all in fast aggressive play in this match-up 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 a 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 other's Observers with their own Observer and Dragoon combination.