3 Gate Void Ray All-In

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This strategy is not used in competetive play anymore.

3 Gate Void Ray All-In

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Matchups:	PvT
Type:	All-In
Popularized By:	MC, Genius

[edit] Overview

This build opens with a fast, proxy Stargate so that Void Rays can be produced to harass a Terran's buildings, units and mineral line. The high-ground vision given by the Void Rays allows Stalkers to attack the Terran's wall-off (if they elected to make one), or to otherwise harrass any buildings that are too close to cliff-edges. Although it is possible to transition into an expansion, this build is an all-in as it will put you behind if you do not do enough damage with your attack.

[edit] Goal

Harass with Void Rays to force Marine production and then pick them off with Stalkers by abusing cliff-edges.

[edit] Basic Build Order

Basic Build
9 Pylon^[1] 12 Gateway 14 Assimilator 16 Pylon 17 Cybernetics Core 19 Assimilator (2) 19 Zealot @100% Cybernetics Core: Warpgate Research, Stalker^[2] 24 Pylon^[3] 27 Stargate^[4] @100% Stalker: Sentry 30 2x Gateway^[5] Cut Probe Production At 23 Probes @100% Stargate: Void Ray^[6] @100% Void Ray: Void Ray (2) 33 Pylon^[7] 1st Warp-In: 2 Stalkers, 1 Zealot 2nd Warp-In: 3 Stalkers Only Warp-In Stalkers From This Point Forward
↑ Chrono boost Probes three times when this finishes. ↑ Chrono boost the Stalker. ↑ Place this Pylon at a proxy location near the opponent's base. ↑ Place this by the proxy Pylon. ↑ Warpgate Research should finish in line with these Gateways. ↑ Chrono boost out this Void Ray. ↑ Place this in a proxy location closer to the opponent's ramp.

[edit] Notes

After the second Void Ray, the Protoss player should pause Void Ray production to save gas for further warp-in cycles.

[edit] Scouting

This build has very little opportunity for deviation and that is part of why it is an all-in. If you scout signs of a 1/1/1 before you have committed to the build (which occurs when you place the Stargate), it can be a better choice to instead attempt a 1 Gate FE and move into the mid-game.

[edit] Execution

If the enemy has not expanded to their natural expansion, then use the Void Ray(s) to spot the enemy's high-ground and to hit the Terran where their base is weakest.
- If the Terran player has decided to wall-off their main ramp, Void Rays and Stalkers can be used to destroy the wall from range before moving in with Zealots. This is a good strategy because Void Rays and Stalkers will often out-range the Terran's defensive units.
- If the enemy's mineral line is close to a ledge (for instance, Metalopolis), then Void Rays can be used to safely kill the enemy's workers and to draw their units away from their ramp, which may allow you to attack up the ramp more easily.
If the enemy has a bunkered natural expansion, then you should use a low ground Pylon and the Void Ray's vision to warp Zealots into their main base. This will draw units away from their Bunkers, allowing you to go for a frontal attack with your remaining units and Void Rays. Alternatively, you can use force fields to prevent the Terran units defending their main base, allowing your Zealots and Void Rays to quickly kill a number of enemy workers/buildings.
Conserve units at all costs. When a unit has lost its shields, pull it back. This is especially true for Void Rays.

[edit] Maps

[edit] Pro Features

This build is best used on maps that have main bases with large cliff areas. This is because the Void Ray's high-ground vision can give a large selection of targets for low-ground Stalkers to hit.
Maps with items that can be used to charge up the Void Rays (Statues, Rocks, Neutral Depots, etc.) can help make this build hit harder, charging up the Void Ray before attacking is incredibly advantageous.

[edit] Con Features

Maps where the main bases do not have cliffs with accessible low ground near them.
Tal'Darim Altar is an especially bad map to use this build on as there is no ramp between the main-base and the natural expansion.