• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 04:42
CEST 10:42
KST 17:42
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
RSL Season 1 - Final Week6[ASL19] Finals Recap: Standing Tall15HomeStory Cup 27 - Info & Preview18Classic wins Code S Season 2 (2025)16Code S RO4 & Finals Preview: herO, Rogue, Classic, GuMiho0
Community News
Weekly Cups (July 14-20): Final Check-up0Esports World Cup 2025 - Brackets Revealed19Weekly Cups (July 7-13): Classic continues to roll8Team TLMC #5 - Submission re-extension4Firefly given lifetime ban by ESIC following match-fixing investigation17
StarCraft 2
General
Who will win EWC 2025? Weekly Cups (July 14-20): Final Check-up Team TLMC #5 - Submission re-extension Geoff 'iNcontroL' Robinson has passed away Program: SC2 / XSplit / OBS Scene Switcher
Tourneys
Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament Sea Duckling Open (Global, Bronze-Diamond) FEL Cracov 2025 (July 27) - $8000 live event RSL: Revival, a new crowdfunded tournament series $5,100+ SEL Season 2 Championship (SC: Evo)
Strategy
How did i lose this ZvP, whats the proper response
Custom Maps
External Content
Mutation # 483 Kill Bot Wars Mutation # 482 Wheel of Misfortune Mutation # 481 Fear and Lava Mutation # 480 Moths to the Flame
Brood War
General
Corsair Pursuit Micro? BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ BW General Discussion Pro gamer house photos Flash Announces (and Retracts) Hiatus From ASL
Tourneys
The Casual Games of the Week Thread BWCL Season 63 Announcement CSL Xiamen International Invitational [Megathread] Daily Proleagues
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers I am doing this better than progamers do.
Other Games
General Games
[MMORPG] Tree of Savior (Successor of Ragnarok) Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Path of Exile Nintendo Switch Thread CCLP - Command & Conquer League Project
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread The Games Industry And ATVI Stop Killing Games - European Citizens Initiative
Fan Clubs
SKT1 Classic Fan Club! Maru Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece Korean Music Discussion [\m/] Heavy Metal Thread
Sports
2024 - 2025 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 NBA General Discussion
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Ping To Win? Pings And Their…
TrAiDoS
momentary artworks from des…
tankgirl
from making sc maps to makin…
Husyelt
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 614 users

comprehensive protoss opening guide for sc2

Blogs > t3tsubo
Post a Reply
t3tsubo
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
Canada682 Posts
August 19 2010 07:25 GMT
#1
So this is what I'm working on right now, it is unfinished so I'm posting it here before posting it in the strategy section. I plan to add youtube videos of all the openings and their variations when I am done as well. Please critique and help me make this guide truly comprehensive! This is what I have so far:

==============================================

Comprehensive Guide to Protoss Openings

--------------------------------

The Standard:
9 pylon, CB probes 11 and 12
12 gate scout
14 gas
16 pylon
17 core
(optional) 18 zealot

This is the standard protoss opening against a non early aggression/all in build. It unlocks tier 2 tech and the all important warpgate upgrade as fast as possible without cutting probes, except for a short amount of time after the 12 gate (less than 5 sec usually)

Deviations:
9 pylon scout, CB probes 11 and 12
13 gate
...
This is done against random players and can be done if you expect cheese, or simply if you want to get a scout in an opponents base as early as possible. The 9 scout can usually hide in the terran base on a 2 player map if the terran does not wall off, making an in base proxy pylon a possibility.

9 pylon, CB probes 11 and 12
CB probes 13 and 14
14 gate, CB probes 15 and 16
15 gas
17 pylon
18 core

The HuK opening, maximizes probe production by using all the CB on probes and having 0 stop in probe production time. This makes dealing with cheese/all-ins very difficult, so it is not recommended in ladder

All-in defence
An All-in is usually scouted after your gas has started building, or it has just finished.

Against proxy reaper, CB a zealot out and continue the build as normal, using the zealot plus 3 or so probes to chase the reaper. If he is building a bunker, chase the reaper with 4 or so probes while the zealot hits the SCV building the bunker. CB the stalker to shut down the all in.

Against proxy 2 gate or 2 gate zealot push, add a second gateway before cybercore, and CB zealots constantly, keeping an eye on your food so that you never get supply blocked. Only start mining gas when you are sure you can match his zealot count. If You are more confident in your micro and your base is open, then you can start mining gas as normal, or with only 2 probes so that you can get a stalker out to support your zealots and allow you to kite for free damage.

Against 6 pool, it is important to note that you should always wall of your ramp with 1 space for a zealot to block. On a small map like steppes, the 6 lings WILL get into your base before your first zealot comes out, unless you scouted at 9 and threw down a 10/11 gate in response to seeing it early. The key is to minimize the amount of disruption those lings 6 lings will cause, while blocking off your ramp with a hold position zealot to prevent more lings from coming in. Usually putting 2 or so probes hold position in the choke can buy enough time for a second zealot to come out and deny entry, while the first zealot goes about killing the lings attacking your mineral line. It is VERY important to place your second pylon so that it can power the gateway, and if you see the 6 lings attempting to kill the pylon, bring along 3 or so probes to back up your zealot to ensure it does not get surrounded and killed.

Against proxy 2 rax in base bunker
2nd gate up asap, but keep a few probes on gas to get out a stalker as early as possible. Try prevent the bunker from being built, and bring probes you chase marines. The priority is still denying the bunker.

Against cannon rush
Immediately scout base, or if you notice an early early scout then immediately follow it around with a probe. Once a pylon is put down pull 4 probes to attack it, being careful to micro the probes so the scouting probes is not able to pick one off. If a pylon is already built, then do the same for the cannons. It is advisable to put down a second gateway to double zealot production in order to the cannons more easily and make an insta-win counter attack possible.

----------------------------------------

The 10 Gate
CB probes 9 and 10
10 pylon
10 gate scout

I first learned of this build from BigT, and it serves 3 purposes that makes it a very useful tool in ladder. First, it allows early aggression and map control with fast zealots, secondly it is very strong against all types of early cheese, and thirdly, it allows slightly faster tech. The trade off is a weaker economy – especially if you fast tech because even more probes will have to be cut.

Follow-throughs:

12 gate
16 zealot
18 pylon
20 zealot, zealot
(optional) push
(optional) 24 pylon
(optional) 26 zealot zealot
(optional) 30 push

This early aggression works well against a greedy zerg player, and against a toss player who is teching without building a early zealot. By waiting until 5 zealots to push, you can effectively hide the fact that you are going for an all in by skipping the 3 zealot timing attack. Letting that timing pass can trick opponents into loosening their defence production

12 gas
15 core
(optional) 16 gas
17 pylon
This fast tech lets you transition into the earliest possible 1 immortal push or proxy voidray strike. It is extremely vulnerable to early aggression, as you are not building an army. This is also the opening used to do the Korean 4 warpgate all in, with CB saved for warp tech and probes stopping gas mining after 52 minerals. If doing that strategy, forego the 17 pylon to get a faster 18 gate,gate,gate.

Deviations:

6 scout
10 proxy pylon
10 proxy gateway
12 proxy gateway, stop probe production
12 CB zealot
14 CB zealot zealot
18 pylon
19 CB zealot zealot

10 gate is also the method to most effectively proxy 2 gate

-----------------------------------------------

The Fast Expand
... not done yet



*****
houck
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
United Kingdom102 Posts
August 19 2010 07:43 GMT
#2
I really like this good guide, I'd like to see the Fast Expand part
"If I don't lose! I'll win!" - Trump
FuRong
Profile Joined April 2010
New Zealand3089 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-08-19 09:19:15
August 19 2010 08:00 GMT
#3
I dunno if you can stop proxy two gate with a second gateway and CB alone. Gateways take an eternity to build, and every time I try to match them on Zealots I always get overwhelmed and lose...

Even if you scout on 9 on a map like Scrap Station, by the time your Probe reaches their base and sees nothing their gates are practically already finished. My reaction is to immediately cut probes and throw down a Forge then Core to complete a wall-off, so you can get a Cannon up before they are able to break through (this is assuming the proxy is somewhere outside your base and not inside it, obviously).

Edit: I'm not trying to pick holes in your guide, I think most of it is very good
Don't hate the player, hate the game
scrdmnttr
Profile Joined May 2010
United States96 Posts
August 19 2010 08:07 GMT
#4
Very well done. Bravo. This will help spice up people's P game
t3tsubo
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
Canada682 Posts
August 19 2010 23:00 GMT
#5
Thanks for the ideas. As for stopping proxy 2 gate, I've dealt with it using my method, but I'll add yours too into the guide. The problem is, if it IS in base, then the forge and cannons do nothing.
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 1d 1h
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
Nina 254
ProTech68
StarCraft: Brood War
Shuttle 2072
GuemChi 423
Zeus 243
ToSsGirL 171
Leta 97
soO 97
Backho 62
Mind 53
Shinee 48
Soma 46
[ Show more ]
Sharp 25
ajuk12(nOOB) 18
Free 13
Bale 5
Dota 2
XcaliburYe307
Fuzer 203
League of Legends
JimRising 665
Counter-Strike
Stewie2K1360
Super Smash Bros
Westballz37
Other Games
ceh9538
Happy258
NeuroSwarm93
SortOf86
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick1962
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 15 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH313
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• lizZardDota2124
League of Legends
• Stunt1175
• HappyZerGling79
Other Games
• WagamamaTV191
Upcoming Events
Esports World Cup
1d 1h
ByuN vs Astrea
Lambo vs HeRoMaRinE
Clem vs TBD
Solar vs Zoun
SHIN vs Reynor
Maru vs TriGGeR
herO vs Lancer
Cure vs ShoWTimE
Esports World Cup
2 days
Esports World Cup
3 days
Esports World Cup
4 days
CranKy Ducklings
5 days
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
5 days
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
5 days
Bonyth vs Sziky
Dewalt vs Hawk
Hawk vs QiaoGege
Sziky vs Dewalt
Mihu vs Bonyth
Zhanhun vs QiaoGege
QiaoGege vs Fengzi
FEL
6 days
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
6 days
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
6 days
Bonyth vs Zhanhun
Dewalt vs Mihu
Hawk vs Sziky
Sziky vs QiaoGege
Mihu vs Hawk
Zhanhun vs Dewalt
Fengzi vs Bonyth
Liquipedia Results

Completed

CSL Xiamen Invitational
Championship of Russia 2025
Murky Cup #2

Ongoing

Copa Latinoamericana 4
Jiahua Invitational
BSL20 Non-Korean Championship
CC Div. A S7
Underdog Cup #2
FISSURE Playground #1
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 7
IEM Dallas 2025
PGL Astana 2025
Asian Champions League '25

Upcoming

CSLPRO Last Chance 2025
CSLPRO Chat StarLAN 3
BSL Season 21
RSL Revival: Season 2
SEL Season 2 Championship
uThermal 2v2 Main Event
FEL Cracov 2025
Esports World Cup 2025
HCC Europe
ESL Pro League S22
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
IEM Cologne 2025
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.