This site has been good to me, and I was planning to make an extensive blogpost; but seeing as how I have just finished a paper a few minutes ago, and have to do another for the rest of the week/weekend; the last thing I want to do is write a gigantic blogpost.
So I will be sharing something simpler, my notes--which tend to be meticulous--on the HerOic FFE; and it's many variations, something I have been doing/taking notes on in my build order notebook for some time now. It's a build I have grown quite fond of. So without further adieu:
Overview
Build originally started by Liquid'HerO, who did a fast +1 zealot pressure @8:00 to punish Zergs who drone to hard; though at this point there are many different ways to do it, as it is a very explored build.
All varients--unless stated otherwise--are assumed to have:
-FFE opener
-Fast 2 gas after gateway
-Fast +1
-Fast 4 warpgates
Therefor, the only points of variation are:
-The early units constructed out of the gateway
-The early tech outside of the +1 attack and 4 gates
-The followup to the build, and gameplan going with that
Original Rendition
+ Show Spoiler +
Detailed in this guide by Alejandrisha:
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=287970
[Early units]
-Fast sentries
**Though this is the safest option, it is also rather archaic; if you want to be aggressive, CB out stalkers instead.
[Primary Modifications]
While gates are constructing
-2 gas (for total of 4)
-Robotics Facility
-Twilight Council
-add sentries, as you will accumulate a sizable gas surplus with 4 gases while making zealots. You can use these defensively or aggressively in conjunction with a warp prism
- add more gateways (bring yourself up to 5 or 6 unless your preparing for a GW all-in, in which 7-8 would be more appropriate)
- begin immortal production if you are afraid of roaches
- begin blink research if you are afraid of mutas
- begin a dark shrine
- begin a warp prism
- begin a templar archives for archons or storm/feedback
- begin plans to take a 3rd
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=287970
[Early units]
-Fast sentries
**Though this is the safest option, it is also rather archaic; if you want to be aggressive, CB out stalkers instead.
[Primary Modifications]
While gates are constructing
-2 gas (for total of 4)
-Robotics Facility
-Twilight Council
-add sentries, as you will accumulate a sizable gas surplus with 4 gases while making zealots. You can use these defensively or aggressively in conjunction with a warp prism
- add more gateways (bring yourself up to 5 or 6 unless your preparing for a GW all-in, in which 7-8 would be more appropriate)
- begin immortal production if you are afraid of roaches
- begin blink research if you are afraid of mutas
- begin a dark shrine
- begin a warp prism
- begin a templar archives for archons or storm/feedback
- begin plans to take a 3rd
JYP Blink Rendition
+ Show Spoiler +
As seen at MLG Winter 2012 Championship in his series versus DRG:
http://sc2casts.com/cast7911-JYP-vs-Dongraegu-Best-of-3-MLG-Winter-Championship-Pool-play#
[Early Units]
-2 zealots
**send them out to attack in time with the 4 zealot warpin
-then sentries (usually 1-2 before WG is done)
[Primary Modifications]
-a TC while the gateways are constructing
**In the first game in the series he adds a Stargate after the +1, then 3 gates; which he proceeded to do a Zealot/voidray pressure with.
-Clear way for third
-+2 attack when that is done
**+3 Directly afterwords
-Blink
-3 Gates
-Hallu
-Stalkers
-3rd Base
**timing may change based on how the game is going, alternatively, you could add on up to 8 gates and do a blink allin with a fast +3 attack Just try to CB
-Cannons to secure the third
-Robo
http://sc2casts.com/cast7911-JYP-vs-Dongraegu-Best-of-3-MLG-Winter-Championship-Pool-play#
[Early Units]
-2 zealots
**send them out to attack in time with the 4 zealot warpin
-then sentries (usually 1-2 before WG is done)
[Primary Modifications]
-a TC while the gateways are constructing
**In the first game in the series he adds a Stargate after the +1, then 3 gates; which he proceeded to do a Zealot/voidray pressure with.
-Clear way for third
-+2 attack when that is done
**+3 Directly afterwords
-Blink
-3 Gates
-Hallu
-Stalkers
-3rd Base
**timing may change based on how the game is going, alternatively, you could add on up to 8 gates and do a blink allin with a fast +3 attack Just try to CB
-Cannons to secure the third
-Robo
Axslav's Fast 3rd variation
+ Show Spoiler +
As seen on iSAslav's stream 3/30/12
Only use this on maps with easy thirds that can be secured with a few walled off gates
[Early Units]
-Zealot
-Stalker
-Zealot
**send ta probe with the first zealot/stalker--only pressure if you can get the pylon down
[Primary Modifications]
-robo after the 4 gates
-3rd nexus
-warpin of sentries
-gates to secure expo
Only use this on maps with easy thirds that can be secured with a few walled off gates
[Early Units]
-Zealot
-Stalker
-Zealot
**send ta probe with the first zealot/stalker--only pressure if you can get the pylon down
[Primary Modifications]
-robo after the 4 gates
-3rd nexus
-warpin of sentries
-gates to secure expo
Updated HerO rendition
+ Show Spoiler +
Seen in the IPL ToC Game 3 v ZENEXLife
[Early Units]
-Zealot
-Stalker
-Stalker
[Primary Modifications]
-3rd gas after gates
-Armor after attack
-if you can't get a proxy pylon down throw down a robo and a fast third
-warp prism once robo is done (unless you really need and immortal
-Follow up with robo bay
-add lots of cannons if you need to hold aggression
[Early Units]
-Zealot
-Stalker
-Stalker
[Primary Modifications]
-3rd gas after gates
-Armor after attack
-if you can't get a proxy pylon down throw down a robo and a fast third
-warp prism once robo is done (unless you really need and immortal
-Follow up with robo bay
-add lots of cannons if you need to hold aggression
Fast Third with Sentries
+ Show Spoiler +
Seen in G1 of Hasuobs v Dimaga at W1 D2 of the NASL
Only to be used if the third base is fairly easy to secure
He essentially got the 4 gates and followed with a 3rd and Hallu before the first warpin; he then got a fast blink and secured the third with gateways and cannons
[Early Units]
Just sentries, use them to secure the third.
[Primary Modifications]
-3rd Gas
-The 3 Gates
-Hallu
-+1 attack; fast +3 unless stated otherwise
**pump atk ups
-TC
-3rd Nexus
-add stalkers after 6 sentries
-Blink
-secure 3rd, add 3-4 gates
-Robo (for obs)
-Colossus (unless muta, then templar)
Only to be used if the third base is fairly easy to secure
He essentially got the 4 gates and followed with a 3rd and Hallu before the first warpin; he then got a fast blink and secured the third with gateways and cannons
[Early Units]
Just sentries, use them to secure the third.
[Primary Modifications]
-3rd Gas
-The 3 Gates
-Hallu
-+1 attack; fast +3 unless stated otherwise
**pump atk ups
-TC
-3rd Nexus
-add stalkers after 6 sentries
-Blink
-secure 3rd, add 3-4 gates
-Robo (for obs)
-Colossus (unless muta, then templar)
Stalker Pressure
+ Show Spoiler +
As seen in ViBE v MaNa game 1 in the NASL S3 W1 D3:
Only first warp-in is zealots, the rest are stalkers; pressure is more commited and has a blink follow-up pressure; not a two base allin, third goes down during blink pressure
[Early units]
-Zealot
**immediately send the zealot to the towers/on a scouting mission
-Stalker
**Advance towards proxy plyon location with a probe, use the stalker to cover
-sentry
[Primary Modifications]
-3rd gas after sentry
-1 zealot warpin
-add a TC
-Continuous stalker warp-ins
**pressure the third heavily, and research blink; produce off the 4 gates constantly
-add on 2 more gates if money piles
-add 4th gas after some stalker pressure; then some sentries
-add third; continue to pressure
-Transitions to Blink-stalker colossuss once on three base.
Only first warp-in is zealots, the rest are stalkers; pressure is more commited and has a blink follow-up pressure; not a two base allin, third goes down during blink pressure
[Early units]
-Zealot
**immediately send the zealot to the towers/on a scouting mission
-Stalker
**Advance towards proxy plyon location with a probe, use the stalker to cover
-sentry
[Primary Modifications]
-3rd gas after sentry
-1 zealot warpin
-add a TC
-Continuous stalker warp-ins
**pressure the third heavily, and research blink; produce off the 4 gates constantly
-add on 2 more gates if money piles
-add 4th gas after some stalker pressure; then some sentries
-add third; continue to pressure
-Transitions to Blink-stalker colossuss once on three base.
HerO's 1 Gas Rendition
+ Show Spoiler +
Seen on EGMCSL S7 in HerO v Violet
This one utilizes an especially early warp in at like ~7:15, but it gets a low amount of gas, so it's far more committed then almost every other variation
[Early units]
-Zealot
-Stalker
-Stalker
[Primary modifications]
-only 1 gas
-no +1
-rest of the build is normal; but 4z warpin comes in at 7:15
-get the 2nd gas while the gates are constructing
-Warp in stalkers, you need to kill teh third with this, and you'll need them against roaches
-Followup with 2 more gates and a TC
-get blink and plus 1
-get 3rd gas
-get the 4th gas after the third finishes
This one utilizes an especially early warp in at like ~7:15, but it gets a low amount of gas, so it's far more committed then almost every other variation
[Early units]
-Zealot
-Stalker
-Stalker
[Primary modifications]
-only 1 gas
-no +1
-rest of the build is normal; but 4z warpin comes in at 7:15
-get the 2nd gas while the gates are constructing
-Warp in stalkers, you need to kill teh third with this, and you'll need them against roaches
-Followup with 2 more gates and a TC
-get blink and plus 1
-get 3rd gas
-get the 4th gas after the third finishes
HerO robo+expand edition
+ Show Spoiler +
http://www.twitch.tv/liquidhero/b/315577961 @ 2:42:31
Get's a faster robotics, and an expo off of 4 gates+ a robo
[Early Units]
-Zealot
-stalker
*CB
-sentries
[Primary Modifications]
-2 gas then a robo while gates are building
**after constructing the above; move out on the map with all of your units, and leave one sentry at home. Move out with a probe and do some pressure with sentry warpins; of course don't do this v anything thats not gasless 3 hatch.
-research armor after +1 attack
-while pressuring use units produced off of the gates/robo and some cannons to secure a third base.
Get's a faster robotics, and an expo off of 4 gates+ a robo
[Early Units]
-Zealot
-stalker
*CB
-sentries
[Primary Modifications]
-2 gas then a robo while gates are building
**after constructing the above; move out on the map with all of your units, and leave one sentry at home. Move out with a probe and do some pressure with sentry warpins; of course don't do this v anything thats not gasless 3 hatch.
-research armor after +1 attack
-while pressuring use units produced off of the gates/robo and some cannons to secure a third base.
2 Base push variations
+ Show Spoiler +
All shamlessly stolen from a thread by Alejandrisha:
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=333477
+2 6gate blink stalker with obs
+ Show Spoiler +
+1/+1 7Gate Immortal + WP
+ Show Spoiler +
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=333477
+2 6gate blink stalker with obs
+ Show Spoiler +
[Early units]
1 or 2 zealots
A stalker
[primary modifications]
After adding the 3 gates:
Place proxy pylon
Place two in base pylons
Resume probe production
Add TC
Add 2 gas (for total 4)
add 2-3 more gateways
after first zealot warpin add a robo
once TC finishes get +2
Warp in a second zealot wave
Start blink
add 4 sentry
start an obs
Dump money into blink stalkers
cut probes at 50
attack when +2 and blink are done
1 or 2 zealots
A stalker
[primary modifications]
After adding the 3 gates:
Place proxy pylon
Place two in base pylons
Resume probe production
Add TC
Add 2 gas (for total 4)
add 2-3 more gateways
after first zealot warpin add a robo
once TC finishes get +2
Warp in a second zealot wave
Start blink
add 4 sentry
start an obs
Dump money into blink stalkers
cut probes at 50
attack when +2 and blink are done
+1/+1 7Gate Immortal + WP
+ Show Spoiler +
[Early units]
1-2 zealots
1 stalker
[Primary modifications]
After your 2nd zealot warp-in, begin robo production and start +1 armor. This will be an observer, two immortals, and then a warp prism. You will be able to afford gates 5-7 while your observer is training.
I recommend going up to 8 sentries before switching over to pure stalker/zealot production (stalkers as gas allows, zealots as gas does not allow).
Cut probes at 48-50.
Go when your 2nd immortal is out.
1-2 zealots
1 stalker
[Primary modifications]
After your 2nd zealot warp-in, begin robo production and start +1 armor. This will be an observer, two immortals, and then a warp prism. You will be able to afford gates 5-7 while your observer is training.
I recommend going up to 8 sentries before switching over to pure stalker/zealot production (stalkers as gas allows, zealots as gas does not allow).
Cut probes at 48-50.
Go when your 2nd immortal is out.
Also, as a Bonus I have White-ra's 2 Star carrier build he does in PvZ; it's mainly just for fun^^ but I've seen him topple Grandmaster Zergs with this--so it should be viable enough:
+ Show Spoiler +
-FFE
*Chronoboost Prioritization is fairly obvious, early game chrono probes, but when the stargates come out commit Chrono to them.
**This build Delays Warpgate by a lot, so by in large you will be operating off of two stargates and 1 gateway, use this gateway to produce units as often as you can.
-[19]Gas
-[19]Gas
-[28]Zealot
-[30]Gas
-[32]Pylon
-[36]Stalker
**use this guy to clear out any overlords in your base, then use him for some scouting and light harass if they did a delayed gas buidl
-[37]+1 Air Attack
**Getting max air attack is crucial, try to get it as fast as possible--but don't let the persuit of attack upgrades interfere with early stargate production.
-[42]Stargate
-[42]Stargate
**from here on out commit all Chrono to these Stargates
-[44]Pylon
-[46]Zealot
**Cut Probes
-[48]Pylon
-[48]Fleet Beacon
-[48]Voidray
-[51]Voidray
-[54]4th Gas
**Resume Probes
-Voidrays should be complete, along with the +1 air upgrade; use them to clear out some overlords, and then go harass the third.
-Use pylon on the high-ground to place 3 cannons to protect the third, prepare to expand do there.
-After the Cannons are done produce the first two carriers, and research graviton catapult
-Then get a third nexus
-Note that maintaining constant carrier production is not always possible or reasonable, so build voidrays if they are needed, or if you cannot produce a carrier at the time.
-This build is all about Stargate play, so you won't be getting any amount of Gateways for some time--however you should try to fit in WG research at some point, you will eventually need it.
-After you have the third secured with cannons and plenty of stargate units the next goal should be obtaining a mothership after that add a necessary amount of gateways while still on 3 base.
-Eventually you want a mix of carriers, Templar, Archons, and a mothership.
*Chronoboost Prioritization is fairly obvious, early game chrono probes, but when the stargates come out commit Chrono to them.
**This build Delays Warpgate by a lot, so by in large you will be operating off of two stargates and 1 gateway, use this gateway to produce units as often as you can.
-[19]Gas
-[19]Gas
-[28]Zealot
-[30]Gas
-[32]Pylon
-[36]Stalker
**use this guy to clear out any overlords in your base, then use him for some scouting and light harass if they did a delayed gas buidl
-[37]+1 Air Attack
**Getting max air attack is crucial, try to get it as fast as possible--but don't let the persuit of attack upgrades interfere with early stargate production.
-[42]Stargate
-[42]Stargate
**from here on out commit all Chrono to these Stargates
-[44]Pylon
-[46]Zealot
**Cut Probes
-[48]Pylon
-[48]Fleet Beacon
-[48]Voidray
-[51]Voidray
-[54]4th Gas
**Resume Probes
-Voidrays should be complete, along with the +1 air upgrade; use them to clear out some overlords, and then go harass the third.
-Use pylon on the high-ground to place 3 cannons to protect the third, prepare to expand do there.
-After the Cannons are done produce the first two carriers, and research graviton catapult
-Then get a third nexus
-Note that maintaining constant carrier production is not always possible or reasonable, so build voidrays if they are needed, or if you cannot produce a carrier at the time.
-This build is all about Stargate play, so you won't be getting any amount of Gateways for some time--however you should try to fit in WG research at some point, you will eventually need it.
-After you have the third secured with cannons and plenty of stargate units the next goal should be obtaining a mothership after that add a necessary amount of gateways while still on 3 base.
-Eventually you want a mix of carriers, Templar, Archons, and a mothership.
Well I hope these serve useful to someone!
Feel free to comment or even critique the builds