• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EST 19:58
CET 01:58
KST 09:58
  • 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
ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT29Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book19Clem wins HomeStory Cup 289HomeStory Cup 28 - Info & Preview13Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info8
Community News
Team Liquid Map Contest - Preparation Notice6Weekly Cups (Feb 23-Mar 1): herO doubles, 2v2 bonanza1Weekly Cups (Feb 16-22): MaxPax doubles0Weekly Cups (Feb 9-15): herO doubles up2ACS replaced by "ASL Season Open" - Starts 21/0258
StarCraft 2
General
Vitality disbanding their sc2-team How do you think the 5.0.15 balance patch (Oct 2025) for StarCraft II has affected the game? Team Liquid Map Contest - Preparation Notice ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT Nexon's StarCraft game could be FPS, led by UMS maker
Tourneys
Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament $5,000 WardiTV Winter Championship 2026 RSL Season 4 announced for March-April Sea Duckling Open (Global, Bronze-Diamond) PIG STY FESTIVAL 7.0! (19 Feb - 1 Mar)
Strategy
Custom Maps
Publishing has been re-enabled! [Feb 24th 2026] Map Editor closed ?
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 515 Together Forever Mutation # 514 Ulnar New Year Mutation # 513 Attrition Warfare
Brood War
General
BSL 22 Map Contest — Submissions OPEN to March 10 Flash's ASL S21 & Future Plans Announcement BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ BW General Discussion Gypsy to Korea
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues ASL Season 21 Qualifiers March 7-8 [BSL22] Open Qualifier #1 - Sunday 21:00 CET Small VOD Thread 2.0
Strategy
Soma's 9 hatch build from ASL Game 2 Fighting Spirit mining rates Simple Questions, Simple Answers Zealot bombing is no longer popular?
Other Games
General Games
PC Games Sales Thread Nintendo Switch Thread Path of Exile Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Battle Aces/David Kim RTS Megathread
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion The Story of Wings Gaming
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas Vanilla Mini Mafia TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine YouTube Thread UK Politics Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books Anime Discussion Thread
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion TL MMA Pick'em Pool 2013
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Laptop capable of using Photoshop Lightroom?
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Shocked by a laser…
Spydermine0240
Gaming-Related Deaths
TrAiDoS
ONE GREAT AMERICAN MARINE…
XenOsky
Unintentional protectionism…
Uldridge
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 2114 users

Ways to play TvP

Blogs > UpATree
Post a Reply
UpATree
Profile Blog Joined January 2012
Canada38 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-05-05 02:30:48
May 05 2012 02:09 GMT
#1
I really have just been laddering and haven't learned much, just grinding my way up the ladder.

TvP

I used to QQ a lot about protoss, but lately I've adopted the mindset that good play can always mitigate imbalance. That's just me though, I'd like to know more about what the community thinks about the state of TvP. So I have a few questions:

Poll: Is bio really the only way to (viably) play?

No? (16)
 
64%

Yes? (9)
 
36%

25 total votes

Your vote: Is bio really the only way to (viably) play?

(Vote): Yes?
(Vote): No?



Poll: Is drop play truly necessary?

Yes? (13)
 
59%

No? (9)
 
41%

22 total votes

Your vote: Is drop play truly necessary?

(Vote): Yes?
(Vote): No?



Poll: Can one successfully turtle with bio play?

No? (16)
 
73%

Yes? (6)
 
27%

22 total votes

Your vote: Can one successfully turtle with bio play?

(Vote): Yes?
(Vote): No?



I really wanna know what Terrans or Protoss, think of these points.

What I think

For anyone that actually cares about my opinion, I thought I'd give it. I've watched sc2 since release, and I've seen so many styles be successful. I always was under the impression, that with strong mechanics and a solid thought process a player could make almost any strategy good. Recently a post by blizzard changed my mind, I won't cite it because I'm sure everyones read it. They basically state that Terran has an advantage in the midgame, and Protoss an advantage in the late game if gone unhindered.

This actually surprised the crap out of me, because I was under the impression that games weren't supposed to be played out in a linear fashion. You may ask, "I don't see how blizzard's statement says anything about linearity". Well that takes a little theory crafting, and I'll do my best.

If the Terran has a midgame advantage, and are prone to losing if they don't capitalize on their advantage. Well how must they capitalize? Lets think of ways: A push up the ramp, usually fails due to forcefields. A turtle 2-base push? Well protoss can chrono upgrades, and then do their own 2 base push, stop yours then enter the midgame. Many other strategies are usually countered just by solid macro and a good defense by protoss, prior to entering the late game.

IMBA! No, not really. Drops are the most obvious way to get around this, and that's why almost every Terran build revolves around fast medvacs. Almost anyone who plays this matchup in a higher level, knows that fast medvac builds are "standard play". If blizzard themselves say that this is true, do Terran players really have a choice? If they try any other tactic that doesn't involve a midgame capitalization, can they not win? Isn't this poor game design? Shouldn't a player be able to viably execute a straight up fight, and at least trade evenly?

Note: In what I think, I'm excluding 3 things. Mech play, because I don't consider that a viable midgame tacitic. Maybe I'm wrong, but from what I've seen and heard people just generally discredit it. I exclude cheese, because these are often coin flips that are good mostly when not scouted, they also don't capitalize on the early game. I'm also excluding the recent 3 tank, bio timing. I don't know how long it's been used, but I haven't seen much of it (Maybe mostly Korean Ladder?). Until I've seen more, I don't think I can judge how viable it is for capitalizing in the midgame.

Anyway, I was just posting because it's the "hot topic", and as a Terran player I actually have an opinion.

- UpATree

Edit, I believe I messed up the poll, lol. Gotta fix that.

Edit, Fixed.

****
You learn only by losing to players better than yourself.
Jumbled
Profile Joined September 2010
1543 Posts
May 05 2012 02:19 GMT
#2
On May 05 2012 11:09 UpATree wrote:
Can one successfully turtle with bio play, or must one be aggressive?

This is not a yes/no question.

My feeling is that siege mode definitely becomes useless once charge is researched, but there's probably still a place for thors, at least, and sky terran can be downright scary at times. So the idea of tanklines in lategame TvP is probably a non-starter, but I don't think Terran needs to stick to just barracks plus medivacs either.
UpATree
Profile Blog Joined January 2012
Canada38 Posts
May 05 2012 02:23 GMT
#3
On May 05 2012 11:19 Jumbled wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 05 2012 11:09 UpATree wrote:
Can one successfully turtle with bio play, or must one be aggressive?

This is not a yes/no question.

My feeling is that siege mode definitely becomes useless once charge is researched, but there's probably still a place for thors, at least, and sky terran can be downright scary at times. So the idea of tanklines in lategame TvP is probably a non-starter, but I don't think Terran needs to stick to just barracks plus medivacs either.


I realized that, but it was too late! The question for anyone who care is: Can you turtle. I thought it was implied that if you aren't turtling your being aggressive on the map.
You learn only by losing to players better than yourself.
Jumbled
Profile Joined September 2010
1543 Posts
May 05 2012 02:26 GMT
#4
On May 05 2012 11:23 UpATree wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 05 2012 11:19 Jumbled wrote:
On May 05 2012 11:09 UpATree wrote:
Can one successfully turtle with bio play, or must one be aggressive?

This is not a yes/no question.

My feeling is that siege mode definitely becomes useless once charge is researched, but there's probably still a place for thors, at least, and sky terran can be downright scary at times. So the idea of tanklines in lategame TvP is probably a non-starter, but I don't think Terran needs to stick to just barracks plus medivacs either.


I realized that, but it was too late! The question for anyone who care is: Can you turtle. I thought it was implied that if you aren't turtling your being aggressive on the map.

You can just create a new poll and edit it into your post.
Pokebunny
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
United States10654 Posts
May 05 2012 02:28 GMT
#5
You can turtle up to a fast 3rd, but then you need to start using your economic advantage to kick ass.
Semipro Terran player | Pokebunny#1710 | twitter.com/Pokebunny | twitch.tv/Pokebunny | facebook.com/PokebunnySC
UpATree
Profile Blog Joined January 2012
Canada38 Posts
May 05 2012 02:31 GMT
#6
On May 05 2012 11:26 Jumbled wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 05 2012 11:23 UpATree wrote:
On May 05 2012 11:19 Jumbled wrote:
On May 05 2012 11:09 UpATree wrote:
Can one successfully turtle with bio play, or must one be aggressive?

This is not a yes/no question.

My feeling is that siege mode definitely becomes useless once charge is researched, but there's probably still a place for thors, at least, and sky terran can be downright scary at times. So the idea of tanklines in lategame TvP is probably a non-starter, but I don't think Terran needs to stick to just barracks plus medivacs either.


I realized that, but it was too late! The question for anyone who care is: Can you turtle. I thought it was implied that if you aren't turtling your being aggressive on the map.

You can just create a new poll and edit it into your post.


Alright, Alright! I fixed it
You learn only by losing to players better than yourself.
UpATree
Profile Blog Joined January 2012
Canada38 Posts
May 05 2012 02:32 GMT
#7
On May 05 2012 11:28 Pokebunny wrote:
You can turtle up to a fast 3rd, but then you need to start using your economic advantage to kick ass.


I hate to sound like an over eager fan, but you're the first player I recognize to comment on something I've done. I think that's pretty damn awesome.
You learn only by losing to players better than yourself.
LuckyFool
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
United States9015 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-05-05 02:37:11
May 05 2012 02:34 GMT
#8
Terran has to do stuff to get ahead in TvP or you will just die.

I've been doing super greedy stuff like super fast double ebay upgrades or fast 3rd cc, depending on the map/positions you can get away with a ninja 3rd too which is really amazing.

also for some crazy mech play Illusion recently used it at IPL4, he beat oz with mech and kiwikaki, the replays are in the IPL replay pack. pretty interesting builds. in general everyone is going bio though. mech seems easy to counter if P plays properly, I feel like some of the mech wins rely simply on lack of experience playing against it by most P's.
Coramoor
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Canada455 Posts
May 05 2012 02:39 GMT
#9
There is a player named hangene who has a very interesting mech heavy approach, if you can find some of his replays, i'd recommend checking it out
UpATree
Profile Blog Joined January 2012
Canada38 Posts
May 05 2012 02:43 GMT
#10
On May 05 2012 11:39 Coramoor wrote:
There is a player named hangene who has a very interesting mech heavy approach, if you can find some of his replays, i'd recommend checking it out


I'll look into that, thanks!
You learn only by losing to players better than yourself.
Cycle
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
United States300 Posts
May 05 2012 03:24 GMT
#11
Pure Air
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=283935

Mech
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=323003

Two guides made from high master terran players on alternative TvP styles. I personally do mostly mech, with some bio and some pure air.

In my opinion, mech armies are stronger deathballs than protoss armies. Just keep up on upgrades and watch for carrier/void ray switches (yes, that is the proper response to seeing a ton of tanks) and your army can roll his.
| chKCycle.551 | NA | Master League Random | Checkmate Gaming |
Pokebunny
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
United States10654 Posts
May 05 2012 11:32 GMT
#12
On May 05 2012 11:32 UpATree wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 05 2012 11:28 Pokebunny wrote:
You can turtle up to a fast 3rd, but then you need to start using your economic advantage to kick ass.


I hate to sound like an over eager fan, but you're the first player I recognize to comment on something I've done. I think that's pretty damn awesome.

Hehe :p you're welcome!
Semipro Terran player | Pokebunny#1710 | twitter.com/Pokebunny | twitch.tv/Pokebunny | facebook.com/PokebunnySC
Br3ezy
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
United States720 Posts
May 05 2012 14:43 GMT
#13
there is not enough context in any of the situations. Therefore an argument can be made for either of the answers you have there
Check out my guide to mechanics http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=319876
Kraznaya
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States3711 Posts
May 05 2012 15:26 GMT
#14
The best way to play TvP is to proxy 2 rax, pull half your scvs, and bunker rush. Anything else will get you killed.

Proof: GSL Ro8 :p
do you have enough resolve, hero of justice?
Masq
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
Canada1792 Posts
May 05 2012 16:05 GMT
#15
I used to do a lot of biomech 2-3 base timings with a 2fact siege tank opener, and honestly you'll win a lot because people are unexperienced with siege tank play. Once people are accustomed to the build, you will die horribly.

Aside from doing some gimmick builds and stim rushing up ramps or going pure marine/marine+ghost timing before protoss has AoE, dropplay is pretty much a requirement.

Mech probably has a future, just not in WoL.
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Replay Cast
00:00
LiuLi Cup Grand Finals Playoff
CranKy Ducklings64
LiquipediaDiscussion
The PiG Daily
22:30
Best Games
ByuN vs Clem
ByuN vs herO
ByuN vs MaxPax
PiGStarcraft562
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
PiGStarcraft562
JimRising 508
UpATreeSC 331
ProTech154
StarCraft: Brood War
Sea 6235
Bisu 2775
Shuttle 301
Dota 2
monkeys_forever577
Counter-Strike
taco 398
Super Smash Bros
hungrybox551
AZ_Axe59
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor137
Other Games
summit1g8017
FrodaN3921
shahzam419
C9.Mang0228
KnowMe183
ToD109
ViBE71
capcasts59
Mew2King31
Organizations
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 16 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Hupsaiya 55
• musti20045 37
• davetesta31
• Berry_CruncH23
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Doublelift4218
Other Games
• imaqtpie910
Upcoming Events
CranKy Ducklings
9h 2m
RSL Revival
9h 2m
WardiTV Winter Champion…
11h 2m
Classic vs Rogue
Solar vs Gerald
Bunny vs Nicoract
ByuN vs Zoun
herO vs Clem
MaxPax vs Cure
AI Arena Tournament
19h 2m
Replay Cast
23h 2m
Sparkling Tuna Cup
1d 9h
RSL Revival
1d 9h
WardiTV Winter Champion…
1d 11h
OSC
1d 11h
Replay Cast
1d 23h
[ Show More ]
Replay Cast
2 days
Monday Night Weeklies
2 days
OSC
2 days
Replay Cast
4 days
The PondCast
5 days
Replay Cast
5 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-03-05
PiG Sty Festival 7.0
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Jeongseon Sooper Cup
Spring Cup 2026
ASL Season 21: Qualifier #1
RSL Revival: Season 4
WardiTV Winter 2026
Nations Cup 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual

Upcoming

ASL Season 21: Qualifier #2
ASL Season 21
Acropolis #4 - TS6
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
CSLAN 4
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Bellum Gens Elite Stara Zagora 2026
NationLESS Cup
CS Asia Championships 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
CCT Season 3 Global Finals
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
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 © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.