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SC2 Notes: Trap's Aggressive PvT

Blogs > SC2John
Post a Reply
EsportsJohn
Profile Blog Joined June 2012
United States4883 Posts
September 01 2013 07:23 GMT
#1
In Group B of Code S, Trap pretty solidly defeat Keen and Reality in strong macro games using a very aggressive, unique style that included a small deathball mixed with constant zealot/warp prism harassment. The core of this style seems to revolve around:

-Early tech, delayed 3rd; Trap used both colossus and high templar in this style, but got both very early and used them to solidly deflect any early pressure and mount a counterattack. By the time a normal medivac push hit, he generally had 1-2 colossus with range almost done or at least 2 archons.
-Huge gateway numbers; after taking his third, Trap generally goes up to 12+ gateways.
-One forge all game long; Trap is able to afford such early tech and tons of warpins by delaying his upgrades moving into the lategame.
-Constant warp prism harassment with both zealots and templar
-A small midgame army centered around colossus/HT with a ton of zealots, using time warp and storms to retreat in emergencies

I've always wanted to play more aggressively in this matchup (as I gravitate towards aggressive builds anyway) so I really like this style. It is perhaps less forgiving than some other solid defensive playstyles, but it makes protoss a lot more mobile and active on the map during the midgame.

A couple of rough build orders:
Trap vs. Keen G3: + Show Spoiler +
*MsC expand*
@100% gateway -> stalker x4
@5:15 robo
@6:15 forge
@7:15 natural gases
@7:45 colossus bay
@8:45 twilight -> blink
Attack @12:00 w/ 3 colossus
Transition into 3rd base/charge

Trap vs. Reality G2: + Show Spoiler +
*MsC expand*
@100% gateway -> stalker x3
@5:00 robo
*extra gateways*
@7:00 forge
@7:30 natural gases
@8:15 twilight
*Immortal production*
@100% twilight -> templar archives
archon/immortal/sentry push @12:00

Trap vs. Reality G3: + Show Spoiler +
*19 nexus*
@100% gateway -> stalker x3/sentry x1
@5:00 forge
@5:30 3rd gas
@6:30 twilight + 4th gas
@100% twilight -> templar archives + robo
@100% robo -> warp prism
*immortal production*
@12:00 (probably attack w/ charge)



Suggested games (in order of goodness):
Trap vs. Reality G3
Trap vs. Reality G2
Trap vs. Keen G2
Trap vs. Keen G3


_

***
StrategyAllyssa Grey <3<3
igay
Profile Blog Joined November 2011
Australia1178 Posts
September 01 2013 09:52 GMT
#2
yeah i watched those games just a few hours ago, what a cool build thanks for the notes
MVP <3 MKP <3 DRG <3
Race is Terran
Profile Blog Joined May 2013
United States382 Posts
September 01 2013 16:15 GMT
#3
heh yea I have been resarching about trap's style as well. It is basically a templar style that allows you to transition into a 3rd base + colsi tech safely.

WHen he uses this templar first play, he gets a forge and gets +3 armor off of it asap. With the robo bay, he gets 2 observers and than a warp prism. On the game vs Keen on Belshir Vestige, Trap shows a variation that is 100% able to shut down a reaper FE 1/1/1 build as well
EsportsJohn
Profile Blog Joined June 2012
United States4883 Posts
September 01 2013 18:08 GMT
#4
On September 02 2013 01:15 Race is Terran wrote:
heh yea I have been resarching about trap's style as well. It is basically a templar style that allows you to transition into a 3rd base + colsi tech safely.

WHen he uses this templar first play, he gets a forge and gets +3 armor off of it asap. With the robo bay, he gets 2 observers and than a warp prism. On the game vs Keen on Belshir Vestige, Trap shows a variation that is 100% able to shut down a reaper FE 1/1/1 build as well


Sweet, thanks for the extra notes!

I've also been thinking about his stalker-heavy openings in the series and how that contributes to this playstyle. Instead of the normal 1-2 stalkers and then 2-3 sentries, Trap seems to go REALLY heavy on the stalkers (3-5) with no sentries, delaying his natural gases; this allows him to deflect pretty much any pressure with ease and also contributes to giving him a beefier army later. He then adds on the sentries once he gets his AoE up.

Super super cool stuff. It's cool to see a protoss player go in the opposite direction from everyone else. (Although, to be honest, HerO has been doing this kind of thing forever...but not refined as much as Trap's style).
StrategyAllyssa Grey <3<3
Erik.TheRed
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States1655 Posts
September 02 2013 17:30 GMT
#5
your notes are awesome, thanks for sharing. Now you've inspired me to blog some of my notes too once I get back in the swing of things (recently moved to Sweden, starting grad school tomorrow!)
"See you space cowboy"
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