• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EST 08:26
CET 14:26
KST 22:26
  • 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 Revival - 2025 Season Finals Preview8RSL Season 3 - Playoffs Preview0RSL Season 3 - RO16 Groups C & D Preview0RSL Season 3 - RO16 Groups A & B Preview2TL.net Map Contest #21: Winners12
Community News
Weekly Cups (Jan 5-11): Clem wins big offline, Trigger upsets4$21,000 Rongyi Cup Season 3 announced (Jan 22-Feb 7)15Weekly Cups (Dec 29-Jan 4): Protoss rolls, 2v2 returns7[BSL21] Non-Korean Championship - Starts Jan 103SC2 All-Star Invitational: Jan 17-1833
StarCraft 2
General
SC2 All-Star Invitational: Jan 17-18 Stellar Fest "01" Jersey Charity Auction Weekly Cups (Jan 5-11): Clem wins big offline, Trigger upsets When will we find out if there are more tournament SC2 Spotted on the EWC 2026 list?
Tourneys
OSC Season 13 World Championship SC2 AI Tournament 2026 Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament $21,000 Rongyi Cup Season 3 announced (Jan 22-Feb 7) $25,000 Streamerzone StarCraft Pro Series announced
Strategy
Simple Questions Simple Answers
Custom Maps
Map Editor closed ?
External Content
Mutation # 508 Violent Night Mutation # 507 Well Trained Mutation # 506 Warp Zone Mutation # 505 Rise From Ashes
Brood War
General
[ASL21] Potential Map Candidates How Rain Became ProGamer in Just 3 Months BW General Discussion BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ A cwal.gg Extension - Easily keep track of anyone
Tourneys
Small VOD Thread 2.0 [Megathread] Daily Proleagues [BSL21] Grand Finals - Sunday 21:00 CET [BSL21] Non-Korean Championship - Starts Jan 10
Strategy
Soma's 9 hatch build from ASL Game 2 Simple Questions, Simple Answers Game Theory for Starcraft Current Meta
Other Games
General Games
Awesome Games Done Quick 2026! Beyond All Reason Nintendo Switch Thread Mechabellum Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread
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
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Vanilla Mini Mafia Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Trading/Investing Thread
Fan Clubs
Innova Crysta on Hire
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
My 2025 Magic: The Gathering…
DARKING
Physical Exercise (HIIT) Bef…
TrAiDoS
Life Update and thoughts.
FuDDx
How do archons sleep?
8882
James Bond movies ranking - pa…
Topin
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1303 users

Late to the sc2 party, Where to start?

Blogs > Roija
Post a Reply
Roija
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States84 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-09-22 02:12:18
September 22 2011 02:11 GMT
#1
Dear TL.net,
SC2 noob here, I have been waiting to play sc2 since beta but couldn't afford a decent computer, I purchased sc2 today and am receiving a new gaming computer tomorrow. I was wondering where to start.
I played some games during beta and watched a few pro matches such as TSL3, but i am not sure where to start out with the game.
I'm sure i will be playing protoss, and was wondering if i should start with some replays or just learn by getting my ass handed to me a few dozen times? I played BW in iccup a couple years ago so im not a complete noob.
If anyone can recommend me websites for replays or good learning vods such as day9 dailys for new players and any advice on how to improve quickly it will be greatly appreciated.

P.S. i will keep the blog updated on my progress

*****
blabber
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
United States4448 Posts
September 22 2011 02:25 GMT
#2
first thing I did when I got the beta on day one was start a ladder match. you have experience in RTS so you don't need time to get yourself used to the UI so just play and learn.
blabberrrrr
cive
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Canada370 Posts
September 22 2011 02:26 GMT
#3
Welcome to SC2 and Good Luck!

Protoss is a fun race to play. Just based on what you saw on TSL3 and what you know from SC1 (forge expand vZ, etc.) should be enough IMO. I honestly think watching replays at this stage will not help you much because you just won't know how it feels to face certain strategies. You wouldn't know how to tweak a 3 gate or 1 gate robo depending on your observation.
Play Terran
Fishgle
Profile Blog Joined May 2011
United States2174 Posts
September 22 2011 03:06 GMT
#4
First get used to the hotkeys and units. After that, play 5 games on ladder, lose badly, and get placed in bronze. Afterwards, come back here to TL, go to the liquipedia, and learn a few basic builds for each matchup. 4gate, 3gate Expo, FFE, 2gateRobo i think covers the basics.

Unlike the other races, protoss is much less about macro, but more about tech timings. Refine macro, get into gold at least. After that, come here for more advice. Search function is your friend.

Look up some good protoss replays once you think you've got the basics. I suggest Huk, HerO, MaNa, WhiteRa. WhiteRa especially due to his low apm.

Also try not to rage. No one likes it when people balance whine.


But most importantly,

GL HF GGs ♥
aka ChillyGonzalo / GnozL
Demonhunter04
Profile Joined July 2011
1530 Posts
September 22 2011 03:22 GMT
#5
You can play practice league until you feel comfortable playing, then skip the rest.
"If you don't drop sweat today, you will drop tears tomorrow" - SlayerSMMA
Fishgle
Profile Blog Joined May 2011
United States2174 Posts
September 22 2011 03:38 GMT
#6
On September 22 2011 12:22 Demonhunter04 wrote:
You can play practice league until you feel comfortable playing, then skip the rest.


Noooo don't do practice league. (it still has those awful rocks, doesn't it?)

Just play customs or vs Ai first. Skip Practice League entirely.
aka ChillyGonzalo / GnozL
rebuffering
Profile Joined December 2010
Canada2436 Posts
September 22 2011 03:40 GMT
#7
hotkeys hotkeys hotkeys!! you can play in the practice league as someone as pointed out, you can also hop onto custom games, but mainly, start memorizing what keys you need to make probes/pylons/cyber core, etc, to me, that is a good 1st step. Also, the campaign does do a good job teaching you the basics, or should i say, re-teaching you, as you obviously have some experience with RTS games in general, i just hope you dont turn into a filthy terran! lol
http://www.twitch.tv/rebufferingg
Azzur
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
Australia6260 Posts
September 22 2011 03:41 GMT
#8
Play against Very Hard AI - the computer doesn't cheat (unlike Insane), and if you can beat it regularly, it will give you good practice getting your macro mechanics in order.
Roija
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States84 Posts
September 23 2011 23:49 GMT
#9
Thanks for all the tips guys. I somehow won all my placement matches and got into diamond!
The White-Ra reps were useful in learning a couple builds. im slowly learning the basics but i feel i am making good progress for my first day.
if anyone wants to practice or throw me some tips let me know.
Ulfsark
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
United States958 Posts
September 24 2011 00:42 GMT
#10
First place to start once you learn the basics is find some buddies to practice with. Laddering can be stressful so it is great and stress free practice to play with friends.

Also, I know you probably wanna get gosu quick, but don't forget to enjoy the game. Nobody who starts playing wants to be told that making only phoenix will never win them any games and that its a terribly strategy.
They want to have fun and experiment with the units.

So my advice to you, is to have fun first and foremost.

GL!

pm me on NA if you have any questions about playing protoss, I know a few simple builds in all matchups.
RevUlfsark.627
gg wp
infinity2k9
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
United Kingdom2397 Posts
September 24 2011 09:19 GMT
#11
If you played on ICCUP you will have no problems at all. Just jump in i wouldn't bother with any resources, assuming you've not lost all mechanical skill from BW you'll do fine and work it out quickly.
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
OSC
12:00
Season 13 World Championship
ArT vs BabymarineLIVE!
NightMare vs TriGGeR
YoungYakov vs TBD
WardiTV782
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
Lowko312
trigger 56
BRAT_OK 56
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 34484
PianO 2917
Shuttle 1445
EffOrt 1029
Stork 470
Larva 366
Soma 348
Zeus 313
BeSt 301
Hyuk 298
[ Show more ]
firebathero 269
ZerO 217
Mong 194
Snow 179
Rush 176
hero 140
Dewaltoss 107
Killer 100
Hyun 91
Sea.KH 66
Leta 64
Barracks 61
Yoon 41
ToSsGirL 38
zelot 19
GoRush 18
yabsab 17
Bale 16
Terrorterran 15
JulyZerg 15
Free 14
scan(afreeca) 14
Noble 14
910 10
HiyA 10
Sacsri 8
Shine 6
ivOry 6
Dota 2
XcaliburYe153
Counter-Strike
olofmeister2439
Super Smash Bros
Mew2King66
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor0
Other Games
singsing2975
B2W.Neo1044
crisheroes282
DeMusliM268
Sick190
oskar81
QueenE73
ArmadaUGS25
ZerO(Twitch)19
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick1932
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• HappyZerGling 118
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• WagamamaTV507
League of Legends
• Jankos2472
• TFBlade647
Upcoming Events
All-Star Invitational
12h 49m
INnoVation vs soO
Serral vs herO
Cure vs Solar
sOs vs Scarlett
Classic vs Clem
Reynor vs Maru
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
22h 34m
AI Arena Tournament
1d 6h
All-Star Invitational
1d 12h
MMA vs DongRaeGu
Rogue vs Oliveira
Sparkling Tuna Cup
1d 20h
OSC
1d 22h
Replay Cast
2 days
Wardi Open
2 days
Monday Night Weeklies
3 days
The PondCast
4 days
[ Show More ]
Replay Cast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-01-14
Big Gabe Cup #3
NA Kuram Kup

Ongoing

C-Race Season 1
IPSL Winter 2025-26
BSL 21 Non-Korean Championship
CSL 2025 WINTER (S19)
Escore Tournament S1: W4
OSC Championship Season 13
Underdog Cup #3
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual
eXTREMESLAND 2025
SL Budapest Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 8
BLAST Rivals Fall 2025
IEM Chengdu 2025

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S1: W5
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
Bellum Gens Elite Stara Zagora 2026
HSC XXVIII
Rongyi Cup S3
SC2 All-Star Inv. 2025
Nations Cup 2026
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League Season 23
ESL Pro League Season 23
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
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.