Games that revolutionized how the game is played today
Iloveoov vs [Oops]Reach Set 1 Mercury @ Ever OSL
Until this game most protosses has been facing oov with cheese or with a 2nd base timing rush But, Oov being oov played a very aggressive expo turtle style terran so timing rushes wouldn't work due to his excellent positioning. So reach, instead of trying to do a timing attack on Oov did something very different, and instead went very macro heavy as well. This revolutionized TvP into the macro slug fests we see today.
SK Terran Iloveoov vs JulyZerg IntotheDarkness @ March 2006
Though Iloveoov was not the creator of SK Terran he was one of the many terrans who specialized in it. SK Terran actually stood for Soul Key, the creator of this build. In this style a terran would skip tanks and instead build Vessels against a zerg. With the marine upgrades,massive Sci Vessel count, and the mobility of large armies this style become very popular after the increased hand speeds of programmers in starcraft. This VOD shows SK Terran played to near perfection.
The Solution to Nada's SK Terran the best user of this strategy during the time. A time where the Bonjwa perfected his 3 gas hive tech defiler play. Savior used his swarms and plagues to great effect. Also making sure that Nada's Sci Vessel count was always down. This game revolutionized TvZ because of the great defiler play we see in programmers today.
Nada vs Savior Set 1 Longinous @ OSL Finals
a more recent example. And one of the final times Savior was able to win in such dominating fashion.
Savior vs Bisu Set 1 Longinous Set 3 @ GOMTV MSL FINALS
The Protoss Revolutionist at his finest moment. Knocking off savior from his perch. Bisu destryoed savior with his so called "Bisu" build which consisted of making corsairs and dt's to counter savior's style of a 4 base turtle style zerg which he used muta's and lurkers to protect his base. What makes this game so important today shows, that PvZ can be an actually winnable for the protoss.
July vs Hwasin Rush Hour 2 @ Sky Proleague Rd 2
Julyzerg, popularizing the muta stack (the first game where muta stacking was broadcast). Before programmers would click on a mineral patch or unbuilt refinery to help them stack." Until Shark discovered a bug, in which he would group mutas with an overlord and due to the "Magic Boxes" the Mutas would stacked up and stay stacked for longer, making them much harder to kill. Every zerg now from iccup D levels to Jaedong now uses stacked mutas in every match-up
Boxer vs Yellow Bunker Rush x3 @ Ever OSL Semi-Finals
The most infamous semi-finals. The Boxer-Yellow rivalry has been called the most influential rivalry in starcraft. The entire set (3-0 win for boxer) was done in less than 30 minutes shocking the audience and both of the players as well. Many people called outraged over the imbalances of boxers bunker rush in tvz.The reason why this game is revolutionary was the influx of gamers using bunker rushes against zergs after this set. We don't see this build as much because on how good zergs are now able to fight bunker rushes.
Nal_Ra's all-kill against KTF @ Proleague
In these games nal_ra displays the true power of protoss. Employing carriers, and high templars in his first game against a terran. To the second game in which Nal_Ra displays the most efficent use of shuttle/reaver use ever seen in the game of starcraft. The off to the 3rd game where the early incarnation of corsair/reaver then transition into a heavy ground army was seen. If their ever was Boxer for the protoss it would be Nal_Ra
By.Fantasy vs GGPlay Set 1 Medusa @ Incruit 2008 OSL
Though flash was the one who pushed the mech trend we commonly see today. It was the SKT Terrans who revolutionized mech against the zerg. Everyone knows that mech is a very slow, but sure way way of winning a game. The main problem with mech though it's inability to deal with a huge macro style zerg due to its low mobility (seen in GGPlay vs Flash Set 1 Incruit OSL). The SKT Terrans decided to deal with problem the terran mech build must use mobility. What the SKT Terrans came up was the Dropship/Vulture to give mobility to mech, and the transition to Goliaths/Valkyries against mutas. So two revolutions came out of the now called "Fantasy Build", the mobility of mech, and the proper use of Valkyries.
Jaedong vs Sea Set 3 Python @ Star Challenge
At around 16 minutes is where the game starts. This game show Jaedong's legendary use of mutalisk control. Zergs transitioned from the very eco-friendly style of Savior's 3 Hatch into the more aggressive style that Jaedong's 2 hatch pushed ZvT style. Now considered the standard against a regular marine and medic build against the terran. Though Jaedong was not the one who created the two hatch. He popularized it once again.
Flash vs Stork Set 4 Katrina @ GSI
During a period of time where all Terrans were being destroyed by Stork's carrier build on Katrina, except for one terran. His name was Flash. During the time most Terran's where trying to fight protoss with a 2 base timing attack. Flash, instead adapted an early 3rd base, with fast upgrades. He would add his first armory and academy after his 2nd factory. With the early academy it gave him scouting information on the protoss. Also with the fast armory build he created the now Famous 2-1 upgrade timing attack. Now every terran player from complete noobs to programmers used the flash build some time in their careers.
BackHo's offensive ZiZi Yo @ MST Group 9
Backho accidently types zizi yo against Firefist in the closing seconds of the game. This game was very important, because the loser would be kicked out of the OSL. In KeSpa rules, any player who chats besides saying GG is considered a disqualification. So people initially thought Firefist won, even though Backho was second's from winning. So for clarification the KeSPAs officials came out confronting Firefist and backho where firefist decided to let backho take the win, because he knew their was no way of coming back. Backho than said during at a post-game interview, "I typed out because I thought the sound of the dragoon [dying] was the GG [message]" This game show's why people complain against KeSPA
"Breaking the Streak" Iloveoov vs Julyzerg Set 1 Nostalgia @ Gillete OSL 2004
Iloveoov during his time of dominance. He was know as the "Monster terran" and at his height of his dominance. At around 75 percent win rate with 27-0 record against zerg he was considered the heavy favorite against July. Iloveoov used to open 2 barracks FE, and pressure the zerg hoping the zerg will turtle up. What July decided to do instead was to pressure Iloveoov straight from the start and with JulyZerg's perfect timing and set-up, he was able to take out the monster. What makes this game special was that a Zerg (JulyZerg) has finally stopped iloveoov's monster winning streak.
nal_ra vs casy on old peaks - The quintessential proxy game! ra proxied in an obvious spot and it got scouted, but this was merely a cover for his real proxy in the top left. While casy is worrying about the zealots, ra cannons his mineral line from above. If that weren't enough, he built ANOTHER proxy gate with a citadel on a ramp, across the map from his other gates. I have observed a huge increase in the number of proxy builds (both all-in and non) since this game, so I believe it was influential. [Thanks City 42]
Nal_rA vs GoodFreind Parallel Lines 3 @ 2004
Nal_Ra went for a fast arbiter rush, during a time where most people thought arbiter rushes wouldn't work on Island Maps. Standard play for a protoss during the time on island maps is to open up with shuttles and transition into carriers in most TvP games. Also Due to fact of the very turtle heavy nature of terran, and their ability to scan a Protoss base at any given time to find out the protoss strategy made people thought any fast arbiter play would be rendered useless. They were wrong. This game is important because it showed how perfect early Arbiter Play can win the game for a protoss. Also show casing an early incarnation of what would be Best's 2 base quick arbiter play against terran.
Nada vs GoRush IntotheDarkness 2 @ Yatkg MSL 2005
Nada opens up barracks with fast factory against zerg. With fast vultures he uses vulture patrol micro to the fullest of effect. Effectively ending any hope for GoRush to win the game. During this time Nada was known as the Tornado Terran. Known his great unit control and excellent macro, he was always very consistent. What makes this game so special is the perfect use of vulture patrol micro seen against any opponent. Even 4 years later in the game players like by.fantasy, and other players use vulture patrol against zerg to negate any early game aggression.
Jaedong vs FanTaSy The New Autumn Wind @ Proleague SKT vs OZ Set 4
The counter for dark swarm is a very aggressive terran who is out on the map. The terran MUST makes sure the dark swarm is not placed at their natural choke, otherwise its GG for the terran, because the only way a terran army can survive if a dark swarm is placed is to run away from the dark swarm area. So when Fantasy realizes that Jaedong was going into hive tech most likely for Swarm, Fantasy decided it was time to apply some pressure. What later confused me is that a queen was built, so I thought it was a misclicked from Jaedong. Then at 12 minutes something magical happened. A perfect flank, with well-placed swarms, and a GREAT, but unexpected ensnare. When the swarm was cast, Fantasy did the right decision to retreat his army from the Dark Swarm. Unfortunately the ensnare (which negate the effects of stim) made the marines too slow to run away from the swarm/lurker/ling.Thus, fantasy lost his entire army while Jaedong lost next to nothing. This game was influential because, it is an early incarnation of what logical Queen play in starcraft.
HALL OF BM
Much's HEART OF DEATH!!!! @ Arena MSL 2008
Much before the game calls out for revenge against FireBatHero. After Firebathero dominated savior. As the heart goes up, and the audience starts to chant Savior's name. The result is clear Much got his revenge and created one of the more intresting starcraft rivalries today. This game was not revolutinary. But was the first game to broadcast a pylon <3.
Midas' Pondering Mind @ MSL Survivor 2007
After Midas kicked thezerg's ass. Midas decided it was time to do a motherfucking ceremony. Too bad he wasn't prepared. What ensued was the most awkward minute in StarCraft ceremony ever witnessed. Enjoy
Firebathero Doesn't GIVE A SHIT. I'm go for a swim @ Proleague 2008
Firebathero danced his way into victory and my heart. After facing go.go in what was a very one sided match, Firebathero decided to have some fun. First came the in-game ceromeny when FBH built a Command Center in go.go's natural. Then after the gg, FBH threw a rice bowl at go.go, because go.go said earlier in an interview, "beating khan is as easy as eating rice." And finally, FBH went for a relaxing swim as a final FUCK YOU to go.go
If their is any other games you think changed the way starcraft is played today please post them up
I think the Fantasy Build can become revolutionary, but still has some more refining to do. Just like how nal_ra created the forge first expo, than Bisu adapted it to change into his style with stunning effect against Savior, the so called bonjwa during the time.
On June 18 2009 02:48 pevenariola wrote: I think the Fantasy Build can become revolutionary, but still has some more refining to do. Just like how nal_ra created the forge first expo, than Bisu adapted it to change into his style with stunning effect against Savior, the so called bonjwa during the time.
It wasn't revolutionary in that the build itself became as popular as the bisu build, but revolutionary for that in a large time-span Terran opted for mech-play much more often than bio.
On June 18 2009 02:33 da_head wrote: hmm how about when terran started going mech (vulture & wraith/valk) against zerg? not sure what game that was.
Fantasy vs GGPlay? But that build didn't have wraiths, I think Leta made that popular.
leta didn't make wraiths popular vs zerg, he's just pretty much way better at it than any other player right now (I remember a VOD of oov going 2-port wraith vs Jju(?) on raid assault where it was countered with ensnare from a few years back).
On June 18 2009 02:33 da_head wrote: hmm how about when terran started going mech (vulture & wraith/valk) against zerg? not sure what game that was.
Fantasy vs GGPlay? But that build didn't have wraiths, I think Leta made that popular.
leta didn't make wraiths popular vs zerg, he's just pretty much way better at it than any other player right now (I remember a VOD of oov going 2-port wraith vs Jju(?) on raid assault where it was countered with ensnare from a few years back).
Yeah but if a players uses a build and it doesn't catch on then how is it influential?
iirc Lomo was the first one to use 2 port wraith with the sick anti scourge micro but Leta is the one that is really good at it right now and some other terrans have been trying it.
With TvZ it's kinda tough to point out specific games because in the last few months there have been many small changes.
Oov used to go 2 port-wraiths against zergs. Until Jju used queens and ensnare to counter the wraiths mobility and cloak. Making them very weak to his mutas. So far a while terrans didn't use wraiths. Until recently with the advent of Leta.
yes but its only part of the game from when the muta hatch to hwasin's gg. Also I wouldn't say mech build is revolutionary. Their good maps for mech build, but i think it's just a phase where going under through starcraft.
I think sAviOr vs NaDa on Luna in UZOO MSL is where sAviOr first revealed his new defiler heavy ZvT style to deal with SK Terran - the game in your OP is like one of the final few examples of him being able to use it dominantly, as after that final he (afaik) didnt win any more Bo5's against Terran, except against an out of shape Casy to get to the finals of Shinhan Masters where NaDa killed him 3-1.
even though the build existed before... the Mech terran build with one vult harrass and valks that Fantasy used to school GGPLAY was a turning point in the way mech was used TvZ
oh man the things you had to do to beat oov... also, rofl at the ad
Would Jaedong's 2hatch muta vs Sea on python count? TLPD Vod It really set the standard for mutalisks harass and aided in the transition from sAviOr's passive usage to the now common aggressive play.
damn so many suggestions give me a second to watch the vods to see if it truly is revolutionary to the game. also, i decided the "fantasy build" is revolutionary.
Jaedong vs Shuttle Averatec S1 Game 3 @ Othello Vod This is the first time I saw the 5hatch hydra -> muta build used. I'm not sure if it was the first time but it is the oldest one I can remember.
On June 18 2009 05:37 kNyTTyM wrote: Jaedong vs Shuttle Averatec S1 Game 3 @ Othello Vod This is the first time I saw the 5hatch hydra -> muta build used. I'm not sure if it was the first time but it is the oldest one I can remember.
I thought it was Luxury during some individual league; and the idea stemmed from that SC program star age where the commentator wondered why people didn't build Muta after 5 hatch hydra to snipe templar.
I don't think it's revolutionary. All the games mentioned triggered a gigantic and lasting influx of a certain style of play. I think that the 5 hatch hyrda -> muta transition is merely a trend, another development in the game. If you're going to recommend this, you must also recommend incremental advances like Midas' FD Rush or Anytime's 2 gate goon answer.
Other incremental advances rewards go to (in my opinion) Jaedongs ZvT 2 hatch muta Pusan's (?) arbiter transitions PvT Flash's Fast Armory/Golaith Katrina build Stork's reaver/expo/carrier style
I'm definitely missing some older incremental advances (I find it hard to believe that Oov, Boxer, Savior, Ra, etc. didn't make incremental advances.
The ensnare/wraith game was Jju versus iloveOov on Raid Assault II.
Well Firebathero vs Savior is not on the list because despite being an epic game, and the use of battlecruisers. It didn't change how starcraft was played for a while.
BRB adding the Flash Build
if anyone knows how the Carrier build got popular, and where it was first shown please pm me.
Well, it wasn't really a single game. It because popular because Stork used it to secure his position as a dominant protoss in 06-07 and it brought him a ton of wins. I guess if you want to stick a game to it, it was epitomized by his 2 base carrier rush on Katrina.
What about Jaedong versus Bisu on Othello when Jaedong did the hyrda --> muta (to snipe high templars). I believe that became the standard on many maps in zvp after that game.
Great choice overall. I'm going to re-watch all of them.
Hmm, maybe Backho's zizi yo ? Certainly has had an influence up to now.
And what game did SK Terran gain prominence? I know Nada was considered basically unbeatable TvZ for a while, but soulkey had to popularize that style first.
Racenilatr that is true, modern Starcraft evolved from all those games. But their are pinnacle moments in starcraft in which a certain strategy is honed to such perfection, and executed so well, it influence other programmers to include their type of strategies into their game.
On June 18 2009 02:27 pevenariola wrote: It was the SK Terrans who revolutionized mech against the zerg. Everyone knows that mech is a very slow, but sure way way of winning a game. The main problem with mech though it's inability to deal with a huge macro style zerg due to its low mobility (seen in GGPlay vs Flash Set 1 Incruit OSL). The SK Terrans decided to deal with problem the terran mech build must use mobility. What the SK Terrans came up was the Dropship/Vulture to give mobility to mech, and the transition to Goliaths/Valkyries against mutas. So two revolutions came out of the now called "Fantasy Build", the mobility of mech, and the proper use of Valkyries.
Not a complaint, but wanted to point out that this paragraph is kind of confusing; there is a big difference between "SK Terran" and "SKT Terran."
On June 18 2009 04:59 kNyTTyM wrote: oh man the things you had to do to beat oov... also, rofl at the ad
Would Jaedong's 2hatch muta vs Sea on python count? TLPD Vod It really set the standard for mutalisks harass and aided in the transition from sAviOr's passive usage to the now common aggressive play.
edit: Game starts at 16:55
Should be Jaedong vs Flash Gom Season 1 finals instead imo.
After that, there was a huge shift in zvt from 3hat to 2hat.
On June 18 2009 04:59 kNyTTyM wrote: oh man the things you had to do to beat oov... also, rofl at the ad
Would Jaedong's 2hatch muta vs Sea on python count? TLPD Vod It really set the standard for mutalisks harass and aided in the transition from sAviOr's passive usage to the now common aggressive play.
edit: Game starts at 16:55
Should be Jaedong vs Flash Gom Season 1 finals instead imo.
After that, there was a huge shift in zvt from 3hat to 2hat.
also first epic usage of 2 combined control groups i mean seriously WWTF pwnage
nal_ra vs nada on r-point - nal_ra does an unheard of double nexus PvT, and completely decimates nada who had no idea what was going on.
kingdom vs jju on luna - kingdom shows the power of dark archons as he slowly steals jju's entire army in a seemingly stalemated game.
garimto vs boxer on forbidden zone - garimto rushes a scout, then goes 1 base arbiters...but boxer responds by getting lockdown and turns the tides (possibly the most creative game ever).
nal_ra vs goodfriend on parallel lines - Do I really need to explain this?.
nada vs gorush on into the darkness - The first major exhibition of patrol micro, nada's two vultures kill an ungodly amount of units
nal_ra vs casy on old peaks - The quintessential proxy game! ra proxied in an obvious spot and it got scouted, but this was merely a cover for his real proxy in the top left. While casy is worrying about the zealots, ra cannons his mineral line from above. If that weren't enough, he built ANOTHER proxy gate with a citadel on a ramp, across the map from his other gates. I have observed a huge increase in the number of proxy builds (both all-in and non) since this game, so I believe it was influential.
intotherainbow vs goodfriend on r-point - To put it simply, rainbow wins a game without winning a single battle.
One thing I'm wondering is, can any one player/game be credited to breaking Savior's ZvT? FBH's series was definitely the most famous, but I think even before him, terrans had began to break Savior's "bare-minimum defense until hive" builds.
A lot of games I can think of are more player-oriented than causing trends. A lot of Stork builds never became popular because they're more map-abuse then anything else. ForGG's sense of timing would be influential if he actually stayed relevant long enough. Jaedong IMO had a lot of builds that only worked because he's Jaedong, and doesn't really transfer to other zergs. And it seems that the whole 14CC thing never caught on with anyone except Flash.
sync vs jinnam on HOV coca cola round of 16 i think
sync goes marine medic vs hydra lurk on an island map. this was way back when bionic control wasn't as advanced and no one dared take on hydra lurk with no tank support but sync showed the power of bionic when controlled properly.
On June 19 2009 14:37 tenbagger wrote: I'd like to add one more recommendation
sync vs jinnam on HOV coca cola round of 16 i think
sync goes marine medic vs hydra lurk on an island map. this was way back when bionic control wasn't as advanced and no one dared take on hydra lurk with no tank support but sync showed the power of bionic when controlled properly.
Sea vs Yarnc on peaks of baekdu I know the muta+plague vessel trick used before than but that game really popularized it.
Jaedong hiding 2 scourge with his muta group to catch terran's first vessel trick was really popularized too. Not a specific game though.
Nada vs Gorush on luna can be counted because it was the beginning of the management zergs savior ggplay and now effort.
Oov vs yellow on forte really popularized tank heavy builds. Oov goes 3 fact tanks. I heard it was in_dove who invented it though.
A game that literally no one remembers I think it was skyhigh vs yarnc on zodiac yarnc might have done it earlier maybe vs canata on blue storm was it?. Yarnc parasites terran's first vessel to know terran's movements and to snipe it easier. This was before jaedong's ensnare game vs fantasy. Had no influence but i thought it was really cute and wanted to try it out.
Jaedong vs Fantasy on chupung ryeong. Popularized queens+ensnare for abit. I remember my friends were trying them out after this game. Still some zergs use them like hogil vs piano and hogil vs hiya.
How can i forget Mind vs Haran on katrina. Really popularized muta into ultra rushing. There were earlier games that used the strat like haran vs light on ungoro, savior vs hwasin on baekdu earliest one i remember he went guardian ultra in that game, and kwanro vs sea on blue storm.
I think 2 hatch muta in its prime was actually more influential because of blue storm 1.1. Some games i remember jaedong vs flash and kwanro vs canata.
Anyone think nada vs yellow on that map where he slides his marines though the minerals with barracks was pretty influential? Or was it more monty hall that did it. Because now we see all sorts of tricks with mineral glitching. Requiem might had helped too.
Games which really influenced tvz or at least me was fbh vs savior on katrina and flash vs ggplay on python. Its when anti muta builds were starting to appear like fast +1 or 7 rax or even a combination of both. Sea vs luxury on colosseum is the perfect example of this. fast +1 weap 5 rax build.
One thing I'm wondering is, can any one player/game be credited to breaking Savior's ZvT? FBH's series was definitely the most famous, but I think even before him, terrans had began to break Savior's "bare-minimum defense until hive" builds.
A lot of games I can think of are more player-oriented than causing trends. A lot of Stork builds never became popular because they're more map-abuse then anything else. ForGG's sense of timing would be influential if he actually stayed relevant long enough. Jaedong IMO had a lot of builds that only worked because he's Jaedong, and doesn't really transfer to other zergs. And it seems that the whole 14CC thing never caught on with anyone except Flash.
Breaking Savior was really a combination of Bisu breaking Savior's confidence, hive-style play becoming more known (and thus players more familiar with the hive timings and nuisances) and Terran builds becoming better.
Yea, Jaedong's style of play is interesting because it really isn't transferable (at least appears to not be transferable) to other zergs at the moment. His mechanics are on another plane and no other zerg can simply just copy his builds. On the other hand, his builds are really, really inflexible and he's bad at adapting from his game plan.
ForGG - I feel like he only exhibited sick timing sense in that series against Jaedong, who is (was) his training partner and is bad at adapting, as already discussed. Past that, he just macroed up and had so many units it didn't matter.
14 CC didn't really catch on because if you become known for it, you're going to get double proxy'd raxed a lot. It's the same reason 12 nexus never became popular PvT. It's a good build with no real counter on the Terran side, but if you become known for it you get proxy rax'd a lot. See Stork-Flash game 2 on Katrina from the OSL finals.
On June 19 2009 14:37 tenbagger wrote: I'd like to add one more recommendation
sync vs jinnam on HOV coca cola round of 16 i think
sync goes marine medic vs hydra lurk on an island map. this was way back when bionic control wasn't as advanced and no one dared take on hydra lurk with no tank support but sync showed the power of bionic when controlled properly.
Thanks for these recs - I wasn't around for a lot of the epic stuff in the earlier years so it's good to find a list of things to catch up on when time permits.
Ugh don't remind me of Boxer vs YellOw. That was the most disappointing semi-finals for so many reasons.
It pains me to even mention it but iloveoov's usage of massive amounts of wraiths was not something people had seen at that point. I don't know when it was truly introduced into TvT but he definitely used it against NaDa during TriGem if I'm not mistaken.
EPT
WITH FIREBATS. 
Nice!
