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! [Q] How to use reaver to the fullest

Forum Index > Brood War Strategy
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1 2 Next All
jjun212
Profile Joined December 2004
Canada2208 Posts
September 06 2005 02:09 GMT
#1
Hey, just quick question

i havent been using the reaver much lately and when i do, i cant seem to pick it up or make it shoot correctly like pros

is there away to make it shoot better or any micro tips with the reaver?

does moving back then pressing attack make it shoot faster then just dropping it? i dunno
LegendaryDreams
Profile Blog Joined November 2004
Canada1350 Posts
September 06 2005 02:25 GMT
#2
It's all about practice and experience. Using reaver micro to the fullest is another example of that. I am not a protoss user but I believe as soon as you get the timing right, your reaver 'pop' will become very well, watch some Legionnaire replays, he hold the record for reaver kills on TV =). Practice Practice Practice I guess.
call me moxie
FireBlast!
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
United Kingdom5251 Posts
Last Edited: 2005-09-06 03:19:46
September 06 2005 03:12 GMT
#3
I've been addicted to reavers ever since I saw that IntoTheRainbow highlight video, which shows some incredibly cute technical play- unloading dragoon/probes first to draw all the fire from tanks first then using the cooldown time to unload the reaver etc.
Half of it just comes from 'feel' and experience, but some really easy things you can do are the following:

1) Always keep the shuttle on the move to avoid the unnecessary acceleration which would make your unloading and loading much more efficient.

2) Try to always manually target your scarab for full effect, i.e the zergling right in the middle of the pack or a tank at half health for 1 hit kill.
Victoria Concordia Crescit
Myrmidon
Profile Blog Joined December 2004
United States9452 Posts
Last Edited: 2005-09-06 03:27:37
September 06 2005 03:26 GMT
#4
More important than reaver micro is reaver judgement. The micro's just about dropping the reaver and giving it a target. Then there's making scarabs, dropping fodder, and (if you're gosu) moving the shuttle around so that when it picks up the reaver to run away it's already moving and doesn't need to accelerate.

Reaver judgement is knowing where to drop, when to leave, and when to stay. Loosing a reaver puts you at a huge disadvantage early game--it's an entire reaver cost + scarab cost + support bay cost for whatever you get out of the reaver. Even if you don't get too many kills with a reaver, keep it alive for the threat alone, which forces your opponent to have defense everywhere. If those defenses happen to be units, if your reaver dies, they can send them away to bash your face, much like zvt loosing muta fashion. Of course, if you're sure you can get some 13 peon kills by sacrificing a reaver, it's worth it, but keep in mind scarabs can be retarded.

Practice the micro, loose a bunch of games by foing reaver, and you'll get better. But as always, try to see if you could possibly distract your opponent during/before the drop. You want their attention not on your shuttle, because it's often their good countermicro that owns your drop rather than your bad micro. (well, both for me >_< )
GrandInquisitor *
Profile Blog Joined May 2005
New York City13113 Posts
September 06 2005 03:46 GMT
#5
Just one tip that I learned myself the hard way, but is really surprisingly simple - use the shuttle to rightclick on the reaver to pick it up, don't use the reaver to right click on the shuttle to be loaded into it. This way the reaver may yet launch one or two final shots.
What fun is it being cool if you can’t wear a sombrero?
T______T
Profile Joined August 2005
United States538 Posts
September 06 2005 06:30 GMT
#6
The mirco and judgement and one and the same.

You have to know when the reaver will decide to have a seizure (it is somewhat predictable).
- pride and shame -
donmega2
Profile Joined October 2004
United States26 Posts
September 06 2005 06:47 GMT
#7
How do you get the reaver to shoot at the target you right click on. Everytime I drop a reaver I right click on a probe or something and a goon shoots at the reaver so it fires back at the goon xD.
LegendaryDreams
Profile Blog Joined November 2004
Canada1350 Posts
September 06 2005 07:33 GMT
#8
On September 06 2005 15:47 donmega2 wrote:
How do you get the reaver to shoot at the target you right click on. Everytime I drop a reaver I right click on a probe or something and a goon shoots at the reaver so it fires back at the goon xD.

Spam attack command at the probes, people don't spam some commands for no reason.
call me moxie
Myrmidon
Profile Blog Joined December 2004
United States9452 Posts
September 06 2005 08:15 GMT
#9
That'll happen if the reaver's out of scarabs and is building some more--when one finally is completely done, the reaver autotargets and shoots immediately. Perhaps you can't target when the reaver's coming out of shuttle unload cooldown as well.
Control_The_Masses
Profile Joined August 2005
United States73 Posts
September 06 2005 10:49 GMT
#10
Another thing to do is when your scrarab is chasing a unit lift it in the shuttle or run it away because he wont fire again (even though the shot cooldown has ran its course) untill the first scarab blows up.
This Statement is false.
LaO-Tyros_Reffa
Profile Joined May 2005
Netherlands50 Posts
Last Edited: 2005-09-06 15:50:27
September 06 2005 15:44 GMT
#11
On September 06 2005 12:46 GrandInquisitor wrote:
Just one tip that I learned myself the hard way, but is really surprisingly simple - use the shuttle to rightclick on the reaver to pick it up, don't use the reaver to right click on the shuttle to be loaded into it. This way the reaver may yet launch one or two final shots.


Correct GrandInquisitor. But more important, imo, is the difference in command it really means (although 1 or 2 shots extra is also nice). When you have the reaver selected, and click on the shuttle (to load in), the reaver will (indeed) stop firing, but more importantly, it will move to the shuttle, which is something that lots of people forget (and they lose their reaver).
So, make sure you have the shuttle selected to load-in the reaver, because the reaver will stay put and the shuttle will move to the reaver (it's a basic, true, but not everyone knows it).

If you get the hang of it (practise, practise:D) and you're fast enough, you should be able to save your reaver quite easily, especially with shuttle movement upgrade (makes it the fastest transporter in the game). Something 'extra' you can do, after sending your shuttle to the resque, move your reaver away from incoming (enemy) troops; the shuttle will move directions accordingly (also good to remember, that).
ArseniC-2
Profile Joined August 2005
United States131 Posts
September 06 2005 18:26 GMT
#12
Well I'm not super gosu or anything, but here's a PvP where I use reavers in desperation to make a huge comeback (just played yesterday) ;D Enjoy ^^

http://b.1asphost.com/FoggY123/TwO)ArseniC( vs e-Ric.rep
ArseniC-2
Profile Joined August 2005
United States131 Posts
September 06 2005 18:33 GMT
#13
On September 06 2005 12:46 GrandInquisitor wrote:
Just one tip that I learned myself the hard way, but is really surprisingly simple - use the shuttle to rightclick on the reaver to pick it up, don't use the reaver to right click on the shuttle to be loaded into it. This way the reaver may yet launch one or two final shots.


That is true in some siutations, but the problem is that the shuttle slows down as it picks up the reaver, and the reaver ends up getting loaded much slower... someitmes you just need to right click on the shuttle and get the hell out of there.
RaGe
Profile Blog Joined July 2004
Belgium9949 Posts
September 06 2005 19:57 GMT
#14
a little tip:
if you have problems keeping it moving while doing something in base make it waypoint move above your reaver from left to right or top to bottom whatever so it remains moving

the rest is all practice imo
Moderatorsometimes I get intimidated by the size of my right testicle
OuT[GG]
Profile Joined June 2005
Canada116 Posts
September 06 2005 20:41 GMT
#15
On September 07 2005 03:26 ArseniC-2 wrote:
Well I'm not super gosu or anything, but here's a PvP where I use reavers in desperation to make a huge comeback (just played yesterday) ;D Enjoy ^^

http://b.1asphost.com/FoggY123/TwO)ArseniC( vs e-Ric.rep


Very nice game On what server was that played ? ^_^
Knickknack
Profile Joined February 2004
United States1187 Posts
September 06 2005 22:20 GMT
#16
noones really talking about formation or attacking so ill say some stuff ive learned.

in pvp when your goon/reaver vs whatever he has and hes stationary drop your reavers first just close enough that they can hit. Keep your goons slighly behind your reavers. Usually his units will move toward where they are being attacked or they will take the hits either way its good. Once he commits to an attack move your goons just ahead of your reavers so your reavers dont take most of the damage.

Usually ill just concentrate on poping the reaver in a shuttle if its getting concentrated shots at rather then aiming my shots. Anyone have anything to say abou aiming shots with the reaver in battle?

If its not you attacking a stationary opponent you dont really have much of a choice. Just drop the reavers where they can do damage and take minimal hits.

Thoughts about shuttle speed, worth it or not? Thoughts about reavers without shuttle?
| www.ArtofProtoss.vze.com |
koehli
Profile Joined January 2004
Germany350 Posts
September 07 2005 19:17 GMT
#17
Actually one more thing about targetting your scarabs. Take care not to shoot at "difficult" targets pathwise. Scarabs that try to reach a tank that is screened by scvs for example will just wander around until they die without doing any damage after some time. Unluckily, during this time the reaver won't fire any more scarabs. This slows down the fire rate and thus the damage you'll do in your drop noticeably t.t

So whenever you are dropping a peon line, choose one of the closer peons, not one right in the center of everything. These usually get screened, when the opponent reacts and pulls away his workers in a slide transfer. Sometimes even without. Also try not to have to many buildings/minerals/doodads in your way. Scarabs really are not one of the smartest unit in bw...
You go to war with the Army you have, not the Army you might want or wish to have at a later time.
ArseniC-2
Profile Joined August 2005
United States131 Posts
September 08 2005 06:51 GMT
#18
On September 07 2005 05:41 OuT[GG] wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 07 2005 03:26 ArseniC-2 wrote:
Well I'm not super gosu or anything, but here's a PvP where I use reavers in desperation to make a huge comeback (just played yesterday) ;D Enjoy ^^

http://b.1asphost.com/FoggY123/TwO)ArseniC( vs e-Ric.rep


Very nice game On what server was that played ? ^_^


thanks, it was played on West
red.venom
Profile Joined October 2002
United States4651 Posts
September 08 2005 07:23 GMT
#19
Remember to keep the reaver alive because the minute you lose it your pressure is over. So if faced with the opportunity to kill 2-3 more scv's or keep the reaver you should probably keep it just for the mindgame it plays.
Broom
ahk-gosu
Profile Joined July 2004
Korea (South)2099 Posts
September 08 2005 09:08 GMT
#20
also. try to remember how long it takes for the reavers attack to cool down. kinda like the goon move hold move hold trick when you hold when the cooldown is gone, you can do this with the reaver and a shuttle so that the reaver will attack as fast as possible when you drop it instead of waiting for the cooldown.
Micro.Macro.Scouting.Harassment.
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