• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 02:32
CET 07:32
KST 15:32
  • 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
BGE Stara Zagora 2026 cancelled3Blizzard Classic Cup - Tastosis announced as captains12Weekly Cups (March 2-8): ByuN overcomes PvT block4GSL CK - New online series18BSL Season 224
StarCraft 2
General
Terran AddOns placement BGE Stara Zagora 2026 cancelled BGE Stara Zagora 2026 announced Blizzard Classic Cup - Tastosis announced as captains Team Liquid Map Contest - Preparation Notice
Tourneys
[GSL CK] Team Maru vs. Team herO WardiTV Team League Season 10 Master Swan Open (Global Bronze-Master 2) RSL Season 4 announced for March-April Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament
Strategy
Custom Maps
Publishing has been re-enabled! [Feb 24th 2026] Map Editor closed ?
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 516 Specter of Death Mutation # 515 Together Forever Mutation # 514 Ulnar New Year
Brood War
General
ASL21 General Discussion BW General Discussion BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Gypsy to Korea Are you ready for ASL 21? Hype VIDEO
Tourneys
[BSL22] Open Qualifiers & Ladder Tours [Megathread] Daily Proleagues IPSL Spring 2026 is here! ASL Season 21 Qualifiers March 7-8
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Soma's 9 hatch build from ASL Game 2 Fighting Spirit mining rates Zealot bombing is no longer popular?
Other Games
General Games
Nintendo Switch Thread PC Games Sales Thread Path of Exile No Man's Sky (PS4 and PC) Stormgate/Frost Giant 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
Five o'clock TL Mafia Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas Vanilla Mini Mafia TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread NASA and the Private Sector Mexico's Drug War Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Movie Discussion! [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books [Manga] One Piece
Sports
Formula 1 Discussion 2024 - 2026 Football Thread General nutrition recommendations Cricket [SPORT] TL MMA Pick'em Pool 2013
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Laptop capable of using Photoshop Lightroom?
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Iranian anarchists: organize…
XenOsky
FS++
Kraekkling
Shocked by a laser…
Spydermine0240
Gaming-Related Deaths
TrAiDoS
Unintentional protectionism…
Uldridge
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 2222 users

What is this new pvt style with no arbiters?

Forum Index > Brood War Strategy
Post a Reply
1 2 3 Next All
Jubinell
Profile Blog Joined September 2009
333 Posts
January 09 2021 06:28 GMT
#1
Recently everybody is playing it, Best notably. No stargate, no arbiters. Just mass shuttles with speed and mass templars.

What is the new mechanic that made arbiter play obsolete?

I noticed terran has also evolved their play to counter this. evenly spread tanks, conscious vulture runby at nat looking for unguarded templars, lots of EMPs, etc.
Leonix
Profile Joined June 2019
161 Posts
January 09 2021 06:37 GMT
#2
The secret mechanic that make arbiter obsolete is the fact that Arbiters are OP...
Me_ToKa
Profile Joined September 2009
Bulgaria309 Posts
January 09 2021 07:16 GMT
#3
Man watch Ultimate battle match Light vs Best. There you can see how powerful is this strategy. And yes it is currently really trendy.
y2kid
Profile Joined May 2018
92 Posts
January 09 2021 08:50 GMT
#4
Think it's very good especially on big maps due to arbiter's clunkyness :/ They're big and slow. React very poorly to clicks etc. One EMP just ruins your day. On the other side, if you have HTs in shuttles that's both fast and unaffected by EMP. Gives you a lot more mobility and is useful for the counterattacking/backstabs that P likes to do later on.
ProMeTheus112
Profile Joined December 2009
France2027 Posts
Last Edited: 2021-01-09 10:50:15
January 09 2021 10:47 GMT
#5
wow that's surprising i always thought and actually was taught that arbiters were simply necessary (basically to have a chance to battle T at 200/200 without losing straight after), I really like to hear that at the highest level its possible to choose not to do that so you have more choice of end game strategy in pvt thats great
(i mean carriers was already a possible alternative otherwise though or even possibly a mix)
Jubinell
Profile Blog Joined September 2009
333 Posts
January 09 2021 14:26 GMT
#6
One really cool thing u can do as protoss with this strategy is storm the incoming terran army. Imagine the terran is coming to a choke in front of one of your nats with 7-10 tanks u can send a few zealots heads-on to take the hit, then drop your templars behind. 3-4 templars x 2 rounds of storms and all the tanks are gone!
Timebon3s
Profile Joined May 2018
Norway764 Posts
Last Edited: 2021-01-09 14:29:42
January 09 2021 14:29 GMT
#7
I have always said storm is underused in pvt and reavers underused in pvz. The damage storm does to sieged tanks is simply too good to not use. Jangbi knew this and he was a terran killer. And the potential stormdrops have is insane.

It’s also sad to see protoss recalling half his army into mines and then lose to a counterattack on his natural and killing all units beeing produced
ProMeTheus112
Profile Joined December 2009
France2027 Posts
January 09 2021 14:51 GMT
#8
On January 09 2021 23:29 Timebon3s wrote:
It’s also sad to see protoss recalling half his army into mines and then lose to a counterattack on his natural and killing all units beeing produced

yeah i dont like blind recalls i avoid doing that almost just don't do it
also agree reavers prob underused in pvz
i was trying the templar style a bunch of times just worried about the 200/200 army but if it works at best level it must simply be a good style then should have a look
whaski
Profile Joined December 2012
Finland577 Posts
January 09 2021 15:31 GMT
#9
On January 09 2021 23:51 ProMeTheus112 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 09 2021 23:29 Timebon3s wrote:
It’s also sad to see protoss recalling half his army into mines and then lose to a counterattack on his natural and killing all units beeing produced

yeah i dont like blind recalls i avoid doing that almost just don't do it
also agree reavers prob underused in pvz
i was trying the templar style a bunch of times just worried about the 200/200 army but if it works at best level it must simply be a good style then should have a look


I picked this up from Best Youtube- chat:

Big adjustment is the number of probes and expansions. Protoss makes timing attack with shuttle and storm and trades with terran. Then you just trade and trade. Terran dries and never quite gets 200/200 with 3/2. If protoss cannot demolish scvs or trade with storm it becomes tricky because lower number of probes.

So it comes down to Best and his insane optimization to have just right ammount of stuff to constantly pressure terran and trade/harass with storm. The greatest pvt is back.
it's not just a music it's something else
whaski
Profile Joined December 2012
Finland577 Posts
January 09 2021 15:32 GMT
#10
As a bonus, here

it's not just a music it's something else
omahahowitzer
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
United States98 Posts
January 10 2021 13:29 GMT
#11
On January 10 2021 00:32 whaski wrote:
As a bonus, here

https://youtu.be/MXYRhJOmOkc


can someone explain this opening for me? 16 gas, 20 core, 3 zealots before goon. Best's PvT is too next level it is beyond my comprehension
Soulforged
Profile Blog Joined February 2007
Latvia936 Posts
January 10 2021 14:00 GMT
#12
It isn't an easy style to play, for sure.

The main problem is that you have to keep trading. The trades may be slightly ineffecient, but if you get shut down hard one time, you can no longer do so, and you will have to deal with that 200.
Now there's options to deal with that, such as:
1)getting decent trades by constantly moving around, faking engagement attempt with part of the army while repositioning the most of it elsewhere, trying and catching terran out of position
2)letting them push and doing a counterattack, while reinforcements + defensive storms slow down terran advance, eventually returning and flanking their army when it isn't positioned ideally. This generally trades bases 1:1 and armies, which is what protoss wants
3)or even engaging them as they move out and mass drop zealots on the tanks as they pass the mine field...

all of these are things that frequently come up in Best games as ways to turn things around if he loses tempo. but it is difficult
this style is all about tempo
if terran stabilizes and puts defensive mines everywhere(or even worse, on counter attack routes as well), this can end up being very problematic

I wonder if best gets significantly more than 60 probes due to his constant trades, though. That seems like something that can both be amazing if you keep the constant trades going, and backfire a lot if terran stabilizes.
lurkgoon
Profile Joined November 2020
11 Posts
Last Edited: 2021-01-10 15:19:08
January 10 2021 15:00 GMT
#13
On January 10 2021 22:29 omahahowitzer wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 10 2021 00:32 whaski wrote:
As a bonus, here

https://youtu.be/MXYRhJOmOkc


can someone explain this opening for me? 16 gas, 20 core, 3 zealots before goon. Best's PvT is too next level it is beyond my comprehension

It's your basic zzcorez. You don't have to stop building probes or zeals and can still get your core up reasonably fast. It's probably the best compromise for a safe zealot pressure build in pvt. The gate can be made at your ramp or natural choke, with the natural choke being more common.

Even if your zealot pressure gets shut down, like what happens in the first game, it's not the end of the world. Don't keep throwing zeals away - they are still useful for defending a counterattack, or to later load up in a shuttle with a reaver.

You can't expect a whole lot from a 10 gate at your ramp or natural, though it does have the potential to really mess up an unprepared opponent, as you can see in a later game on Polypoid.

In general, Best does a really good job mixing up his builds, with various standard tech builds, forward gate, 12 nexus, etc. Most Protoss players rely too much on the standard 1 gate, 13 core, no zealot builds.
Kingdom[NaS]
Profile Joined April 2018
74 Posts
January 10 2021 16:13 GMT
#14
Storm style is good vrs pushes, arb style is better vrs turtle terran
ne4aJIb
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
Russian Federation3209 Posts
January 10 2021 16:53 GMT
#15
I dont think you wait with shuttles until terran gets 200 supply.
Bisu,Best,Stork,Jangbi and Flash, Fantasy, Leta, Light and Jaedong, Hydra, Zero, Soulkey assemble in ACE now!
Dangermousecatdog
Profile Joined December 2010
United Kingdom7084 Posts
Last Edited: 2021-01-10 20:42:15
January 10 2021 19:55 GMT
#16
There's nothing new about putting HT in shuttles, or having HT to storm tanks. Or moving out to prevent Terran from building up their push.
BigFan
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
TLADT24920 Posts
January 10 2021 23:52 GMT
#17
It's not really a new style if I'm understanding things properly. Using a gateway army with ht support was a style that was played frequently in the past, but over the years, protoss players started using arbiters much more. I'm not really sure why the change now, but I am glad to see it being used again because it makes for some great games.
Former BW EiC"Watch Bakemonogatari or I will kill you." -Toad, April 18th, 2017
Soulforged
Profile Blog Joined February 2007
Latvia936 Posts
January 11 2021 11:14 GMT
#18
The maps and the reaver opening development, probably.

It isn't that great on maps with a 'free 3rd base' that we had frequent in the past.
Current reaver openings and maps make terran work for their 3rd base, and then it is still either exposed or far enough to where the mobility of speed shuttle-goon can take good trades.
JieXian
Profile Blog Joined August 2008
Malaysia4677 Posts
January 11 2021 13:41 GMT
#19
On January 11 2021 08:52 BigFan wrote:
It's not really a new style if I'm understanding things properly. Using a gateway army with ht support was a style that was played frequently in the past, but over the years, protoss players started using arbiters much more. I'm not really sure why the change now, but I am glad to see it being used again because it makes for some great games.

Yes if I recall correctly, P didn't used to rush to arbiters back then (but then again I was absolutely terrible back then). However, I'm sure there would be some new twist to what we see on the surface
Please send me a PM of any song you like that I most probably never heard of! I am looking for people to chat about writing and producing music | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noD-bsOcxuU |
angry_maia
Profile Joined August 2020
327 Posts
January 12 2021 02:39 GMT
#20
I absolutely love this style (watching, I have no chance at actually playing it lol). Leads to super action packed games
1 2 3 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Replay Cast
00:00
StarCraft Evolution League #18
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft: Brood War
GuemChi 3304
Leta 183
sSak 148
GoRush 15
Bale 12
Icarus 8
EffOrt 5
Dota 2
XaKoH 445
NeuroSwarm122
League of Legends
JimRising 673
Counter-Strike
Coldzera 1335
Stewie2K391
m0e_tv281
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor92
Other Games
summit1g4356
C9.Mang0278
Hui .116
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick995
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• practicex 49
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Lourlo1118
• Stunt604
• HappyZerGling135
Upcoming Events
Replay Cast
17h 28m
CranKy Ducklings
1d 3h
RSL Revival
1d 3h
WardiTV Team League
1d 5h
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
1d 10h
Patches Events
1d 10h
BSL
1d 13h
Sparkling Tuna Cup
2 days
RSL Revival
2 days
WardiTV Team League
2 days
[ Show More ]
BSL
2 days
Replay Cast
2 days
Replay Cast
3 days
Wardi Open
3 days
Monday Night Weeklies
3 days
WardiTV Team League
4 days
GSL
5 days
The PondCast
6 days
WardiTV Team League
6 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-03-12
WardiTV Winter 2026
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Jeongseon Sooper Cup
BSL Season 22
RSL Revival: Season 4
Nations Cup 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual

Upcoming

CSL Elite League 2026
ASL Season 21
Acropolis #4 - TS6
2026 Changsha Offline CUP
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
CSLAN 4
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
NationLESS Cup
CS Asia Championships 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
IEM Atlanta 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
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.