• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EST 09:49
CET 15:49
KST 23:49
  • 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
Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book16Clem wins HomeStory Cup 289HomeStory Cup 28 - Info & Preview13Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info8herO wins SC2 All-Star Invitational14
Community News
ACS replaced by "ASL Season Open" - Starts 21/0223LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals (Feb 10-16)39Weekly Cups (Feb 2-8): Classic, Solar, MaxPax win2Nexon's StarCraft game could be FPS, led by UMS maker12PIG STY FESTIVAL 7.0! (19 Feb - 1 Mar)17
StarCraft 2
General
StarCraft 1 & 2 Added to Xbox Game Pass How do you think the 5.0.15 balance patch (Oct 2025) for StarCraft II has affected the game? Nexon's StarCraft game could be FPS, led by UMS maker Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book Terran Scanner Sweep
Tourneys
LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals (Feb 10-16) WardiTV Team League Season 10 PIG STY FESTIVAL 7.0! (19 Feb - 1 Mar) $5,000 WardiTV Winter Championship 2026 StarCraft Evolution League (SC Evo Biweekly)
Strategy
Custom Maps
Map Editor closed ? [A] Starcraft Sound Mod
External Content
Mutation # 513 Attrition Warfare The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 512 Overclocked Mutation # 511 Temple of Rebirth
Brood War
General
Ladder maps - how we can make blizz update them? ACS replaced by "ASL Season Open" - Starts 21/02 BW General Discussion Which units you wish saw more use in the game? TvZ is the most complete match up
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues Escore Tournament StarCraft Season 1 Small VOD Thread 2.0 KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Strategy
Fighting Spirit mining rates Zealot bombing is no longer popular? Simple Questions, Simple Answers Current Meta
Other Games
General Games
ZeroSpace Megathread Diablo 2 thread Path of Exile Nintendo Switch Thread Battle Aces/David Kim RTS 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
TL Mafia Community Thread Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Ask and answer stupid questions here! Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club The herO Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
[Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books [Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
The Search For Meaning in Vi…
TrAiDoS
My 2025 Magic: The Gathering…
DARKING
Life Update and thoughts.
FuDDx
How do archons sleep?
8882
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 2460 users

Use of the clock

Forum Index > Brood War Strategy
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
rararara
Profile Joined March 2021
115 Posts
January 02 2022 05:08 GMT
#1
Do you use the clock?

I used to play when there was no clock, so I keep forgetting.. how much is it part of your game?

any significant times worth mentioning?

around 6:30 I should be ready for Zealot-Push, but I always look when it's too late :D
Return
Profile Joined June 2005
Ivory Coast857 Posts
January 02 2022 22:39 GMT
#2
Yes I use the clock a ton. For my own in regards to how on point I am in my build(gas timings etc) and I have some scout timings to help with reading opponents build(archives timing, marine/medic count at 4:45) and some help in like counting with upgrades
Diiiscoo-oh, thats where the happy people go!
MeSaber
Profile Joined December 2009
Sweden1235 Posts
January 03 2022 00:05 GMT
#3
No APM or Clock use here. I like the extra vision without it.
-.-
rararara
Profile Joined March 2021
115 Posts
January 03 2022 14:03 GMT
#4
On January 03 2022 07:39 Return wrote:
Yes I use the clock a ton. For my own in regards to how on point I am in my build(gas timings etc) and I have some scout timings to help with reading opponents build(archives timing, marine/medic count at 4:45) and some help in like counting with upgrades


Sounds interesting. Can you specify w the builds?

what do you mean with upgrades?
ajmbek
Profile Joined November 2008
Italy460 Posts
January 03 2022 16:19 GMT
#5
I do have clock on, but i mostrly do not look at it. I have some king of good sens of timings
Sic iter ad astra
Return
Profile Joined June 2005
Ivory Coast857 Posts
Last Edited: 2022-01-03 19:54:40
January 03 2022 19:52 GMT
#6
On January 03 2022 23:03 rararara wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 03 2022 07:39 Return wrote:
Yes I use the clock a ton. For my own in regards to how on point I am in my build(gas timings etc) and I have some scout timings to help with reading opponents build(archives timing, marine/medic count at 4:45) and some help in like counting with upgrades


Sounds interesting. Can you specify w the builds?

what do you mean with upgrades?


If I want to have my spire done so I can get scourge to deal with initial corsair on zvp, I need to make gas at a particular time to be able to get lair and spire up in right time. I'm no super gosu or anything but being like 5 seconds off on the gas timing can be the difference between cleanly picking off the first corsair or losing 2-3 overlords and have my whole build thrown off and as a consequence lose the game to his zealot timing. As zerg also particular lair timings will grant me an extra larva so I'll probably want to hit those timings too. And if say no corsair show up at like 6:00 then I can deduce if I haven't seen it before that he's potentially skipping stargate to have a stronger zealot timing. Same for depending on when his forge starts spinning will tell me if he is doing other stuff needing gas before +1 or if he is doing a like 6:30 timing or if he is going for something else, like maybe corsair/dt or a power goon build. Just some loose examples

Like say I want to have +2 done at 12:00 it means I'll have to have started +1 at ~6:00 else I'll have to find some way to win time so a potential big engage doesn't happen right before my +2 power spike. Etc etc
Diiiscoo-oh, thats where the happy people go!
SirGlinG
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
Sweden933 Posts
January 03 2022 20:51 GMT
#7
On January 03 2022 07:39 Return wrote:
Yes I use the clock a ton. For my own in regards to how on point I am in my build(gas timings etc) and I have some scout timings to help with reading opponents build(archives timing, marine/medic count at 4:45) and some help in like counting with upgrades


I use it to be ready Returns mutas could come.
Not my chair. Not my problem. That's what I say
rararara
Profile Joined March 2021
115 Posts
Last Edited: 2022-01-04 16:23:31
January 04 2022 15:25 GMT
#8
On January 03 2022 07:39 Return wrote:

If I want to have my spire done so I can get scourge to deal with initial corsair on zvp, I need to make gas at a particular time to be able to get lair and spire up in right time. I'm no super gosu or anything but being like 5 seconds off on the gas timing can be the difference between cleanly picking off the first corsair or losing 2-3 overlords and have my whole build thrown off and as a consequence lose the game to his zealot timing. As zerg also particular lair timings will grant me an extra larva so I'll probably want to hit those timings too. And if say no corsair show up at like 6:00 then I can deduce if I haven't seen it before that he's potentially skipping stargate to have a stronger zealot timing. Same for depending on when his forge starts spinning will tell me if he is doing other stuff needing gas before +1 or if he is doing a like 6:30 timing or if he is going for something else, like maybe corsair/dt or a power goon build. Just some loose examples

Like say I want to have +2 done at 12:00 it means I'll have to have started +1 at ~6:00 else I'll have to find some way to win time so a potential big engage doesn't happen right before my +2 power spike. Etc etc


Thanks man, that sounds like a lot of thinking during the game.
Did you have to practice this to watch and get the timings right?

I figured the clock adds a whole new level to scouting, but this seems almost off the charts for a casual gamer like me.
What's your MMR if I may ask?
WGT-Baal
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
France3437 Posts
Last Edited: 2022-01-04 16:00:36
January 04 2022 15:54 GMT
#9
On January 05 2022 00:25 rararara wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 03 2022 07:39 Return wrote:

If I want to have my spire done so I can get scourge to deal with initial corsair on zvp, I need to make gas at a particular time to be able to get lair and spire up in right time. I'm no super gosu or anything but being like 5 seconds off on the gas timing can be the difference between cleanly picking off the first corsair or losing 2-3 overlords and have my whole build thrown off and as a consequence lose the game to his zealot timing. As zerg also particular lair timings will grant me an extra larva so I'll probably want to hit those timings too. And if say no corsair show up at like 6:00 then I can deduce if I haven't seen it before that he's potentially skipping stargate to have a stronger zealot timing. Same for depending on when his forge starts spinning will tell me if he is doing other stuff needing gas before +1 or if he is doing a like 6:30 timing or if he is going for something else, like maybe corsair/dt or a power goon build. Just some loose examples

Like say I want to have +2 done at 12:00 it means I'll have to have started +1 at ~6:00 else I'll have to find some way to win time so a potential big engage doesn't happen right before my +2 power spike. Etc etc


Thanks man, that sounds like a lot of thinking during the game.
Did you have to practice this to watch and get the timings right?

I figured the clock adds a whole new level to scouting, but this seems almost off the charts for a casual gamer like me.
What's your MMR if you may ask?


Return is about 1800, but you can use the clock at all levels, it s more a matter of getting used to it.

for example if you go for a timing build it s useful in practice (and then in that game) to mentally judge if you re on the right track. For example a 3hh hits at 5:40 or 6 (ish, give or take, i do have the exact timing somewhere though), a gas at 2:05 is a 2 hatch build, for ZvP if you don't see a corsair early (around 6th min) it s likely gateway only etc. Can be useful when scouting too. Obviously it can also be your opponent being bad, so it s not always a useful scouting tool, i use it more for my own timings than for scouting purposes. For example assuming PvT, T not dealing critical damage (say you defend a 2 fac or smthg) and you not losing too many units, you d expect to max out between 12 and 12:30.

Personally I have a list of timings on a few notepads that I pull when practicing, but it s not down to the second, more like an idea of where things should be. For instance if you tvz you want to time your turrets right for mutas, so it helps if you know the general muta timing for 2h and 3h, this kind of stuff. The more the game progresses the less important this becomes though, as games will diverge from set plans/builds by then.
Horang2 fan
Return
Profile Joined June 2005
Ivory Coast857 Posts
January 04 2022 23:20 GMT
#10
On January 05 2022 00:25 rararara wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 03 2022 07:39 Return wrote:

If I want to have my spire done so I can get scourge to deal with initial corsair on zvp, I need to make gas at a particular time to be able to get lair and spire up in right time. I'm no super gosu or anything but being like 5 seconds off on the gas timing can be the difference between cleanly picking off the first corsair or losing 2-3 overlords and have my whole build thrown off and as a consequence lose the game to his zealot timing. As zerg also particular lair timings will grant me an extra larva so I'll probably want to hit those timings too. And if say no corsair show up at like 6:00 then I can deduce if I haven't seen it before that he's potentially skipping stargate to have a stronger zealot timing. Same for depending on when his forge starts spinning will tell me if he is doing other stuff needing gas before +1 or if he is doing a like 6:30 timing or if he is going for something else, like maybe corsair/dt or a power goon build. Just some loose examples

Like say I want to have +2 done at 12:00 it means I'll have to have started +1 at ~6:00 else I'll have to find some way to win time so a potential big engage doesn't happen right before my +2 power spike. Etc etc


Thanks man, that sounds like a lot of thinking during the game.
Did you have to practice this to watch and get the timings right?

I figured the clock adds a whole new level to scouting, but this seems almost off the charts for a casual gamer like me.
What's your MMR if I may ask?


As baal says, around 1800ish. And it's not like a lot of conscious thought it's more of a habit now, I kinda just tried to boil down a lot of it into words. I mostly consciously use the clock when it comes to reading the opponent in game, like particular scouting timings and use the clock for my own play as I review my replays and to some extent to kinda clock how on point I'm in my build, some minor stuff like when to send drone and gas timings in regards to lair for extra larva and how it matches with expected timings from opponent. But it's not like I'll leave the game if my lair starts at 3:04 instead of 3:02 or whatever... If its not like single player practice and I'm trying to perfectly work through a timing

Can play perfectly fine not ever using the clock even at very high levels I'm sure, I'm just a nerd
Diiiscoo-oh, thats where the happy people go!
rararara
Profile Joined March 2021
115 Posts
Last Edited: 2022-01-05 00:37:24
January 05 2022 00:35 GMT
#11
I think if I would use the clock, I would use it like you.. I got the hang of it because Scan is talking about it in every cast and seems like it's an important part of his game and other super high-level players.

It seems like a new analytical aspect to the game, compared to 15-20 years ago.
Definitely adds more of a poker-element with more definite intel.

If there's any articles, videos on this (JinJin? ), please feel free to share everyone, thanks!
zimp
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
Hungary955 Posts
Last Edited: 2022-01-05 15:13:33
January 05 2022 15:12 GMT
#12
of course the clock is super useful. some launchers had a built in clock, which gave an unfair advantage to those players using it, that is why it made sense to include it in the game.

some basic things to remember as terran is
tvz:
-2hatch muta can come at 6 min.
-3h muta at 7 min.
-in order to have 3tanks and a vessel by 10 min you need to start your fact at 7 minutes and produce constantly.

tvp:
-no unit dt can come as early as 5:xx, with some units your turret should be up by 6 min.
-reaver drop even after nexus first can come by 7 min.
-artosis could contribute cause he knows these quite well ..

this is pretty handy:
https://tl.net/forum/bw-strategy/84768-list-of-build-times-on-fastest-speed
agentzimp
TL+ Member
TelecoM
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States10691 Posts
January 05 2022 23:24 GMT
#13
I am curious from top level Protoss players, what timings your looking for in PvZ / PvT. I don't know the exact times but I know the relative times of Spire timing in my head, and 1-2 base pushes vs T, just not the exact times for the clock.
AKA: TelecoM[WHITE] Protoss fighting
ZakRoM
Profile Joined December 2018
Costa Rica54 Posts
January 10 2022 14:02 GMT
#14
I'm not a top level but for example PvZ the +1 attack + 7-9 zealot push with legs must be at around 7:30, I mean at 7:30 you should be going to Z base with that.

I know that by around 10-11 minute mark I should have more than 100 supply and it's a good time for a third expansion (if the game went normally by that time). Also lurkers will come normally between 10-12 minute mark, that helps me to know around what time to make the robotics.

PvT depending the opening and what Terran is doing but if I go standard I look for 3rd Nexus between 6:30-7:30, trying to have arbiter before 12m.

I've found the clock very useful, I've noticed I used it less in PvP, but I try to have my gate explosion in this match around the 8-9m mark and it has helped me a lot in the mid game.


TelecoM
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States10691 Posts
January 13 2022 19:40 GMT
#15
I'm curious if there is an earliest time for a hydra all in to hit in PvZ.
AKA: TelecoM[WHITE] Protoss fighting
davidsamuel5
Profile Joined October 2024
United States1 Post
October 05 2024 05:50 GMT
#16
--- Nuked ---
CHEONSOYUN
Profile Joined August 2017
565 Posts
October 06 2024 15:40 GMT
#17
knowing common timings is powerful in games where little to no significant unexpected disruption takes place since you’re able to consider possibilities precisely

but it’s also important to know / have a sense for relative timings when inevitably you are in games where the game state is uncertain (held rushes, significant trades/harassment, mistakes/mismanagement etc.)
JAEDONG...!!! EFFORT IS ANGRY. ZERG...?!
iopq
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States1053 Posts
October 08 2024 21:44 GMT
#18
On January 14 2022 04:40 TelecoM wrote:
I'm curious if there is an earliest time for a hydra all in to hit in PvZ.

5 minutes, but there's no speed, just some ranged hydras and speedlings

You can only guess it's coming because the speed is like a bit earlier and Zerg denies all vision earlier than usual and has enough lings to block zealots moving out
Piste
Profile Blog Joined July 2006
6183 Posts
October 09 2024 13:40 GMT
#19
I don't use it. I go by instinct and gut feeling like everyone used to before remastered.
Navane
Profile Blog Joined February 2007
Netherlands2749 Posts
October 10 2024 17:48 GMT
#20
Does lag slow down the game timer too? Is the timer always in sync with the game state?
1 2 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Wardi Open
13:00
#74
WardiTV965
OGKoka 271
Rex148
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
OGKoka 271
Lowko252
Rex 148
ProTech144
StarCraft: Brood War
Rain 7181
Bisu 2978
Jaedong 1682
Shuttle 1485
Sea 1360
Mini 1039
Larva 630
Stork 612
ggaemo 368
Barracks 246
[ Show more ]
Zeus 183
Backho 176
Sharp 147
JYJ 93
sorry 83
ToSsGirL 71
[sc1f]eonzerg 50
Hm[arnc] 46
Shinee 45
Shine 41
Aegong 38
yabsab 28
IntoTheRainbow 20
scan(afreeca) 17
GoRush 15
Rock 14
Terrorterran 6
Icarus 6
Dota 2
Gorgc3421
Dendi445
Counter-Strike
shoxiejesuss2416
fl0m851
allub212
markeloff103
Super Smash Bros
Mew2King111
Other Games
singsing2405
B2W.Neo1104
hiko716
byalli449
crisheroes363
Sick243
Hui .208
Happy195
XaKoH 190
Liquid`VortiX120
ArmadaUGS53
KnowMe34
Organizations
Counter-Strike
PGL40449
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• intothetv
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• WagamamaTV368
League of Legends
• Nemesis5336
• Jankos1252
• TFBlade284
Upcoming Events
Monday Night Weeklies
2h 41m
OSC
9h 11m
WardiTV Winter Champion…
21h 11m
PiGosaur Cup
1d 10h
Replay Cast
1d 18h
WardiTV Winter Champion…
1d 21h
Replay Cast
2 days
PiG Sty Festival
2 days
The PondCast
2 days
KCM Race Survival
2 days
[ Show More ]
WardiTV Winter Champion…
2 days
Replay Cast
3 days
PiG Sty Festival
3 days
Epic.LAN
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
PiG Sty Festival
4 days
CranKy Ducklings
4 days
Epic.LAN
4 days
Replay Cast
5 days
PiG Sty Festival
5 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
5 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Wardi Open
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-02-14
LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Nations Cup 2026
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual
eXTREMESLAND 2025
SL Budapest Major 2025

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S1: King of Kings
[S:21] ASL SEASON OPEN 1st Round
[S:21] ASL SEASON OPEN 1st Round Qualifier
[S:21] ASL SEASON OPEN 2nd Round
[S:21] ASL SEASON OPEN 2nd Round Qualifier
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Bellum Gens Elite Stara Zagora 2026
RSL Revival: Season 4
WardiTV Winter 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
CCT Season 3 Global Finals
FISSURE Playground #3
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League Season 23
ESL Pro League Season 23
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.