Map of the Month #9 - Page 5

Protoss can get three bases rather swiftly, but the bases they chose provide vulnerabilities. If they decide to take the pocket natural first they will become vulnerable when expanding to the open natural. Start taking down the rocks, and when they do try to expand they will have to spread their army thin to defend. Expanding to the open natural first is harder due to the open nature of the expansion and abusable cliffs, so punish them for it or double expand. ...And taking down the back rocks is always helpful for harass later in the game when their army isn't parked to defend that back entrance as well.

Air harass is strong on this map due to the layout of the bases and the long rush distances, so phoenix openings may be more viable than the average map. For harass, I saw 4KExO place a Phase Prism on the Xel'Naga like hallway, sending 3 zealots to the raised, gold, and natural expansions.

The raised expansion has a gas near the cliff facing the enemy. This vulnerability can be exploited by all three races, sniping off the extractor and limiting the player's gas income. Unlike Tal'Darim alter, however, this is a 3rd/4th expansion, so the effect is less extreme while being easier to execute.

Zerg can expand swiftly. Be ware, any fast expanding on your part will often be met with a double-expand from them. Pressure to punish them and keep then from properly droning to 3 full base, or surprise them with a powerful 1-base push. Parts of the middle are wide open, so keep your back to a cliff or the acid pools in the center, and beware of counterattacks. Also, there are plenty of lovely high-ground patches for Zergs to place their overlords. Don't build your tech at your ramp if you don't want it to get scouted, or make sure to clear the overlord off the nearby high ground.

Terran have many options for early-game pressure. There is an almost lost-temple like high ground next to the open natural (balanced by the option of expanding to the safe pocket natural), and I'm sure terrans will have plenty of fun with that. Or, they can even forgo Medivacs and begin their assault on the open natural by placing tanks on the raised expansion. Due to the layout of the bases, banshee harass is strong throughout every stage of the game. Siege tanks can be used to lockdown defense, but late-game favors mobile army compositions due to the size of the map and the strength of two-pronged hit-and-run harass. Locking down the defense with a several extra Planetary Fortresses can lock down their side of the map and free up the terran army to get aggressive. Building a stupid amount of barracks can help replenish harassing armies with a zerg-like efficiency -- after all, there are a lot of bases on this map, you'll probably be able to afford it.

The in-base Xel'Naga plays a critical role in adding stability to the map. Most maps with back door rocks (Jungle Basin, Blistering Sands) are trash, and create an "oh crap" moment where a poorer player can win through silly shenanigans. Not only is the defense of the back door easier here (especially if you don't take the pocket natural), but the Xel'Naga give you forewarning and army composition. Once the rocks are down, the Xel'Naga gives you forewarning if the attacker doesn't take the long way around to harass. It also reduces the air threat like muta harass, forcing the mutas to take longer paths around to hit the base lest the tower scout them. So don't forget to use it!

And one final note on the gold, watch for ninja expands there. They're not on the main path or rocked, so it might just happen. But, if you or your opponent does take the gold, defenses will be stretched thin: it's a LONG walk distance to defend the gold and the back of your main base.

- nats connected by backdoor and low ground area. Allows you to take the other nat as a third.
- 2 3x nat ramps in front
- a LoSB pocket right outside nat ramps. A small Destr statue inside. The small high ground next to it is pathable.
- XNTs at similar position as Shakuras, but are reached from the path by the thirds. Each tower spies 1/2 of the middle path. Towers will help you secure “your” side, or help atking the thirds.
- reaper-paths connecting the 12 and 6 expos and mains. Big units can’t be dropped on the path.
- droppable high ground area behind the 12 and 6 expos.