For A Protoss player you have to consider that armor applies only to hitpoints and not to shield (which has a different upgrade, but is a LOT more expensive as it applies to all units and structures). As Protoss, I would recommend Attack for this reason, However, after getting +1 attack, If I don't already have a twilight council down i will go for +1 armor. If I do, I'll usually down another forge so I can go for +2/+2 at the same time, or +3/+1, whatever floats your boat. I don't like going for shields until the super late game where I have spare resources and have practically maxed out because generally...
1.The only units that really benefit from the shield upgrade are archons and motherships, buildings do as well but this is far less important than unit armor.
2. Generally, units have the same or less hp compared to shield (archons excepted), so as armor is cheaper than shields, in my opinion it is better to upgrade armor.
3. Shields regenerate, and so it is more important to protect you hitpoints than your armor.

SwizzY

United States1549 Posts

December 02 2010 11:53 GMT

#22

Quite frankly, as a 2k+ diamond toss, I always get attack upgrades. In my humble opinion, +1 armor is not going to "save" you against an MM-ball.

I'm also a very aggressive player so the +1 attack suits my playstyle. Of course there are times when you have to take a defensive stance and I can see how you can argue for shield/armor over attack.

But seriously, if it ain't broke, why fix it? I'm doing just fine in 1v1 ladder always going +1 attack.

EmilA

Denmark4618 Posts

December 02 2010 12:07 GMT

#23

Weapons against zerg
And I know for sure that I hate facing armor upgrades more than weapon upgrades (it can make chargelots an unbearable meatwall to overcome.)

awang0830

83 Posts

December 02 2010 12:14 GMT

#24

On December 02 2010 20:07 s4m222 wrote:
2000 Diamond toss player for what its worth. Also i like PvT the best and have the best win ratio vs terran.

PvT get armor first. It makes your zealots/stalkers better meat shields. Into mid/late game its your colossus or templars that do the real damage so you want your ground army to just soak up marine marauder shots. Do you know how many shots it takes a marine or marauder to kill a zealot with +1 armor and guardian shield popped.... i dont but its a CRAP TON. Meaning yes they can kite but they would have to kite so long to kill your zealots.

Meaning either A. They will stop kiting and die B. kite so much they fall behind on macro C. Their apm is high so they kite and macro... <--- *shrugs Either way it buys time to warp in more units etc

In fact i go armor upgrades, then shield on 2nd forge, and my armor will be + 3 when shields are +1 or 2 - then i go to +attack

then when as resources permit/start to float(supply cap) air weapons incase i need to or decide to transition to/mix in voids.

Remember to chrono your upgrades. As protoss you can get ahead on upgrades quickly with chronoboost - or if you started upgrading late you can catch up.

Also try to time your attacks right as an upgrade finishes - you will have a window of advantage while your ahead in upgrades. Instead of just clicking upgrade, then basically ignoring it.

PvZ its generally accepted to get weapons first

PvP usually weapons first as well.

agree

but PvP i usually get upgrades after i get expansion, and i get 2 forge and have weapon and armor researching at the same time with constant chronoboost

NETRAT

Belarus180 Posts

December 02 2010 12:38 GMT

#25

upgrades are definately underused, most of players, lower than diamond league know how upgrades affect their army effectiveness, know tresholds for upgrades, typical example +1 zealots vs lings, but 95% of them stop after getting this upgrade, so zerg player gets armor upgrade and zealots become weaker again even though they have their +1, thats the common problem. They just do an upgrade and then set in their 'mental checklist' as 'check' and thats it, you always want to be ahead of your opponent in upgrades so watch closely his upgrades.
As for me, if I feel like I can hold my 2 bases for a long time I just double forge and crhono attack and armor upgrades, they are super effective for zealots vs mutaling(attack upgrades for mutas are extremely powerfull) and bio armies, I upgrade shields only in games that last longer then 20 minutes. However, if I feel under pressure from beginning of a game or I am forced to use a lot of stalkers(there are maps and army compositions that requre decent stalker count and low zealot count - like marauders in tight chokes, you won't surround them with zealots, ever), I get upgrades very late and mostly only armor.

But seriously, if it ain't broke, why fix it? I'm doing just fine in 1v1 ladder always going +1 attack

whats the point of +1 upgrade if you won't be using zealots? I mean if you use them only for soaking marauder shells, you don't need this upgrade. However, if you can afford upgrade, no reason not to do it.

FinestHour

United States18466 Posts

December 02 2010 18:33 GMT

#26

On December 02 2010 17:46 nalgene wrote:
hydra with 1 armor vs 7x2 zealots need 5.7 hits ( 6 hits ) need 5 for 8x2 zealots, but they'd still regen 1 hp... still 6 hits either way?

In the rare instance you happened to have 3attack on zealots vs 0 armor rines, you only need 2.5 ( 3 hits ) on rines
same with 3 attack vs 1 armor rines
and 2 attack/ 0 armor rines

Show nested quote +

btw, don't immortals only do 20+2 vs rines and not 50? as in 20+ 2 Light / 50+ 5 Mech(roaches)

some units might get healed by severals medivacs, so getting ups would help in those fights somewhat making what would be a 3-4 hits become like 5-6hits to kill

I said Marauders, not marines. Read the post more carefully.