• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 19:19
CEST 01:19
KST 08:19
  • 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
Team Liquid Map Contest #22: Results and Winners7Code S Season 2 (2026): RO4 and Finals Preview12TL.net Map Contest #22 - Voting & Ladder Map Selection7Code S Season 2 (2026) - RO8 Preview5[ASL21] Finals Preview: Two Legacies21
Community News
Douyu Cup 2026: $20,000 Legends Event (June 26-28)8[BSL22] Non-Korean Championship from 13 to 28 June4Weekly Cups (May 25-31): Clem doubles, 2v2 circuit heads toward finale0StarCraft II 5.0.16 PTR Patch Notes may 26th156Weekly Cups (May 18-24): MaxPax wins doubles0
StarCraft 2
General
TL Poll: How do you feel about the 5.0.16 PTR balance changes? RSL S6 finale at Blizzcon Oliveira Would Have Returned If EWC Continued Team Liquid Map Contest #22: Results and Winners High level ptr replays? where can I find them?
Tourneys
Douyu Cup 2026: $20,000 Legends Event (June 26-28) Maestros of The Game 2 announcement and schedule ! Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament Sea Duckling Open (Global, Bronze-Diamond) GSL Code S Season 2 (2026)
Strategy
[G] Having the right mentality to improve
Custom Maps
[D]RTS in all its shapes and glory <3
External Content
Mutation # 530 One For All The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 529 Opportunities Unleashed Mutation # 528 Infection Detected
Brood War
General
Where is effort ? BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ BW General Discussion vespene.gg — BW replays in browser Quality of life changes in BW that you will like ?
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues [ASL21] Grand Finals [BSL22] Grand Finals - Sunday 21:00 CEST Escore Tournament StarCraft Season 2
Strategy
Creating a full chart of Zerg builds Relatively freeroll strategies Why doesn't anyone use restoration? Any training maps people recommend?
Other Games
General Games
Path of Exile Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread PC Games Sales Thread ZeroSpace Megathread
Dota 2
Looking for a Dota Mentor 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
Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Canadian Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Trading/Investing Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine
Fan Clubs
The HerO Fan Club! The herO Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
Movie Discussion! [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books [TV/BOOK] *SPOILERS* Game of Thrones Discussion [Manga] One Piece
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion Cricket [SPORT] TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 NBA General Discussion
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread Facing Challenges in Mobile App Development
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Does Workplace Frustration D…
TrAiDoS
An Exploration of th…
waywardstrategy
I'm an arrogant trash talke…
FlaShFTW
Gauntlet SC2: A Retrospectiv…
Ctone23
Why RTS gamers make better f…
gosubay
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 10824 users

[Q]uestion for Masters

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
Post a Reply
1 2 3 4 Next All
Captain Soban
Profile Joined December 2010
United States119 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-01-24 04:42:08
January 24 2011 04:32 GMT
#1
How do you improve your playing?

I've reached the point where day9 isn't helpful at all and don't know how to improve besides just playing ladder and analyzing my replays. Lately, I've been downloading replay packs from qxc, as I play Terran, and watching specific match ups on specific maps trying to focus in on how to win in every situation.

Do any of you know any video or text series that focuses on improvement for master level players?

EDIT: Forgot to mention that I also do play with a handful of practice partners to work out the kinks in my builds. I spend a lot of time on the actual timing of my builds figuring things out like exactly how long I have to attack with a upgraded marine/ghost army before a Protoss can react with a colossus after my composition is sufficiently scouted.
They say pizza ain't a funnel I say bullshit to that
rbkl
Profile Joined March 2010
772 Posts
January 24 2011 04:36 GMT
#2
I find that if you start a practice group it usually helps. Find a few guys on ladder that are around your skill. Discuss strats, play custom games, work on specific things that you want to improve on.

www.check6gaming.com // www.iugaming.com ** Indiana's Premier Gaming / Starcraft Community **
XXXSmOke
Profile Blog Joined November 2004
United States1333 Posts
January 24 2011 04:38 GMT
#3
On January 24 2011 13:36 rbkl wrote:
I find that if you start a practice group it usually helps. Find a few guys on ladder that are around your skill. Discuss strats, play custom games, work on specific things that you want to improve on.



Exactly.

You can ladder all day every day, but the wide range of builds/skill levels of oppenants is just too random sometimes to get a specific build timing down. A practice group lets you test many different things without the result on your record. Plus the discusion aspect is so handy, being able to debate and talk about your knowlege and game theory will always help you in game when crucial decisions must be made.
Emperor? Boxer disapproves. He's building bunkers at your mom's house even as you're reading this.
farseerdk
Profile Joined May 2010
Canada504 Posts
January 24 2011 04:42 GMT
#4
Yup, even if you don't have friends to play with, you can easily find a group through chat channels now.
Perspective is merely an angle.
FabledIntegral
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
United States9232 Posts
January 24 2011 04:42 GMT
#5
Sometimes it just takes a while. I only could get to masters right away because of my prior experience in Brood War, in which I sucked for a very long time before being able to even compete in iCCuP. Noticed small improvements over each seasons, even though I kind of "knew" what to do, it was simply repeated practice that got the results, with a little bit of discussion here and there (quite important).
Grobyc
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Canada18410 Posts
January 24 2011 04:52 GMT
#6
I was unaware that there is a point where day9 is no longer helpful. He is still great to watch if you are a masters player, you're probably not going to find much better to be honest,
If you watch Godzilla backwards it's about a benevolent lizard who helps rebuild a city and then moonwalks into the ocean.
Goolpsy
Profile Joined November 2010
Denmark301 Posts
January 24 2011 05:00 GMT
#7
If you want to get good. Don't focus too much on perfect build execution or when to do "a certain opening for maximum advantage". Its only really useful for timing attacks and if you're good, to get the last percentage to win.
It is also the part of the game that is easiest to improve.

Try playing a ladder game and being intentionally sloppy. it actually won't make that much of a difference in itself.
Better follow Day9's advice and "make a game plan" and revise that game plan. Another thing: Peoples macro tend to falter quite abit when reaching 2+ base play.

The reason for having practice partners is for consistently testing out certain 'game plans' (Not nessesarily openings). And popentially to Plug big holes.
Shifft
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Canada1085 Posts
January 24 2011 05:02 GMT
#8
Play many games every day. If you don't know why you lost watch the replay and figure it out.
=O
vnlegend
Profile Blog Joined December 2006
United States1389 Posts
January 24 2011 05:02 GMT
#9
day9 probably can't even get into master league. I don't see how he can help.

Anyway, watch Trump's stream. He has a good mentality where he tries to make small adjustments to counter things he loses to. Also he stays calm and doesn't rage and play on tilt.

Among other things, watch replays and learn the timings for stuff. Small clues and timing knowledge can get you a good idea of what the other guy is doing.
Marines > everything
Shifft
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Canada1085 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-01-24 05:05:07
January 24 2011 05:04 GMT
#10
On January 24 2011 14:02 vnlegend wrote:
day9 probably can't even get into master league


It's pretty funny that you think that :3
=O
DanceSC
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
United States751 Posts
January 24 2011 05:06 GMT
#11
experiment with your builds, be able to make substitutions and adapt.
find gamers around your skill level and keep playing.
Dance.943 || "I think he's just going to lose. There's only so many ways you can lose. And he's going to make some kind of units. And I'm going to attack him, and then all his stuff is going to die. That's about the best prediction that I can make" - NonY
IPA
Profile Joined August 2010
United States3206 Posts
January 24 2011 05:06 GMT
#12
On January 24 2011 14:02 vnlegend wrote:
day9 probably can't even get into master league. I don't see how he can help.


Yeah, a previous WCG BW champ would probably have a pretty difficult time making it into the gimped "top tier" of SC2. Makes perfect sense.

On topic: when you understand what you're doing right and wrong, a crash course in mechanics can make a large difference as well. Near-perfect injecting, spending CB energy, calling Mules, augmenting your facility with control groups, practicing "efficient APM", etc. This is in addition to consistent practice and self-analysis of course.
Time held me green and dying though I sang in my chains like the sea.
-orb-
Profile Blog Joined September 2007
United States5770 Posts
January 24 2011 05:07 GMT
#13
On January 24 2011 14:02 vnlegend wrote:
day9 probably can't even get into master league. I don't see how he can help.

Anyway, watch Trump's stream. He has a good mentality where he tries to make small adjustments to counter things he loses to. Also he stays calm and doesn't rage and play on tilt.

Among other things, watch replays and learn the timings for stuff. Small clues and timing knowledge can get you a good idea of what the other guy is doing.


1: Day9 can easily get into masters league, and if he worked at it I'm pretty certain he could get pretty high up as well.
2: You're recommending someone watch trump's stream to improve... lol
I dunno what he does now but back in beta he was one of those guys that just 3rax pushed every single game and clearly doesn't understand the complexities of the game at all.
'life of lively to live to life of full life thx to shield battery'
how sad that sc2 has no shield battery :(
cronican
Profile Joined February 2009
Canada424 Posts
January 24 2011 05:42 GMT
#14
Get a lesson from a pro, they can point you in the right direction. If you really want to seriously be good, 80 bucks for a 2 hour lesson is pretty good, imo.

Watch some of mrbitter's 12 weeks with the pros vods to see what I mean.
Azzur
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
Australia6267 Posts
January 24 2011 05:52 GMT
#15
1. Study the pro games and copy their strats.
2. Watch your own replays and pick out mistakes (e.g. didn't build a worker, supply-blocked, too much money, etc). In other words, work on your mechanics.
3. Figure out your own style and come up with a gameplan. For instance, if you're a defensive player, come up with a plan to accommodate this.
tikalal
Profile Joined November 2010
48 Posts
January 24 2011 06:05 GMT
#16
On January 24 2011 14:02 vnlegend wrote:
day9 probably can't even get into master league. I don't see how he can help.


No of course he couldn't. No 2 times WCG Brood War winner and 2 times runner up would have a chance of getting into master league...

I hope you can see the sarcasm here :D
DanceSC
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
United States751 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-01-24 06:07:23
January 24 2011 06:06 GMT
#17
On January 24 2011 14:42 cronican wrote:
Get a lesson from a pro, they can point you in the right direction. If you really want to seriously be good, 80 bucks for a 2 hour lesson is pretty good, imo.

Watch some of mrbitter's 12 weeks with the pros vods to see what I mean.

imo - find someone in masters willing to for free
paying for sessions can only get you so far, the rest is up to you.
if you dont believe me listen to their success stories, you always hear about someone going from bronze to plat. they can teach you the right concepts, but only you can improve you game play and speed.
Dance.943 || "I think he's just going to lose. There's only so many ways you can lose. And he's going to make some kind of units. And I'm going to attack him, and then all his stuff is going to die. That's about the best prediction that I can make" - NonY
zatic
Profile Blog Joined September 2007
Zurich15365 Posts
January 24 2011 06:11 GMT
#18
Post a replay of a typical game where you were not sure how you could have played better with a little analysis of how the game went. I am sure there is tons of stuff you can still improve.
ModeratorI know Teamliquid is known as a massive building
cronican
Profile Joined February 2009
Canada424 Posts
January 24 2011 06:20 GMT
#19
On January 24 2011 15:06 DanceSC wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 24 2011 14:42 cronican wrote:
Get a lesson from a pro, they can point you in the right direction. If you really want to seriously be good, 80 bucks for a 2 hour lesson is pretty good, imo.

Watch some of mrbitter's 12 weeks with the pros vods to see what I mean.

imo - find someone in masters willing to for free
paying for sessions can only get you so far, the rest is up to you.
if you dont believe me listen to their success stories, you always hear about someone going from bronze to plat. they can teach you the right concepts, but only you can improve you game play and speed.


True, only he can make himself improve, but he has created a thread asking how to improve, targeted specifically at master level players. I think spending the 80 bucks to spend time with people that are some of the very best at sc2 would be worth it at his level of skill. If only for a one time lesson to be pointed in the right direction.

FabledIntegral
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
United States9232 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-01-24 06:47:18
January 24 2011 06:46 GMT
#20
I'll play with you a few games if you want, around 3k in the master league atm. Play T with a strong Z offrace as it used to be my main race. Actually was better at Z relatively than I am with T now, I just wanted to try out T macro style for a week or so and the love of not getting overly cheesed made me stick with them.

EDIT: I'm assuming you're already Diamond at least, fairly up there.
1 2 3 4 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
BSL22 NKC (BSL vs China)
19:00
Group Stage - Day 2
Jaystar vs Dewalt
eOnzErG vs TerrOr
XuanXuan vs Bonyth
Mihu vs Dewalt
Messiah vs Jaystar
eOnzErG vs Bonyth
TerrOr vs Dewalt
ZZZero.O258
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
Livibee 106
ProTech104
StarCraft: Brood War
Rain 1637
ZZZero.O 258
Dota 2
monkeys_forever591
NeuroSwarm98
League of Legends
Doublelift7733
JimRising 652
Other Games
summit1g17374
C9.Mang0449
JuggernautJason60
Mew2King59
Temp016
minikerr4
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick1146
BasetradeTV140
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Hupsaiya 86
• davetesta84
• musti20045 32
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• masondota21625
Upcoming Events
Wardi Open
11h 41m
OSC
1d
Replay Cast
2 days
The PondCast
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
OSC
4 days
CranKy Ducklings
4 days
BSL22 NKC (BSL vs China)
5 days
XuanXuan vs Jaystar
Mihu vs Messiah
eOnzErG vs Dewalt
Bonyth vs Jaystar
TerrOr vs Messiah
XuanXuan vs Mihu
eOnzErG vs Jaystar
BSL22 NKC (BSL vs China)
6 days
Dewalt vs Messiah
Bonyth vs Mihu
TerrOr vs XuanXuan
eOnzErG vs Messiah
Jaystar vs Mihu
Dewalt vs XuanXuan
Bonyth vs TerrOr
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Acropolis #4 - GSB
2026 GSL S2
Heroes Pulsing #1

Ongoing

IPSL Spring 2026
KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 2
Acropolis #4
CSCL: Masked Kings S4
YSL S3
BSL 22 Non-Korean Championship
SCTL 2026 Spring
Maestros of the Game 2
WardiTV Spring 2026
Murky Cup 2026
Heroes Pulsing #2
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1

Upcoming

CSLAN 4
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
RSL Revival: Season 6
CranK Gathers Season 4: BW vs SC2 Team League
HSC XXIX
Douyu Cup 2026
Heroes Pulsing #3
BLAST Open Fall 2026
Esports World Cup 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3
XSE Pro League 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.