[G] PvP: The "Maka" Gate

This build is my variation (or a rip-off) of Adelscott's PvP build. Check out the below links for details.

[G] Adel's No Gas PvP:
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=176706
Starcraft 2 Day[9] Daily #175 - Adel's No-Gas PvP:


As the name suggests, MakaPrime is one of the first to do something like this and really popularize it through some of his GSL matches.

The Maka Rax the best thing ever?:
http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?topic_id=190449

Adelscott's original build gets 2 gates before adding an assimilator and a cybernetics core, which obnoxiously gives away the build information. The build is designed to punish any greedy robo builds, or delay the 4 gate long enough to get an early expansion up at the cost of a late warpgate research.

Now, it is already a pretty popular build among many Protoss players that despise 4 gate affairs. The only problem I had with this build was that it was easily scoutable. The probe can outrun a zealot forever and I was forced to put down my second gateway in his vision. Then, the opponent can react accordingly.

After thinking about it, I thought 'hey, why not proxy my second gate'. Then I ran into another problem, The second gate was often too far away from my main that I would die to proxy 2 gate zealots or it would get easily be picked off, slowing down my production in key moments.

So, the "Maka" gate is something in the middle. Something not too risky, but something that can catch the opponent off-guard. Something MakaPrime probably intended to do with his "Maka" rax.

Sure, the non-existence of the second pylon / late gas and core might alert you. You start scouting everywhere, and TADAA find my second gateway. Guess what, it's just a standard no gas PvP build. That's the thing I like most about this: low risk, pretty good reward.

9 Pylon
13 Gateway
14 Pylon (in your natural)
16 Gateway (in your natural)
17 Zealot
20 Assimilator
21 Pylon
21 Zealot
24 Cybernetics Core
26 Zealot
28 Zealot (attack when 4th zealot is out)
30 Stalker (chrono boost)
32 Stalker (chrono boost)
34 Pylon

As you can see, it is basically identical to Adel's build. Rip-off? Sure. Creative? I'd like to think so.

There are variations to this build. I've had 3 zealots 3 stalkers attacking at similar times instead of 4 zealots and 2 stalkers, with having warpgate done at around 6:15. You can transition into whatever you like.

Looks incredibly similar... no?

I made my move...

Too bad you don't know about it...

Not enough pylons...

I absolutely hated PvP, and I sucked at it. After I started using this build, my PvP winrate on ladder jumped to some ridiculous ~85%. (Sounds like a Viagra commercial I know)

Well, you might ask, LOL HOW HARD IS IT TO SCOUT YOUR NATRUAL. To answer that question. In ~30 games I tried this, NOT 1 SINGLE OPPONENT scouted my natural. At the very high levels, people will start counting pylons and know that my core is late, but up to low-mid masters, people either don't notice, or they think I've fucked up the build. Take it for what it is.

http://www.sc2replayed.com/replays/150934-1v1-protoss-gutterhulk
Against 4 gate

http://www.sc2replayed.com/replays/150928-1v1-protoss-xelnaga-caverns
Against 2 gate robo

http://www.sc2replayed.com/replays/150926-1v1-protoss-lost-temple
Against proxy 2 gate

For more replays, go take a look at some of the original build replays. My games usually end up the same way.

There are more first-hand replays, of me failing, but I blame that on my lack of multitasking rather than the inadequacy of the build. Most of the losses come from the opponent 4 gating and me not having warpgate research done in time because I either forgot or it was really late

1. Put second gateway in natural
2. Copy Adelscott's no gas PvP build
3. Surprise!