• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 09:32
CEST 15:32
KST 22:32
  • 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
RSL Season 1 - Final Week6[ASL19] Finals Recap: Standing Tall15HomeStory Cup 27 - Info & Preview18Classic wins Code S Season 2 (2025)16Code S RO4 & Finals Preview: herO, Rogue, Classic, GuMiho0
Community News
Esports World Cup 2025 - Brackets Revealed17Weekly Cups (July 7-13): Classic continues to roll8Team TLMC #5 - Submission extension3Firefly given lifetime ban by ESIC following match-fixing investigation17$25,000 Streamerzone StarCraft Pro Series announced7
StarCraft 2
General
The Memories We Share - Facing the Final(?) GSL Heaven's Balance Suggestions (roast me) Who will win EWC 2025? Esports World Cup 2025 - Brackets Revealed RSL Revival patreon money discussion thread
Tourneys
Sea Duckling Open (Global, Bronze-Diamond) FEL Cracov 2025 (July 27) - $8000 live event Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament RSL: Revival, a new crowdfunded tournament series $5,100+ SEL Season 2 Championship (SC: Evo)
Strategy
How did i lose this ZvP, whats the proper response
Custom Maps
External Content
Mutation # 482 Wheel of Misfortune Mutation # 481 Fear and Lava Mutation # 480 Moths to the Flame Mutation # 479 Worn Out Welcome
Brood War
General
Flash Announces (and Retracts) Hiatus From ASL Soulkey Muta Micro Map? BW General Discussion BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ [ASL19] Finals Recap: Standing Tall
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues CSL Xiamen International Invitational 2025 ACS Season 2 Qualifier Cosmonarchy Pro Showmatches
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers I am doing this better than progamers do.
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Path of Exile Nintendo Switch Thread CCLP - Command & Conquer League Project The PlayStation 5
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
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Stop Killing Games - European Citizens Initiative Summer Games Done Quick 2025!
Fan Clubs
SKT1 Classic Fan Club! Maru Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Korean Music Discussion Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread [\m/] Heavy Metal Thread
Sports
2024 - 2025 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 NBA General Discussion
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Ping To Win? Pings And Their…
TrAiDoS
momentary artworks from des…
tankgirl
from making sc maps to makin…
Husyelt
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 732 users

[G] PvT 3 Gate Aggressive Expo - Page 10

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
Post a Reply
Prev 1 8 9 10 11 12 16 Next All
SC2TheDroid
Profile Joined September 2010
United States54 Posts
April 03 2011 21:16 GMT
#181
In the Alicia vs MVP came he arrive with only 2 zealot, and I plan to mimic that number when I try this strategy. if you go too zealot heavy it really limits the amount of damage you can do when you poke up the ramp. 2-3 zealots give you meat shield to be able to poke up the ramp and snipe units or buildings, then you can back off and warp another couple zealots in and forcefield your retreat if neccesary.

Additionally if by chance your terran opponent is going a 3-4 rax all in being able to form a arc at the bottom of his ramp and forcefield his army in half, a mostly ranged army is much better than 5 zealots and 5 sentries whereas the zealots will die and leave only sentries to face a stimmed mm ball.

I don't believe this strategy is anything super new here, but the execution was exceptional because Alicia waited for MVP to scout him before he dropped the nexus.

The most natural response (as I have seen Select do, and probably others) is to get medvacs out ASAP. Some people saying that seige tech and or cloak banshees are a good response, I don't entirely disagree BUT you have to consider how much tech and resources is going into that while the protoss will gain a comfortable macro advantage by the time those finish. Problem is with seige is you may prevent protoss from poking up your ramp, but you are still largely immobile. Ladder dropping a large MMM army will definetely end the pressure and possibly catch the protoss army with their pants down and even the odds before any collosus roll out. This also gives oppurtunity to counter and or harass with drops while protoss army is at the front door. I personally as a force of habit will drop a robo if a game lasts more than 7-8 minutes, or alternatively research hallucination and make sure there is no banshee play in the works.
zyce
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
United States649 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-04-04 01:16:47
April 04 2011 01:15 GMT
#182
A siege tanks does a nice job in this situation, although I know Terrans don't like to be forced mech it's viable and safe.

I've also seen a lot of success with Medivacs, or Thors that eliminate FFs and can really hurt with repairing SCVs and a group of marines.
Beauty is not the goal of competitive sports, but high-level sports are a prime venue for the expression of human beauty. The relation is roughly that of courage to war.
JiYan
Profile Blog Joined February 2009
United States3668 Posts
April 04 2011 01:28 GMT
#183
yea from experience, if terran gets medivac quickly it can be very very dangerous for the p user with this build
CecilSunkure
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States2829 Posts
April 04 2011 01:39 GMT
#184
On April 04 2011 10:28 JiYan wrote:
yea from experience, if terran gets medivac quickly it can be very very dangerous for the p user with this build

It's just a three gate expo that's good for setting up a contain. Medivacs aren't anymore dangerous to this than any other 3 gate expo, unless you're a moron with your FF contain.
Nadagast
Profile Joined January 2009
United States245 Posts
April 04 2011 02:07 GMT
#185
On April 04 2011 10:39 CecilSunkure wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 04 2011 10:28 JiYan wrote:
yea from experience, if terran gets medivac quickly it can be very very dangerous for the p user with this build

It's just a three gate expo that's good for setting up a contain. Medivacs aren't anymore dangerous to this than any other 3 gate expo, unless you're a moron with your FF contain.

Yep, don't overstay your welcome (remain past medivacs) at the bottom of the ramp
Jaeger
Profile Joined December 2009
United States1150 Posts
April 05 2011 06:05 GMT
#186
Here's an alternative tuned build ordering

  • 9 pylon
  • 13 gateway -> scout
  • 14 gas
  • 16 pylon
  • 18 core @ 100% gateway
  • 19 zealot
  • 23 pylon
  • warpgate tech @ 100% core
  • stalker*
  • gas**
  • sentry
  • 30 add 2 gateways
  • 31 pylon***
  • sentry
  • proxy pylon
  • transform to warpgates
  • 37 cut probes
  • warp-in 3 zealots
  • nexus
  • warp-in 3 sentries & push
  • pylon
  • resume probes


*minuscule probe cut
** don't mine from this gas immediately or you'll more gas than you need and a few less minerals
*** start mining from 2nd gas now, this will give you just enough gas for everything you need to do

Chrono Boost Usage:
  • 4 consecutive chronos on probes @ 10 12 15 & 21)
  • 1 chrono on gateway for stalker (note you get 25 energy about 5s in to stalker build so it finishes before stalker finishes)
  • 2 chronos on core for warpgate tech after starting 2nd and 3rd gateway (chrono finishes right before warpgate research completes)


Minutiae:
making use of probes rallied from the nexus to for building/transfers reduces wandering probes in most cases
  • 12th probe rallied builds nexus & scouts
  • 15th probe rallied builds pylon and mines gas
  • 16th probe rallied to mine gas
  • 17th probe rallied to build core
  • first probe after stalker rallied to build 2nd gas
  • last probe before cuts (#29, building as warpgate are transforming) rallied to expansion to build nexus


Benchmark:
[image loading]

illustrative replay vs ai:
http://drop.sc/2985
https://www.dotabuff.com/players/8137911
HolyArrow
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States7116 Posts
April 05 2011 07:05 GMT
#187
Awesome build Cecil, thanks for this great topic. One question, it's an extremely minor thing but since your build order is so incredibly descriptive I figured I'd ask: You basically specify exactly when to make the units, but I noticed that in the build, only 4 zealots are produced. When is the 5th zealot produced? Is it warped in at the proxy pylon?
theLiminator
Profile Joined April 2011
Canada57 Posts
April 05 2011 08:55 GMT
#188
I was wondering if you could analyze my usage of a similar build. I'm kinda a nub and my friend told me that 3 gate expo is fairly safe against terran, so I performed what I thought was one. I didn't really look up the build, so it might be quite OFF lol. I'd just like you to highlight weak areas of my game if possible. THANKS! Btw, he was a random player, my usualy PvT build is 16 nex on large maps. So i laid down a 13 gate, and after scouting i went 3gate expand.

http://www.sc2replayed.com/replays/159585-1v1-terran-protoss-slag-pits#rd:buildorder

I can dance all day.
sjschmidt93
Profile Joined April 2010
United States2518 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-04-16 02:42:44
April 16 2011 02:41 GMT
#189
On April 05 2011 15:05 Jaeger wrote:
+ Show Spoiler +
Here's an alternative tuned build ordering

  • 9 pylon
  • 13 gateway -> scout
  • 14 gas
  • 16 pylon
  • 18 core @ 100% gateway
  • 19 zealot
  • 23 pylon
  • warpgate tech @ 100% core
  • stalker*
  • gas**
  • sentry
  • 30 add 2 gateways
  • 31 pylon***
  • sentry
  • proxy pylon
  • transform to warpgates
  • 37 cut probes
  • warp-in 3 zealots
  • nexus
  • warp-in 3 sentries & push
  • pylon
  • resume probes


*minuscule probe cut
** don't mine from this gas immediately or you'll more gas than you need and a few less minerals
*** start mining from 2nd gas now, this will give you just enough gas for everything you need to do

Chrono Boost Usage:
  • 4 consecutive chronos on probes @ 10 12 15 & 21)
  • 1 chrono on gateway for stalker (note you get 25 energy about 5s in to stalker build so it finishes before stalker finishes)
  • 2 chronos on core for warpgate tech after starting 2nd and 3rd gateway (chrono finishes right before warpgate research completes)


Minutiae:
making use of probes rallied from the nexus to for building/transfers reduces wandering probes in most cases
  • 12th probe rallied builds nexus & scouts
  • 15th probe rallied builds pylon and mines gas
  • 16th probe rallied to mine gas
  • 17th probe rallied to build core
  • first probe after stalker rallied to build 2nd gas
  • last probe before cuts (#29, building as warpgate are transforming) rallied to expansion to build nexus


Benchmark:
[image loading]

illustrative replay vs ai:
http://drop.sc/2985


I like OP's post, but it's very vague. Thanks for this.
My grandpa could've proxied better, and not only does he have arthritis, he's also dead. -Sean "Day[9]" Plott
Parabol732
Profile Joined April 2011
United States21 Posts
April 16 2011 03:16 GMT
#190
Build sounds pretty solid; I'll try it out
I liked NesTea better when his name was ZergBong I HuK I SLush I SeleCT
wordd
Profile Joined March 2011
Australia190 Posts
April 18 2011 09:45 GMT
#191
has anyone got a PvT replay of a terran holding this and countering? Im having alot of problems and its quite sad.
YA
TomTomTom.965
Profile Joined October 2010
Germany62 Posts
April 18 2011 13:06 GMT
#192
nice thread gonna try it right now, since it is different from my 3g

for those who are still complaining about banshees, build ur robo at 6 min mark. obs will be out in time with boost.

but u can easily check with first probe if hes may going for and banshee build.
just poke up the ramp with pobe a bit later und look for a marauder.
You just need a mule ti be succesful
mynhauzen
Profile Joined February 2011
Russian Federation30 Posts
April 19 2011 17:56 GMT
#193
in original post I cant understand where do u get 5th zealot from?
WhiteRa - HE CARES :)
CecilSunkure
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States2829 Posts
April 19 2011 18:15 GMT
#194
On April 20 2011 02:56 mynhauzen wrote:
in original post I cant understand where do u get 5th zealot from?

Watch replays and find out? I don't follow the exact build order every game as I deviate in little ways depending on what's going on. I must have gotten my second gateway a little earlier and ordered a Zealot from it in one game, I'm not sure. I changed the OP to say 4-5 Zealots
iChau
Profile Joined December 2010
United States1210 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-04-19 20:22:34
April 19 2011 20:20 GMT
#195
I'm using this build vs marauders openings now and fast expos now. <3

Thanks. I always felt 2GRE was a bit "inefficient" vs marauders opening and I see why after playing some games vs the marauders opening.

This build is also lovely vs scv all ins. :D

edit: And I noticed the games you played are 19 minutes...

in close positions...

I rofled, I always end it or they always end it before the 15 minute mark. (3400 masters, dying and losing confidence).
us.battle.net/sc2/en/profile/1688911/1/SaniShahin/ | http://teamenvy.net/
Lazy_89
Profile Joined April 2011
United States87 Posts
April 19 2011 23:58 GMT
#196
I've heard about this build but didn't know how to do it so thank you.. Great guide I have used this strategy a few times now and it works great. First time I tried it I won right away with my second wave of units I warped in.
windsupernova
Profile Joined October 2010
Mexico5280 Posts
April 22 2011 05:00 GMT
#197
I just love how far protoss have evolved. Remember when we expanded after rushing to Colossi off 1 base? LOL

I've been doing this a lot lately, I usually get Halluc. to scout the Terran and see if he is going banshees or something and then get a double Forge and upgrade like a mad man.Thiw works great because if the T goes banshee you can build cannons to spot them.

And I usually try to contain them until i see they are getting either Siege Tanks or Medevacs, after all i delayed their expo a lot compared to mine.(I sometimes get a third just when I leave the contain because the Terran at my level like to secure the nat for a while XD)
"Its easy, just trust your CPU".-Boxer on being good at games
Gooey
Profile Joined September 2010
United States944 Posts
April 22 2011 05:35 GMT
#198
I am going to bring a little bit of broodwar early game reference into this just slightly. In broodwar, it is standard to see a 1 rax expand from terran into factory, with a bunker for their initial marines at the front. The protoss (unless scouted going nexus first) usually wears the daddy pants, and opens up with dragoon pressure and contain. The terran must repair and hold with his initial infantry until the first siege tank pops out, signaling the end of the pressure. It also works in sc2. For all of the terran who are scratching their heads about what to do with FF contain builds, it is best to get tanks asap after 1 rax expo. The tank will be finished when the push comes to your ramp, and your second one will be en route with siege mode halfway done. Now the problem that most terran have after this point is dealing with the 3 sentries warped in from the gas stockpile that the protoss has accumulated and become contained. Siege mode, if factory is started after a 1 rax expo and taking double gasses at the normal time, will finish right when the 3 additional sentries get warped in at a normal FF contain timing. This will force the protoss to be driven off from the front of your base and allow you to float and secure your natural. Tank/marine is a very strong opener against protoss, even against a 3 gate robo bunker bust all-in with proper tank target firing (a.k.a. making sure that it doesn't continually attack the immortal after the initial shot).


I don't have any specific food numbers or game clock numbers, but if your opponent goes for 3 gate bust, you can prevent yourself from getting behind with tanks. From there, you can either choose to transition into mass bio if that is your style, or stay on mech. At this point you are not behind in upgrades or bases, and your army is of higher tech than your opponent's (even though we protoss might have more army at this point, your siege tech advantage cancels out our army advantage).

I will ask my terran friend for a replay of him doing it tonight if he has one. It is a pretty cool way of doing it, and just reminds me a lot of how early game PvT worked in broodwar. He is high masters player and has used it quite a few times on ladder now with success, and has worked out his timings.
www.twitch.tv/Thatgooey
Jayrod
Profile Joined August 2010
1820 Posts
April 22 2011 05:44 GMT
#199
This is still the build with the most upside of all vs. terran IMO. A safe build that guarantees an expo and can even win the game outright with some light early pressure sometimes
iamamish
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
United States76 Posts
April 24 2011 16:48 GMT
#200
so i read this during the week and didnt play till two days ago....and for some reason i thot this was for pvz and did this twice....exact same build order and crushed them both.....when i watched the replays the guys scouted my 3 gate expo with ovies and just started droning hard like crazy and teching....so maybe this has some viability for zerg matchups...at least in mid-high diamond
dont worry...thats halo- huk
Prev 1 8 9 10 11 12 16 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Epic.LAN
12:00
Epic.LAN 45 Playoffs Stage
Liquipedia
CranKy Ducklings
10:00
Sea Duckling Open #136
CranKy Ducklings139
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
Hui .168
StarCraft: Brood War
actioN 3518
Barracks 2668
Mini 1024
Larva 957
Hyuk 901
Stork 620
firebathero 411
GuemChi 373
Soma 325
Dewaltoss 282
[ Show more ]
Last 246
TY 165
Light 144
Hyun 122
Pusan 94
ToSsGirL 85
Bonyth 78
Backho 43
GoRush 24
SilentControl 10
Dota 2
Gorgc8421
singsing2859
qojqva1726
Fuzer 173
canceldota72
Counter-Strike
Stewie2K554
sgares387
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor247
Other Games
B2W.Neo1937
DeMusliM533
Lowko219
Trikslyr28
Rex26
ArmadaUGS21
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick2957
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 15 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH284
• Legendk 3
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• Michael_bg 3
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Nemesis2078
• Jankos1113
Upcoming Events
CSO Contender
3h 28m
Sparkling Tuna Cup
20h 28m
Online Event
1d 2h
Esports World Cup
2 days
ByuN vs Astrea
Lambo vs HeRoMaRinE
Clem vs TBD
Solar vs Zoun
SHIN vs Reynor
Maru vs TriGGeR
herO vs Lancer
Cure vs ShoWTimE
Esports World Cup
3 days
Esports World Cup
4 days
Esports World Cup
5 days
CranKy Ducklings
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

CSL Xiamen Invitational: ShowMatche
RSL Revival: Season 1
Murky Cup #2

Ongoing

BSL 2v2 Season 3
Copa Latinoamericana 4
Jiahua Invitational
BSL20 Non-Korean Championship
CSL Xiamen Invitational
2025 ACS Season 2
Championship of Russia 2025
Underdog Cup #2
FISSURE Playground #1
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 7
IEM Dallas 2025
PGL Astana 2025
Asian Champions League '25

Upcoming

CSLPRO Last Chance 2025
CSLPRO Chat StarLAN 3
BSL Season 21
RSL Revival: Season 2
SEL Season 2 Championship
uThermal 2v2 Main Event
FEL Cracov 2025
Esports World Cup 2025
ESL Pro League S22
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
IEM Cologne 2025
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 © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.