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BOSS Cannon Rush

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
Post a Reply
1 2 3 4 5 15 16 17 Next All
Hot_Bid
Profile Blog Joined October 2003
Braavos36374 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-31 10:20:01
May 31 2011 10:00 GMT
#1
How to Cannon Rush Like A BOSS

After watching Boes fail cannon rushing for the 10th time, I've decided to write a small guide on how to properly do the manliest cannon rush in team games.

What is the BOSS Cannon Rush?

BOSS cannon rush is when you make pylons that wall off behind the opponent's workers and then make walled-off cannons. It's only effective against T and P opponents, specifically P opponents (since they can't lift off).

Like this:

[image loading]
This probe... is THE MAN.


Hidden CR vs BOSS CR

Hidden cannon rushes suck. They are easily defended if scouted, and almost everyone scouts for them once they see your forge. They often require more resources, cannons, and time. The BOSS cannon rush is in your face. It screams "I don't care what you do, or that you see this, you will watch my cannons go up and kill you." It is the epitome of manly cheese, almost as manly as making gates right next to someone's nexus.

Do not underestimate the crippling psychological blow that the BOSS cannon rush deals. It's one thing to die to cannons you don't scout, it's another thing to die to cannons warping in while your units sit helpless and their probe laughs in his comfortable walled off cave.

Basic Build Order

1. pylon on 9
2. send your probe to desired cannon rush location
3. forge on 12
4. save money for blocking pylons

How to execute

1. Make sure your probe looks as innocent as possible. You're not going to make any pylons until you have 300-400 minerals anyway, so try to look like a normal scout.

2. Stay within his vision so he doesn't send a chaser probe/scv to follow you around, as those are annoying and make your BOSS CR harder to execute. The more noob you look by not moving your probe around, the better. I tend to just park the probe a few squares away from his nexus.

3. The first pylon you make should be the one that walls the smallest gap. Example on 6:00 position on Toxic Slums, in order of build:

[image loading]

Ditching the "follower"

Most players send a worker to follow your probe. These are annoying, but if you can evade it from blocking your pylon quite easily.

A few matrixes away from where you want to build your first blocking pylon (the "1" spot in the above picture) you hit "S" and let the worker attack you, then you zoom away from it and build the pylon. Make sure you build it so you end up on the right side of the pylon (in this case/picture, below the pylon). Then simply build pylons #2 and #3 (and when necessary, #4).

The timing on ditching the worker might take you a few tries of practice but it's not hard. If you properly execute it you will get enough separation from the enemy worker to build.

Backup Blocking Pylons

In Brood War, you could remake a building immediately after it was killed by melee units, which would re-block. You can't do this in SC2. But you can make a pylon one matrix behind. Take this into consideration when you build. Example:

[image loading]

Notice the back up pylon, which is in green. This can be made immediately after the opponent's workers kill pylon #3.

Example Pylon Placements

Ideally, you want to choose a location that is wall-able using only 3 pylons. Waiting for 400 minerals for 4 pylons is a bit scarier, since often you can't properly ditch the following worker sometimes. Backup blocker pylons are in green, where possible.

They're pretty easy to figure out, here are some examples:

4v4 Map Toxic Slums
+ Show Spoiler [Cannon Placements] +
[image loading]
6:30 position

[image loading]
5:00 position

[image loading]
2:00 position

[image loading]
12:00 position

[image loading]
11:00 position

[image loading]
10:00 position

[image loading]
9:00 position

Don't forget that around the gas geyser are some pretty cool cannon spots too:

3v3 Map Monsoon
+ Show Spoiler [Cannon Placements] +
[image loading]
Bottom center position

[image loading]
Bottom left position

[image loading]
Bottom right position

[image loading]
Top center position

[image loading]
Top left position, so much space!

[image loading]
Top right position


Other Fun Stuff

Some maps have some hilarious cannon spots, and completely imbalanced positions.

Like on the original first 3v3 map Arakan Citadel bottom center position:

[image loading]

Or on the center positions on the 4v4 map Lava Flow:
http://i.imgur.com/URIzh.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/pL7BI.jpg

Yes, that first cannon is 100% tight, even pushes your own probe out. Just have your ally send an overlord over the cliff.

Good luck and happy cannon rushing!

[image loading]
@Hot_Bid on Twitter - ESPORTS life since 2010 - http://i.imgur.com/U2psw.png
Whiplash
Profile Blog Joined October 2008
United States2928 Posts
May 31 2011 10:10 GMT
#2
WOW these are some really useful cannon placements! I'm going to try this right away, thanks ESPORTS_Hot_Bid!
Cinematographer / Steadicam Operator. Former Starcraft commentator/player
Welmu
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
Finland3295 Posts
May 31 2011 10:11 GMT
#3
Nice guide! Seems solid strategy :D
Progamertwitter.com/welmu1 | twitch.com/Welmu1
FataLe
Profile Joined November 2010
New Zealand4497 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-31 10:50:15
May 31 2011 10:11 GMT
#4
any counter?
sorry, counter for P?
hi. big fan.
DISHU
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United Kingdom348 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-31 10:12:58
May 31 2011 10:12 GMT
#5
nice hot bid i am going to cannon a lot of poeple now :p
Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana. But what are timeflies and why do they like an arrow?
SmoKim
Profile Joined March 2010
Denmark10304 Posts
May 31 2011 10:14 GMT
#6
you just GOTTA cannon rush atleast one person when playing BGH

awesome thread
"LOL I have 202 supply right now (3 minutes later)..."LOL NOW I HAVE 220 SUPPLY SUP?!?!?" - Mondragon
Wunder
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United Kingdom2950 Posts
May 31 2011 10:14 GMT
#7
What about the BOSS Proxy Gate strat? :< When do you cut probes, at 12?
Writer@joonjoewong
SenorChang
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
Australia4729 Posts
May 31 2011 10:14 GMT
#8
a good skill toi have
ლ(╹◡╹ლ)
Mobius_1
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
United Kingdom2763 Posts
May 31 2011 10:15 GMT
#9
What a great guide. But given how this is written by Hot_Bid, I can't tell if he's secretly trolling or not.
Starleague Forever. RIP KT Violet~
Trizzen
Profile Joined April 2010
Norway74 Posts
May 31 2011 10:15 GMT
#10
On May 31 2011 19:11 FataLe wrote:
any counter?


As T: Lift off, get another cc or fast nuke.
Death is certain. Life is not.
Condor
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
Netherlands188 Posts
May 31 2011 10:15 GMT
#11
Someone move this to strategy please, mods these days don't even know how to apply their own rules...
Roffles *
Profile Blog Joined April 2007
Pitcairn19291 Posts
May 31 2011 10:16 GMT
#12
All HotBid ever does is cannon rush. This guy has refined cannon rushing into a science.
God Bless
Acritter
Profile Joined August 2010
Syria7637 Posts
May 31 2011 10:16 GMT
#13
Hot_Bid: Making ladder more unplayable, one cheese guide at a time.

@above: the counter is to not let the Probe get behind the mineral line unattended and scout at 9 against Protoss.
dont let your memes be dreams - konydora, motivational speaker | not actually living in syria
Heyoka
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
Katowice25012 Posts
May 31 2011 10:17 GMT
#14
wow giving away your secrets you truly are dedicated to GROWING ESPORTS
@RealHeyoka | ESL / DreamHack StarCraft Lead
ReketSomething
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
United States6012 Posts
May 31 2011 10:17 GMT
#15
Wow never knew about the stop get attacked and move and build pylon trick! This will work everytime now!
Jaedong :3
NB
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
Netherlands12045 Posts
May 31 2011 10:18 GMT
#16
so combatex has been a boss all the time?
Im daed. Follow me @TL_NB
RoyalCheese
Profile Joined May 2010
Czech Republic745 Posts
May 31 2011 10:18 GMT
#17
I'm glad there is no xrealm play, i would probably kill myself after game against you ^_^
Kennigit: "Chill was once able to retire really young, but decided to donate his entire salary TO SUPPORT ESPORTS"
grobo
Profile Blog Joined February 2007
Japan6199 Posts
May 31 2011 10:20 GMT
#18
Looks like i'll be staying away from the ladder for another 3-4weeks.

THANKS HOT-BID
We make signature, then defense it.
Indrium
Profile Joined November 2010
United States2236 Posts
May 31 2011 10:22 GMT
#19
I hope this doesn't do what the InCa cannon rush did, and make absolutely everyone in the universe cannon rush me. ^^
Jojo131
Profile Joined January 2011
Brazil1631 Posts
May 31 2011 10:22 GMT
#20
Wrong section, Mr.Bid. Shame on you...

:D

I do teams with a lot of Protoss buddies, this is gonna be a fun night.
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