EPTLet's go through the basics first:
1. it takes 3 hits from a normal helion to kill a drone/probe, and 4 hits an SCV
2. and 2 hits from a blue flame helion
so generally what people do with helion harass is one of two things:
1. they get 4 normal helions to try and kill some workers
2. or they get 4 blue flame helions to try and kill some workers
Now here's the question:
If you have 4 blue flame helions, why would you send all of them to the same side to kill workers if they get 2 shotted anyway.
Assuming you approach the enemy Hatch from the right with your helions, the most common response is to grab all the drones, head out from the left and try to split after that to reduce the Helion Roasting Potential (HRP)
But what if you split your helions into 2 grps of 2, and intercept the drones that are trying to escape, because essentially, they are lining up right in front of you to increase your HRP.
heres a few screenshots:
Scenario 1:
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/TKNQD.jpg)
i send my 4 blue flame helions to the right
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/As2hU.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/tRvtx.jpg)
my opponent follows the typical response and sends his drones out the other way
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/qGQvT.jpg)
i split my helions as i see the line up approach
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/CaC2W.jpg)
14 drones go down instantly in 1 volley, maximum HRP has been achieved
Scenario 2:
Once again i approach from the right, he tries to use some drones as a distraction so that the others can escape
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/VlsB3.jpg)
he lines up the drones perfectly for me
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/giSdx.jpg)
due to viewer discretion, i could not reveal outcome of the poor drones, needless to say, Maximum HRP has been achieved
So basically my point is, if you're going in with 4 blue flame helions, don't send them all to the same side, I'm sure many of you have done this and many a time the opponent has played ring around the rosey with you allowing them ample time for reinforcements to arrive. I've seen these countless times in high level master's replays and even in the GSL Super Tournament.
Split them up and achieve your max HRP
Now I know some of you guys out there might be thinking, "who the hell is this diamond nub pssh everyone can use helions. its a no brainer!
or even
"I'm sure i can achieve the same results without splitting I don't need some scrub telling me these things"
let me point out that the point of harassing with helions is to achieve as much economical dmg as you possibly can in the most cost-effective way possible.
if the your opponents decide to run around the hatch over and over again, here are a few things that could be happening:
1. the defending spine crawler is slowly whittling down your helions while u try to play tag
2. the queen is slowly doing the same as the above
3. reinforcements have arrived
and no doubt yes you killed maybe 5 out of 20 drones. But is that really a great trade?
as seen in scenario one, the opponent has 1 of 2 choices,
1. attempt to make a break past the intercepting helions (who are we kidding, they aint gonna survive
2. or go back to the 2 helions that were already roasting their drone brethren.
edit:
by actually splitting up and killing the already lined up drones here's what actually happens:
1. reinforcements are still making their way over but for a lost cause
2. your helions take less hits from the spinecrawler or queen defending
and here's what you can do to maximize the cost-effectiveness of your helions:
1. with your helions not having to take any more unecessary dmg in an attempt to kill workers (because they were all roasted already), you can actually scout the base more to check for any hidden buildings (those sneaky protoss)
2. you can actually line them up at the ramp and let the oncoming speedlings get roasted in nice even rows making your helions totally more worth it than they already were
3. or you can just send your helions home making them SUPER(cost) EFFECTIVE
all in all I just wanted to write this short thread to put it out there to either the up and coming Terran players or even those in the higher leagues looking to improve their play in any little way.
Let me know what you think, and.. discuss!
Remember,
Split them up and achieve your maximum HRP
Note: this only applies to blue flame helion harass and by no means should you even bother splitting your helions up if they aren't upgraded.
