EPTI thought I'd share this build with you that I've been using at the Masters level to get like a 90%+ win rate vs Protoss. I was like the common Terran before, using MMM + vikings + ghosts to deal with the Protoss deathball and constantly loosing. Therefore I went into my lab and concocted this mad scheme to use Mech vs Protoss. Most Terrans scoff at the idea, but hold your judgement! I have a 90%+ win rate vs Protoss or a reason
Shout Outs
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Thorzain - Because the build is basically based off of his TvP style in game 5 vs MC in the TSL
MarineKush - For giving me the idea to EMP my own mech units
Zatic - For the opening
Warden - For well... having an awesome stream!
General Idea of the build - Basically create a Mech + ghost army to destroy anything Protoss throws at you. You're army will consist of THORS + Hellions, no matter what composition your opponent goes, you will always use Thors + Hellions because they work so well together economy wise and in combat. Then depending on what your opponent goes, you have a mix of vikings and ghosts and ravens
Build Order Opening
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supply @ 10
rax @ 12 - build 1 marine and reactor immediately after
gas @ 13
orbital @ 15
2nd rax @ as soon as you have 150. delay your second supply deopt. tech lab as soon as its finished then concussive shell
CC @ 400 min (you can cut a few marines, maruders)
Factory @ right after CC
2nd gas @ right after factory
3rd, 4th gases @ right when you have your expo up
Armory @ right after factory completes
Starport @ right after armory gets started (can go faster starport if you're expecting DT's, but I prefer Ebay instead)
Then basically pump marines + maurders. If you want to pressure, I like to do it when I have 1-2 maurders. Pushing out requires your own judgement depending on what you're scout sees. I like to hide my scouting SCV at his natural to check for expo. If I see 1 gate expo I will almost always bring like 4 scvs and punish it. Regardless 2-3 bunkers should always be thrown down at your natural in-case he decides to go 4 gate, 3 gate expo pressure
rax @ 12 - build 1 marine and reactor immediately after
gas @ 13
orbital @ 15
2nd rax @ as soon as you have 150. delay your second supply deopt. tech lab as soon as its finished then concussive shell
CC @ 400 min (you can cut a few marines, maruders)
Factory @ right after CC
2nd gas @ right after factory
3rd, 4th gases @ right when you have your expo up
Armory @ right after factory completes
Starport @ right after armory gets started (can go faster starport if you're expecting DT's, but I prefer Ebay instead)
Then basically pump marines + maurders. If you want to pressure, I like to do it when I have 1-2 maurders. Pushing out requires your own judgement depending on what you're scout sees. I like to hide my scouting SCV at his natural to check for expo. If I see 1 gate expo I will almost always bring like 4 scvs and punish it. Regardless 2-3 bunkers should always be thrown down at your natural in-case he decides to go 4 gate, 3 gate expo pressure
Midgame Transition
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So as soon as your armory is done, you should start a Thor. Sometimes I like to build a siege tank before the Thor to feel more safe, but its up to you. You should basically cut marine + maurder production when you start the armory, 3 bunkers should be enough to hold any pressure.
When your Thor is started and you have enough money, lift your barracks and put 2 factory's, 1 on the tech lab and 1 on the reactor. Get a raven off the starport and start making thors and hellions
This is where scans and scouting come into play. Scan his base and see what he is getting:
He's going Colossus: Start a reactor on one of the rax, swap with starport and start viking production. Do not overdo viking production 8-10 is more than enough. Delay ghost production
He's going HT: Start ghost academy. Build another rax on the starport tech lab. Put 2 tech labs on your current rax's (should have 3 raxs with tech labs). Production from starport should be stopped
He's going mass immortal(oh noes!): Actually it isn't that scary. Do the same as above, 3 tech lab rax, and EMP him into oblivion. Immortals aren't that good without their hardened shields.
Hes going stargate: Same as Colossus, reactor on starport 8-10 vikings. If he is going mass startgates you might need more. Don't worry too much about void rays, they tend to stack and a few thor shots give your vikings a HUGE advantage in the air battle
You will find you float quite a few minerals with this build. I usually start my 3rd around the 11min mark. My 4th is usually around the 15th min mark. 2 more factory's should be thrown down for each expo... just a rule of thumb I use
Blue flame should be gotten pretty quickly and vehicle armor upgrades when you can spare the monehs
When your Thor is started and you have enough money, lift your barracks and put 2 factory's, 1 on the tech lab and 1 on the reactor. Get a raven off the starport and start making thors and hellions
This is where scans and scouting come into play. Scan his base and see what he is getting:
He's going Colossus: Start a reactor on one of the rax, swap with starport and start viking production. Do not overdo viking production 8-10 is more than enough. Delay ghost production
He's going HT: Start ghost academy. Build another rax on the starport tech lab. Put 2 tech labs on your current rax's (should have 3 raxs with tech labs). Production from starport should be stopped
He's going mass immortal(oh noes!): Actually it isn't that scary. Do the same as above, 3 tech lab rax, and EMP him into oblivion. Immortals aren't that good without their hardened shields.
Hes going stargate: Same as Colossus, reactor on starport 8-10 vikings. If he is going mass startgates you might need more. Don't worry too much about void rays, they tend to stack and a few thor shots give your vikings a HUGE advantage in the air battle
You will find you float quite a few minerals with this build. I usually start my 3rd around the 11min mark. My 4th is usually around the 15th min mark. 2 more factory's should be thrown down for each expo... just a rule of thumb I use
Blue flame should be gotten pretty quickly and vehicle armor upgrades when you can spare the monehs
Late game
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To be honest, I don't have much experience in late late game because my push usually just crushes them. I am going to assume you can start CC'ing everywhere, and start sacing scv's. If he goes Carriers make vikings. I hope to update this section when I have my late game experience, but truth is I don't right now
The push
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I usually push when I am close to maxed. You should have a ton of hellions, around 6 ghosts and probably like 8+ thors a raven(or 2) and some vikings if you need them. Just basically a attack and EMP him back to hell. Profit
You'll probably see some strange compositions used vs you. For example I see Colossus + HT sometimes because he'll be going down the Colossus path, see me going Thor's and start making a few HT's. Or he'll throw down a Stargate. I really can't comment on what you should do, it will take game experience. Use my counters as a guideline and just try to make a balanced composition to counter his
You'll probably see some strange compositions used vs you. For example I see Colossus + HT sometimes because he'll be going down the Colossus path, see me going Thor's and start making a few HT's. Or he'll throw down a Stargate. I really can't comment on what you should do, it will take game experience. Use my counters as a guideline and just try to make a balanced composition to counter his
Replays
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Please note the account pedobear is a smurf I started during the ladder lock for fun. He's platinum but has a mid-high masters MMR. You can just check the opponent's he plays. Also I know some replays don't use the Zatic opening, but they are older ones. Trust me the Zatic opening is the strongest and safest. If you use the thorzain 1-1-1 opening you risk just being destroyed by 4 gate or some type of early all-in
http://bit.ly/o5zBtf
http://bit.ly/oockJL
http://bit.ly/pQARxJ
http://bit.ly/mOqRy0
http://bit.ly/rlyKNd
http://bit.ly/pgjA16
http://bit.ly/o5zBtf
http://bit.ly/oockJL
http://bit.ly/pQARxJ
http://bit.ly/mOqRy0
http://bit.ly/rlyKNd
http://bit.ly/pgjA16
Final Words: Hope you guys enjoy this and it helps with your TvP frustrations. I ask if you use this build, that it henceforth from here on out be known as The Dolan Build. Not cuz i really want credit, I just think its a hilarious name! Have fun
Please note, I don't consider myself a great player or anything. I am am a Masters level Terran vs Masters level Protoss. If this doesn't work at higher levels like GM, GSL, then I'm sorry. Kind of hard to test at that level
