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[H/L] I just do not understand PvP

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
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Xaeldaren
Profile Joined June 2010
Ireland588 Posts
September 12 2011 16:16 GMT
#1
I'm a low level (gold) player and I'm having great success in my PvT and PvZ games but I'm completely lost when it comes to PvP. In my other matchups I play a generally greedy/economic style usually going for 1 Gate or 3 Gate expands but this doesn't translate at all into PvP.

There was a time where I'd 4 Gate every game and have some success due to solid micro and build refinement, but honestly I just didn't like playing that way and it's become apparent over time that it's just not a good way to play (especially in light of patch 1.4).

I don't know when to expand (my gut almost says never) whether to go Blink, or Immortal vs Colossus...it's confusing and it's currently my worst matchup with a win rate of only 38%

I believe the main issues here are decision making and not enough understanding of the matchup but since I'm gold there are bound to be numerous mechanical mistakes so please don't hesitate to point those out too.

Here are some replays, I'd appreciate any guidance or criticism. Thanks

Replay

Replay

Replay

Replay

Replay
GomJabbar
Profile Joined February 2011
United States161 Posts
September 12 2011 16:39 GMT
#2
Try this thread:
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=249772

IMO the basics of PvP, right now, is to be safe against 4-gate and then getting a robo and a twilight council up. If the opponent rushes blink, you can make immortals, research blink, and counter-push him and win. If he goes robo, you research charge and expand, and go into chargelot-archon-immortal which owns colossus armies. Obviously I'm simplifying quite a bit, but that's my very general gameplan. Expand when you see him expand.
mage36
Profile Joined May 2011
415 Posts
September 12 2011 16:53 GMT
#3
I know what you mean. It is hard to expand in a PvP as (like in other mirror match ups) you essentially have the same units anyway. So before you expand, you must certainly have some sort of advantage to you. Generally I feel that it will only be safe to expand when you win an engagement against your opponent. Because of warpgate tech, the defender's advantage is somewhat lessened so the only advantage you have would be ramps. Unfortunately, if you take your natural, you won't really have that advantage and you'll be down in units especially if you have gone for the same build as he did prior to that.

But yes, there has been a trend of a more defensive minded PvP game as of late and engagements usually happen with either immortals or blink stalker tech already up as opposed to just the 4-gate builds.
Zitch
Profile Joined September 2011
United States1 Post
September 12 2011 16:55 GMT
#4
Honestly, one of the biggest mistakes I saw from the first replay was the target firing of the immortals. You probably could have won that battle had you simplly 1-a'd. Half your zealots started running around aimlessly. If you're going to target fire, break off a small pack of stalkers, but never your entire army.

Expanding in PvP is very dangerous. I tend to stop building probes once I have full saturation and then proceed from there. Whether you like blink or colossus, one basing is the safest thing to do in that match-up.
Xaeldaren
Profile Joined June 2010
Ireland588 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-09-12 21:33:07
September 12 2011 21:06 GMT
#5
thanks for the tips so far, it's just so frustrating.
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