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[G] PvP: Phoenix Play - Page 4

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
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Teoita
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
Italy12248 Posts
December 24 2011 10:52 GMT
#61
If i may ask, what the hell stops a 4gate phoenix build exactly? You completely wreck the people going robo blink against you and fighting you head on...should the robo/blink guy (usually me) just try to hold his ramp until the opponent expands or throws down a robo?
ModeratorProtoss all-ins are like a wok. You can throw whatever you want in there and it will turn out alright.
Geiko
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
France2053 Posts
December 24 2011 13:46 GMT
#62
On December 24 2011 19:52 Teoita wrote:
If i may ask, what the hell stops a 4gate phoenix build exactly? You completely wreck the people going robo blink against you and fighting you head on...should the robo/blink guy (usually me) just try to hold his ramp until the opponent expands or throws down a robo?


When I started experimenting with phoenixes, I only did 2 gate Stargate into 4 gate / Stargate all-in.

You are right that it's extremely powerful against any opener, but except vs immortal builds or colossi builds, I wouldn't recommend doing it because good play can stop it. Therefor I findit much too all-in to recommend it for standard play.

If you hold your ramp and mass blink stalkers, you'll reach a critical mass of stalkers that your opponent can't deal with with only phoenix and gateway units. During the engagements, methodically focus fire the phoenixes who are lifting and you should be fine. If he expands before robo you can kill him, and if he gets a robo you can expand.
geiko.813 (EU)
Arcanefrost
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
Belgium1257 Posts
December 24 2011 15:16 GMT
#63
I got a little carried away and went mothership before archon or colossi, don't do that people
Valor is a poor substitute for numbers.
SeriouR
Profile Joined November 2010
Spain622 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-12-24 15:43:45
December 24 2011 15:42 GMT
#64
Really nice guide, i've been doing kind of a greedy 3 gate phoenix expo build but this feels much more thought out and safe (plus, i haven't figured out myself all the responces) i'm going to work out on my phoenixx build with this guide in mind and i will post anything noteworthy I come across.

Thank you very much <3
Trance music makes the fairys dance
GomJabbar
Profile Joined February 2011
United States161 Posts
December 25 2011 01:17 GMT
#65
I watched through the coaching vod with Axslav and it really helped clear up things about the build. I encourage you guys to watch through this. Just the tiny detail of "if he expands early, add a 3rd gate while making phoenixes and all in him, if he stays 1-base, add a robo after 2nd phoenix and expand while harassing" makes things so clear to me. Really simple, easy divergence. Even if you expand around the same time or slightly later, the harassment should keep you even or ahead in economy. The all-in should kill any expand builds, unless they have cannons (a fast expand with cannons is probably the best response to phoenixes, imo, Axslav mentions he has trouble with that in the video).

I find 90% of the time in PvP now, I reach the midgame with an advantage thanks to the phoenixes, no matter WHAT build he did.
Geiko
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
France2053 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-12-25 12:36:54
December 25 2011 12:36 GMT
#66
On December 25 2011 10:17 GomJabbar wrote:
I watched through the coaching vod with Axslav and it really helped clear up things about the build. I encourage you guys to watch through this. Just the tiny detail of "if he expands early, add a 3rd gate while making phoenixes and all in him, if he stays 1-base, add a robo after 2nd phoenix and expand while harassing" makes things so clear to me. Really simple, easy divergence. Even if you expand around the same time or slightly later, the harassment should keep you even or ahead in economy. The all-in should kill any expand builds, unless they have cannons (a fast expand with cannons is probably the best response to phoenixes, imo, Axslav mentions he has trouble with that in the video).

I find 90% of the time in PvP now, I reach the midgame with an advantage thanks to the phoenixes, no matter WHAT build he did.


Unfortunately, going 3/4 gate phoenix agaisnt FE is like going 1 base roach/ling against nexus first builds. Very powerful all-in but can be stopped by good reaction from your opponent.
If you scout the nexus early you're much better off expanding yourself and pressuring the front with units while you harass the main with phoenix.
I would only ever suggest all-ining if you scout a finished or almost finished nexus and you haven't expanded yet.

Also, merry christmas to all<3
geiko.813 (EU)
Crashburn
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United States476 Posts
January 06 2012 08:27 GMT
#67
Awesome guide. Thanks for putting this together.
soapyy.
Profile Joined October 2011
United States103 Posts
January 06 2012 09:40 GMT
#68
I really enjoy using the pheonix now, thanks!
www.twitch.tv/sirsoapyy A little bit of soul train is in everyone.
Craos
Profile Joined January 2011
United States20 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-28 22:32:22
January 28 2012 22:21 GMT
#69
I like (P)Grubby's approach (see Day[j] #403) better as it keeps the pressure on your opponent through the entire game. I had this poor guy locked down so hard I expanded to his third and he never even managed to scout it - not because he wasn't trying (he did scout my third), but because I wouldn't allow it.

If you can hold your opponent back to one or two bases, he's toast. End of story. Once you get four phoenix out you just sit back and harass until you feel you have enough colossi to 1-A your opponent and then you do (okay I did get a little fancy with the phoenix but I don't think it was necessary).
Be ye not deceived: God is not mocked; and whatsoever a man soweth, that he shall also reap.
quillian
Profile Joined April 2010
United States318 Posts
February 22 2012 17:56 GMT
#70
Whats the best response to a phoenix/obs/dt play? I can deflect early phoenix harass pretty easily and FE safely, but when they are sniping all your observers aggressively, it's hard to move out without being stabbed by an invisible psi blade. Do you just have to get a stargate in pvp if they do this build to defend your obs, or just make a ton of observers and micro carefully?
Teoita
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
Italy12248 Posts
February 22 2012 18:15 GMT
#71
On February 23 2012 02:56 quillian wrote:
Whats the best response to a phoenix/obs/dt play? I can deflect early phoenix harass pretty easily and FE safely, but when they are sniping all your observers aggressively, it's hard to move out without being stabbed by an invisible psi blade. Do you just have to get a stargate in pvp if they do this build to defend your obs, or just make a ton of observers and micro carefully?


Im pretty sure phoenix/dt (assuming 2base) is basically weak to any timing push known to man, ever, so (i figure) if you see no robo units/robo bay and he isn't trying to get archons or whatever, you should probably just go kill him, trying to hit before the dark shrine completes.

I would need a replay to watch to be sure though.
ModeratorProtoss all-ins are like a wok. You can throw whatever you want in there and it will turn out alright.
Geiko
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
France2053 Posts
February 22 2012 18:24 GMT
#72
On February 23 2012 02:56 quillian wrote:
Whats the best response to a phoenix/obs/dt play? I can deflect early phoenix harass pretty easily and FE safely, but when they are sniping all your observers aggressively, it's hard to move out without being stabbed by an invisible psi blade. Do you just have to get a stargate in pvp if they do this build to defend your obs, or just make a ton of observers and micro carefully?


If he is going DT/phoenix/obs you can go for colossi and have at all times 3 or 4 obs with your army. If you try to go zealot/archon or any "only ground" based composition, you will die.

I'm watching the day[9] daily on phoenix PvP and so far it's really interesting, I'll add it to the OP when i finish it.
geiko.813 (EU)
quillian
Profile Joined April 2010
United States318 Posts
February 22 2012 23:00 GMT
#73
@teoita yeah this is probably the correct answer, the trouble was he kept sniping my obs whenever I'd try to peek in his base, so I didn't see the dark shrine till the dt's were already out. by then I was in something of a pinch, as he wasn't going to break my front, but I couldn't move out to prevent him from expanding. I suppose I just need to have better scouting and keep 3-4 obs behind my colossus while target firing the DT's.

Grubby's style is interesting, I like the early chrono on stalkers to prevent proxy pylons.

I really like the idea of phoenix play, but I'm usually left with a dilema:

If you use the energy to kill probes, he just walks up and kills you with a larger gateway force and your phoenix can't do anything about it. If you don't harass, they don't really pay for themselves. I guess the psychological pressure and scouting is useful, but it always feels so fragile.

ceoftheyear
Profile Joined March 2012
Canada31 Posts
March 22 2012 03:03 GMT
#74
Phoenix opening is definitely the future of PvP metagame, it really provides perfect info about enemy's tech and movement, complete map control, constant threat of counter attack keep enemy at home to defend, and having the ability to incapacitate units for a considerable amount of time really help to turn the table in a fight.

in a sense this style of PvP mimics zerg's mutas, the ability to counter attack with ease and snipe off key units like sentries makes 1 base sg one of the strongest play styles, so I really hope to see more diversified sg strats in the pro scene.
发疯就快赢了<3
Belisarius
Profile Joined November 2010
Australia6233 Posts
April 03 2012 12:56 GMT
#75
Something interesting I saw on sage's stream.

He opened with a really early second gas, I think 15 off a 2 chrono 12 gate no scout. That gave him enough gas to get warpgate and a sentry after zealot, and put down a stargate before the sentry even finished, and even get a second sentry straight away.

I'm not sure on exact timings as I haven't seen him do it more than once, but it looked really interesting. Because he built the sentries so early, he had four forcefields and 3 gates coming up at the 4gate timing for only 200 gas. Versus another phoenix opening, he'd have more phoenixes early and so would win the air battle.

Downside, of course, is that the second gas telegraphs it from a mile away. I feel like there's got to be something the other guy can do to abuse that, but I was still fascinated.
JOJOsc2news
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
3000 Posts
April 03 2012 13:40 GMT
#76
I experimented a lot with Phoenix but the builds are really fragile at the beginning so I am staying away from them for most of the time. I love it when my opponents go Phoenix builds because in my opinion, they are pretty easy (yet micro intensive) to play against and allow for you to take an early expansion. I really enjoy playing against but not with Phoenix.
✉ Tweets @sc2channel ⌦ Blog: http://www.teamliquid.net/blog/JOJO ⌫ "Arbiterssss... build more arbiterssss." Click 'Profile' for awesome shiro art!
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