• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EST 03:07
CET 09:07
KST 17:07
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book2Clem wins HomeStory Cup 287HomeStory Cup 28 - Info & Preview13Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info3herO wins SC2 All-Star Invitational14
Community News
Weekly Cups (Jan 26-Feb 1): herO, Clem, ByuN, Classic win2RSL Season 4 announced for March-April7Weekly Cups (Jan 19-25): Bunny, Trigger, MaxPax win3Weekly Cups (Jan 12-18): herO, MaxPax, Solar win0BSL Season 2025 - Full Overview and Conclusion8
StarCraft 2
General
Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book Clem wins HomeStory Cup 28 How do you think the 5.0.15 balance patch (Oct 2025) for StarCraft II has affected the game? HomeStory Cup 28 - Info & Preview Stellar Fest "01" Jersey Charity Auction
Tourneys
HomeStory Cup 28 $5,000 WardiTV Winter Championship 2026 RSL Season 4 announced for March-April PIG STY FESTIVAL 7.0! (19 Feb - 1 Mar) StarCraft Evolution League (SC Evo Biweekly)
Strategy
Custom Maps
[A] Starcraft Sound Mod
External Content
Mutation # 511 Temple of Rebirth The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 510 Safety Violation Mutation # 509 Doomsday Report
Brood War
General
Can someone share very abbreviated BW cliffnotes? [ASL21] Potential Map Candidates Gypsy to Korea StarCraft player reflex TE scores 2024 BoxeR's birthday message
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues Escore Tournament StarCraft Season 1 Small VOD Thread 2.0 KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Strategy
Zealot bombing is no longer popular? Simple Questions, Simple Answers Current Meta Soma's 9 hatch build from ASL Game 2
Other Games
General Games
Diablo 2 thread Battle Aces/David Kim RTS Megathread EVE Corporation Nintendo Switch Thread Path of Exile
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread YouTube Thread The Games Industry And ATVI Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine
Fan Clubs
The herO Fan Club! The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Play, Watch, Drink: Esports …
TrAiDoS
My 2025 Magic: The Gathering…
DARKING
Life Update and thoughts.
FuDDx
How do archons sleep?
8882
James Bond movies ranking - pa…
Topin
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1392 users

[G] StimmedProbe's Postpatch TvZ Build #1 12-14-18rax

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
Post a Reply
1 2 3 4 Next All
StimmedProbe
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
Hong Kong98 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-07-03 13:01:39
July 02 2012 19:37 GMT
#1
StimmedProbe's Postpatch TvZ Build #1 12-14-18rax
Last Update: July 3rd, 2012

Build #1 of 3: 12-14-18 rax


[image loading][image loading][image loading]


Basic Idea:
This build is a metagame build designed to take advantage of the comfort that 4-6 queens provide zerg players. This build provides a sizeable ammount of marines to launch an early attack. This build also provides a strong follow-up attack with marines mauraders and hellions.

Build Order:
10 – Supply Depot
12 – Barracks
14 – Barracks
16 – Marine
17 – Orbital Command
17 – Supply Depot
18 – Marine
18 – Barracks
<Pump marines, scvs and depots>
32 – Command Center (5:00-5:10)
38 – Refinery x2
@100gas factory
@50gas reactor

Attack with 16 marines (Roughly 6:05), micro, focus fire and try to lower the surface area while still providing wiggle room for your marines if they need to escape.

Tips and Tricks:
  • Try to hide the 2nd and 3rd rax if possible, this makes it look similar to a 1rax FE to the zerg
  • Try to prevent an overlord from seeing if you have taken your expansion
  • Clear watchtowers with 2-3 marines for extra surprise
  • If you see the gas later than 4:00 you are in GREAT SHAPE because it takes the zerg roughly 3 minutes to get speed from the time they start their gas, you will hit a sick timing with your 16 marines (20-25 seconds before speed finishes)
  • Queens will kick you out at ~4:45 so make sure to leave with your scout before that, try to see what time the gas is taken and if a spine was built
  • Build your factory near one of your rax so you can make some reactored hellions quickly
  • Try to lower surface area, but always provide a way to escape from surrounds (keep your back to the wall, but always have an exit path along the wall)
  • You can use the mineral patches or hatchery to provide some 'cover' for your marines, they greatly reduce surface area
  • Try to snipe overlords, if you can supply block him even for a short time, you can do massive damage
Follow up:
If you do not win the game right away you can follow up with a marine/maurader/hellion timing. I recommend 4-5 rax and 1-2 factories. Get stim/shields/shells and if you like blue flame. +1/+1 is also possible. Just try to spend the mini trust fund you accumulated during the marine micro as well as you can based on the situation. You can bring some scvs along if you like as well for a stronger timing. If that attack does not finish the game, you can procede into standard play as long as your two attacks did some decent damage by taking a 3rd and swapping some addons.

How to hide what you are doing *New*:
  • Try to build your 2nd/3rd rax at your natural. This will help you in a few ways. First of all you might be able to kill the drone before it gets a chance to check the main and the natural. Second of all you might be able to wall the drone into your main, so it cannot check your natural for additional barracks.
  • Try to anticipate the 1st overlord movement, and pick somewhere to put your 2nd and 3rd barracks accordingly.
  • Position a few marines at the ramp (2-3) at around 4:40, since this is when a zerg will poke your front with a few lings.
  • Place your 3rd depot somewhere in your main so you can spot if an overlord is moving in
Replays:

http://drop.sc/212866
In this game I notice my opponent did not take an early gas. My attack hit a little bit before speed and I crushed through his queens, drones and zerglings.

http://drop.sc/212867
In this game I did the attack with 16 marines and managed to supply block him a few times. I also used the minerals/hatchery to reduce surface area well.

http://drop.sc/212868
In this game I attack with a few less marines, which gave him some time to prepare when my 16 marines came in. I still did pretty good damage, and although I macroed pretty bad during the attack I was able to finish him off with my 2nd attack.

More builds to come in the next few days!
HaXXspetten
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
Sweden15718 Posts
July 02 2012 19:41 GMT
#2
Nice to see you're still sticking with it ^^
Targe
Profile Blog Joined February 2012
United Kingdom14103 Posts
July 02 2012 19:45 GMT
#3
Is this all one base?
11/5/14 CATACLYSM | The South West's worst Falco main
intense555
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United States474 Posts
July 02 2012 19:45 GMT
#4
I don't know about this, feels like 6 queen opening with a spine can defend. It just feels like marines without stim and shield are kind of useless against zerg now. Queen ling too efficent v this.
Aspiring Starcraft 2 pro for @mYinsanityEU, follow me on twitter @mYintenseSC
StimmedProbe
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
Hong Kong98 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-07-02 19:56:19
July 02 2012 19:50 GMT
#5
On July 03 2012 04:45 Targe wrote:
Is this all one base?

The first 16 marines are off 1 base, the 2nd cc is building. Read the post >.<


On July 03 2012 04:45 intense555 wrote:
I don't know about this, feels like 6 queen opening with a spine can defend. It just feels like marines without stim and shield are kind of useless against zerg now. Queen ling too efficent v this.


16 marines do insane amounts of damage with focus fire and micro, zergs sometimes skip the spine when they see a 1rax FE. I have never had a problem with 1 spine alone and no one has ever had two spines when I arrived completed.
Targe
Profile Blog Joined February 2012
United Kingdom14103 Posts
July 02 2012 19:55 GMT
#6
On July 03 2012 04:50 StimmedProbe wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 03 2012 04:45 Targe wrote:
Is this all one base?

The first 16 marines are off 1 base, the 2nd cc is building. Read the post >.<


Ah thanks! I did read it but when scrolling I must have missed the BO.
11/5/14 CATACLYSM | The South West's worst Falco main
Fencar
Profile Blog Joined August 2011
United States2694 Posts
July 02 2012 19:56 GMT
#7
Awesome! I can't wait to use this in BoX's.
This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
FlubbaSet
Profile Joined August 2011
Germany7 Posts
July 02 2012 20:00 GMT
#8
Many Zerg don't get a spinecrawler anymore and rely on queen only defense. This opening could work pretty well if it is unscouted.
spbelky
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United States623 Posts
July 02 2012 20:17 GMT
#9
It's been a while since I've seen a [G] from you stimmedprobe, good to see you're still at it. I'll have to mix this in to my current play when I get the chance.
-FoX
Profile Joined November 2010
United States479 Posts
July 02 2012 20:45 GMT
#10
Nice guide, always loved guides out of you StimmedProbe. Good to see you're still writing.
Belial88
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
United States5217 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-07-02 20:51:56
July 02 2012 20:51 GMT
#11
On July 03 2012 05:00 FlubbaSet wrote:
Many Zerg don't get a spinecrawler anymore and rely on queen only defense. This opening could work pretty well if it is unscouted.


4 gates, double starport banshee, 1 base DT, also work very well when unscouted.
How to build a $500 i7-3770K Ultimate Computer:http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?topic_id=392709 ******** 100% Safe Razorless Delid Method! http://www.overclock.net/t/1376206/how-to-delid-your-ivy-bridge-cpu-with-out-a-razor-blade/0_100
spbelky
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United States623 Posts
July 02 2012 21:02 GMT
#12
On July 03 2012 05:51 Belial88 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 03 2012 05:00 FlubbaSet wrote:
Many Zerg don't get a spinecrawler anymore and rely on queen only defense. This opening could work pretty well if it is unscouted.


4 gates, double starport banshee, 1 base DT, also work very well when unscouted.


Are you really trying to compare an economic 3rax to a bunch of beta cheese strats?
oOOoOphidian
Profile Joined January 2011
United States1402 Posts
July 02 2012 21:29 GMT
#13
On July 03 2012 06:02 spbelky wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 03 2012 05:51 Belial88 wrote:
On July 03 2012 05:00 FlubbaSet wrote:
Many Zerg don't get a spinecrawler anymore and rely on queen only defense. This opening could work pretty well if it is unscouted.


4 gates, double starport banshee, 1 base DT, also work very well when unscouted.


Are you really trying to compare an economic 3rax to a bunch of beta cheese strats?

3 rax only works unscouted. If zerg gets some combination of speedlings, queens, a spine crawler, or banelings, this will not work. I've tried it. 2 rax is superior by far.
Creator of sc2unmasked.com
Semtext
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Germany287 Posts
July 02 2012 21:42 GMT
#14
On July 03 2012 06:29 oOOoOphidian wrote:
3 rax only works unscouted. If zerg gets some combination of speedlings, queens, a spine crawler, or banelings, this will not work. I've tried it. 2 rax is superior by far.


i guess thats why he tells you to hide your 2nd and 3rd rax in the OP. i'll try that a few times. sounds interesting to go against my instincts to upgrade my marines with the first rax+techlab...
http://de.twitch.tv/semtext | FBH, Socke, WhiteRa, GoOdy, TLO
Flonomenalz
Profile Joined May 2011
Nigeria3519 Posts
July 02 2012 21:59 GMT
#15
On July 03 2012 06:02 spbelky wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 03 2012 05:51 Belial88 wrote:
On July 03 2012 05:00 FlubbaSet wrote:
Many Zerg don't get a spinecrawler anymore and rely on queen only defense. This opening could work pretty well if it is unscouted.


4 gates, double starport banshee, 1 base DT, also work very well when unscouted.


Are you really trying to compare an economic 3rax to a bunch of beta cheese strats?

Are you serious?

Aside from 4 gate, the other two builds almost always involve an expansion.

DT expand was quite a common build before, and so was cloak banshee --> expand (before the spore crawler root time). As a matter of fact, 1 port cloak banshee --> 3 CC is still a fairly common build.

This 3 rax expand is just as cheesy as a DT expand, in the sense that if you don't do sufficient damage, you pretty much lose. 6 queens w/ some transfuse and slow lings can hold this off as long as you don't allow the marines to walk into a low surface area position. From there, your tech is so behind and your upgrades probably will be too, you cannot win without the zerg seriously screwing up.
I love crazymoving
XenoJesus
Profile Joined June 2010
United States72 Posts
July 02 2012 22:41 GMT
#16
Cool build! Hopefully we'll get to see more of these kinds of timings.

Nice guide and great job!
gsbElfenLied
Profile Joined January 2011
Sweden45 Posts
July 02 2012 23:41 GMT
#17
you would need to be very careful about denying scouting of your natural, if a competent zerg spots no cc at 4:30-5:00 he'll spine up with atleast 2 spines.
If i type something interesting here, will you respect my opinion more?
Vanchen
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
55 Posts
July 03 2012 00:45 GMT
#18
http://drop.sc/213162 Here is my attempt at it. Opening worked great, just my follow up wasn't so great. Denying scouting of the nat is hard on some maps so on some maps, I don't think you can do this. 1 Spine was no problem even with 3 queens there.
ST_Bomber|SKLGIM_MC|
StimmedProbe
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
Hong Kong98 Posts
July 03 2012 06:05 GMT
#19
On July 03 2012 09:45 Vanchen wrote:
http://drop.sc/213162 Here is my attempt at it. Opening worked great, just my follow up wasn't so great. Denying scouting of the nat is hard on some maps so on some maps, I don't think you can do this. 1 Spine was no problem even with 3 queens there.


Not bad not bad, I have a couple of tips for you though. Make sure you focus fire the queens if you have a chance, that will hurt the zerg quite a bit in the long run if they lose all their queens. In addition try to keep your marines along a wall if possible to reduce surface area for lings and drones.
Orek
Profile Joined February 2012
1665 Posts
July 03 2012 06:38 GMT
#20
This build will keep Zerg honest.
Whoever skips all scouting, gas, spine and ling then go all out queen will be punished hard.
The build is essentially 12 14 2rax at start, so even if 2rax attack doesn't come immediately upon scouting 2 rax, skipping ling production and a spine is a greedy play from Zerg and deserve to be punished.
As OP stated, denying scout is a big part. 5min CC is very late. Standard 1 rax FE is 3min10sec CC, and a competent Zerg would probably know that its not even 1rax either by seeing 2nd rax or couting SCV number at mineral line.
I like how OP called this "metagame build." Blindly going 6 queens metagame will die to this build easily when executed well.
In future, Zerg players will adapt and make at least 1 spine and save transfuse energy if scouting natural failed in case of this push coming. Otherwise, super greedy Zerg, myself included, deserve to lose.
1 2 3 4 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 2h 53m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
SortOf 49
StarCraft: Brood War
Hyuk 616
Leta 372
Dewaltoss 129
Shine 72
Shuttle 58
sSak 41
Backho 29
GoRush 25
Dota 2
NeuroSwarm160
febbydoto52
League of Legends
JimRising 688
Super Smash Bros
hungrybox464
Mew2King36
Other Games
Happy449
C9.Mang0306
Livibee66
mouzStarbuck2
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick1098
StarCraft: Brood War
lovetv 36
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 13 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH138
• practicex 59
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Jankos563
Upcoming Events
RongYI Cup
2h 53m
herO vs Maru
SC Evo League
4h 53m
Replay Cast
15h 53m
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
1d 3h
WardiTV Winter Champion…
1d 3h
OSC
1d 15h
Replay Cast
2 days
Wardi Open
2 days
Monday Night Weeklies
2 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
3 days
[ Show More ]
LiuLi Cup
3 days
PiGosaur Monday
3 days
LiuLi Cup
4 days
The PondCast
5 days
KCM Race Survival
5 days
LiuLi Cup
5 days
Online Event
6 days
LiuLi Cup
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Acropolis #4 - TS4
HSC XXVIII
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

CSL 2025 WINTER (S19)
KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Rongyi Cup S3
Nations Cup 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual
eXTREMESLAND 2025
SL Budapest Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 8

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S1: W8
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Bellum Gens Elite Stara Zagora 2026
RSL Revival: Season 4
WardiTV Winter 2026
LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals
FISSURE Playground #3
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League Season 23
ESL Pro League Season 23
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.