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[G] Zest's 4 immortal / archon timing attack [PvT]

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
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JayPower
Profile Joined March 2011
Netherlands171 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-08-02 01:03:28
May 22 2013 14:51 GMT
#1
[image loading]

Introduction

Hello TeamLiquid, I’m JayPower. I’m a grandmaster protoss from team Mythology and this is my second HoTS guide I’m bringing you today. It is a PvT build I’ve seen KT.Zest do and was very interested in doing a guide on for quite a while. After a couple weeks of practice I finally managed to understand the build well enough to make a guide for it. The match where Zest did this build was played on May 4th in the 4th set of KT Rolster vs Woongjin Stars.

This build revolves around doing a timing attack with 3-4 immortals, archons and zealots that hits around 12:30. You don’t always have to attack, the build is set up pretty well to take a 3rd base.

Build overview

You begin with some early game zealot stalkers mcs pressure. Although I highly recommend it, it’s optional. On some maps you can send your zealot on a path where it will avoid the possible incoming reaper. With this zealot you will be scouting mostly, getting a scv kill on a bunker or CC on the low ground can happen too. + Show Spoiler +
[image loading]
But the most important part of the zealot is to scout. + Show Spoiler +
[image loading]


After your cybercore is done, you get a msc and a stalker right away. If your opponent didn’t see your zealot, you will most likely have to use your first stalker to defend. If you scouted with the zealot that your stalker and msc can arrive at his natural before his bunker is done, you should chronoboost a 2nd stalker out to defend and send the first stalker to attack. + Show Spoiler +
[image loading]
Don’t forget to take your nexus behind this; this little pressure shouldn’t be your main focus.

After scouting that your opponent is going for the expand as well (whether this is a 1rax FE, reactor rax FE, reaper FE or a different type of expand), you put down the robo and a forge. + Show Spoiler +
[image loading]
This will be for a fast observer (only 1) and +1 armor. If your opponent is going for widow mine aggression, you need to get a cannon in both mineral lines.

You will get an immortal as your observer scouts your opponent’s base and 2 more gateways behind this. If your opponent is going for a drop heavy early-game (most commonly helbats), you have to constantly produce stalkers from your one gateway. This will delay your 2nd and 3rd gateway a little but keep you safe in the early game. At this point in the game you’re just chronoboosting probes heavily while getting the +1 armor. Around 8:40 is when you add a twilight council, 2nd forge and 5 more gateways. After this you start immortal production again. Don’t forget the templar archives. + Show Spoiler +
[image loading]
This is also the right time to send out at least 1 probe to make proxy pylons all over the map. This will help you spot drops and warp in reinforcements when you’re attacking. Around this time is when the terran will come with his 10min medvac timing push, main main concern is to get charge out to deal with it.

From this point your main concern is to stop drop aggression from the terran while getting charge, +1/+2 and more immortals. I recommend making at least 1 cannon in every mineral line, leave your mothershipcore at home and try to find out where your opponent’s medvacs are located. You have to do this while making as few stalkers as possible; you will need the gas for archons. Don't bother trying to snipe the medvacs with stalkers, just have enough zealots at home to deal with the drop once it unloads. When you’ve prepared for drops and have at least 2 archons and 4 immortals, it’s time to go for the attack. You cut probes at 45 (32 on minerals, 12 on gas and 1 to make proxy pylons.). + Show Spoiler +
[image loading]


Build order

12 gate / 14 gas / 15 pylon
17 zealot / 19 cybercore
22 stalker / 24 msc
27 stalker
27 nexus / warpgate research / 2nd gas
32 robo + forge (5:25) / sentry

7:00 3rd & 4th gas

Immortal & another sentry

7:40 2x gateway
8:40 twilight council + 2nd forge
8:50 5x gateway

Start charge when your twilight council is done and restart immortal production

10:40 templar archives

12:00 try to move out from now on while defending drops.

Quick tips

  • Don’t try to line up your twilight council and 2nd forge with the +1 armor. I’ve made this mistake myself and it distorts the build quite heavily.
  • Don’t us high templar in your base to defend drops if you’re going for the attack. Medvacs won’t have enough energy to kill them and you really need as much gas as possible for archons in your attack.
  • Send your first zealot on a path to avoid the reaper. I’m saying this again because it’s really important. This quick zealot will catch your opponent off guard more often than you would think.
  • Use a warp prism to drop immortals if your opponent has a wall off or well placed tanks. + Show Spoiler +
    [image loading]


Make sure to watch the VOD of Zest:

Free LQ youtube korean VOD: youtube.com/watch?v=MtUnyIsqFb4

HQ twitch.tv english VOD: http://www.twitch.tv/sc2proleague/c/2239868

And the VOD of Stats with a slightly different opener:

Free youtube korean VOD: youtube.com/watch?v=CSRDH0tC_Lo

Replays

2 recent games

http://drop.sc/352648 (vs [BX3]Kare)

In this game my opponent prepared well for the attack and I overcommitted to the attack leaving me a bit behind initially. I transitioned into storm and was able to win in a pretty cool macro game. I definitely recommend this game.

http://drop.sc/352647 (vs KTFlaSh (obivously not real))

This is just a more recent game where of the attack working and catching my opponent playing a bit too greedy.

New replay pack:

http://drop.sc/packs/1466

older replays:
+ Show Spoiler +
http://drop.sc/336330 (vs [Ai]Revenge)

In this game my opponent goes for a standard widow mine drop while expanding. He followed this up with a big 2base allin with scv pull. This game demonstrates how important it is to use feedback on the medvacs before making your archons if it’s possible.

http://drop.sc/336331 (vs RoxkisJaegon)

After a unsuccessful widowmine drop, my opponent tried going for a mech heavy composition with a lot of tanks.

http://drop.sc/336332 (vs [LLLsc2]Servyoa)

This game was pretty straight forward. It seems like a lot of terrans like to play very greedy behind their drops.

http://drop.sc/336333 (vs HobbiT)

My opponent went for a widow mine drop from a gas first opener. He followed this up with some tanks to defend into regular bio.

http://drop.sc/336334 (vs [FOX]FOXMouLou)

This was a pretty good macro game. I made some mistakes like not mining gas from my 3rd base until later, my blink was very late and I had too many probes in the late-game.

http://drop.sc/336335 (vs glob)

My drop defense was really bad this game, I was able to do a frontal attack and make the game very close.

http://drop.sc/336336 (vs [SCA]ColdScars)

Even though I played this game cross server, I think my execution of the push and drop defense was pretty decent.

Answered questions

On May 23 2013 02:44 Sated wrote:
Why do you get +2 Armour when Archons don't benefit and Immortals have their Hardened Shields? Wouldn't getting +2 Attack and +1 Armour be better? Serious question, I don't know the answer

Nice guide! Well written, just like your PvZ guide. It looks like a really strong attack. I'm having a lot of success with 3 Immortal 6 Gate builds that hit at around ~10:00 (thanks Nyast!), so I'll be looking into mixing this in as well :D


Even though this attack is so centered around having immortals and archons as key units, the +2 armor charge zealots is what the actual strenght of your army will be.

On May 23 2013 03:50 aldochillbro wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 23 2013 03:30 ZeRoX-45 wrote:
Why wouldnt you save gas and for shrine instead of archives? It's 50 gas per archon save and minerals aren't really a problem with this build.

This is a timing attack, not an allin. he states that you can take a third base and play macro from this build if you want. doing dark shrine wouldn't allow this flexibility imo



Previous guide

PvZ +1 zealot warp prism drop allin

[image loading]

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=412284

About me

I’m JayPower. 20 years old and from the Netherlands. I play Protoss at a grandmaster level.
My stream: http://www.twitch.tv/jaypower/. I stream my ladder games with commentary over there. I interact a lot with viewers and try to maintain a positive atmosphere that focuses on improving.

My twitter: https://twitter.com/JayPowerSC2. I don't tweet a whole lot. I mostly use it to update my followers on the content that I make and when I stream.

My website: http://jaypowersc2.com/. The site is still in the making and is lacking updates. Soon it will be completed.

I’m part of team Mythology sponsored by gameshop

Please give me feedback on the guide. I really do appreciate any feedback, so please give me suggestions on how I can improve. Any questions about the guide are welcome too, I will try to answer them as soon as possible.
Jaypowersc2.com for Guides, Videos, Replays and Coaching
Millet
Profile Joined April 2012
Sweden143 Posts
May 22 2013 14:57 GMT
#2
Very well presented, I'm looking forward trying this!
Crosswind
Profile Joined May 2010
United States279 Posts
May 22 2013 15:01 GMT
#3
"getting charge, +2/+1 and more immortals."

Do you mean +1/+2 here? I ask, because you've put down 2 forges, but your first forge upgraded armor to +1. So something's missing here =)

(Nice guide!)

-Cross
JayPower
Profile Joined March 2011
Netherlands171 Posts
May 22 2013 15:03 GMT
#4
On May 23 2013 00:01 Crosswind wrote:
"getting charge, +2/+1 and more immortals."

Do you mean +1/+2 here? I ask, because you've put down 2 forges, but your first forge upgraded armor to +1. So something's missing here =)

(Nice guide!)

-Cross


Very true, I'll edit that.
Jaypowersc2.com for Guides, Videos, Replays and Coaching
jpw234
Profile Joined February 2013
United States4 Posts
May 22 2013 17:11 GMT
#5
Immortals and archons...my favorite units! And in PvT too! Thanks for this, it works quite well.
aldochillbro
Profile Joined July 2012
187 Posts
May 22 2013 17:38 GMT
#6
somebody give this man a medal and a blue background right now!
poultrypouch
Profile Joined July 2012
United Kingdom33 Posts
May 22 2013 17:42 GMT
#7
don't ucap hack?
Pooch
Sated
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
England4983 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-05-22 17:46:23
May 22 2013 17:44 GMT
#8
--- Nuked ---
Lokter
Profile Joined July 2012
United Kingdom13 Posts
May 22 2013 17:47 GMT
#9
On May 23 2013 02:42 poultrypouch wrote:
don't ucap hack?


Which player supposedly does?
Owner of UCAP eSports.
aldochillbro
Profile Joined July 2012
187 Posts
May 22 2013 17:48 GMT
#10
^very legit question. zealots benefit greater but i don't think they're the main part of this build so maybe you could switch it up and see how it works. do you know where i could find notes on the build you stated?
JayPower
Profile Joined March 2011
Netherlands171 Posts
May 22 2013 18:10 GMT
#11
On May 23 2013 02:44 Sated wrote:
Why do you get +2 Armour when Archons don't benefit and Immortals have their Hardened Shields? Wouldn't getting +2 Attack and +1 Armour be better? Serious question, I don't know the answer

Nice guide! Well written, just like your PvZ guide. It looks like a really strong attack. I'm having a lot of success with 3 Immortal 6 Gate builds that hit at around ~10:00 (thanks Nyast!), so I'll be looking into mixing this in as well :D


Even though this attack is so centered around having immortals and archons as key units, the +2 armor charge zealots is what the actual strenght of your army will be.

On May 23 2013 02:42 poultrypouch wrote:
don't ucap hack?


http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=340614

If you have any replays to report go to that thread.
Jaypowersc2.com for Guides, Videos, Replays and Coaching
followZeRoX
Profile Joined March 2011
Serbia1449 Posts
May 22 2013 18:30 GMT
#12
Why wouldnt you save gas and for shrine instead of archives? It's 50 gas per archon save and minerals aren't really a problem with this build.
Adonminus
Profile Joined January 2012
Israel543 Posts
May 22 2013 18:41 GMT
#13
Nice one Jaypower, maybe I should write a guide some other time too.
Targe
Profile Blog Joined February 2012
United Kingdom14103 Posts
May 22 2013 18:41 GMT
#14
On May 23 2013 02:42 poultrypouch wrote:
don't ucap hack?


wat. Stuff like that belongs in the hacker thread, not a guide.
11/5/14 CATACLYSM | The South West's worst Falco main
aldochillbro
Profile Joined July 2012
187 Posts
May 22 2013 18:50 GMT
#15
On May 23 2013 03:30 ZeRoX-45 wrote:
Why wouldnt you save gas and for shrine instead of archives? It's 50 gas per archon save and minerals aren't really a problem with this build.

This is a timing attack, not an allin. he states that you can take a third base and play macro from this build if you want. doing dark shrine wouldn't allow this flexibility imo
DemigodcelpH
Profile Joined August 2011
1138 Posts
May 22 2013 19:13 GMT
#16
Jay if the Terran is doing k0p's 2 base 4 factory 13:00 timing push would Terran hold this?
JayPower
Profile Joined March 2011
Netherlands171 Posts
May 22 2013 19:21 GMT
#17
On May 23 2013 04:13 DemigodcelpH wrote:
Jay if the Terran is doing k0p's 2 base 4 factory 13:00 timing push would Terran hold this?


I don't know that build. Do you have a link to a VOD?
Jaypowersc2.com for Guides, Videos, Replays and Coaching
zelkia
Profile Joined January 2011
United Kingdom13 Posts
May 23 2013 00:07 GMT
#18
very well presented and a pleasure to read! cant wait to make some terrans cry tomorrow evening! (do you hear me GramZ, im coming for you!!!)
you can't see it at all, unless your flying by.
DemigodcelpH
Profile Joined August 2011
1138 Posts
May 23 2013 02:03 GMT
#19
On May 23 2013 04:21 JayPower wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 23 2013 04:13 DemigodcelpH wrote:
Jay if the Terran is doing k0p's 2 base 4 factory 13:00 timing push would Terran hold this?


I don't know that build. Do you have a link to a VOD?


Kinon
Profile Joined October 2012
Romania207 Posts
May 23 2013 13:27 GMT
#20
So many great Protoss guides lately. It will take a while to go through every single one of them. Do you plan on making a guide for standard macro PvT? I saw Artosis use that a lot, and seems pretty bullet-proof, yet hard to get it right.
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