EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Vdg43kp.jpg)
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]](http://i.imgur.com/9DpSods.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/EsxYMmO.png)
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]](http://i.imgur.com/JVA9NQo.png)
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]](http://i.imgur.com/no5Dqza.png)
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]](http://i.imgur.com/kZsYc32.png)
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]](http://i.imgur.com/cCkUQpV.png)
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]](http://i.imgur.com/M2znalf.jpg)
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.
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
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:
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
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://i.imgur.com/VK0axdI.jpg)
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.
