• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 06:44
CET 11:44
KST 19:44
  • 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
Intel X Team Liquid Seoul event: Showmatches and Meet the Pros6[ASL20] Finals Preview: Arrival13TL.net Map Contest #21: Voting10[ASL20] Ro4 Preview: Descent11Team TLMC #5: Winners Announced!3
Community News
Weekly Cups (Oct 20-26): MaxPax, Clem, Creator win52025 RSL Offline Finals Dates + Ticket Sales!9BSL21 Open Qualifiers Week & CONFIRM PARTICIPATION1Crank Gathers Season 2: SC II Pro Teams10Merivale 8 Open - LAN - Stellar Fest4
StarCraft 2
General
Intel X Team Liquid Seoul event: Showmatches and Meet the Pros Weekly Cups (Oct 20-26): MaxPax, Clem, Creator win Weekly Cups (Oct 13-19): Clem Goes for Four RotterdaM "Serral is the GOAT, and it's not close" DreamHack Open 2013 revealed
Tourneys
SC4ALL $6,000 Open LAN in Philadelphia Merivale 8 Open - LAN - Stellar Fest Crank Gathers Season 2: SC II Pro Teams 2025 RSL Offline Finals Dates + Ticket Sales! $5,000+ WardiTV 2025 Championship
Strategy
Custom Maps
Map Editor closed ?
External Content
Mutation # 497 Battle Haredened Mutation # 496 Endless Infection Mutation # 495 Rest In Peace Mutation # 494 Unstable Environment
Brood War
General
SnOw's ASL S20 Finals Review BW General Discussion [ASL20] Ask the mapmakers — Drop your questions BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Ladder Map Matchup Stats
Tourneys
[ASL20] Grand Finals Small VOD Thread 2.0 The Casual Games of the Week Thread BSL21 Open Qualifiers Week & CONFIRM PARTICIPATION
Strategy
Current Meta How to stay on top of macro? PvZ map balance Soma's 9 hatch build from ASL Game 2
Other Games
General Games
General RTS Discussion Thread Path of Exile Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Dawn of War IV
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion LiquidDota to reintegrate into TL.net
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
TL Mafia Community Thread SPIRED by.ASL Mafia {211640}
Community
General
Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine US Politics Mega-thread The Big Programming Thread YouTube Thread
Fan Clubs
White-Ra Fan Club The herO Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread Movie Discussion! Korean Music Discussion Series you have seen recently...
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread MLB/Baseball 2023 Formula 1 Discussion TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 NBA General Discussion
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
SC2 Client Relocalization [Change SC2 Language] Linksys AE2500 USB WIFI keeps disconnecting Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List Recent Gifted Posts
Blogs
KPDH "Golden" as Squid Game…
Peanutsc
Reality "theory" prov…
perfectspheres
The Benefits Of Limited Comm…
TrAiDoS
Our Last Hope in th…
KrillinFromwales
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 972 users

4M: A Guide to Modern TvZ - Page 16

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
320 CommentsPost a Reply
Prev 1 14 15 16 17 Next All
ZeromuS
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
Canada13389 Posts
November 21 2013 07:03 GMT
#301
On November 21 2013 15:56 manicshock wrote:
So is this still reccomended with the recent tank buff and mine nerf? What's the current "best" style? I've seen both used, just mine style seems weaker. Most terrans seem to be adding tanks now and it's looking closer to WoL style TvZ.


I think this is the case, tanks might take over mines. Vader has a FAQ that he wrote, but feels that due to the change its not worth posting anymore. I will let him know your concerns and see if he can answer them in the next day or two. In the meantime I want to know if you guys would still like to see his FAQ about 4M, it unfortunately was being worked on during a busy time and it got put on the backburner a little too long. For that I'm sorry.
StrategyRTS forever | @ZeromuS_plays | www.twitch.tv/Zeromus_
vaderseven
Profile Joined September 2008
United States2556 Posts
November 21 2013 20:23 GMT
#302
I don't feel as if there is a best style yet. It might take a month or two to know.

Mech, for instance, might be the new modern tvz. It's really hard to tell atm.
Desive
Profile Joined July 2012
Spain13 Posts
November 21 2013 21:48 GMT
#303
I really like the addition of thors that almost all terran players are starting to do vs ling bling muta
vaderseven
Profile Joined September 2008
United States2556 Posts
November 23 2013 04:52 GMT
#304
On November 22 2013 06:48 Desive wrote:
I really like the addition of thors that almost all terran players are starting to do vs ling bling muta


I agree that Thor are good but I want to see if they remain the answer to mutas in 4m vs zero or if a larger overall change towards mech with upgraded thors being the center piece of the ground army vs any zerg that isn't going a ground focused lair roach army.

It feels like mech with fast double armory into fast(ish) sky terran army is stronger than a 4m 3/3 timing attack based game plan in the current patch.

I want to see what top korean terrans do in the next wcs season do before I say what is really best at the highest level.
0excalibur
Profile Joined December 2013
Taiwan11 Posts
January 15 2014 17:45 GMT
#305
This is probably one of the best guides I ever read. Thank you so much! They need to make something like this for other matchups as well!
plogamer
Profile Blog Joined January 2012
Canada3132 Posts
January 15 2014 22:16 GMT
#306
On January 16 2014 02:45 0excalibur wrote:
This is probably one of the best guides I ever read. Thank you so much! They need to make something like this for other matchups as well!


There is! Actually I felt that Terran guides were lacking *(in terms of numbers) comapred to the Protoss and Zerg guides featured in TL until this guide came along.
Watchmaker
Profile Joined May 2011
United States4 Posts
February 05 2014 03:46 GMT
#307
Sorry for the noob question, and for (potentially) resurrecting a dead thread, but is this build still viable?
Danglars
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States12133 Posts
February 05 2014 05:24 GMT
#308
Parts of it are becoming outdated, but that comprises the minority. The openings and midgame ideas suggested are still widely applicable in normal ladder games.
Great armies come from happy zealots, and happy zealots come from California!
TL+ Member
Ovni
Profile Joined March 2013
89 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-02-05 06:00:10
February 05 2014 05:52 GMT
#309
A lot of Terrans have started to switch back to hellion/banshee builds (before 3rd CC) in TvZ now, which is much more robust vs allins and gives you the potential to do game ending damage. This build (3CC -> 2 ebays) is still used regularly though.

Also, this guide was written before the mine nerf so the lategame parts are outdated, since Terrans will now use their 2nd factory for thors rather than mines in most games.
Slydie
Profile Joined August 2013
1926 Posts
February 05 2014 14:51 GMT
#310
I am fiddeling around with doing exactly this, but going starport-banshee rather than early stim. 3rd CC on normal timing and still 2 fast ebays. For me it is good, as the helions + banshee packs a punch, and it will deflect most roach attacks. For me it is good not to have to change too much in my opening.
Buff the siegetank
Ctone23
Profile Blog Joined December 2012
United States1839 Posts
February 05 2014 15:16 GMT
#311
On February 05 2014 12:46 Watchmaker wrote:
Sorry for the noob question, and for (potentially) resurrecting a dead thread, but is this build still viable?



I was really struggling for a while because zergs were ready for the hellion/reaper harass with a few roaches and I would fall behind economically.

Now, I've just gone straight for widow mines and focused more on a stronger mid-game push to kill off the zergs 3rd, whilst taking my own.

I'm a plat scrub though, so I wouldn't infer that much, but yes it still works for me, the 4M part of the build at least.
TL+ Member
mau5mat
Profile Blog Joined September 2012
Northern Ireland461 Posts
February 05 2014 16:43 GMT
#312
On February 06 2014 00:16 Ctone23 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 05 2014 12:46 Watchmaker wrote:
Sorry for the noob question, and for (potentially) resurrecting a dead thread, but is this build still viable?



I was really struggling for a while because zergs were ready for the hellion/reaper harass with a few roaches and I would fall behind economically.

Now, I've just gone straight for widow mines and focused more on a stronger mid-game push to kill off the zergs 3rd, whilst taking my own.

I'm a plat scrub though, so I wouldn't infer that much, but yes it still works for me, the 4M part of the build at least.


Skipping Hellions for mines is never a good idea, they are your map control and soft contain, if he built roaches for your hellions/reaper, that is a good thing. A healthy hellion count also lets you take your third safer.
Ctone23
Profile Blog Joined December 2012
United States1839 Posts
February 05 2014 16:50 GMT
#313
On February 06 2014 01:43 mau5mat wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 06 2014 00:16 Ctone23 wrote:
On February 05 2014 12:46 Watchmaker wrote:
Sorry for the noob question, and for (potentially) resurrecting a dead thread, but is this build still viable?



I was really struggling for a while because zergs were ready for the hellion/reaper harass with a few roaches and I would fall behind economically.

Now, I've just gone straight for widow mines and focused more on a stronger mid-game push to kill off the zergs 3rd, whilst taking my own.

I'm a plat scrub though, so I wouldn't infer that much, but yes it still works for me, the 4M part of the build at least.


Skipping Hellions for mines is never a good idea, they are your map control and soft contain, if he built roaches for your hellions/reaper, that is a good thing. A healthy hellion count also lets you take your third safer.



I get what you are saying. But in plat and gold before, usually seeing a few roaches means more are coming. I will take your advice though and throw the 6 hellions back into the build, I like the idea of using them to help get my 3rd up.
TL+ Member
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20319 Posts
February 05 2014 17:11 GMT
#314
There's a reason people don't build roaches like that though in pro play - because it's bad. When you say "but in plat and gold" etc, remember that 99% of that stuff only works because their opponents don't know how to scout+recognize+abuse stuff :D
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Ctone23
Profile Blog Joined December 2012
United States1839 Posts
February 05 2014 18:23 GMT
#315
On February 06 2014 02:11 Cyro wrote:
There's a reason people don't build roaches like that though in pro play - because it's bad. When you say "but in plat and gold" etc, remember that 99% of that stuff only works because their opponents don't know how to scout+recognize+abuse stuff :D


"Bad" referencing... Isn't everyone bad then? You can always compare to a higher level and call something/someone bad..

It's definitely important to scout, etc. Something I have been working on for sure. I will add hellions to my build again so I can scout easier, and begin mine production after 6 hellions. For me, its the best way to deal with a swarmy zerg who rushes in with banes when I push out, otherwise without any AOE I get crushed hard.
TL+ Member
RyLai
Profile Joined May 2011
United States477 Posts
February 05 2014 21:06 GMT
#316
On February 06 2014 01:43 mau5mat wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 06 2014 00:16 Ctone23 wrote:
On February 05 2014 12:46 Watchmaker wrote:
Sorry for the noob question, and for (potentially) resurrecting a dead thread, but is this build still viable?



I was really struggling for a while because zergs were ready for the hellion/reaper harass with a few roaches and I would fall behind economically.

Now, I've just gone straight for widow mines and focused more on a stronger mid-game push to kill off the zergs 3rd, whilst taking my own.

I'm a plat scrub though, so I wouldn't infer that much, but yes it still works for me, the 4M part of the build at least.


Skipping Hellions for mines is never a good idea, they are your map control and soft contain, if he built roaches for your hellions/reaper, that is a good thing. A healthy hellion count also lets you take your third safer.


Not only that, defensive Widow Mines are the definition of bad. The only good defensive Factory tech would be Tanks vs ground and Thors (+Turrets) vs Mutas.

With Hellions, you can see when he moves out with the Roaches (as opposed to simply defending and zoning your Hellions), and if he does move out, you can threaten a runby while you drop 3-4 Bunkers at home and pull SCVs ready to repair.

Then again, you can go 6-8 Hellions into 2-3 Banshees, be 100% safe from Roaches, and STILL have map control and a fairly quick third. Better yet, you can transition to either Bio or Mech.
Ctone23
Profile Blog Joined December 2012
United States1839 Posts
February 05 2014 21:12 GMT
#317
On February 06 2014 06:06 RyLai wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 06 2014 01:43 mau5mat wrote:
On February 06 2014 00:16 Ctone23 wrote:
On February 05 2014 12:46 Watchmaker wrote:
Sorry for the noob question, and for (potentially) resurrecting a dead thread, but is this build still viable?



I was really struggling for a while because zergs were ready for the hellion/reaper harass with a few roaches and I would fall behind economically.

Now, I've just gone straight for widow mines and focused more on a stronger mid-game push to kill off the zergs 3rd, whilst taking my own.

I'm a plat scrub though, so I wouldn't infer that much, but yes it still works for me, the 4M part of the build at least.


Skipping Hellions for mines is never a good idea, they are your map control and soft contain, if he built roaches for your hellions/reaper, that is a good thing. A healthy hellion count also lets you take your third safer.


Not only that, defensive Widow Mines are the definition of bad. The only good defensive Factory tech would be Tanks vs ground and Thors (+Turrets) vs Mutas.

With Hellions, you can see when he moves out with the Roaches (as opposed to simply defending and zoning your Hellions), and if he does move out, you can threaten a runby while you drop 3-4 Bunkers at home and pull SCVs ready to repair.

Then again, you can go 6-8 Hellions into 2-3 Banshees, be 100% safe from Roaches, and STILL have map control and a fairly quick third. Better yet, you can transition to either Bio or Mech.



Predicated on the fact your control is good enough to accomplish such a task. I'll give the banshees a shot too, been reading up on that. Thanks!
TL+ Member
Watchmaker
Profile Joined May 2011
United States4 Posts
February 05 2014 21:20 GMT
#318
Thanks for all the feedback! So would inclusion of the banshees be something like Factory -> switch with reactor on barracks -> Tech lab on barracks -> second gas -> Starport and switch onto the tech lab on the barracks?

Additionally, (sorry again for the question) but would the thors be the answer for mutas when I move out? And should I begin incorporating them after I establish my third or before hand?
dyDrawer
Profile Joined September 2012
Canada438 Posts
February 06 2014 00:21 GMT
#319
On February 06 2014 06:20 Watchmaker wrote:
Thanks for all the feedback! So would inclusion of the banshees be something like Factory -> switch with reactor on barracks -> Tech lab on barracks -> second gas -> Starport and switch onto the tech lab on the barracks?

Additionally, (sorry again for the question) but would the thors be the answer for mutas when I move out? And should I begin incorporating them after I establish my third or before hand?


Because of the Mine nerf, Bio Mine isn't the go to composition anymore. According to individual preference, players are now mixing in Siege Tanks, Hellbats or Thors, sometimes even going pure Marine/Marauder bio. Also, Hellion/Banshee into 3 cc is also a very common strategy. If you want the build orders, check out some recent pro VODs or replays. I believe there are quite a few of those from Proleague, among others.
Dear, Rain, PartinG, Trap - "Glory to the Firstborn"
Telmancho
Profile Joined January 2014
France5 Posts
February 26 2014 18:09 GMT
#320
I just want to say this guide is awesome !

I just wish it existed for the other two terran matchups

Thanks a bunch
Prev 1 14 15 16 17 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Replay Cast
09:00
Crank Gathers S2: Playoffs D2
CranKy Ducklings116
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
OGKoka 196
StarCraft: Brood War
Hyuk 3455
Shuttle 606
actioN 455
firebathero 427
Mong 317
PianO 125
JulyZerg 111
Mini 100
Sharp 85
Aegong 53
[ Show more ]
Sacsri 31
Flash 28
Shine 25
Free 22
soO 21
yabsab 14
HiyA 7
Dota 2
XaKoH 463
ODPixel391
XcaliburYe363
canceldota118
League of Legends
JimRising 683
Counter-Strike
fl0m184
allub76
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor75
Other Games
summit1g13741
singsing1775
ceh9445
Happy291
Pyrionflax215
nookyyy 32
Organizations
Counter-Strike
PGL12166
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 13 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• LUISG 29
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Jankos2575
• Lourlo540
Upcoming Events
Epic.LAN
1h 17m
WardiTV Invitational
1h 32m
ByuN vs Spirit
herO vs Solar
MaNa vs Gerald
Rogue vs GuMiho
CrankTV Team League
2h 17m
BASILISK vs Team Liquid
Epic.LAN
1d 1h
BSL Team A[vengers]
1d 3h
Dewalt vs Shine
UltrA vs ZeLoT
BSL 21
1d 8h
BSL Team A[vengers]
2 days
Cross vs Motive
Sziky vs HiyA
BSL 21
2 days
Replay Cast
2 days
Wardi Open
3 days
[ Show More ]
Monday Night Weeklies
3 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
The PondCast
5 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

CSL 2025 AUTUMN (S18)
WardiTV TLMC #15
Eternal Conflict S1

Ongoing

BSL 21 Points
BSL 21 Team A
C-Race Season 1
IPSL Winter 2025-26
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 4
SOOP Univ League 2025
CranK Gathers Season 2: SC II Pro Teams
PGL Masters Bucharest 2025
Thunderpick World Champ.
CS Asia Championships 2025
ESL Pro League S22
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025

Upcoming

SC4ALL: Brood War
YSL S2
BSL Season 21
SLON Tour Season 2
BSL 21 Non-Korean Championship
RSL Offline Finals
WardiTV 2025
RSL Revival: Season 3
Stellar Fest
SC4ALL: StarCraft II
META Madness #9
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026: Closed Qualifier
eXTREMESLAND 2025
ESL Impact League Season 8
SL Budapest Major 2025
BLAST Rivals Fall 2025
IEM Chengdu 2025
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 © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.