EPTDisclaimers :
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1) I'm not a pro, I'm just noting what I see from herO's game, I'm not trying to predict the future of 3.8 meta
2) These builds are from IEM qualifiers day one, just 3 days after patch, so they are mostly aggressive and probably not optimal yet. The point is, they do work so until they are violently countered by new standard openings, it's cool to use them. I don't guarantee they'll be relevant in 3 weeks, but who cares?
3) All time indication are from herO's game and are just here to give you a general idea. These are not the minimal times you would get playing against a very easy AI and being as fast as possible.
4) When I write "MSC -> adept -> stargate" or "MSC, stalker, warpgate research" it means that these are built in that exact order as soon as resources allow it
5) These are my notes, i.e. builds are written the way I write them in text files on my comp with just a little editing to make them TL friendly, if something is not clear about the way I write BOs down, just ask.
PvZ :
Nexus first into archon drop into 2 base blink all in (vs ByuL on Newkirk precinct)
14 pylon
17 Nexus
17 Gate
18 gas1
18 gas2
20 gate2
@100% gate1 : cybercore
@100cybercore (2'30) : warpgate research + stalker + Scout zerg's third with probe (this is herO, normal players may prefer an earlier scout)
33 : pylon2 (put this one in some "hidden" location if possible)
35 : pylon3 (this one can probably be delayed a bit, herO prolly builds it to complete his wall - don't forget we're on newkirk precinct)
@100% pylon 2 : twilight (that's why pylon2 is "hidden") then Robo (herO starts his twilight at 3'05 and robo at 3'13)
@90% twilight (3'35) : gas 3 and 4.
@100% twilight : dark shrine (hero starts his at 3'45) then gates 3 and 4
@100% robo : warp prism (chrono) and blink (hero starts his at 4'21)
@4'45 : warp prism is finished and rallied toward the zerg's base.
Execution :
As soon as dark shrine is finished, warp 4 DTs. build gates 5, 6, 7 and 8 at home, then build an observer.
Important note : ByuL managed to send an overlord and scouted the dark shrine, so herO doesn't bother trying DT harass : he just makes 2 archons immediately. I guess he would have tried DTs if he hadn't been scouted
Harass with archons, do not loose them, do not loose the prism. Build a Pylon at your third.
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This is the intense part of the strat : microing archons constantly while macroing at home, you will notice that herO doesn't stop harassing until his stalkers are at ByuL's third. In any case don't forget that loosing the WP or the archons will result in a fail, so if you can't multitask, focus on macro and keep the wp safe
at 5'50 almost all gates are done, her0 fakes a third (there is an overlord there)
6'00 first big stalker warp in at home and go. her0 as 46 Probes, 1 obs, 2 archons, 1 prism, 11 stalkers, a MSC and one adept -who dealt with a small ling pressure early on.
at 6'20 stalkers have crossed the map, new warp in with warp prism, attack and win.
Fast stargate with pylon rush into skytoss (vs ByuL, habitation station)
This build is very map dependant and counters perfectly a greedy expansion on gold on habitation station. That said, herO had not scouted before he chose this build, so whether he was betting on ByuL taking the gold or he was planning to do it even if ByuL had taken the natural. We'll never know but the build is fun and usable on many situation imho.
Anyway, with only a few changes you can transform it into a standard stargate build. Fact is, this version is just the kind of aggressive protoss play that I like, so here it is.
14 pylon (in base near the vespene geysers)
16 gate
16 gas1
17 gas2
19 pylon2 (at natural)
20 cyber
@100% cyber : MSC -> adept -> stargate
Put the probe that built the stargate on patrol at the natural, at this point an overlord should be close by. The mind game is real.
@100% adept : adept 2. Adept 1 and the probe that was patrolling on the natural go to the opponent's side. MSC and adept 2 follow (in herO's game they stay a bit at home to defend against a few zerglings, but after this they join the fray)
Probe builds 2 pylon -> overcharge + 2 adept pressure.
Transition as done by herO : + Show Spoiler +
Be aware it's mostly adaptation to what happens in this scrappy action packed game. So I don't put down a build to copy cat, but more of a general description to give you an idea of how herO wins this game.
step 1 : 3 oracles + adpets pressure :
herO makes 3 oracles total while adding gates 2 and 3. When the 3rd oracle is out, he goes with 3 oracles and 6 adepts and manages to kill a lot of probe, as well as deny the 3rd for the longest time.
Step 2 : harass with phoenix and and start massing void rays :
When oracles go for their attack, herO makes 3 sentries and his second nexus. He then adds a void ray (immediately goes to kill overlords and help denying the 3rd - 2 oracles are still alive at this point) and a second stargate as well as gas 3 and 4. He pumps out up to 11 or 12 phoenixes that he uses for heavy harass.
After 11-12 phoenixes, herO starts massing void rays.
Step 3 : Carriers, mother ship, win :
herO makes a 3rd stargate and takes his thrid base. + 1 air is researched. He takes gas 5 and 6 and adds the fleet beacon. As soon as it's done he starts mothership and carriers production at home.
Final go when he has mothership and 5 carriers. he also add zealots ( not upgraded, they're here to spend the extra minerals)
Bonus builds (cheese) :
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these are not builds made by herO but they work fine in 3.8 and do punish zergs that'd want to rush hydra. Moreover, what is a 2 hours protoss ladder session without a couple of dirty cheese that get you that oh so delicious BM from your opponent?
the chargelot immo all in, stolen from KoshkiiSC (thx!!!)
NeeBs 3 gates gladepts into immo gladept push, used by NeeB in KeSPA cup and detailed by u/Gemini_19 (thx!!!)
the chargelot immo all in, stolen from KoshkiiSC (thx!!!)
NeeBs 3 gates gladepts into immo gladept push, used by NeeB in KeSPA cup and detailed by u/Gemini_19 (thx!!!)
PvT :
Standard twilight robo macro play (vs INnoVation, Vaani research station)
Opening is a standard gate expand :
14 pylon
16 gate
16 gas1
19 Nexus
19 cyber
21 gas2
21 pylon2 (after 22nd probe is paid)
Then :
@100 cyber core : MSC (rallied in opponent's base) stalker (constant production), warpgate research
@100gaz : twilight council
@100 twilight : blink (3'16) then robo (3'29) and gate 2 -> gaz 3 -> gate 3
@100 warpgate research : forge
@100 robo : observer (INno dropped a mine in the mineral line)
4'50 : Nexus 3. Forge finishes at that time, +1 Attack is researched immediately (probably because herO wants to use adepts)
@100% blink : gas 4 and 2 sentries warp in.
benchmark : 5'18 : 44 probes - 3 were killed by INnoVation, 4 stalkers, 1 obs, MSC, nexus 3 is 40% done - it will be cancelled by INno though. Immortal production starts around that time and never stops.
After +1 attack is done, start resonating glaives research, +1 defence and add 4 gates (herO is slightly delayed because of INno attacking his third)
When 3rd Immo is done (7'10) start warp prism.
8'10 timing with glaives, warp prism, +1/+1 :
push out with 3 immos, 2 sentries and stalkers. Meanwhile go warp 7 adepts in your opponent's natural or just have them stay with your main army for a big frontal push. (Note : INno attacks at the same time so herO's immo sentry stalker army stays at home to defend)
Transition : herO just keeps attacking from this point on, probably cause he did make huge damages, but you can also keep on upgrading, add robo bay, take gazes, add more gates, build a 4th nexus, ... in other words : just adapt to what happens in the game.
Disruptor drop into macro play (vs INnoVation, Whirlwind)
This one is just a variation of the previous one : the same kind of immo + gateway units push will occur and the general strat is about the same. There just one variation in the begining, but it's a big one : a disruptor drop.
Opening is a standard gate expand :
14 pylon
16 gate
16 gas1
19 Nexus
19 cyber
21 gas2
21 pylon2 (after 22nd probe is payed)
Then :
@100% twilight : warpgate research, robo, adept (important note : map is big enough to not fear reapers and allow you to skip MSC early on)
Adept production is constant.
@100% robo (3'09) : robo bay -> warp prism ->MSC -> gaz3
@100% robo bay (3'55) : disruptor, warp prism speed, gates 2 and 3
As soon as resources are available (don't cut probes or pylons tough
) start twilight council. herO starts his at 4'15.When disruptor is out (4'27) : load it in the warp prism and go harass (herO is delayed by a mine drop)
transition toward the "normal" immo gateway push:
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Important note : in all his games herO doesn't build an observer until there is a mine in his mineral line. That's a choice. If you want to anticipate and build obs earlier feel free to do so.
@100% twilight : blink (4'55) and Immo. Gate 4, 5, 6, 7 and forge (herO is delayed by an attack by INnoVation)
@100% Immo2 : attack. Blink should finish righ after you have crossed the map and the warp prism + disruptor is waiting for you. The fact that herO successfully repealed INno's attack probably plays a huge role in his decision to cross the map : don't go impale yourself on a turtling terran.
herO is hyper aggressive here, cause he knows he got ahead when he defended the drops, so he goes full warp in, I assume that otherwise, the normal way would be to get a 3rd, +1 attack and resonating glaives kinda like in 1st game.
Also, herO will never risk his disruptor or immortals' life, but he doesn't hesitate to blink in to snipe a tank. These moves are risky though : loosing 3 stalkers for a tank is ok, loosing 6+ is not, obviously.
Anyway, this it for today. I hope this post can help a few protoss, and don't hesitate to ask question or to post your own builds.
GL HF.
