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[PBOTW] sOs' Blink-Dark Templars into Macro

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
9 CommentsPost a Reply

[PBOTW] sOs' Blink-Dark Templars into Macro

Text byTL Strategy
Graphics bywo1fwood
May 30th, 2018 06:58 GMT
An Introduction[PvZ]Trap's Oracle into Gladept pressureBuild Explanation & Example GamesTransitioning to the Mid-game

Introduction


Hey guys, my name is Gemini and I'm a Grandmaster Protoss player who has been making guides since 2011 on various sites. The Build of the Week is my most popular series of build order guides that I've been making for about three years now on /r/allthingsprotoss. With the help of TeamLiquid.net and Spawning Tool I'm now bringing my guides over to TL as well!

Each write-up includes build order notes, an explanation/analysis of how the build works, and a VOD section so you can check out the source game and how it should go. I'll also include the Spawning Tool link so that you can practice it in game yourself and download the replay of me doing it. I hope you enjoy and be sure to read the whole write-up before asking any questions as I'm sure some of them will be answered in here!

How to use Spawning Tool
Link to the Spawning Tool Build
Link to /r/allthingsprotoss Guide.

[PvT]sOs' Macro Blink-Dark Templars



I don't usually write guides like this. This strategy is too cute, stylish, and micro-intensive to be reliable if you aren't a top-tier progamer. But sOs made a MACRO Blink-Dark Templar build that WON a game in the GSL, so I couldn't let the opportunity go to waste. This is a quirky iteration on an otherwise normal build that can spice up your ladder games and make StarCraft II more fun to play. After all, aren't video games supposed to be fun?

Build Notes

Macro Blink Dark Templars
14Pylon [@100% --> Chrono]
16Gate [Chrono Nexus]
17Gas --> Rally in
20Nexus
20Cyber
212nd Gas
22Pylon
@100% Cyber --> Adept [Chrono] + WG
26Twilight Council
@100% Adept --> Stalker
@100% Twilight Council --> Dark Shrine
392nd Gate + 3rd Gas
3:30 Blink (Stalker)
42Proxy Pylon
@100% 3rd Gas --> 4th Gas + 3rd Gate
4:00 Shield Battery
@100% Dark Shrine --> 2x DT
4:30 3rd Nexus + Blink (Dark Templar)
~5:00 2x Forge
502x Pylon
5:15-5:45 5x Gate
@100% Blink --> Charge
~6:00 Robo
~7:00 double pronged blink DT harass
@100% Robo --> 2nd Robo + Robo Bay


Build Explanation



Relevant game starts at 20:00

As mentioned before, this is a build that sOs used to great effect versus KeeN in the GSL Code S RO32. He said in an interview that he had been using it on ladder, because he had become bored and was looking for interesting things to do. Like many other sOs builds, this is a very lean version of a more common build (macro DT's). sOs gets things at very specific timings to streamline the build in the most greedy/efficient way possible, which may not make it the best to build to copy exactly in lower leagues (later, I'll explain what areas are unsafe, and suggest some tweaks that make it more ladder-friendly). Another note is that sOs didn't exactly play a textbook mid and late game after his opener, but sOs has never been one to conform to the norm. Nonetheless, the opener can easily transition into standard mid-game compositions, so I borrowed sOs' core concepts and suggested safer follow-ups.

The build starts normal as always, with a 20-Supply Nexus opener that goes straight into a Twilight Council. It's becoming more common for Protoss players to open with a single Adept even if they aren't going Stargate, so that they can shade across the map and scout the Terran opponent. Previously, you would send your initial scouting Probe back in for a second reconnaissance run around the time Terran's Reaper would be headed across the map. However, some Terrans are opening Marine to deny the rescout. In that situation, the Adept can take on the scouting role and check for early game shenanigans such as a Cyclone push. Those 2 Cyclone, 2 Hellion, and X Marine pushes mean automatic death if you aren't prepared with Shield Batteries, so this kind of early game scouting is imperative.

After that, build a Stalker, and once the Twilight finishes, warp in a Dark Shrine. As you warp in the Dark Shrine, you should send a Probe out to place a proxy-Pylon (if you don't have a Probe out on the map already). It's at this point that the build starts to become pretty lean. Normally, you would get two extra Gateways around 39 supply to line up with Warp Gate, walling off your natural against Hellion run-by's. In the example game, sOs scouts that he won't be facing any immediate pressure, and adds just a single Gateway at 39, gets his third gas, and starts Blink-Stalker research earlier than one would with a normal Dark Templar build. After his third gas is done he takes the fourth, and THEN adds his third Gateway. Because sOs knows he isn't making more than two DTs, and knows he isn't getting pressured early, this is a more streamlined way of going about the build. If you wanted to be a bit safer with this build, you would simply get the two gateways at the normal time of 39 supply, and the additional gasses at 4:00. sOs gets his Stalker Blink quite early, but you don't necessarily NEED it super early on if you aren't going to make a bunch of Stalkers.

After the Dark Templar warp-in, send them in to do some harassment, which could result in anything from a game-winning to absolutely terrible situation. As I mentioned in my last previous macro Dark Templar guide, it's important to send them in one at a time and split them between the bases to allow for maximum damage. It also prevents Terran from killing both with a single scan, which would put you quite far behind. At 4:30, get a third Nexus (which is also a tad greedy since sOs doesn't really make any other units for a while), and start researching the entire point of this build: DARK TEMPLAR BLINK UPGRADE!!! (Apparently this ability is called "Shadow Stride" but no one actually calls it that.) The upgrade takes about five years to finish, so you'll need to Chrono Boost it quite a lot. Similar to other DT builds, you'll go into double-Forge as well, provided that your DTs do a reasonable amount of damage and you see no signs of heavy two-base aggression from the Terran (like a heavy three Barracks or even five Barracks play). In that case, it would be safer to only go one Forge and get earlier Gateways for more units. Provided that the game is going normally (from your opponent's end, of course, since you're obviously being silly), you should get five more Gateways between 5:15 and 5:45. Start Charge research as soon as DT-Blink is done.

6:40-7:00 is when the fun starts. Blink should be done for your DTs, and you can warp in a few extra to commence the harassment. Blackpink was a particular good map for sOs to break this build out on as Protoss doesn't need extra air-vision to blink into the natural; you simply hop in from the nearby high ground. Depending on which third base Terran takes, it might not be possible torment your opponent as cruelly as sOs did to Keen. Whenever I use this build, I send a hallucinated Phoenix to the edge of the Terran's main to let me blink up there. Basically, you should be able to have two separate sets of Blink DTs roaming around killing SCVs. One set goes to the main/natural and another set blinks into the third-base SCV line and immediately starts killing an insane amount of SCVs. A lot of Terrans may not be as passive as KeeN was in his game vs sOs, so what you can also do is time your DT to strike just as the Terran army is crossing the map to apply pressure. DTs blinking right onto mineral lines will wipe out SCVs so fast that if the Terran doesn't respond quickly and properly, they will fall behind very quickly. It also allows you to deal with their push better since they'll have to multitask to defend the DTs.

There's really no cut and dry way to play the DT harassment. sOs had a good sense for where Keen's attention was, and even created some distractions of his own. Like any kind of harassment, it's all about knowing where your opponent's army is, dividing their attention, and abusing the mobility of your units. Also remember, DT Blink is quite cheap. All you have to do is save one DT once and the upgrade has already paid for itself.

Transitioning into the mid-late game



After the blink DT phase is when sOs made things weird, very much in line with his reputation. He stayed on mass Gateways for a very long time, getting a late Robotics facility for a big 3/3 Gateway unit + Immortal attack. It didn't quite work, and he was forced to transition into a second Robotics and Colossus tech. This is not really something I would suggest, especially with Marauder buff, so I've adapted the build to be a bit more standard while preserving the spirit of sOs' strategy. I've made the double-Robo Colossus transition come quicker, with the first Robo started around 6:00. Once that's done, get a second Robo and a Robotics Support Bay. This transition will catch a lot of Terrans off-guard, since many will react to seeing mass Gateway by going Ghosts in anticipation of a High Templar transition.

However, you can also still go into Storm if you want to. Due to the way this build and its transition works, you'll end up with quite an excess in gas while your third base is being saturated. Because of that, you won't need to take your third base gasses quickly, so if you feel comfortable transitioning into a faster Storm then you are free to do so. It's actually a fairly flexible build that allows for basically any transition. If you wanted to try the mass Gateway stuff like sOs, then by all means go for it, but just know that sOs was doing sOs things, and simply being much better than KeeN.

Regardless, this is a fun build that utilizes a very niche upgrade to snowball the initial damage of a standard DT opener. Blink-Dark Templars give Protoss plenty of counter attack potential, and also a lot of map control since they cause Terran to be extremely cautious and paranoid. The damage can set you up for a very strong mid and late game with double-Forge upgrades, and you have the flexibility to transition into nearly any type of mid-late game composition you'd like. Enjoy!

Thank you all for reading and if you have any questions/comments please leave them below and I'll try to get to all of them!

Brought to you by the TL Strategy Team in collaboration with Overwolf and Spawning Tool.


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RaiZ
Profile Blog Joined April 2003
2813 Posts
May 30 2018 09:18 GMT
#2
That's a pretty interesting build to know for someone who barely watch any PvT because of Z main. The fact that you detailed what build you can do and why is very enjoyable to read. Kuddo
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth. Oscar Wilde
Khalimaroth
Profile Joined September 2010
France70 Posts
May 30 2018 15:13 GMT
#3
I LovE your work on these BotW post dude
I read it as soon as i see a New one, and i do some pdf build pages with it, it's Awesome.

I'M really struggling in PvT.
I switched Protoss recently (from terran however...), i get my little master3 promotion, but i dont understand the midgame of this MU , i fall easily on early drop of all kind, or some stim-roll pushes. I dont know the standart of this MU and i really need "THE" standart Build-Order explanation, because i feel the collossus opener you gave to us become weakest with the marauder buff (not because of the buff directly but because terran build now more marauders xD). I tryed your DnS blink pressure into double forge, i'M working on it

Anyway thank you very much for your work
Trop'inzust
FErnando141
Profile Blog Joined July 2014
8 Posts
May 30 2018 17:47 GMT
#4
Perfect homepage image
DanceSC
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
United States751 Posts
May 31 2018 04:35 GMT
#5
Thank you so much for these! Can' you add the t=1200 to default the starting time?
https://youtu.be/Yn8OiKbZpOM?t=1200
Dance.943 || "I think he's just going to lose. There's only so many ways you can lose. And he's going to make some kind of units. And I'm going to attack him, and then all his stuff is going to die. That's about the best prediction that I can make" - NonY
Waxangel
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
United States33277 Posts
May 31 2018 04:54 GMT
#6
On May 31 2018 13:35 DanceSC wrote:
Thank you so much for these! Can' you add the t=1200 to default the starting time?
https://youtu.be/Yn8OiKbZpOM?t=1200

It's already set that way but I'll look into it since this problem seems to pop up again every now And then
AdministratorHey HP can you redo everything youve ever done because i have a small complaint?
Gemini_19
Profile Joined June 2010
United States1226 Posts
May 31 2018 06:03 GMT
#7
On May 31 2018 00:13 Khalimaroth wrote:
I LovE your work on these BotW post dude
I read it as soon as i see a New one, and i do some pdf build pages with it, it's Awesome.

I'M really struggling in PvT.
I switched Protoss recently (from terran however...), i get my little master3 promotion, but i dont understand the midgame of this MU , i fall easily on early drop of all kind, or some stim-roll pushes. I dont know the standart of this MU and i really need "THE" standart Build-Order explanation, because i feel the collossus opener you gave to us become weakest with the marauder buff (not because of the buff directly but because terran build now more marauders xD). I tryed your DnS blink pressure into double forge, i'M working on it

Anyway thank you very much for your work


Blink/chargelot double forge is still quite strong. Just have to transition into storm a bit faster. Stargate is also still very strong.

Glad you enjoy them
@GGemini19 GM Protoss | http://www.twitch.tv/geminisc2 | I <333 HerO & Trap | Check out my Build of the Week series on /r/allthingsprotoss, TL, or Spawning Tool
TelecoM
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States10667 Posts
May 31 2018 06:23 GMT
#8
Wow I didn't even know DT's have Blink now, I used to always joke about this lol
AKA: TelecoM[WHITE] Protoss fighting
Kurao
Profile Joined April 2018
215 Posts
May 31 2018 12:42 GMT
#9
Yet another amazing BoTW! Awesome to see you take the time to break down these hieroglyphs we call sOs builds and share them around
Khalimaroth
Profile Joined September 2010
France70 Posts
June 01 2018 17:02 GMT
#10
Blink/chargelot double forge is still quite strong. Just have to transition into storm a bit faster. Stargate is also still very strong.

Thanks for your answer

I'll work on this DnS build.
I tryed the last 3 PvT BO you share to us : Blink into double-forge, DT into double-forge, and the 3 Colossus into storm (where i try to put double-forge before the templar archive). I feel less confortable with the blink into macro, because you have to be very active on the map to buy the time you need to set up your gates and upgrades, i feel it harder from my n00b perspectiv^^(M3-4k5). I think i'll keep this sOs' DTBlink build away for the moment

A little PvP off topic : I understand better this rock/paper/cisor feeling in PvP : sg > robot > concil > sg. I dont really know yet how to reverse the odds when i didnt pick the right one.
Trop'inzust
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