• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 13:20
CEST 19:20
KST 02:20
  • 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
[ASL22] Ro4 Preview: Mirror Mirror6[ASL22] Ro8 Preview: Within Reach5[ASL22] Ro8 Preview: In A Tizzy11[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Holy Diver5[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Rough Waters10
Community News
Weekly Cups (October 5-11): Farewell to 5.0.162Rollback Netcode in Brood War995.0.17 Patch Notes - October 7, 202624Weekly Cups Results (Sep 28-Oct 4)0SC4ALL: II SC2 Complete Invited Player Lineup10
StarCraft 2
General
How do you feel about the mass reverts in the 5.0.17 PTR? SCII needs to put more weight on strategy and tact Server Blocker 5.0.17 Patch Notes - October 7, 2026 ESL Pro Tour for SC2 discontinued
Tourneys
Master Swan Open (Global Bronze-Master 2) $3,500 WardiTV Not-Summer Championship Stellar Fest TWO the Moon (Dec 16-20) ISSL (IntoTheTV x SOOP SC2 League): Premier RSL 2026 Offline Finals LCQ Sign-Ups
Strategy
[H] ZvP Mid-Late Game: Stalkers Collossi HT
Custom Maps
[G] How to playtest arcade maps [A] Nemrods 1/4 players [M] (2) Sweltering Sands [M] (2) Frigid Storage
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 547 Temple Of Terror Mutation # 546 Catch the Train Mutation # 545 And Drops and Rifts
Brood War
General
Bot on ladder BW General Discussion Sagi.gg Launcher Released Rollback Netcode in Brood War ASL22 General Discussion
Tourneys
ASL 22 Finals [Women's StarCraft] MonstarZ vs Dreams 2026-10-15 [Megathread] Daily Proleagues [ASL22] Semifinal B
Strategy
Cliff Jump Revisited (1 in a 1000 strategy) Simple Questions, Simple Answers Replay Review Process - What do you do?
Other Games
General Games
Nintendo Switch Thread Dawn of War IV Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread General RTS Discussion Thread Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne
Dota 2
Dota 2 Champions League Season 3 Begins April 25!
League of Legends
[TL LoL EUW IHs] Teemo shall perish
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Artificial Intelligence Thread Canadian Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread
Fan Clubs
Serral Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Movie Discussion! Diablo Animated Series on Netflix
Sports
Football (Soccer) Thread TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 MLB/Baseball 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
Recent Gifted Posts
Blogs
The Link Between Gaming and …
TrAiDoS
[ASL22] Ro4 Day1 Ticket Giv…
bITt.mAN
38 yo Retired SWE loo…
PurE)Rabbit-SF
Can Bots Beat Pros?? Starcr…
namkraft
[meme] I finally understa…
LUCKY_NOOB
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 8971 users

[Q] Build Worker or Split?

Forum Index > SC2 General
Post a Reply
1 2 3 4 5 Next All
jaerak
Profile Joined January 2010
United States124 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-05-17 04:17:28
May 17 2010 04:06 GMT
#1
This is sort of a noobie question, but I was wondering which is economically better when the game starts: sending your workers to mine first (assume a perfect split) or to queue your first worker before you split. I know in sc1, you were supposed to always queue the worker first, but with new split AI, mining AI, and harvesting time, and initial worker count, what is the experimentally supported answer?

EDIT: Another factor to consider may be the fact that splitting easier and thus requires less time in sc2 than required in sc1 (Part of split AI)
captainwaffles
Profile Blog Joined February 2009
United States1050 Posts
May 17 2010 04:09 GMT
#2
I always queue a worker then do a 3/3 split and macro on happily.
https://x.com/CaptainWaffless
Kow
Profile Joined May 2010
United States32 Posts
May 17 2010 04:09 GMT
#3
Usually what I aim to do is to send the workers in one fell swoop to a node, queue a worker and before the workers get to the mineral line, send half to a different node (ideally 2-3 away from the one I chose).

But lag usually screws me up. I don't know why it always lags for like .5s at the beginning of the game and then the rest is fine. I'd rather just have that extra .5s loading, though I'm sure that's not the problem xD


I don't know what is the most efficient though.
Iri
Profile Joined January 2010
150 Posts
May 17 2010 04:10 GMT
#4
Build a worker and send all six to one patch is fastest as far as I can tell... starts the build immediately and if workers are sent to right patch they'll bring in 50 mins before you have to build your next. Different for zerg, obviously, but for T/P anyway.
Opportunities multiply as they are seized. -Sun Tzu
lu_cid
Profile Joined April 2008
United States428 Posts
May 17 2010 04:12 GMT
#5
You should start your worker first.
Jugan
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
United States1566 Posts
May 17 2010 04:13 GMT
#6
I build a worker then do a 3/3 split....
Unless I mess something up, then it's disastrous! It usually works out for me pretty well
Even a Savior couldn't fix all problems. www.twitch.tv/xJugan
RAUS
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
210 Posts
May 17 2010 04:13 GMT
#7
you're talking about .05 of a second here, and you can get 50 minerals before your scv finishes, so honestly, splitting well only puts you ahead by a tiny fraction of a second.

someone should make a joke about splitting hairs.

its up to preference and it doesn't matter.
recognize me?
Synwave
Profile Joined July 2009
United States2803 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-05-17 04:18:02
May 17 2010 04:17 GMT
#8
On May 17 2010 13:13 derpaderp wrote:
you're talking about .05 of a second here, and you can get 50 minerals before your scv finishes, so honestly, splitting well only puts you ahead by a tiny fraction of a second.

someone should make a joke about splitting hairs.

its up to preference and it doesn't matter.


What if Day[9] casts you in a replay and omg you will look like a noob and be made fun of forever!

>.>

But yeah, its such a tiny tiny detail.
I try to do my best with the ole send workers, build, split workers before they mine thing because its a pretend mental mini-game I play but I don't stress it.
♞Nerdrage is the cause of global warming♞
roemy
Profile Joined April 2010
Germany432 Posts
May 17 2010 04:19 GMT
#9
On May 17 2010 13:09 captainwaffles wrote:
I always queue a worker then do a 3/3 split and macro on happily.

this, but i do a 4/2 split
rock is fine.. paper could need a buff, but scissors have to be nerfed
Raelcun
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
United States3747 Posts
May 17 2010 04:20 GMT
#10
F1 split is where it's at imo, select hatch SD, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click. Tiny differences but the F1 split looks gosu when people watch you do it.
ReketSomething
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
United States6012 Posts
May 17 2010 04:24 GMT
#11
I once asked a wise man...(qxc) if he normally goes 3 => 3 split rather than a 6 => 3 split.

He told me....that it doesn't make a bit of difference because none of this will be so important that you will lose a game over and to not worry about it. So work on other things first! =D
Jaedong :3
Xiphiasar
Profile Joined April 2010
United States78 Posts
May 17 2010 04:26 GMT
#12
i always queue first. I figure i'll be building workers constantly for a while, so the faster I start the faster i'll have more workers. That's not supported by any evidence though.

I wonder what the most efficient way to do it is?
lu_cid
Profile Joined April 2008
United States428 Posts
May 17 2010 04:29 GMT
#13
Building the worker first is obviously more efficient since you should be able to queue the second worker before the first is finished anyway. That is of course if you get a good split. I find that I almost always have my second worker in queue before the first is done. Therefore you will have more workers faster.
Anxiety
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States650 Posts
May 17 2010 04:34 GMT
#14
LOL in BW i screwed up a split so badly... I clicked on the mineral patch instead of an SCV and i was like WTF IS WRONG.
-orb-
Profile Blog Joined September 2007
United States5770 Posts
May 17 2010 04:38 GMT
#15
Build your worker first

but this really isn't big enough of a deal to ever affect your games. At the very highest level of brood war this might make a difference but no one is even close to that level at sc2 yet
'life of lively to live to life of full life thx to shield battery'
how sad that sc2 has no shield battery :(
Hyperion2010
Profile Joined April 2010
United States122 Posts
May 17 2010 04:56 GMT
#16
On May 17 2010 13:20 iCCup.Raelcun wrote:
F1 split is where it's at imo, select hatch SD, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click. Tiny differences but the F1 split looks gosu when people watch you do it.


lol, I wonder how many sc1 players forgot about the hot new tech of the idle worker button (I know i did)
My waifu for aiur!
Jintetsu
Profile Joined May 2010
Sweden152 Posts
May 17 2010 04:57 GMT
#17
allways que up worker then split, did that in bw, wc3 and in sc2
http://www.alien-invasion.eu
nitdkim
Profile Blog Joined March 2010
1264 Posts
May 17 2010 04:59 GMT
#18
jus make unit then split.
PM me if you want random korean images translated.
johnnybrav0
Profile Joined March 2010
United States61 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-05-17 05:15:38
May 17 2010 05:12 GMT
#19
On May 17 2010 13:20 iCCup.Raelcun wrote:
F1 split is where it's at imo, select hatch SD, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click. Tiny differences but the F1 split looks gosu when people watch you do it.

Nice, I'll have to try that just so I can look cool. I never even realized the initial workers were "idle" but I mean its pretty obvious now that you mention it.

A side question on something I've never tried but it seems like it would definitely work the best: does anyone hit "Backspace" + "E" (for Protoss) for the initial probe? I always click the Nexus but it seems like hitting Backspace would be the fastest way to do it.
Exteray
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
United States1094 Posts
May 17 2010 05:19 GMT
#20
On May 17 2010 14:12 johnnybrav0 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 17 2010 13:20 iCCup.Raelcun wrote:
F1 split is where it's at imo, select hatch SD, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click, F1 Click. Tiny differences but the F1 split looks gosu when people watch you do it.

Nice, I'll have to try that just so I can look cool. I never even realized the initial workers were "idle" but I mean its pretty obvious now that you mention it.

A side question on something I've never tried but it seems like it would definitely work the best: does anyone hit "Backspace" + "E" (for Protoss) for the initial probe? I always click the Nexus but it seems like hitting Backspace would be the fastest way to do it.


But then you'd have to move your right hand to the mouse and select all the workers. It would be slower overall I think
1 2 3 4 5 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 5h 40m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
Codebar 143
ProTech139
UpATreeSC 0
StarCraft: Brood War
Horang2 590
ggaemo 370
Hyuk 324
Leta 220
sSak 77
Mind 61
PianO 40
Shinee 39
Hyun 36
Terrorterran 31
[ Show more ]
ToSsGirL 26
Bishop 24
Sacsri 13
ajuk12(nOOB) 7
Noble 5
Dota 2
Gorgc4771
Dendi1369
XaKoH 423
canceldota115
Counter-Strike
fl0m3182
x6flipin320
Other Games
singsing1590
Coldzera 852
Beastyqt528
Khaldor498
ceh9495
Liquid`Hasu266
B2W.Neo262
Grubby188
KnowMe188
FrodaN153
QueenE89
Chillindude33
[ Show 17 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• 3DClanTV 54
• StrangeGG 30
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• Migwel
StarCraft: Brood War
• ChaeLyn 5
• FirePhoenix5
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• C_a_k_e 2854
League of Legends
• Nemesis2614
• Jankos1728
Other Games
• Shiphtur858
• imaqtpie345
Upcoming Events
OSC
5h 40m
Online Event
17h 40m
Korean StarCraft League
1d 9h
Afreeca Starleague
1d 12h
Rush vs Soulkey
CranKy Ducklings
1d 16h
AI Arena Tournament
1d 22h
BSL Open Qualifier
2 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
2 days
OSC
2 days
IPSL
2 days
[ Show More ]
BSL Open Qualifier
3 days
WardiTV Weekly
3 days
IntoTheTV X SOOP
4 days
PiGosaur Cup
5 days
The PondCast
5 days
Kung Fu Cup
5 days
IntoTheTV X SOOP
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-10-14
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
Copium Cup

Ongoing

ASL Season 22
Super Anchor Qualifying S3
Acropolis #5
HCC Season 3
Thunderpick World Champ. '26
ESL Pro League Season 24
Stake Ranked Episode 4
1win Private Club #1
Logitech G Play Connect 2026
SL StarSeries Fall 2026
FISSURE Playground #3
BLAST Open Fall 2026
Esports World Cup 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026

Upcoming

Acropolis #5 - GSC
BSL Season 23
SC4ALL II: Brood War
BSL 23: Non-Korean Championship
HSC XXX
Stellar Fest 2: Lunar Cup
SC4ALL II: StarCraft II
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
RSL Offline Finals
eXTREMESLAND 2026
PGL Major Singapore 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 6
BLAST Rivals Fall 2026
IEM Beijing 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 5
PGL Masters Bucharest 2026
1win Private Club #2
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 © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.