EPTBest Games of April 2018
Compiled and written by Ej, Elentos, and DurnAfter bringing back TeamLiquid.net's best games series last month (read last month's list of best games), StarCraft II's most obsessive and dedicated fans have brought us yet another list of the best games possible. From GSL Code S to the most obscure pockets of the competitive scene, no corner has been left unsearched. On to the games!
Solar vs 
TY on Abiogenesis - VOD
Memes and Dreams Invitational - Finals
![[image loading]](/staff/Waxangel/misc/bestgames2018/April/solartyg1.png)
Minutes to Solar eclipse.
In Starcraft, team-kills have a bad rep for bringing the worst out of both players. Tournament matches between practice partners are usually filled with mind games as both players try to outsmart each other, but they can end up looking dumb to an audience that doesn't have dozens of behind-the-scenes practice games to use as context. 'Why? you might ask, did Player A just lose to the silliest all-in? Well, it probably originated thirty games ago, when he was losing to a different all-in...
Surely, a game between Splyce players Solar and TY, on Abiogenesis, couldn't be anything but disastrous? Surprisingly, no. Watch and marvel as the smallest map in the pool becomes a lategame battlefield, ravaged by relentless attacks of both players.
sOs vs KeeN on Blackpink - VOD
2018 GSL Season 2 - Ro32
![[image loading]](/staff/Waxangel/misc/bestgames2018/April/soskeeng2.png)
"This is a macro blink DT" - Artosis
KeeN came really close to reaching the Code S RO16 this season. He smashed Solar in his first series, and then went 1-1 against sOs in the winners' match to come just one map away from advancing to the next round. Lo and behold, KeeN scanned sOs' Dark Shrine in the deciding game! As a fully prepared Terran with 3 Orbitals, there was no way Keen was going to lose to Dark Templars walking into his base. He had the game in the bag.
And then, sOs pulled out his metal bat and hit Terran in the kneecaps. Researching the second least used upgrade in the entire game (behind that Medivac thing), the Jin Air Protoss made TvP look like a horror movie. Wave after wave, invisible, scythe-wielding terrors crept into the Terran base. As KeeN's entire army was tied down defending against the elusive threats, sOs was left to his own devices back at home...
ShoWTimE vs Serral on Neon Violet Square - VOD
NationWars V - Ro8
![[image loading]](/staff/Waxangel/misc/bestgames2018/April/showtimeserralg3.png)
Ah, the famous 50min spore crawler timing.
I can't lie: Much of this game is pretty boring. After a certain point, lategame PvZ becomes a snoozefest. Every base is taken. The map is split in half, with a forest of spore crawlers on one side and sea of cannons and shield batteries on the other. No one dares cross over into enemy territory, lest they be blanketed by lightning or deadly pathogens.
But you need to watch this game. Even if you have to skip twenty or so minutes of the late-game stalemate to make it tolerable. You need to see ShoWTimE hold off Hydra-Lurker while being down 50 supply. Then you can take a nap. Speed up the VOD while as both players max out and get every tech option. Make yourself a cup of tea, and settle in for the culmination to all the waiting. The grand finale that begins at the fifty minute mark makes it all worth it.
Hurricane vs GuMiho on Blackpink - VOD
Masters Cup 111 - Semifinals
![[image loading]](/staff/Waxangel/misc/bestgames2018/April/hurrigumig4.png)
Vincent and Jules, if they were enlisted by the Dominion forces.
One of the complaints about contemporary StarCraft 2 is that small-scale skirmishes don't happen that often. In general, there really aren't any skirmishes before the mid-game starts, when both players have started to put together a 'core' composition. Well, not in this game. GuMiho starts the action with his first 2 marauders, using concussive shells to kill an Adept, Stalker, and some Probes. After this, the game goes completely off the rails, with a basetrade starting before the first medivacs are even out. The entire best of five series was delightfully wacky, but this game captures its spirit the best.
Classic vs Dark on Backwater - VOD
2018 GSL Super Tournament 1 - Semifinals
![[image loading]](/staff/Waxangel/misc/bestgames2018/April/classicdarkg5.png)
This is what Zerg nightmares are made of.
Super Tournament, how quickly we forgot you! It's like everyone on the planet decided to collectively purge their memories of the terrible trainwrecks such as Maru vs Classic, Dark vs Stats, and everything in between. However, between the horrific displays of mis-micro and mind-boggling decision-making, one ZvP stood out. Classic's PvZ has always been his weakness, but for this one game, he looked like a player who could take on anyone in the world. And given the fact that his opponent was the illustrious Dark, that was the bare minimum level of play Classic needed to bring to the table to stay competitive in this grueling battle...
The Has Award: Games that are so weird they defy conventional definitions of good and bad
Usually, we offer up an unusual or quirky game before diving into the proper list of best games. This month, however, we've made a special exception, as one particular game made us reconsider all of our preconceptions about StarCraft. Maybe it was the best game. Maybe it was the worst. It certainly was something, and deserves to be mentioned last.Avilo vs TheRiddler on Backwater - VOD
WCS Austin North American Challenger - Qualifier
![[image loading]](/staff/Waxangel/misc/bestgames2018/April/raveng6.png)
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I watched Star, hangover, weary,
Over many a quaint and curious game of third rate region—
While I nodded, nearly sleeping, suddenly there came a beeping,
As of some one gently pinging, pinging in my Discord room.
“’Tis some Aussie,” I muttered, “pinging me at three o'clock—
Only this and nothing more.”
Ah, distinctly I remember it was past balanced December;
And each abusing Terran player made some Ghosts and cloaked them all.
Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the long dead game—
For the proper state of balance whom the angels name pre-Blizzcon—
Nameless here for evermore.
And the easy, sad and faster massing of the flying caster
Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
“’Tis some bulls*** in this game with avilo—
Easy bulls***, bad strategy from an even worse region;—
This it is and nothing more.”
Presently my anger grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
“Sir,” said I, “or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was wasted, and so gently you came thinking,
And so faintly you came pinging, pinging in my discord room,
That I scarce was sure I heard you”—here I opened wide the stream;—
Stallmate there and zero skill.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the stallmate was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Draw?”
This avilo whispered, and the echo murmured back the word, “No!”—
Merely this and nothing more.
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a beeping somewhat louder than before.
“Surely,” said I, “surely that is someone in discord active;
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore—
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;—
’Tis the discord and nothing more!”
Chage the tabs here I to stream, where the sleepy caster faked his scream
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, seekered the opposing flock—
Perched and gaining up energy just above the turret ring—
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
Then this silly shit beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the dumb and goof decorum of the countenance it wore,
“Though thy spells be cheap and broken, thou,” I said, “art sure no OP,
Ghastly grim and flocks of Ravens gathering from 5 starports—
Tell me what this awful game was by Blizzard so allowed!
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”
Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning—little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing avilo ask for a draw—
Without all of his buildings already lifted off,
With opponent's named "avilo".
But the Ravens, sitting lonely on above the turret ring, cast only
That one spell, as if others were so much worse.
Nothing farther then he uttered—not a lockdown drone—
Till I scarcely more than muttered “Other players've been done for long—
On the morrow he will leave game, as he cannot win no more”
Then the clown said “I want a draw”
Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
“Doubtless,” said I, “what it utters is its only stock and store
Caught from some unhappy Master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore—
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of ‘This is a draw’.”
But the Ravens still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
Straight I made myself a coffe, and a toast and closed the door;
Then, while avilo's bank was sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this self-absorbed boy—
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and self-absorbed boy
Meant in croaking “This is draw.”
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom’s core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the armchair’s plastic lining that the sun-light gloated o’er,
But whose planteries lining up that they whole map now cover
He shall press, "This is a draw".
Then, suddenly, ruling was decided, called by some dimwitted scoundrel.
Swung by admin whose words echoed in our discord room.
“Wretch,” I cried, “thy God hath lent thee—by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite—respite and nepenthe from thy imaginary draw;
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget - this game was lost!”
Quoth the admin “This is a draw.”
“Idiots!” said I, “THERIDDLER's winning!—idiot still, can't be admining!—
Whether Blizzard sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Stalled for a while yet now decided, by avilo was enchanted—
On this map by Ravens haunted—tell me truly, I implore—
Is there—is there reason to call a draw?—tell me—tell me, I implore!”
Quoth all Twitters “They ruled a draw.”
“Idiots!” said I, “THERIDDLER's winning!—idiot still, can't be admining!—
By that Blizzard that bends above us—by that God we both adore—
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant future,
It shall rule a tournament in the game whose life long gone—
With the wicked sick state of Ravens, introduced after Blizzcon
Quoth then Blizzard “Nevermore.”
“Be that game our sign of parting, bird or fiend!” I shrieked, upstarting—
“Get thee back into the tempest and the Blizzard's balance team!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my ZvT unbroken!—quit the building of starport!
Take thy beak from out our game,, and take with thy what you have brought”
Quoth the Raven “I'm sorry, commander, I'm afraid I can't do that..”
And the Raven, never dying, still is sitting, still is sitting
Casting seekers, just above the turret ring;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,
And the result of this match makes me about StarCraft think;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted—nevermore!
More recommended games from April 2018
We featured the absolute best games above, but there were plenty of other great games from April. Thanks for reading, and we hope you enjoy these games. Check back next month for all of the best games from May!Zest vs Keen on Neon Violet Square - VODGuMiho vs Bunny on Blackpink and Eastwatch - VODsOs vs Classic (BO5 series) - VODStats vs Dark BO7 - Super Tournament finals - VODStats vs Elazer on Acid Plant and Eastwatch - VODSpeCial vs Leenock on Abiogenesis - VODSolar vs Keen on Catalyst and Blackpink - VODHurricane vs GuMiho (continuation of above series) - VODFor More: Best Games of March
Check out the master list for ALL of the best games from 2018 - Soon™ to be updated to include January and February
Credits and acknowledgements
Writers: Ej, Elentos, Durn
List committee: Ej, Elentos, Durn, Wax
Editor: Wax
Photos: Helena Kristiansson via Blizzard, Bart Oerbekke via ESL/Blizzard
Writers: Ej, Elentos, Durn
List committee: Ej, Elentos, Durn, Wax
Editor: Wax
Photos: Helena Kristiansson via Blizzard, Bart Oerbekke via ESL/Blizzard
Well, at least I give it an honorable mention here 
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