• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 23:26
CEST 05:26
KST 12:26
  • 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
Serral wins Maestros of the Game 226ByuL, and the Limitations of Standard Play3Team Liquid Map Contest #22: Results and Winners7Code S Season 2 (2026): RO4 and Finals Preview12TL.net Map Contest #22 - Voting & Ladder Map Selection7
Community News
MC vs IdrA, Boxer vs Nal_rA to be Legacy Matches @ BlizzCon415.0.16 Hotfix (June 30) - Balance + Bug Fixes39Weekly Cups (June 22-28): Zergs thrive in new patch5[TLMC] Summer 2026 Ladder Map Rotation05.0.16 patch for SC2 goes live (8 worker start)102
StarCraft 2
General
MC vs IdrA, Boxer vs Nal_rA to be Legacy Matches @ BlizzCon Is the larve respawn broken? 5.0.16 Hotfix (June 30) - Balance + Bug Fixes 5.0.16 patch for SC2 goes live (8 worker start) Weekly Cups (June 29-July 5): Solar Doubles
Tourneys
HomeStory Cup 29 GSL CK #5 Race War RSL Revival: Season 6 - Qualifiers and Main Event Vespene Cup #1 — $300+ USD, July 10 Douyu Cup 2026: $20,000 Legends Event (June 26-28)
Strategy
[G] Having the right mentality to improve
Custom Maps
New Map Maker - Looking for Advice - Love or Hate Work In Progress Melee Maps [D]RTS in all its shapes and glory <3
External Content
Mutation # 533 Die Together The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 532 Nuclear Family Mutation # 531 Experimental Artillery
Brood War
General
Snow On New ASL S22 Map, Zerg Nerf BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ ASL 22 Proposed Map Pool BW General Discussion First season(s) of tastosis gomtv gsl vods?
Tourneys
CSLAN 4 is Coming! Escore Tournament StarCraft Season 2 The Casual Games of the Week Thread [Megathread] Daily Proleagues
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Creating a full chart of Zerg builds Relatively freeroll strategies Why doesn't anyone use restoration?
Other Games
General Games
Nintendo Switch Thread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Dawn of War IV Summer Games Done Quick 2026! ZeroSpace at Steam NextFest - Last free demo
Dota 2
Looking for a Dota Mentor Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug
TL Mafia
NeO.D_StephenKing vs This Guy From 1 Million Dance TL Mafia Community Thread TL Mafia Power Rank Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
UK Politics Mega-thread US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread YouTube Thread Canadian Politics Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
The HerO Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread Movie Discussion! Series you have seen recently... [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books [TV/BOOK] *SPOILERS* Game of Thrones Discussion
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion McBoner: A hockey love story TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 Cricket [SPORT]
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
FPS when play League Of Legend on laptop How to clean a TTe Thermaltake keyboard? Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Major Shifts in the Gaming I…
TrAiDoS
An Exploration of th…
waywardstrategy
I'm an arrogant trash talke…
FlaShFTW
Gauntlet SC2: A Retrospectiv…
Ctone23
ramps on octagon
StaticNine
Funny Nicknames
LUCKY_NOOB
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 5270 users

Supply Generator Build Time Equivalency?

Forum Index > SC2 General
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
Less_Du_Et
Profile Joined August 2014
United States18 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-08-03 06:51:04
August 03 2020 06:38 GMT
#1
Simple Question -

Why does a pylon and an overlord have a build time of 18 seconds while the supply depot has a build time of 21 seconds?

This difference amounts to a lot of build time over a course of any game.
Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.
MockHamill
Profile Joined March 2010
Sweden1798 Posts
August 03 2020 07:15 GMT
#2
On August 03 2020 15:38 Less_Du_Et wrote:
Simple Question -

Why does a pylon and an overlord have a build time of 18 seconds while the supply depot has a build time of 21 seconds?

This difference amounts to a lot of build time over a course of any game.


Terran players are on average 21/18=16.7% more skilled compared to Zerg and Protoss players.
So Blizzard compensated for this fact by increasing the supply build time for Terran by 16.7%.
I can not find the source right now, but this is the explanation that makes the most sense.
krlwlzn
Profile Joined July 2016
118 Posts
August 03 2020 07:25 GMT
#3
Why are overlords a unit which can fly, whereas the supply depot and the pylon are buildings that can't even move?
Zoar
Profile Joined February 2013
United States39 Posts
August 03 2020 07:32 GMT
#4
Hatcheries provide 6(was 2) supply, nexii 15(was 11) supply, and command centers 15(was 11) supply.
that may have something to do with it
SpaceBoar
Profile Joined November 2019
52 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-08-03 08:48:04
August 03 2020 07:52 GMT
#5
It's called asymmetric RTS design.
Serral | soO | HeroMarine | SpeCial
Acrofales
Profile Joined August 2010
Spain18355 Posts
August 03 2020 07:52 GMT
#6
Why do zerglings have a build time of 17 seconds, marines of 18 and zealots 27?
dbRic1203
Profile Joined July 2019
Germany2655 Posts
August 03 2020 08:33 GMT
#7
Why can Terrans Build their Buildings everywhere, while Zergs need Creep and Protoss need an Energy Field?
MaxPax
Perfi2_0
Profile Joined July 2015
Poland40 Posts
August 03 2020 08:49 GMT
#8
Why do Protoss have sOs and Parting, while Zergs and Terrans don't?
Imbalance is an opinion.
Drfilip
Profile Joined March 2013
Sweden592 Posts
August 03 2020 09:44 GMT
#9
On August 03 2020 15:38 Less_Du_Et wrote:
Simple Question -

Why does a pylon and an overlord have a build time of 18 seconds while the supply depot has a build time of 21 seconds?

This difference amounts to a lot of build time over a course of any game.

One old thing (iirc) was that quick barracks cheeses were deemed too strong, so the supply depot got nerfed build time to compensate. There has been no reason to revert that change and strengthen proxy rax again.


Going by the trend of this thread:
Why does zerg lose their worker when building, terran has its worker occupied, but protoss just needs to touch the location and then go about their business?
Random Platinum EU
[PkF] Wire
Profile Joined March 2013
France24239 Posts
August 03 2020 09:56 GMT
#10
On August 03 2020 18:44 Drfilip wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 03 2020 15:38 Less_Du_Et wrote:
Simple Question -

Why does a pylon and an overlord have a build time of 18 seconds while the supply depot has a build time of 21 seconds?

This difference amounts to a lot of build time over a course of any game.

Going by the trend of this thread:
Why does zerg lose their worker when building, terran has its worker occupied, but protoss just needs to touch the location and then go about their business?

I don't have the answer to that topical question but this is precisely the reason why I chose to main Protoss when I picked up the game ^^
BisuDagger
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
Bisutopia19368 Posts
August 03 2020 09:59 GMT
#11
On August 03 2020 16:25 krlwlzn wrote:
Why are overlords a unit which can fly, whereas the supply depot and the pylon are buildings that can't even move?

Supply depots can move, they have burrow. Be more upset that burrowed Terran things doesn't mean invisible.
ModeratorFormer Afreeca Starleague Caster: http://afreeca.tv/ASL2ENG2
Drfilip
Profile Joined March 2013
Sweden592 Posts
August 03 2020 10:25 GMT
#12
On August 03 2020 18:59 BisuDagger wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 03 2020 16:25 krlwlzn wrote:
Why are overlords a unit which can fly, whereas the supply depot and the pylon are buildings that can't even move?

Supply depots can move, they have burrow. Be more upset that burrowed Terran things doesn't mean invisible.

Mines are invisible, kinda... You are right! Burrowed Zerg means invisible Zerg, but burrowed Terran is not always invisible.
Random Platinum EU
dbRic1203
Profile Joined July 2019
Germany2655 Posts
August 03 2020 10:29 GMT
#13
And Protoss can t even burrow at all
MaxPax
BisuDagger
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
Bisutopia19368 Posts
August 03 2020 11:19 GMT
#14
On August 03 2020 19:29 dbRic1203 wrote:
And Protoss can t even burrow at all

No, they just start invisible without burrowing and it costs zero energy.
ModeratorFormer Afreeca Starleague Caster: http://afreeca.tv/ASL2ENG2
ejozl
Profile Joined October 2010
Denmark3510 Posts
August 03 2020 11:24 GMT
#15
Why does Greater Spire cost 300/350, Fleet Beacon 300/200 and Fusion Core only 150/150?
SC2 Archon needs "Terrible, terrible damage" as one of it's quotes.
dbRic1203
Profile Joined July 2019
Germany2655 Posts
August 03 2020 11:34 GMT
#16
Why can the Z Capital Ship not shoot up?
Why has T no mele unit?
Why do all P Tech Buildings require are cyber core, while T can built a factory straight after the barracks?
Why has P so many AoE options?
MaxPax
Waxangel
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
United States33650 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-08-03 12:36:07
August 03 2020 12:33 GMT
#17
If I had to guess, Pylon is slightly faster because it's a prerequisite to buiding a gateway, whereas you could originally build barracks before supply depots. Although, I don't know why that makes Overlord build time shorter as well (OL and Supply depot are equal build times in BW, while pylon is slightly faster).
AdministratorHey HP can you redo everything youve ever done because i have a small complaint?
loppy2345
Profile Joined August 2015
39 Posts
August 03 2020 13:05 GMT
#18
Probably because originally in WoL, barrack rushes were really strong, and this was done to delay it. If build time was reduced, it probably won't change balance, but would cause so much outrage in community that Blizzard would not dare to do it.
BisuDagger
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
Bisutopia19368 Posts
August 03 2020 13:11 GMT
#19
On August 03 2020 21:33 Waxangel wrote:
If I had to guess, Pylon is slightly faster because it's a prerequisite to buiding a gateway, whereas you could originally build barracks before supply depots. Although, I don't know why that makes Overlord build time shorter as well (OL and Supply depot are equal build times in BW, while pylon is slightly faster).

You would be supply blocked for too long at the start of the game if Overlord production was long. Also since it floats around like a balloon, it is a prime target for sniping by air units. So you need to remake them super fast. Overlords are also pretty essential for detection. Overlords are the most vulnerable unit, but pylons are probably more essential depending on what they power. Meanwhile, supply depots are just the picket fence for the jolly Terran people taking it easy behind their tanks and tending to their rose gardens.
ModeratorFormer Afreeca Starleague Caster: http://afreeca.tv/ASL2ENG2
greenturtle23
Profile Joined August 2019
86 Posts
August 03 2020 13:18 GMT
#20
Why does the 1 supply marine mineral only marine, shoot air and ground while the 2 supply roach which costs gas can only shoot ground?
1 2 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
PiGosaur Cup
00:00
#89
PiGStarcraft767
CranKy Ducklings109
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
PiGStarcraft767
ProTech146
Nina 132
RuFF_SC2 112
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 33061
GuemChi 2812
Rain 2800
Artosis 541
Mind 72
Aegong 70
NaDa 44
Noble 28
Bale 18
Dota 2
LuMiX0
League of Legends
Doublelift3802
JimRising 796
Counter-Strike
summit1g9020
m0e_tv411
taco 272
Super Smash Bros
hungrybox1396
C9.Mang0657
Mew2King198
Other Games
ViBE213
Maynarde147
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick32292
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
[ Show 17 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• CranKy Ducklings SOOP153
• Hupsaiya 76
• EnkiAlexander 73
• practicex 9
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Jankos861
• Stunt201
Other Games
• Scarra836
Upcoming Events
The PondCast
6h 34m
Replay Cast
1d 5h
CrankTV Team League
1d 7h
OSC
1d 13h
Replay Cast
1d 20h
Replay Cast
2 days
CrankTV Team League
2 days
OSC
2 days
Replay Cast
2 days
RSL Revival
3 days
Serral vs Bunny
ByuN vs GgMaChine
[ Show More ]
CranKy Ducklings
3 days
Afreeca Starleague
3 days
Snow vs Jaedong
YSC vs hero
RSL Revival
4 days
Solar vs Rogue
Maru vs NightMare
Sparkling Tuna Cup
4 days
GSL
5 days
Replay Cast
5 days
WardiTV Weekly
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

CSL Season 21: Qualifier 2
HSC XXIX
Eternal Conflict S2 E1

Ongoing

IPSL Spring 2026
Acropolis #4
YSL S3
CSL 2026 Summer (S21)
SCTL 2026 Spring
XSE Pro League 2026
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S3: W2
ASL Season 22: Wild Card Qualifier
CSLAN 4
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
SC4ALL II: StarCraft II
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
RSL Revival: Season 6
CranK Gathers Season 4: BW vs SC2 Team League
Light Tournament 2026
Eternal Conflict S2 Finale
Eternal Conflict S2 E3
Eternal Conflict S2 E2
Heroes Pulsing #3
Logitech G Connect 2026
StarSeries Fall 2026
FISSURE Playground #5
BLAST Open Fall 2026
Esports World Cup 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3
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.