Who's the greatest Protoss player of all-time in terms of SC2?

This sort of gets overlooked because Terrans and Zergs have been far more successful. For example, there's no Protoss player AFAIK who's accomplished close to what Maru or Rogue have done.

It seems like there are a bunch of players you could make a case for depending on what criteria you give more importance to:

Stats
Trap
Parting
Zest
MC
Classic
Rain
sOs
herO (not Liquid HerO)

StasisField

United States1086 Posts

June 21 2021 20:18 GMT

For me it's either Rain or Zest. Rain achieved consistently great results his entire career. He wasn't the flashiest player but he got the job done. Zest is a player marked by mind-bogglingly high high's and equally mind-bogglingly low low's. Protoss has looked its most oppressive in Zest's hands, and his level of domination during the first year of LotV (especially that year's first GSL) is something I don't think another Protoss player has achieved in SC2's history.

starvingbox

United States44 Posts

June 21 2021 20:40 GMT

Wow, it's actually somewhat surprising how much weaker this list is compared to Terran and Zerg.

Serimek

France2274 Posts

June 21 2021 20:43 GMT

Rain should have been the GOAT Protoss, but him not playing LotV at all weakens this statement.

Overall, Zest.

Linkinparktoss

16 Posts

June 21 2021 20:47 GMT

sOs, I will die on this hill! he has a bagpack brain and he is the only 2x WCS Champion!
He always felt the most "protoss" to me. And even after his primes he was still good for upsetting Maru 3:0 at WCS or just recently Ruining TYs Super tournament hopes.

Charoisaur

Germany15883 Posts

June 21 2021 20:50 GMT

Zest > sOs = Stats > Classic > herO = Rain > MC > PartinG > Trap = Dear

tennisl

United Kingdom44 Posts

June 21 2021 20:56 GMT

1.sOs
2. Stats
3. Classic
4. Zest
5. MC
the rest

Sprog

New Zealand83 Posts

June 21 2021 21:18 GMT

I think this could only ever be a list as it really depends on era.

Parting, Zest, MC, Stats, sOs, Classic, Neeb, Astrea, ShowTime, Probe.

Edit: KiwiKaKi, HUK, Trap

Serimek

France2274 Posts

June 21 2021 21:24 GMT

On June 22 2021 06:18 Sprog wrote:
I think this could only ever be a list as it really depends on era.

Parting, Zest, MC, Stats, sOs, Classic, Neeb, Astrea, ShowTime, Probe

Cheeky Probe.

Bagration

United States18282 Posts

June 21 2021 21:42 GMT

#10

MC - he is to Protoss in SC2 what Slayers Boxer was to Terran in BW

IMO, if there isn't a consensus great (which based on the comments doesn't seem to be one), then you go with the guy who did it first and paved the way

crbox

Canada1180 Posts

June 21 2021 21:55 GMT

#11

1 Trap - I don't know what defines his playstyle, just a great macro toss that can do anything and win with it.
2 Parting - Soul train innovator, aggressive, great micro, solid macro behind
3 Stats - Great defensive macro toss

Wildcard : Zest - Maxes out on gateway units and wins, but definitely can play macro games. Has his own style that works.
I guess you could argue Rain but it's been too long since I've seen his play. Maybe I'd place Rain first if my memory served me better.
MC is just too far ago, literally playing a different game. He was great for his time, but I think he would get destroyed by today's player, even given he would be at his best form hypothetically (unpopular opinion).

Shathe

Hungary422 Posts

June 21 2021 21:56 GMT

#12

Probably Zest, with so many wins and second places. Even though he wasn't dominant in the last few years.

AzAlexZ

Australia3303 Posts

June 21 2021 22:04 GMT

#13

It's hard to pick, the style of Protoss makes it so that they have a lot of great players, compared to the few candidates for Zerg and Terran (who admittedly have higher ceilings).

For me at least, I have to split them into 3 types: Definers, Jack of All Trades, and Polishers.
Definers: defined a style of Protoss that went on for as long as the game has;
Jack of All Trades: good at everything, but never the best at any point in time;
Polishers: took the mantle or improved upon the groundwork laid by the Definers.

The Definers:
MC: the one who defined the aggressive style of Protoss;
Rain: the one who defined the defensive style of Protoss;
sOs: the one who defined the strategical adaptability of Protoss.

The Jack of All Trades:
herO: great mind games, superb offense, defense not so great.
Classic: decent at mind games, good defense, and great offense.
Trap: look no further than Tastosis commentary, they literally call him the Jack of All trades Protoss

The Polishers:
PartinG: the guy who built upon MC's aggression with his 'soul'
Zest: the guy who refined Rain's playstyle while adding his own risk factor.
Stats: the guy that took up Rain's Mantle after Rain retired.

Honorable mention to Neeb as the one who changed LOTV PvP

followZeRoX

Serbia1449 Posts

June 21 2021 23:36 GMT

#14

Stats

Rubicant1

115 Posts

June 22 2021 00:00 GMT

#15

Hmm, any combo of Rain, Zest or Stats works for me, personally.

Xain0n

Italy3963 Posts

June 22 2021 00:23 GMT

#16

That's a very hard question.

Probably still MC, he literally was Protoss in early WoL and remained competitive for years racking up victories and placements; if not him, Zest.

Stats would have been the best if he were capable of winning one of the three World championship finals he played just as sOs, if he could win a Code S; I also think Rain would have been if he played LoTV instead of BW.
Trap still has approximately one year(I guess) to secure the title but he would need at least a couple of heavy titles to do so.

RogerChillingworth

2827 Posts

June 22 2021 06:29 GMT

#17

I think Stats is the most solid.