• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EST 23:45
CET 05:45
KST 13:45
  • 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
Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book15Clem wins HomeStory Cup 289HomeStory Cup 28 - Info & Preview13Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info8herO wins SC2 All-Star Invitational14
Community News
LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals (Feb 10-16)5Weekly Cups (Feb 2-8): Classic, Solar, MaxPax win2Nexon's StarCraft game could be FPS, led by UMS maker7PIG STY FESTIVAL 7.0! (19 Feb - 1 Mar)11Weekly Cups (Jan 26-Feb 1): herO, Clem, ByuN, Classic win2
StarCraft 2
General
Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book Weekly Cups (Jan 12-18): herO, MaxPax, Solar win How do you think the 5.0.15 balance patch (Oct 2025) for StarCraft II has affected the game? Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info Nexon's StarCraft game could be FPS, led by UMS maker
Tourneys
LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals (Feb 10-16) Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament PIG STY FESTIVAL 7.0! (19 Feb - 1 Mar) RSL Season 4 announced for March-April WardiTV Mondays
Strategy
Custom Maps
Modalert 200 for Focus and Alertness Map Editor closed ? [A] Starcraft Sound Mod
External Content
Mutation # 512 Overclocked The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 511 Temple of Rebirth Mutation # 510 Safety Violation
Brood War
General
ACS replaced by "ASL Season Open" - Starts 21/02 [ASL21] Potential Map Candidates BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ BW General Discussion StarCraft player reflex TE scores
Tourneys
Escore Tournament StarCraft Season 1 [Megathread] Daily Proleagues Small VOD Thread 2.0 KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Strategy
Fighting Spirit mining rates Zealot bombing is no longer popular? Simple Questions, Simple Answers Current Meta
Other Games
General Games
Diablo 2 thread Battle Aces/David Kim RTS Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread ZeroSpace Megathread EVE Corporation
Dota 2
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 Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas Vanilla Mini Mafia TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Ask and answer stupid questions here! Sex and weight loss YouTube Thread
Fan Clubs
The herO Fan Club! The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread [Manga] One Piece
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Play, Watch, Drink: Esports …
TrAiDoS
My 2025 Magic: The Gathering…
DARKING
Life Update and thoughts.
FuDDx
How do archons sleep?
8882
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 2110 users

D Protoss Macro Secrets

Forum Index > Brood War Strategy
Post a Reply
1 2 3 Next All
ThePsiTooz
Profile Joined November 2009
New Zealand27 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-12-06 07:22:38
December 06 2009 06:08 GMT
#1
Hi, Im a D protoss, i havnt been playing starcraft that much and im not that good at it.

I recently played against a D+ zerg on destination, heres the rep
http://www.repdepot.net/replay.php?id=25810

I thought i was doing really well, having around 5 control groups of units, but when i engaged my units got completely melted.
I think it may be because i had really bad unit placement near the start, and therefore VERY delayed tech because i couldnt place my gate at my nat -_-.
I also didnt expand much, going to my mineral only and not my third gas base, i didnt put down many gates either and wasnt doing any harassment(i sent out DTs, but they got owned by hydras).

What do i need to improve to win? Should i focus more on my macro and definitely get better building placements?

Thanks


Mod Edit: I changed the title of this thread from [H] how did i lose to this? desti pvz
Once you go grack, you never go back.
Funnytoss
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
Taiwan1471 Posts
December 06 2009 06:35 GMT
#2
First of all, try not to lose your scouting probe so quickly. He only made 2 lings... also, your build was just really inefficient. Generally, there's no point in getting your gas before your Gateway, since there's no way to spend it until you get a Core anyway. So yeah, better building placement would've helped you.

Also, if you're not going Sair/Reaver or dual Stargates, you definitely need to get your Citadel up a lot faster than that. Basically, you've got to work on your build orders for sure. As a result of your inefficient build your Corsair was out *really* late - if he'd gone 3 hatch Muta or something then you would've died right there.

You're getting a fair amount of Corsairs (that is to say, investing quite a bit in terms of resources) but you're getting them picked off - keep them together, since once you get 6+ you don't have to worry about scourge very much.

Constant probe production...

At 11:30, he has more supply than you. That should almost *never* ever happen.

Basically, you're letting him build up with no pressure from you at all. If you do let him build up, then you'd better storm like crazy... but you allowed his Mutas to snipe quite a few HTs and you probably could've tossed another 5-6 storms in that large clash.

So yeah, definitely work on building placement and build orders, because you were already behind by the time you guys clashed for the first time. Micro could have been better but really your problem was with macro and inefficient build.
AIV_Funnytoss and sGs.Funnytoss on iCCup
Monstah-_-
Profile Blog Joined September 2009
249 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-12-06 06:35:46
December 06 2009 06:35 GMT
#3
He out macroed you hard.
you live in the woods and drink vodka
knyttym
Profile Blog Joined December 2006
United States5797 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-12-06 06:41:35
December 06 2009 06:40 GMT
#4
Looked through the replay and two major fixes are required before looking at late game problems.

First is your build order isn't correct.

Second your probe saturation is crap. 12 probes on each mineral line is about equivalent to a one base income. Learn to 0p9p. Once you do that you will see you have tons of stockpiled minerals that can be put towards more gateways, units, and expansions.
In this game he just sat on his 3 gas vs your undersaturated two bases and a-moved against your tiny army.

Once you fix those then you can start looking at your 3rd base timing and late game problems more.

edit: If you want a single thing to work on in your next dozen games, it's 0p9p.
Hot_Bid
Profile Blog Joined October 2003
Braavos36390 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-12-06 07:15:40
December 06 2009 07:13 GMT
#5
Here is how to macro with Protoss past D+ level:

For 4-5 games, try to focus on only building probes and not getting stuck at supply for a game or two. That means neglect micro and other stuff and just make sure that your two or three nexus lights never stop blinking. If you lose, you lose. Watch the replays and select each nexus, did it ever stop blinking? If so, keep practicing building probes and pylons.

Once your nexus' lights never go off for two bases, then work on gateways the same way. It becomes much harder to not get stuck at supply while doing this, but try. Do this for as many games as necessary to keep the nexus lights on AND keep your gates going. You will feel like you are spending all your attention and APM just building probes, units, and buildings. This is fine. Keep doing it, over and over and over and over and over.

If you find that you can't do this against an opponent because you just lose, do it against the computer. As many games as it takes to make 0p9p second nature and whatever gateway macro method you use completely instinctual. Once your nexus light never stops and your gates hum smoothly, you can stop playing the computer and start learning how to control your army between macro sweeps.

You don't even need to be good at micro. Once you learn to macro, you likely can automatically get to C- just by macroing and then a-moving. Sometimes, you'll have 2k/1k and still have a ton of more stuff than your opponent. This is called "outmacroing someone" and is really enjoyable and rewarding.

Enjoy your C rank.
@Hot_Bid on Twitter - ESPORTS life since 2010 - http://i.imgur.com/U2psw.png
Hot_Bid
Profile Blog Joined October 2003
Braavos36390 Posts
December 06 2009 07:19 GMT
#6
Now that I have taught 90% of D Protoss players how to macro, I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Hot_Bid.
@Hot_Bid on Twitter - ESPORTS life since 2010 - http://i.imgur.com/U2psw.png
lac29
Profile Blog Joined December 2008
United States1485 Posts
December 06 2009 07:55 GMT
#7
Haha ... oh Hot_Bid ... nice guide =).
HyKe
Profile Joined November 2009
Canada13 Posts
December 06 2009 08:56 GMT
#8
I think that's super good advice; I was having problems with my pvz(and, I suppose, all of my matchups in retrospect), when I analyzed my replays I realised my probe production fell behind hard midgame and my pylon timing was awful. So I worked on just probes and gate macro and pylons, never letting myself get stuck for psi, and i've already made a marked improvement. I'm gonna continue to work on this, cause it's not perfect yet, but it's actually a really rewarding feeling, you can seriously feel yourself getting better, faster and more on top of the game. A great way to learn the basics or(like me) chip the rust away after a few years off.

Thanks Hot_Bid!
Corruption of the youth, Annihilation of the rest
lazz
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
Australia3119 Posts
December 06 2009 10:20 GMT
#9
knowing when to and when not to build probes is the hardest part about protoss macro
Hot_Bid
Profile Blog Joined October 2003
Braavos36390 Posts
December 06 2009 10:46 GMT
#10
On December 06 2009 19:20 lazz wrote:
knowing when to and when not to build probes is the hardest part about protoss macro

this is not important at D level. knowing where skipping probes at certain build timings is important at higher ranks, but a lower level player shouldn't worry about this, because they already have enough trouble just keeping constant probe production

thus, my advice to you and to the people reading this thread is just make as many probes as you can
@Hot_Bid on Twitter - ESPORTS life since 2010 - http://i.imgur.com/U2psw.png
ThePsiTooz
Profile Joined November 2009
New Zealand27 Posts
December 06 2009 11:54 GMT
#11
Ah i see, i thought my probe saturation was non-existant when i briefly saw my mineral line during the game. I will definitely practice my build orders and macro. thanks for all the tips guys :D
Once you go grack, you never go back.
3clipse
Profile Blog Joined September 2008
Canada2555 Posts
December 06 2009 12:30 GMT
#12
On December 06 2009 19:20 lazz wrote:
knowing when to and when not to build probes is the hardest part about protoss macro

Oh god, this is what gets me when I play zerg. I'm not used to having to choose between workers and combat units and my proportions/timings of production of each are probably way off, killing my macro.
ItsPaul
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Australia177 Posts
December 06 2009 12:43 GMT
#13
I can't tell if this entire thread is sarcastic or not
MasterReY
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
Germany2708 Posts
December 06 2009 13:12 GMT
#14
On December 06 2009 16:13 Hot_Bid wrote:
Here is how to macro with Protoss past D+ level:

For 4-5 games, try to focus on only building probes and not getting stuck at supply for a game or two. That means neglect micro and other stuff and just make sure that your two or three nexus lights never stop blinking. If you lose, you lose. Watch the replays and select each nexus, did it ever stop blinking? If so, keep practicing building probes and pylons.

Once your nexus' lights never go off for two bases, then work on gateways the same way. It becomes much harder to not get stuck at supply while doing this, but try. Do this for as many games as necessary to keep the nexus lights on AND keep your gates going. You will feel like you are spending all your attention and APM just building probes, units, and buildings. This is fine. Keep doing it, over and over and over and over and over.

If you find that you can't do this against an opponent because you just lose, do it against the computer. As many games as it takes to make 0p9p second nature and whatever gateway macro method you use completely instinctual. Once your nexus light never stops and your gates hum smoothly, you can stop playing the computer and start learning how to control your army between macro sweeps.

You don't even need to be good at micro. Once you learn to macro, you likely can automatically get to C- just by macroing and then a-moving. Sometimes, you'll have 2k/1k and still have a ton of more stuff than your opponent. This is called "outmacroing someone" and is really enjoyable and rewarding.

Enjoy your C rank.


What Hot_bid says here is 100% correct !!!
I cant stress it enough either: make probes and units all the time.

If you're building probes and units all the time non-stop you can reach C+ in 2 weeks.
I know it sounds weird and unbelievable to many beginners but if you macro like that almost perfectly, then you dont even need micro @ D lvl. Even if he kills more units then you do every fight and ur loosing alot more units then you feel you should lose, you will win anyway because you make like 3 times more units and you can just 1a2a3a ur way to win with proper macro.
https://www.twitch.tv/MasterReY/ ~ Biggest Reach fan on TL.net (Don't even dare to mention LR now) ~ R.I.P Violet ~ Developer of SCRChart
TL+ Member
win8282
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
Korea (South)454 Posts
December 06 2009 13:28 GMT
#15
On December 06 2009 16:13 Hot_Bid wrote:
Here is how to macro with Protoss past D+ level:

For 4-5 games, try to focus on only building probes and not getting stuck at supply for a game or two. That means neglect micro and other stuff and just make sure that your two or three nexus lights never stop blinking. If you lose, you lose. Watch the replays and select each nexus, did it ever stop blinking? If so, keep practicing building probes and pylons.

Once your nexus' lights never go off for two bases, then work on gateways the same way. It becomes much harder to not get stuck at supply while doing this, but try. Do this for as many games as necessary to keep the nexus lights on AND keep your gates going. You will feel like you are spending all your attention and APM just building probes, units, and buildings. This is fine. Keep doing it, over and over and over and over and over.

If you find that you can't do this against an opponent because you just lose, do it against the computer. As many games as it takes to make 0p9p second nature and whatever gateway macro method you use completely instinctual. Once your nexus light never stops and your gates hum smoothly, you can stop playing the computer and start learning how to control your army between macro sweeps.

You don't even need to be good at micro. Once you learn to macro, you likely can automatically get to C- just by macroing and then a-moving. Sometimes, you'll have 2k/1k and still have a ton of more stuff than your opponent. This is called "outmacroing someone" and is really enjoyable and rewarding.

Enjoy your C rank.


Great guide hot_bid...
but playing korean hours, I doubt one can get out of D+ with just this...
gamecrazy
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
United States421 Posts
December 06 2009 18:02 GMT
#16
On December 06 2009 16:13 Hot_Bid wrote:
Here is how to macro with Protoss past D+ level:

For 4-5 games, try to focus on only building probes and not getting stuck at supply for a game or two. That means neglect micro and other stuff and just make sure that your two or three nexus lights never stop blinking. If you lose, you lose. Watch the replays and select each nexus, did it ever stop blinking? If so, keep practicing building probes and pylons.

Once your nexus' lights never go off for two bases, then work on gateways the same way. It becomes much harder to not get stuck at supply while doing this, but try. Do this for as many games as necessary to keep the nexus lights on AND keep your gates going. You will feel like you are spending all your attention and APM just building probes, units, and buildings. This is fine. Keep doing it, over and over and over and over and over.

If you find that you can't do this against an opponent because you just lose, do it against the computer. As many games as it takes to make 0p9p second nature and whatever gateway macro method you use completely instinctual. Once your nexus light never stops and your gates hum smoothly, you can stop playing the computer and start learning how to control your army between macro sweeps.

You don't even need to be good at micro. Once you learn to macro, you likely can automatically get to C- just by macroing and then a-moving. Sometimes, you'll have 2k/1k and still have a ton of more stuff than your opponent. This is called "outmacroing someone" and is really enjoyable and rewarding.

Enjoy your C rank.


Does Hot_Bid's advice still apply to D/D+ Terran macro? When I play Terran, if I don't at least siege and mine up in TvP, or stim before engaging Zerg in TvZ, I'd get owned. Can I afford to solely macro if I play Terran at the D level?
IntoTheWow
Profile Blog Joined May 2004
is awesome32277 Posts
December 06 2009 18:07 GMT
#17
No with T you need to baby sit your army a lot. An army of 12 tanks and 24 vults unsieged and unmined will die easily to a protoss army of equal force.
Moderator<:3-/-<
SkytoM
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
Austria1137 Posts
December 06 2009 18:49 GMT
#18
On December 06 2009 19:46 Hot_Bid wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 06 2009 19:20 lazz wrote:
knowing when to and when not to build probes is the hardest part about protoss macro

this is not important at D level. knowing where skipping probes at certain build timings is important at higher ranks, but a lower level player shouldn't worry about this, because they already have enough trouble just keeping constant probe production

thus, my advice to you and to the people reading this thread is just make as many probes as you can


but after 10min into the game, you would have far too much probes, don't i?
Bisu... ;-(
gamecrazy
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
United States421 Posts
December 06 2009 18:52 GMT
#19
On December 07 2009 03:07 IntoTheWow wrote:
No with T you need to baby sit your army a lot. An army of 12 tanks and 24 vults unsieged and unmined will die easily to a protoss army of equal force.


D Terran's woes...

On the other hand, I watched the replay. Easily your biggest problem is just not producing enough workers. I see you hotkeyed your nexus's to 0 and 9, but you didn't use that to help you build more workers. I'd suggest practicing macro either against a comp, or making a LAN game and dumping your computer opponent, so you can just practice building units by yourself.
stoned_rabbit
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
United States324 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-12-06 19:05:43
December 06 2009 19:04 GMT
#20
As an alternative to 0 and 9 for nexus'(nexii?), try using screen hotkeys (f2,f3,f4) for your bases. Lets you switch between them to respond to harassment much easier, also helps especially in pvz because you frequently have to build buildings in different bases to defend from harassment (lategame pvz always try to have a gateway and a robo at each mining expansion.) Plus this lets you keep your hand on the left side of the keyboard for pretty much everything except for building probes (gotta hop to p). But yeah, then use 5-0 for gateways and get really good at going 5d6d7d8d9d0d or 5z6z7z8z9z0z. It's kind of a stretch but its really handy because you can at least have partial macro cycles while never having your eyes off the battle. When you have a shit-ton of gateways (late game pvt) expand this idea to having 6 centered at one cluster of gateways, 7 at another, 8 at another. That way you can double hit 6 run a round of gateways, double hit 7 run a round of gateways, etc etc (you can also use alt+6). Once you get good at macro you'll have 200 apm and people will be like "wahh" and start making threads about why'd they lose to you. Then you just have to figure out expansion timings and micro and you'll be gosu.
1 2 3 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Replay Cast
00:00
HomeStory Cup 28 - Group A
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
RuFF_SC2 283
NeuroSwarm 163
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 16886
Shuttle 1927
Leta 219
GoRush 53
Noble 26
Icarus 9
League of Legends
JimRising 865
Counter-Strike
tarik_tv4123
taco 667
m0e_tv383
Super Smash Bros
hungrybox498
Mew2King101
Other Games
summit1g5851
C9.Mang0367
Maynarde92
ViBE67
PiLiPiLi10
Liquid`Ken6
minikerr4
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick1331
StarCraft: Brood War
UltimateBattle 68
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 13 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Hupsaiya 92
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Lourlo821
• Stunt508
Upcoming Events
The PondCast
5h 15m
KCM Race Survival
5h 15m
LiuLi Cup
6h 15m
Scarlett vs TriGGeR
ByuN vs herO
Replay Cast
19h 15m
Online Event
1d 5h
LiuLi Cup
1d 6h
Serral vs Zoun
Cure vs Classic
Big Brain Bouts
1d 12h
Serral vs TBD
RSL Revival
1d 22h
RSL Revival
2 days
LiuLi Cup
2 days
[ Show More ]
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
2 days
RSL Revival
2 days
Replay Cast
2 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
3 days
LiuLi Cup
3 days
Replay Cast
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
LiuLi Cup
4 days
Wardi Open
4 days
Monday Night Weeklies
4 days
OSC
4 days
WardiTV Winter Champion…
5 days
Replay Cast
6 days
WardiTV Winter Champion…
6 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-02-10
Rongyi Cup S3
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals
Nations Cup 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual
eXTREMESLAND 2025
SL Budapest Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 8

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S1: W8
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Bellum Gens Elite Stara Zagora 2026
RSL Revival: Season 4
WardiTV Winter 2026
CCT Season 3 Global Finals
FISSURE Playground #3
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League Season 23
ESL Pro League Season 23
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
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.