• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 09:22
CEST 15:22
KST 22:22
  • 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] Ro8 Preview: Within Reach5[ASL22] Ro8 Preview: In A Tizzy11[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Holy Diver5[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Rough Waters10[ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Siren's Call8
Community News
SC4ALL: II SC2 Complete Invited Player Lineup6StarCraft II 5.0.17 PTR Patch Notes (Sept 30, 2026)67Weekly Cups (Sept 21-27): herO and ByuN double2Weekly Cups (Sep 13-20): herO scores triple3BSL Season 2316
StarCraft 2
General
SC4ALL: II SC2 Complete Invited Player Lineup StarCraft II 5.0.17 PTR Patch Notes (Sept 30, 2026) Back to SC2 after 14 years - Protoss CTRL groups? How do you feel about the mass reverts in the 5.0.17 PTR? October World Ranking: herO stays #1, ByuN returns
Tourneys
Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament Stellar Fest TWO the Moon (Dec 16-20) 2026 GSTL Grand Finals Sea Duckling Open (Global, Bronze-Diamond) SC2 INu's Battles#21 [ 3-Days tournament ]
Strategy
[H] ZvP Mid-Late Game: Stalkers Collossi HT
Custom Maps
[M] (2) Sweltering Sands [M] (2) Frigid Storage
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 545 And Drops and Rifts Mutation # 544 Double Trouble Mutation # 543 Enhanced Defenses
Brood War
General
Fantasy returning? BW General Discussion Bot on ladder Sagi.gg Launcher Released BSL Season 23
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues [ASL22] Ro8 Day 4 2v2v2v2 Tournament [ASL22] Ro8 Day 3
Strategy
Cliff Jump Revisited (1 in a 1000 strategy) Replay Review Process - What do you do? Simple Questions, Simple Answers Odyssey Mineral Stack Saturation
Other Games
General Games
Nintendo Switch Thread General RTS Discussion Thread Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Total Annihilation Zero
Dota 2
Dota 2 Champions League Season 3 Begins April 25! Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
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 Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Canadian Politics Mega-thread Artificial Intelligence Thread
Fan Clubs
Serral Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece Diablo Animated Series on Netflix
Sports
Football (Soccer) Thread MLB/Baseball 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
Recent Gifted Posts
Blogs
[ASL22] Ro4 Day1 Ticket Giv…
bITt.mAN
Escaping Into Video Games: G…
TrAiDoS
38 yo Retired SWE loo…
PurE)Rabbit-SF
Can Bots Beat Pros?? Starcr…
namkraft
[meme] I finally understa…
LUCKY_NOOB
Regacy Esports:Our Goa…
regacyesports
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 9078 users

TvP marine/banshee/raven defensive-style build

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
Post a Reply
Azzur
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
Australia6267 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-12-07 18:47:53
December 07 2010 18:46 GMT
#1
The marine/banshee/raven is a well-known build with several variations where most of them aim for a strong attack off 2-bases. The motivation for this TvP build is a multi-purpose, flexible build that allows for a strong endgame army (viking/banshee/BC/marine/raven) without relying on the timing push. This build is mainly reactive and defensive, which may appeal to your playstyle. Banshees are used as harass options in the middlegame and endgame. I believe this build can handle any protoss response which thus makes it useful for laddering. So far, this build has served me well at the 2200 diamond level.

Opening
+ Show Spoiler +
- 10 supply (at choke), 12 rax (near CC), 13 gas, 15 OC, 16 supply
- marines + scvs constantly
- 2nd gas
- factory
- reactor on rax when you have 2-3 marines
- bunker
- starport after factory
- techlab on factory to swap with starport
- bunker
- raven
- cloak
- banshee

Notes:
- The rax-reactor which allows for production of sufficent marines to handle early attacks using 2 bunkers at the choke. 1 bunker is definitely needed but the 2nd can be avoided if your scouting is good.
- The 2nd gas before factory leads to 200 gas right as the starport finishes (sufficient for the raven).
- If the protoss expands, the terran should interrupt the build and immediately throw down a CC in response and then resume as normal.
- The "half-wall" helps negate early pressure while not being vulnerable to a wallin harass (e.g. by stalkers or VRs). This is done by placing the first supply at the choke but the rax near the CC. The supply allows for a quick emergency wallin while having the rax back means that it is not vulnerable to harass.


Midgame
+ Show Spoiler +
- I usually harass at 2 banshees.
- If you feel reasonably safe, expand then build the 2nd starport. If not, build the starport first.
- Add a couple of bunkers at your natural and place your army there.
- Add more starports (4-5).
- Build armory for upgrades.
- Army composition is marine/banshee/raven.
- Harass as much as possible with banshees. If they get phoenixes, build vikings in response and be conservative with your harass. If your airforce is caught by the phoenixes, run your banshees and let your vikings engage (and thus die) to buy time for the banshees to get away.
- If they are phoenix-heavy, don't be afraid to keep your banshees with your main army (i.e don't harass) and instead just try and get expansions.


Endgame
+ Show Spoiler +
- Build a fusion core.
- Army composition is viking/banshee/BC/marine/raven.
- Keep expanding using PFs and add more starports as money allows.
- Position your army in a good location with the ability to defend expansions. Ideally, you want them to engage you while you are in a strong defensive position. Bring some SCVs for auto-repair.
- The protoss has no hard-counter to BCs and they perform reasonably against HTs/stalkers.
- Don't forget to keep upgrading air.


Some protoss responses
+ Show Spoiler +
2-gate robo
- Scout their expansion timing and pop down a CC if they do it early.
- If they play defensively, try and get your expand down first and out-econ them.

4-gate
- Be extremely defensive and don't be afraid to keep your banshees at home for defence.
- When you've held their attack, you can expand instead of trying to press home the win.

1-gate FE
- Interrupt your opening and build a CC straight away. They will probably be on the defensive, so bring your banshees to harass as soon as possible.
- I generally don't try to go for a timing attack.

3-gate 1-star
- Once you see the VRs, make vikings in response and stick on the defensive. I try and expand first before going on the attack.
- I would stick to marines/vikings and not get turrets.

2-star
- The defence for this is simlar to the 3-gate 1-star build (I would also not get turrets).

3-gate (or 4-gate) blink stalkers
- The double bunker should be able to protect you. However, it is likely that you'll need to pull SCVs to defend against this.

Zealot/phoenix
- This build can be difficult to handle and probably soft-counters this build.
- You need to stay on the defensive and pump vikings in response.


Replays
+ Show Spoiler +

http://sc2.replayers.com/replays/view/5212
http://sc2.replayers.com/replays/view/5201
http://sc2.replayers.com/replays/view/5200
http://sc2.replayers.com/replays/view/5199

Black Gun
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
Germany4482 Posts
December 07 2010 18:53 GMT
#2
wont templar with storm and feedback completely roflstomp a banshee/bc/marine/raven army?

but nice OP and nice idea. gonna have a look at the reps now.
"What am I supposed to do against this?" - "Lose!" :-]
darksub
Profile Joined July 2010
Argentina302 Posts
December 07 2010 19:04 GMT
#3
i been loking for transition to end game bc, ill give a try and comment again later
divide et vinces
gnashed_potatoes
Profile Joined December 2010
14 Posts
December 07 2010 19:08 GMT
#4
On December 08 2010 03:53 Black Gun wrote:
wont templar with storm and feedback completely roflstomp a banshee/bc/marine/raven army?


You'd think, but no. I use a build similar to this all the time and HT's really aren't much of a threat because they are such a huge investment and will mean their ground army is lacking as a result. The HT's will waste all their energy on your bio ball but its quite easy to dodge the storms with your banshees. He may feedback your banshees but neither the banshees nor the HT's will have much energy because of cloaking and storm, respectively.
gnashed_potatoes
Profile Joined December 2010
14 Posts
December 07 2010 19:13 GMT
#5
Also, I would add medevacs/marauders rather than battlecruisers. That way you can do multi pronged frontal attacks/drops and not worry about the immobiltiy of the cruisers, especially on a large map.
antz0r
Profile Joined September 2010
Australia168 Posts
December 08 2010 00:04 GMT
#6
I never realised how fun having an airforce was lol. By luck I watched the arman replay last.
I note that you don't upgrade the marines or go rax/techlab for combat shields or stim. Is this so you have more in the bank for BC later on?

Azzur
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
Australia6267 Posts
December 08 2010 03:49 GMT
#7
On December 08 2010 09:04 antz0r wrote:
I never realised how fun having an airforce was lol. By luck I watched the arman replay last.
I note that you don't upgrade the marines or go rax/techlab for combat shields or stim. Is this so you have more in the bank for BC later on?


The lack of combat shields and stim is a playstyle choice. I almost never get stim because I dislike using infantry. Combat shields are a good idea but I never get them since it would require a techlab swap with the reactor (which is troublesome). But it'll be great if you can adapt these into the build!
NadaSound
Profile Joined March 2010
United States227 Posts
December 11 2010 02:27 GMT
#8
Thanks I've been looking for a new approach against the toss. I'll let you konow who it goes.
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
INu's Battles
20:00
INu's Battles#21
Classic vs herO
IntoTheiNu 1045
LiquipediaDiscussion
Sparkling Tuna Cup
19:00
Weekly #149 (SHIN Mod Edition)
CranKy Ducklings SOOP17
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
ProTech134
CosmosSc2 23
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 47507
Shuttle 8376
FanTaSy 1690
Hyuk 594
Horang2 462
BeSt 425
Pusan 293
EffOrt 215
Last 146
Soma 133
[ Show more ]
Mind 121
Zeus 115
Hyun 70
hero 69
Sea.KH 69
ggaemo 68
Killer 60
Sexy 55
Snow 51
PianO 33
ToSsGirL 32
Aegong 30
Bale 25
JYJ 20
NaDa 19
zelot 18
Rock 10
ajuk12(nOOB) 10
Sacsri 8
Noble 7
Icarus 3
Dota 2
Gorgc1843
qojqva1725
Dendi1103
XcaliburYe323
Counter-Strike
fl0m2845
Heroes of the Storm
Liquid`Hasu557
Khaldor400
Other Games
gofns43892
B2W.Neo1039
byalli456
Beastyqt386
Mlord218
Livibee185
Hui .177
ArmadaUGS106
Mew2King60
QueenE0
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick716
Dota 2
PGL Dota 2 - Main Stream50
[ Show 11 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Adnapsc2 19
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• Migwel
StarCraft: Brood War
• FirePhoenix11
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Nemesis2561
Upcoming Events
Shopify Rebellion Sundays
1h 38m
MilkiCow vs TBD
Clem vs TBD
BSL Open Qualifier
5h 38m
BSL Open Qualifier
5h 38m
Replay Cast
9h 38m
Afreeca Starleague
20h 38m
Rush vs Light
WardiTV Weekly
21h 38m
Monday Night Weeklies
1d 2h
Replay Cast
1d 9h
Afreeca Starleague
1d 20h
Soma vs Soulkey
INu's Battles
1d 21h
SHIN vs Cure
ByuN vs Zoun
[ Show More ]
PiGosaur Cup
2 days
The PondCast
3 days
INu's Battles
3 days
Replay Cast
5 days
BSL: Ladder Tournament
6 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

CSL 2026 AUTUMN (S22)
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
Calamity Invitational

Ongoing

ASL Season 22
Super Anchor Qualifying S3
Acropolis #5
Acropolis #5 - GSB
Copium Cup
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
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual

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
Custodian Cup
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
Thunderpick World Champ. '26
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.