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Trendsetters for each race!

Forum Index > SC2 General
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Beardedclam
Profile Joined September 2010
United States839 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-07-10 00:49:41
July 09 2011 23:39 GMT
#1
Who do you guys think are trendsetter for each race base of Styles and Builds.

I play Protoss and have been watching all the GSLs and most other major tournaments so I can comment on Protoss.

The lists are constantly being modified based on feedback

PROTOSS

1. MVPgenius

As Tastosis said, this guy is always ahead of the curve sense the Beta.

When most people were still 2/4gating he was popularizing macro play. He then went on to using extremely fast collosus builds. Right before MC started dominating with mass force fields, Genius was using mass sentry builds. Genius then went on to use mass zealot builds with very fast armor upgrades and charge, rarely using stalkers. A great example of this style was Genius vs Boxer in Round 64 of the GSL Super Tournament. Recently Genius has been popularizing mass zealot Archon and only using colossus for late game play. Genius also popularized stopping drops with zealots instead of Stalkers.
[image loading]

2. oGsMC

MC is only slightly behind Genius on popularizing new styles. While Genius seems to be always creating new styles for PvT, MC seems to always be bringing the PvZ builds/styles. Most recently MC has been using 1gate expand, 2gate stargate, voidray to stop the "Losira style Roach ling rushes". This build is extremely refined and gets the first void ray out around 7:30 right when the rush reaches the protoss's base. MC is also noted for inventing the 3gate expand to 6gate timing attack vs Terran and many other gateway timing attacks.

3. YongHwa

While Genius and MC are busy setting trends in PvT and PvZ, YongHwa is one of the main people behind PvP. He revolutionized PvP with his 3 stalker rush build.



Special mentions


Nony
First one to really popularize Phoenix builds in NA. Also helped refined a strong double forge colossus timing. Recently he has created a build that appeared on Day9 that includes extremly fast immortals to stop a 4gate in PvP.

Kiwikaki

Kiwikaki does not seem to actually popularize new styles,because they are so crazy, but if you want to see insane builds watch his games. Artosis calls him the "Mad scientist Protoss" just for this reason. For a while Kiwikaki refused to play Colosuss wars in PvP and focused on mass blink stalkers, Chargelots, and/or warp prism plays. As a big user of the Mship, one of his most noted amazing styles was using MShip to recall units after attacking.


Naniwa
Not so much a trendsetter but great at refining builds and creating opening. Artosis even mentioned many times that he copies many builds from Naniwa.


TERRAN

1. MKP

After being joked on for using the ID Boxer he made a huge impact on the whole SC2 scene. Although MVP was the first to bring marine splitting to GSL matches, MKP bought it to another level. His micro and Marine splitting vs Kyrix was absolutely amazing. For a while his mass marine style took over the ladder.

ZERG

Who do you guys think are the trendsetters for all the races?

I will add the Other races to the OP onces I get some feedback. I don't know enough about Terran and Zerg to create a list on my own.

Also, if my list should be changed based on feedback I will edit it also. I think Genius and MC take the top 2 spots and Yongwha for creating the 3stalker rush but after that I need more input to create a final list
"bye bye" - genius "#$@% you" - Idra------------|Genius|DRG|Keen|---------Breakfast.213
NEXPanDa
Profile Joined July 2011
Canada2 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-07-10 19:36:22
July 09 2011 23:45 GMT
#2
Good list so far, but I would put KiWiKaKi at 3, WhiteRa at 4, and YongHwa at 5. Naniwa is really mechanically good and farily standard, he is still probably top 10 though.
Proud Member of Clan NEX!
Cosmos
Profile Joined March 2010
Belgium1077 Posts
July 09 2011 23:47 GMT
#3
Genius was the first to use the Colossus + phenix combo in lategame during (Blizzcon IIRC). It's with this build that I aggreed about the fact that he is a Genius
http://www.twitch.tv/becosmos
Beardedclam
Profile Joined September 2010
United States839 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-07-09 23:47:47
July 09 2011 23:47 GMT
#4
On July 10 2011 08:45 NEXPanDa wrote:
Good list so far, but I would put KiWiKaKi at 3, WhiteRa at 4, and YongHwa at 5. Naniwa is really mechanically good and farily standard, he is still probably top 10 though.


I forgot about YongHwa. His 3 stralker rush was huge in PvP.
"bye bye" - genius "#$@% you" - Idra------------|Genius|DRG|Keen|---------Breakfast.213
Gamegene
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United States8308 Posts
July 09 2011 23:49 GMT
#5
Naniwa and WhiteRa as trendsetters?

Completely disagree; they're popular but not exactly revolutionary.
Throw on your favorite jacket and you're good to roll. Stroll through the trees and let your miseries go.
Torte de Lini
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Germany38463 Posts
July 09 2011 23:49 GMT
#6
Didn't Kiwikaki sensationalize PvP with various ways of defending the 4-gate on 3-gates? Someone correct me.
https://twitter.com/#!/TorteDeLini (@TorteDeLini)
Beardedclam
Profile Joined September 2010
United States839 Posts
July 09 2011 23:53 GMT
#7
On July 10 2011 08:49 Gamegene wrote:
Naniwa and WhiteRa as trendsetters?

Completely disagree; they're popular but not exactly revolutionary.


You got a point. Although they don't create new styles, Naniwa has been known to create build extremely refined build orders. Who should be after Genius, Mc and YongHwa then?
"bye bye" - genius "#$@% you" - Idra------------|Genius|DRG|Keen|---------Breakfast.213
Froadac
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
United States6733 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-07-09 23:54:04
July 09 2011 23:53 GMT
#8
On July 10 2011 08:49 Gamegene wrote:
Naniwa and WhiteRa as trendsetters?

Completely disagree; they're popular but not exactly revolutionary.

WhiteRa is. Naniwa just plays really really solid and precise.
FantaFunL
Profile Joined July 2010
Belgium71 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-07-09 23:54:32
July 09 2011 23:54 GMT
#9
Fruitdealer was the first one going 14 hatchery almost every game in the first GSL?
ReachTheSky
Profile Joined April 2010
United States3294 Posts
July 09 2011 23:57 GMT
#10
MakaPrime- He set the standard/pioneered marine/tank TvZ throughout the beta and early release.
TL+ Member
EliteReplay
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Dominican Republic913 Posts
July 09 2011 23:57 GMT
#11
naniwa didnt invented the 2gate pressure expo. that was ChitaPrime iirc http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft2/2_Gateway_Pressure_into_Expansion
if play random i can't call any race imba?
Gamegene
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United States8308 Posts
July 09 2011 23:57 GMT
#12
On July 10 2011 08:54 FantaFunL wrote:
Fruitdealer was the first one going 14 hatchery almost every game in the first GSL?


What? No.

He just took ridiculous risks later in the game without being punished, ie: blind double expanding.
Throw on your favorite jacket and you're good to roll. Stroll through the trees and let your miseries go.
Kira__
Profile Joined April 2011
Sweden2672 Posts
July 09 2011 23:57 GMT
#13
Losira, heavy agression up to midgame with lots of upgraded lings and roaches. It's super effective!
The truth is, Yagami-kun, I suspect that you may in fact be Kira.
EliteReplay
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Dominican Republic913 Posts
July 09 2011 23:58 GMT
#14
On July 10 2011 08:53 Froadac wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 10 2011 08:49 Gamegene wrote:
Naniwa and WhiteRa as trendsetters?

Completely disagree; they're popular but not exactly revolutionary.

WhiteRa is. Naniwa just plays really really solid and precise.


i could not agree more
if play random i can't call any race imba?
Beardedclam
Profile Joined September 2010
United States839 Posts
July 09 2011 23:58 GMT
#15
On July 10 2011 08:57 EliteReplay wrote:
naniwa didnt invented the 2gate pressure expo. that was ChitaPrime iirc http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft2/2_Gateway_Pressure_into_Expansion


Wow, I didn't know that. Good find.
"bye bye" - genius "#$@% you" - Idra------------|Genius|DRG|Keen|---------Breakfast.213
Oreo7
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States1647 Posts
July 10 2011 00:05 GMT
#16
oGs Protoss:
-DT expand
-1gate Stargate expo
-6gates, both match ups
-4gate cancel nexus
-Void ray allin or void ray contain

Genius cam up with most collosi timings, Nani perfected some, and MC did warpgate timings basically.
Stork HerO and Protoss everywhere - redfive on bnet
Cel.erity
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
United States4890 Posts
July 10 2011 00:06 GMT
#17
Honestly, I would include HuK on the list of Protoss trendsetters, although I can't say all of his ideas are totally original. He was one of the first protoss I ever saw to try out all the variations of nexus first, forge FE, 1gate FE...he was trying to make FE work since way way back. Also, a couple of his ladder builds got really popular, and I believe he was the one to mass popularize cannons vs zerg hatch first. HuK is always trying builds out, and a lot of them are ahead of their time.

For Terran, definitely MarineKing, Jinro, and NaDa. MarineKing for obvious reasons. Jinro I feel was the first Terran to really make a solid macro style successful vP and vZ at the highest level. NaDa is still the genius Terran, his builds are so refined, and it seems like each one is tweaked just perfectly for his individual opponent. I believe he also assisted in the current trend of going Hellions in TvT.
We found Dove in a soapless place.
Micket
Profile Joined April 2011
United Kingdom2163 Posts
July 10 2011 00:07 GMT
#18
For Terran, we have Thorzain who showed the power of upgrades and 2 starport play. We have MVP who showed everyone how to properly siege push. We have MMA who showed that dropping vs mutas was ezpz. We have Marineking who showed that the marine was a good unit, and pioneered imo the strongest build in the game, the 2 rax. We have bitbybit, who taught us how to all in.

There aren't any consistent trend setters though. The terrans develop play in packs. Mech TvT and gas first openings all started to be used by all Terrans. There certainly is no 1 gate expo into 3 gate stargate, or Losira timing. I suppose marineking was the first to show ghost timings, but this was for gsl.
ReachTheSky
Profile Joined April 2010
United States3294 Posts
July 10 2011 00:08 GMT
#19
MarineKing- Pioneering almost pure bio builds in every match up
Nony-I believe one of the first to demonstrate how good phoenix are back in beta
BitByBitPrime-the 2 rax scv marine pull, he did leave A legacy, just watch PrideTV's stream lol ;P

TL+ Member
Froadac
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
United States6733 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-07-10 00:10:04
July 10 2011 00:09 GMT
#20
One could say InCa did with that fail GSL finals PvZ build. It was being used in so many tournaments, despite its absolute failure. Of course, it ended in like a week >.>

edit: yeah, Tyler introduced phoenix play.
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