This article is all about the StarCraft 2 Terran vs Protoss match-up. When fighting against Protoss, it’s extremely important to know how to counter popular Protoss strategies and cheese tactics.
First things first: You already know that scouting is important, but when you are up against a Toss you have to double your effort. Protoss players know many strategies that include hidden tech buildings, hidden Pylons and proxy Gateways.
Their Warpgate technology allows them to warp in units anywhere on the map if there’s a Pylon nearby – and they will always try to build one close to your base but hidden from your sight. Shoot their strategy down by scouting in and around your base carefully!
StarCraft 2 Terran vs Protoss: Defending Against Void Rays
Building fast Void Rays is a common cheese tactic that many Protoss players use to win the game early on. As you might know, Void Rays aren’t effective in an open combat, but their high range makes them perfect for attacking cliffs.
The Protoss will try to charge his Void Ray to full power and then quickly kill off any Marine one by one. If you loose your army you have already lost the game as 1-2 fully charged Void Rays can take out single Marines instantly.
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That’s why your StarCraft 2 Terran vs Protoss strategy should be to gather all your Marines somewhere were the Rays can’t hit you and try not to lose a single Marine. The critical mass you want to go for is about 4-6 Marines per Void Ray.
If you don’t have enough Barracks you can also build a Reactor as you HAVE to stop the Protoss or you will lose the game right there.
StarCraft 2 Terran vs Protoss: 1 Barrack Fast Expand
If you are not going for an early aggression you have to get the economical advantage. But fast expanding can also be dangerous and slows down your army production. As with all the other strategies, scouting is the key to execute the build order perfectly.
If your enemy is going for a macro game, you can easily fast expand. If the Toss is going for a 4 Gateway push, you have to decide whether you are fast enough or don’t want to take the risk. And if there’s a Zealot or Void Ray rush incoming don’t even try to set up an expansion
Build Order:
- 10 Depot
- 12 Rax
- 13 Refinery
- 15 1 Marine
- 16 Orbital Command
- 16 Depot
- Barracks -> Tech Lab
- 19 Command Center
Building your new Command Center directly at your expansion will put you at a disadvantage. It’s easier for the Protoss to harass and attack you and in the worst case scenario you will loose 400 minerals.
Here’s what the pros do: Build your Command Center in your main base and attach an OC as soon as it’s finished. When the OC finishes take a look at the situation. Do you have enough units to secure your expansion? If the answer is yes, lift of your CC and place it at your natural.
This way it can also accumulate energy to call down MULES as soon as it lands!
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StarCraft 2 Terran vs Protoss: Reaper Harass
There’s only a little chance to be successful with Reapers as most higher level Protoss players already build fast Stalkers to counter it, but against lower level players this StarCraft 2 Terran vs Protoss strategy can easily win you the game.
All Gateway units (except for the mentioned Stalkers) are light armored and a perfect target for Reapers. Their mobility makes them almost invulnerable to Zealots.
Build Order:
- 10 Rax
- 10 Refinery
- 11 Depot
- Tech-Lab ASAP
- OC ASAP
- Pump Reapers
You have to attack with the very first Reaper or the timing won’t be on your side. Micro your unit and send in reinforcements while you hunt down probes and kite Zealots around.
If you manage to even build a bunker in the Protoss base you have basically won.
StarCraft 2 Terran vs Protoss: The Conclusion
In TvP matches you can both harass and be harassed. Make sure to scout a Void Ray early on and always remember that the Protoss can hide his tech buildings anywhere. Take a look around your base and expansion area to spot hidden proxy Pylons right away.
For more great Starcraft 2 Terran vs Protoss strategies, I strongly recommend the Shokz guide. It offers the best Terran strategies to beat every Protoss opponent:
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