By Brisingr

Bayu Utomo

The Key to Promotion: Build Orders and Macro Revisited

Mon 30th Jul 2012 - 5:24pm Category: Starcraft II

The Key to Promotion: Build Orders and Macro Revisited

Now you’ve probably heard this a million times, especially if you’re bronze-platinum: Macro better. I know it’s frustrating to hear, I’ve experienced it myself. But it’s true, the key to promotion is macro, micro and multitasking is not really existent in lower leagues. This article will focus on how to get better in leagues Gold and below.

You’ve probably been all in’d so much that it makes you reluctant to hit that ‘Find Match’ button. The key here is to produce enough units to hold it off, not to ‘identify’ what the build your opponent is doing. Heck, your opponent is probably not doing a build but just making random units. So whenever someone says that scouting is the key it’s not necessarily true because even if you did identify the build if you can’t stop it then it’s no good eh?

There are two ways to approach this. One is to be safe, make static defenses and keep calm. The other way is to be aggressive and all in yourself. Here we’ll focus on the first route, being safe. I prefer the first since there is less risk involved and if you do survive the all in you are miles ahead your opponent.

the three races' static defenses

I’ll discuss Terran first, since it’s my main race. You should build 3 barracks at least before expanding. This way virtually any build an opponent can throw off at you, you can hold. Of course depending on what you scout you can add reactors and tech labs as you see fit. If you are not sure what he’s doing never stop making marines and build bunkers in your entrance if you are sure it’s an all in. If you want to be extra safe build an engineering bay before building your Command Center (this is to deter Cloaked Banshees and DTs). Remember to build your Command Center inside your main, never in your expansion.

For Protoss, I suggest to rely on the trusty 4 gate or 3 gate robo before expanding. Another good build is FFE which stands for Forge Fast Expand. In my experience FFE is very good, most of the time your opponent will not be able to attack you, even if he’s Terran.

For Zerg, a 9 pool is advisable. Create early lings (about 4-8) to scout your opponent and get early speed for your lings. This way you will be able to see if your opponent is planning to all in or not. Focus on never missing an inject and do a baneling bust if you feel confident afterwards.

Once you’ve held off the all in you should counter back, since he will definitely have way less units at home and less production. However, leave a few units at home (4 marines, a stalker/ 2 zealots, Zergs should just make Queens) since there is always a possibility he may want to base trade. From then on, rally your units and you should win!

If your opponent does not attack (did not do an all in), you should attack at around the 10 minute mark if you are confident and have had no or very few supply blocks. And remember those key upgrades (Stim, Concussive, Combat Shields, Ling Speed) before attacking!

Now as a guideline for all races and what I feel is the most important: never get supply blocked and always produce units. I guarantee if you achieve this until about the 12 minute mark you will be promoted fast, this being if you are Bronze or Silver.

GL HF!

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