Develop Scouting Skills Using SCV's And Build A Winning Terran Strategy In SC2

If you're debating how to scout as a Terran player, you may find it difficult to choose between sending a harvester away and discharging a scanner sweep. Both methods are simultaneously available to you anyways so there is no need to fence yourself to one side, when you can and sometimes require both techniques.

The SCV is easily built, can travel to most areas on its own, fit through small openings and perform tasks, but is physically fragile and cost one unit supply. The scan can reveal a location anywhere on the map; it detects any concealed units or buildings within its range and is immune to attacks, but the effects lasts only 12 game seconds and economically costs the ability to summon a MULE. To review, summoning a MULE costs 50 energy points from the orbital command, which shares the same pool of energy with the scanner sweep ability. If you choose to call down a MULE you will temporarily benefit from its mineral harvest that boasts at least 30 minerals per load, gathering twice as quickly as an SCV. Additionally it can harvest at the same mineral patch simultaneously with an SCV. Choosing to spend the energy for a scan rather than a MULE seems costly then. But it also seems that they each can suit you differently depending on the situation-why not use both?

The SCV can provide you effective early scouting as you lay out your base. It's available earlier than the scan, the SCV will face limited danger in early game and can be quickly remanded back to harvesting. It won't be cost effective to burn off 50 energy points for a scan right after upgrading into an orbital command, especially when a MULE can be called down otherwise for an economic boost. Additionally the SCV can harass your enemy, build over their vespene geysers and temporarily block constructions, such as impinging any add-ons for Terran barracks. As well, it can provide longer vision as long it remains in their base.

However, when it's too dangerous to send your SCV into enemy territory, and you desperately need some incentives to work with, don't feel reluctant to use the sweeper scan. You will likely get some if not all the information you need to progress your build order, instead of remaining stingy in the fog. Playing Starcraft 2 like banking corporations and being cost-effective every time can sometimes put you in the negatives in the long run: you have to give priority to the situation you're dealing with.

Scanning will also reveal any cloaked units in range or distinguish a hallucination from an actual unit. Make sure to reserve some energy when challenging an opponent who prefers stealth tactics. The SCV can build a missile turret to provide a similar ability but would cost you 100 minerals and can be destroyed along with the harvester, even during the building process-use your discretion for either method. The scanner will save you time when dueling on a large map. When you realize the moment of attack is now, meticulous timing is everything. Sending SCVs is too sluggish, whereas quicker units like hellions or medivacs are more effective. But when you can't afford your army to be dispersed or out of position, use a scanner to aid your scouting and have your army readily mobile.

When you're recovering from an economic raid or just expanding in mid game, call down your MULEs and let your SCV take care of scouting for the time being. Once you have several orbital commands and healthy economy, you may insist on using more scanning than SCVs because of the surplus of energy available to you. But if you need to free up supply, send your SCV to its scouting perdition. So whatever comes your way in battle, the combination of scanning and SCV scouting is the Terran way to show off their versatility that make sure your resources are plenty and your game under your control.