Best Terran Build Order - Starcraft 2 Terran Build Order To Prevent A Rush

By Carmine Grossi Carmine Grossi
Level: Platinum

Hi, i'm an avid gamer from Canada. My area of expertise are online gaming as well as web developing. I am also aspiring to be ...

If you are here then you know how frustrating it can be to first get online in Starcraft 2. New players get demolished by veterans. Even if you place in the lowest division, which is copper, there are still many players that have a solid idea of what they're doing and can present a great challenge. Knowledge is power and knowing a thing or two about build orders can help a great deal. Here is the best Terran build order that I've found to work. Keep in mind that this is just one variation and there are plenty more out there.

Terran build order to prevent a rush:

1. Build SCVs up until you hit 9/9 supply. Make sure to set the rally point on minerals so they harvest as soon as they come from the command center.2. As soon as your ninth SCV is produced run him to the ramp and build a supply depot. Keep a SCV in the queue at the command center.3. When the supply depot finishes, use that SCV to build a barracks tight up against the supply depot to form a wall before the ramp. Continue building SCVs while this is happening.4. At 13 supply get an SCV to build a refinery. While this is going up, get the first SCV to build another supply right by the barracks. The wall should now be complete.5. The refinery and barracks should both be finishing up now and as soon as they do make sure your SCV queue is empty and upgrade to an orbital command.6. Set two more SCVs to harvest gas from the refinery you just built. Also get one of the SCVs to build another supply.7. While the supply is being built train 3 or 4 marines from the barracks.8. Get a tech lab add-on for your barracks and start building 1 or 2 more barracks.9. When the orbital command is finished, call down a MULE to harvest minerals. MULEs last 20 seconds and gather at double the rate of SCVs, so use them whenever you can.

From here on out it is up to you. I recommend mass producing marines and marauders from your barracks until you have a decent sized army. Attack as soon as you think you can do some damage. Use scans from the orbital command to spy on the other players and see if your army can conquer them.

Terran is a very well balanced race and fun to play. Use this Terran build order to gain a feel for the race and move you up in the ranks as well.

Remember there are lots of different ways to win and plenty of great build orders.

This article has been viewed 30 time(s).
Article Submitted On: September 24, 2010

View the original article here

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.