I am a struggling Silver Random Player. I hit platinum when I solely played Terran. Honestly, I only know unit compositions in StarCraft 2 despite my playing from the beginning. The problem is, I just don't understand why I am losing now.
I feel like at the silver level it is more about the macro than build orders and such. Maybe I'm wrong but really any pointers can help me. Please be brutal I like any feedback.
1. To macro, or not to macro?
WoL: Macro game, advantage focus
HotS: Skirmish, harass, action focus balanced with macro play
>The point is, play aggressively.<
2. Focus on learning and improving.
If your aim is to win every game, you will lose more. If your aim is to improve, you will win more.
3. To learn best, stick with one race
IMHO: There is much intricate knowledge for all the races, playing random overloads with too many different situations to improve effectively.
Now on to the replay. I'm a Terran (ex-GM) player so I'll only be looking at your TvZ game.
Points to take note
1. What is the intention of taking 12gas timing?
If your intention is just to build a reaper, pull back your SCVs to minerals after 50. Not pulling back SCVs delayed your depot, capped you at 19 and banked over 200 precious (unusable) gas.
If you want faster hellions, use the gas to build a early factory. However you have to build a depot at 17 and delay your expansion. I don't recommend this build because its similar to WoL's Reactor Hellion Expand - you can't do any real damage and you delay your macro game.
2. TvZ Units
Good stuff
-Marines: Usually only need one tech lab for ups, the rest reactor.
-Medivacs
-Mines: Anti-baneling
-Tanks: Area denial - if you control the exit of Zerg's natural, you'd usually win the game.
-Raven
-Hellion
Not bad (situational) stuff
-Reaper: Scout only, unable to do much damage against queen defence.
-Banshee: Snipe queens, drones, deny 3rd, kills and defends against all Tier 1 units.
-Marauder: Mix in a few of these.
-Viking: Make a few to snipe off pesky overloads.
-Thor: Usually built if you're going mech.
Shit
-Ghost: You built this, don't build this. This utterly destroys Protoss however.
-Hellbat: Slow and vulnerable.
-Battlecruiser: Slow and vulnerable.
3. Never try to out-macro a - *The real reason you lost.*
has a stronger game progression than when left unchallenged. The TvZ nightmare is when has sustainable Tier 3, can counter everything you make instantly. So harass them bugs.
4. Mechanics
Practice. Overused word but... practice. Marine splits with micro trainer, precise selection of units, managing your bases and making sure 16 worker optimal mining up for all your bases, and many more.
Beyond Silver
1. Build orders? Or order builds?
Build orders are great as a guideline and for learning game progression. Having said that however, find your own damn style using your understanding of the game. Though, this can only be done when you have a solid foundation - At around to , start taking apart build orders and make your own ones based on your plans.
2. Have you considered attacking early?
Hellions are very powerful against Zerg without tech. Try doing Gas First (pull SCVs once you have 150 for factory and reactor) Reactor Factory into expand and do some damage with Hellions. Maybe follow up with cloak banshee once you have your expansion.
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