Starcraft 2 Strategy Guide
New Look, Better Guide, Higher Ranks
SC2Guidereviews.com is now OsirisSC2Guide.com! With the new name, you can expect some major upgrades and changes
to our Starcraft 2 Guide:
- New Training Methods: I have created my own Starcraft 2 training program,
The Osiris Method. I will not cover it in detail on
the homepage but know that it is an actual training regimen specifically crafted to produce major 1v1
division rank increases in the shortest amount of time possible, no matter what your skill level. You can
read more details on the guide by clicking here.
- New Domain Name (and no more reviews): As a result of the comprehensiveness and efficacy
of The Osiris Method, we will no longer be providing reviews for other Starcraft 2 guides. While this site has
primarily been about Starcraft 2 strategy rather than guide reviews for some time, I felt it was time to change
the domain name to reflect the true nature of the site: a free, comprehensive, Starcraft 2 strategy guide.
- Old Content Updated for Heart of the Swarm: While there is already a lot of new content
for Heart of the Swarm in our guide such as our pages on the new HotS units as well as a full HotS Campaign and Achievements Guide, much of the
content and strategies written before HotS were released may be out of date or at the very least incomplete.
Over the next few weeks, the entire site will be combed over and updated to be current with Heart of the Swarm
and the latest patches.
- Regular Updates: In addition to updating old content to reflect current game conditions,
this content will be maintained with regular updates to keep the strategies and information in-line with patch
updates, meta game shifts, and new strategies.
- New Strategies and Builds: On the topic of new strategies, I will also be adding new
strategies and builds for all the races and match-ups with regularity. Expect to see 1-2 new strategy pages
each week, detailing the latest builds and tactics that you can use to crush the competition.
- Navigation Changes: With all the new updates and content being added to the website, some
navigation changes are in order. The side bar was already looking a little cluttered, and with all the new
strategies coming out, continuing to add more and more things to the side bar just is not going to work.
Instead, you will start to see more and more new tactics, strategies, and builds linked to from each of the
main categories on the side bar. For example, separate pages for each new Terran build we add will be found in
the Terran Build Orders section rather than added to the sidebar itself.
- Newsletter Reactivated: With the renaissance of this Starcraft 2 website, I also plan on
resurrecting my very popular Starcraft 2 newsletter with a weekly broadcast. This newsletter highlighted a
short but powerful strategy or tactic in e-mail form. I believe it was so popular because players could read
Starcraft 2 tips and strategies from their e-mail while on their phones or at work!
About Osiris SC2 Guide
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Latest August 2013 Updates:
Normally this section includes the 5 most recently added sections, but we just
revamped our Zerg guide and added build orders for all 3 races. About 20 new articles
have been added in the last half of August, so we wanted to link all of these here so that players
had a chance to see them.
Mass Roach (ZvP): Zerg players can max out
on Roaches early in the game if they focus fully on these units. While Protoss players like to
build Immortals (which are strong versus the Roach), it is difficult for even the Immortal to
hold off a Zerg army that has a 60-80 supply advantage. Added August 29th, 2013.
Mass Zerglings into Ultralisk
(ZvP): Massing Zerglings with upgrades can delay the Protoss third for a long period of time,
allowing the Zerg to transition into Ultralisks while the Protoss has limited economy and forces.
Added August 29th, 2013.
Proxy Hatchery Block (ZvP): Blocking
the Protoss natural with a Hatchery is a surprisingly effective way to deal with 1-Gateway
expansion builds. Added August 29th, 2013.
Combat Shield Push (TvZ): The Combat
Shield push is an early timing attack that hits Zerg players with about 20 Marines with Combat
Shield at a time when standard Zerg players will not have Banelings or Mutalisks. Extremely
effective against Zerg players who take a fast third. Added August 29th, 2013.
Proxy 2 Gate Rush (PvT): Opening with two proxy
Gateways and pumping Zealots and Stalkers has resurfaced as a viable strategy against econ-minded
Terrans. Added August 28th, 2013.
1 Base Widow Mine and Marine Drop (TvP): A
quick timing attack with a Widow Mine, Medivac, and 6 Marines combined with a frontal Hellion
assault makes for an aweseome TvP opener. Added August 28th, 2013.
Double Proxy Rax (TvZ): Opening up with 2
Proxy Barracks is a great way to surprise Hatchery-first Zerg players. Added August 28th, 2013.
Triple Bunker Rush (TvZ): On maps with narrow
natural expansions, a Triple Bunker Rush can be a great way to increase the effectiveness of a
traditional Double Proxy Rax build. Added August 28th, 2013.
Starcraft 2 Zerg Guide: We have
completely revamped our Zerg guide, adding in new tips, strategies for all match-ups, and many new
builds orders. Updated August 2013.
Zerg Strategy: Our Zerg strategy
section has been expanded and updated for HotS. Dedicated strategy sections for each match up have
been added. Updated August 2013.
Zerg vs Protoss
Strategy: Learn the best strategies for combating common Protoss strategies and army
compositions. Updated August 2013.
Zerg vs Terran Strategy:
Learn how to defend against early Terran aggression and what army compositions you should work
towards as Zerg in ZvT. Updated August 2013.
Zerg vs Zerg Strategy: Learn
how to play the Zerg mirror match, including how to survive against early Banelings even with poor
micro! Updated August 2013.
Best Zerg Army Compositions: Discover the
most effective and commonly used Zerg army compositions against all 3 races. Added August 2013.
Zerg Tips: These top tips provide Zerg
players with small ways of getting an advantage in a game that did not fit into the strategy
sections. Added August 2013.
Zerg Build Orders: A variety of
new build orders and openers have been added to the Zerg build orders section. Updated August
2013.
Baneling Bust Build Order (ZvT): When
a Terran player goes for macro CC before Factory, the Baneling Bust is a sure-fire win. Added
August 2013.
Safe Fast Third Expansion Build Order
(ZvP): This build order maximizes safety without too much economic sacrifice in
ZvP. Added August 2013.
Baneling Rush (ZvZ): If you have great
Zergling and Baneling micro, you may favor this build order in Zerg vs Zerg matches. Added August
2013.
3 Base Mutalisk (ZvP, ZvT): This
build helps players get out a large pack of early Mutalisks while still setting them up for the
long game. Added August 2013.
9 Pool (ZvZ): The 9 Pool is a great opener in
ZvZ on 2 player maps. It protects you from early rushes, transitions neatly into the mid game, and
can occasionally result in a win if you catch a Zerg opponent going Hatchery first. Added August
2013.
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This site has been split into quite a few sections:
- 3 sections (one for each race) on Units and Structures. In these sections I discuss each unit and building,
what it does, and what its strengths and weaknesses are.
- 3 sections (one for each race) for covering some of the most popular and effective Starcraft 2 strategies.
I recommend not only reading over the strategy sections for the race you like to play, but also check out the
strategies that you find yourself losing against.
- 3 sections (one for each race) on builds, revealing some of the most effective and efficient openers in
Starcraft 2.
- A Wings of Liberty Campaign Guide and Heart of the Swarm Campaign guide, providing brutal mode guides and
achievement guides in both text and video walkthroughs for entire campaign.
- A section on counters, discussing which units you should build to counter other units in the game.
- A section on The Osiris Method, the first and only Starcraft 2
Training Program. This guide helps players achieve very high 1v1 ladder ranks in a very short amount of time,
regardless of starting skill level.
If you are new to Starcraft 2, enjoy playing the game, and want to be competitive and win more games in online
play, there are some core concepts you should take the time to learn. Many of the pages on the left provide
specific game strategies and counters, but regardless of the match-up, there are a few principles you should master
if you want to be a great Starcraft 2 player:
Update: These 5 guides are now up to date for Heart of the Swarm. The APM guide in
particular has been completely revamped and expanded - check it out!
If you haven't played Starcraft 2 yet or are unfamiliar with the Starcraft series, here is a
brief overview of Starcraft 2 (also known as SC2):
Starcraft 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to popular computer game, Starcraft. The original Starcraft
(which came out in 1998) is one of the best selling computer games of all time, with over 11 million copies
sold.
Back in 1998, not nearly as many people had computers with internet access that could handle online
gaming, so the success of the original Starcraft was incredible. With many more people playing video games online,
SC2 is set to be a blockbuster, with most analysts predicting between 6 and 7.5 million sales by the end of
2010!
This game was released on July 27th, and players can pick it up at any major retailer or even download it
online. Starcraft 2 has become the most popular RTS (Real Time Strategy) game of all time by selling over 1.5
million copies during its first week of release!
What Exactly is Starcraft 2?
SC2 is a real-time strategy game. Players gather resources, build buildings, and amass units in order to
win battles against each other. There is a single-player version as well which players can play the game set to a
storyline.
The real draw for most players is the online play, although the campaign is quite fun as well.
OsirisSC2Guide.com provides guides for both multiplayer and the campaign, so matter what your interest lies in, we
have you covered.
In SC2, there are three playable races:
1. Zerg
2. Protoss
3. Terran
Players can pick a race before the game starts or alternatively choose to be a random race. Each race has
its own unique units, buildings, playstyle. Players fight each other with the goal of destroying the opponent(s)
forces. Within each race, each unit has its own strengths and weaknesses which makes SC2 a lot like a big game rock
paper scissors (Unit A beats Unit B, Unit B beats Unit C, and Unit C beats Unit A)!
Note: You can read about these counters in the Starcraft 2
Counters List section!
In addition to units having advantages over others, some units are classified as support units and can't
actually fight. For example, the Medivac is a Terran unit that can restore the HP (i.e. health - units die when HP
reaches zero) of friendly units and transport ground units in the air. The Medivac can't actually attack though, it
can only support (hence the name) other combat units.
That's one of the areas where this Starcraft 2 Strategy Guide will come in handy; there are a lot of
different variables and strategies you can use given all the different units and races. I will give a lot of great
strategies and secrets for winning plus review some of the top guides put together by the pros (there are people
who play Starcraft for a living!), so you will get the inside scoop on how to win games from the best players in
the world.
Brackets in Starcraft 2
In SC2, players can now play in a variety of ranked brackets, such as:
-1v1 (you versus another player)
-2v2 (random - i.e. matched up with a random partner also in the game queue)
-2v2 (arranged - i.e. playing with your friends)
-FFA (every person for themselves)
..and more. The great thing about this new system is that you can play ranked multiplayer (2v2, 3v3, etc) games
even when your friends are not online.
Note that sometimes when you pick up a random partner, the enemy team might be arranged. It can be kind of tough
when this match-up happens, but it is still winnable with the right Starcraft 2 strategy guide!
You are assigned to specific brackets based on your skill levels (bronze, silver, gold, platinum, or diamond,
diamond being the highest) so that your opponents are always about your skill level. After reading and implementing
the strategies on this Starcraft 2 strategy guide, you should be able to leap-frog into a higher, more competitive
division!
The higher level divisions are more fun because you are much more likely to have a good partner and good
competition. In the lower divisions, players use cheap and gimmicky tactics (fast rushes, cannon rushes, etc) to
win games.
In the Diamond League, you end up with a lot of great games and good players and I find I have a lot more fun
playing at that level. You get better as your competition gets better, so its important to start ranking up and
getting into the Diamond league as fast as you can!
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