Terran Build Order Strategy

The Terran race is a well balanced species that has adaptable units that permit a very adjustable Terran tactic and Terran build orders. While adaptability is crucial, the Terran race has the most complicated way of reaping minerals and Vespine gas in Starcraft 2, and you need to be ready to have mineral and gas collection drop off when you switch your SCVs from mineral collection to gathering Vespine gas or constructing buildings. This is the reason getting the mule early is helpful to a successful Terran build order strategy. When the Mule is deployed it can mine twice as many minerals as an SCV for twenty seconds. Utilizing the mule gets rid of the disadvantage the Terran have in collecting resources.

Terran Build Orders for an Early Mule

To get a Mule as early in the war as you can, mimic these build order procedures:

1. Get 9 SCVs as soon as you can, and then develop a Supply Depot.

2. Create an additional 2 SCV units and then an additional Supply Depot and a Barrack in a location that will block your ramp.

3. Make sure to always have an SCV at your Command Center.

4. Choke off the ramp with one more Supply Depot once the Barrack is completed.

5. Upgrade your Command Center to Orbital Command immediately after your Barracks is completed. At this point you should have 14 SCVs so you’ll acquire sufficient minerals to perform the upgrade as soon as the Barracks is completed.

6. Establish a Refinery, then two more SCVs to acquire Vespine gas.

7. Spawn several Marines in order to defend against opponent troops.

8. Try to stock up on at least fifty Vespine gas so you can link a tech lab to your first Barracks. Then construct an additional Barracks.

9. You can now cast a Mule. Be sure to cast it on the closest mineral field so you can squeeze in another trip before the Mule is over.

Terran Build Order Strategy Against Zerg Players

To prepare for a Zerg ground attack, get ready either a Zergling Rush or a full force Zergling offensive strike. A massive Hydralisk attack together with Roaches is another possible attack. By using the Terran build of 2 Barracks, one Supply Depot, and then more Barracks as well as perhaps an upgraded Academy, Terran’s can almost always fend off these Zerg attacks.

Utilize Firebats to protect yourself against Zerglings and Marines. Build Firebats and Siege Tanks to battle against a Hydralisk\Roach or Hydralisk\Zergling offensive. After emerging victorious from confrontation, develop Bunkers outside the enemy town. On defense, place your SCV units near defensive Bunkers so that they can heal them as they are damaged by enemy attacks. While Terrans have excellent defenses, just sitting back and defending will at some point be a failing game plan, especially if your opponent starts to overpower you with resource collection, which can be a weak area for Terrans.

Terran Build Order Strategy Against Protoss Opponents

To beat a sizeable quantity of Zealots, you need to have prepared at least four Barracks and build of Bunkers both offensively and defensively. Deploy scouts soon – if you spot a Robotics Facility or a Cybernetics Core than your enemy is probably trying to construct Reavers. Destroy Reavers with Wraiths. If they try to flee to their Shuttle, attack the Shuttle with Wraiths as well. Drop off the Siege Tanks in Siege Mode close to the center of your village and have them attack the Reavers from a distance so the Reavers can’t counter attack). If this doesn’t work, deploy Marines and cast Stim Packs, making sure the Marines are spread out and cannot be killed with a single shot.

While Lockdown only works on mech units (and therefore does not work at all against the Zerg), it is extraordinarily productive against almost all Protoss units. It is extremely useful against groups of Carriers. A strong offensive strategy against the Protoss is to keep constructing Supply Depots and Barracks. Make sure to never stop building SCVs as you do this. When building your base and the buildings around it, it is super important to construct them tightly and packed together. If your buildings are constructed close enough together, you should be able to construct a Bunker to protect them. Then place four Marines in your Bunker. Don’t stop building SCVs, Barracks and Marines. Using this Terran build, you will not have to mine Vespine gas until the later stages of the battle.

Eric Bator has been actively playing Starcraft 2 since the beta launch in February 2010. He is the creator of the Complete Terran Guide. He’s composed a comprehensive Starcraft 2 Diamond Gamer Review that discusses the pros and cons of the first Starcraft 2 In-Game Addon.