This guide is not a complete step-by-step but just a general outline for new players.
To Win, Have a Plan
A messy, random game makes you lose. You have to have a game plan.
That plan is called a build order.
Simple Standard Build Order
This is a very common and easy-to-execute build order, but it will also set you up nicely for higher level of play when you improve.
| Milestone | What to Make | Tips/How to Execute |
|---|---|---|
| Supply 13 | Overlord | Send this overlord to your second base to scout for Terran scouting SCV or any potential bunker rushes. |
| Supply 16 | Hatchery | Pull a drone from your mineral line @ ~200 minerals. A hatchery first is safe vs. virtually any build. |
| Supply 18 | Gas | |
| Supply 17 | Spawning Pool | |
| Supply 20 | 2x Queens 4x Lings | Make 2 queens and 2 sets of lings |
| Gas 100 | Metabolic Boost | Pull 2 drones off gas |
| Supply 30 | Third Hatchery | For larva and economy |
| Supply 31 | Overlord | |
| Supply 31 | Third Queen | |
| @3:30 | Put 2 drones back on gas | For tech purposes |
| @35 drones | Make 16 lings | To defend any hellion attacks |
| Supply 40 | Overlord | |
| Queens | Constantly make queens out of your natural and third base | For early game defense |
| @3:30 Scout | Send overlord into their main base | Look for their building count and what tech they have |
| @4:30 | Lair + Bane nest + 2 more gasses + one spore in each mineral line | |
| @5:00 | 2 evolution chambers + 2 more gasses | |
| @100% Lair | Hydra den or Roach Warren + Forth base + Baneling speed + 6th gas if mech |
You can make small changes to it. For example, if you’re having trouble against hellbat allins you can make your baneling nest at 4:00 instead of the recommended 4:30. However, this is the general outline to the build, and you can do with it what you wish.
Scouting
Scouting terran is pretty simple, these are the ways to do it.
| Milestone | What to scout with | What you’re scouting for |
|---|---|---|
| First overlord across the map | Overlord | If there is a command center it is not a proxy barracks so they cannot have any aggressive units any time soon. |
| 3:30 | Overlord | Send the first overlord into their main base to see what structures they have. Look for any techlabs researching, if the starport one is researching its probably a banshee. |
| 6:30 | Overseer | Make an overseer to scout if they are commiting to mech (lots of factories) or bio (lots of barracks) |
Common Unit Compositions
Vs Terran Bio
Hydra Ling Bane
Hydra ling bane is really good at sitting defensively and having a strong grasp on the midgame.
Muta Ling Bane
Muta ling bane is generally a very aggressive composition focusing on doing counter damage and taking care of drops.
Ling Bane into Ultralisk Ling Bane
Ling Bane is a very drone heavy composition favoring trading and counterattacks rather than big fights.
Vs Terran Mech
Ravager Ling Bane
Ravager ling bane is a very drone heavy composition that uses trades to get ahead, primarily by trading banelings.
Ravager Ling Bane Swarmhost
Ravager ling bane is very good at trading by utilizing the swarmhost cooldown to fight mech, trading essentially free units.
Ravager Ling Bane Corruptor
Ravager ling bane corruptor is often used only when the terran player goes for a battlecruiser opening, since they won’t have an impressive ground army.
