To tell you the truth, Cannon rush still works very well in Starcraft 2 online game Protoss vs Protoss matchup even in Masters League. Often considered a cheesy strategy, and very often you will not get a GG from your opponent if you managed to Cannon rush him in the online game Battle.net ladder. However, pulling off some cheeses once in a while is a very good way to train yourself up. Having pull a lot of Cannon rushes myself gives me a very good insight on how to pull it off as well as defending Cannon rushes. Too often I have seen Starcraft 2 players failed to react properly to specific cheeses.
I will be focusing on Xel'Naga Caverns as this is the only 2 player maps left on Starcraft 2 online game 1v1 ladder. The advantage of 2 players maps is that you always know the spawning location of your opponent, thus we should see more cheesy strategies on this type of maps. Before the patch that changes the 1v1 map pool, there were a number of 2 players maps such as Blistering Sands, Steppes of War etc where 6 Pool rushes, Cannon cheese, Proxy 2 Gate Zealots, 2 Barracks Marines with SCVs all in were very common. Since the change in the map pool, most of these cheeses died off. However, Xel'Naga Caverns is a very well balanced designed map and the only 2 player maps left.
Why does Cannon Rush works so well in Protoss vs Protoss matchup on Xel'Naga Caverns. The reasoning is simple. The standard Protoss vs Protoss build will be 9 Pylon 12 Gateway and scout. Sending out the Scouting Probe after building your Gateway is the norm in this matchup. If you prefer to send an early scout at 9/10 food after Pylon, this may risk your mineral resources. As we all know PvP is a very fragile matchup where every micro, unit and resources count. A wrong move or misclick can often cost you the game. Do take note, good players will often send the scouting Probe after the 12 Gateway to check for proxy locations. This should be done by every players. However, I will be looking at how to Cannon rush in PvP on Xel'Naga Caverns here. (Cannon rush works decently on Metalopolis as well which was an old strategy but still works wonderfully.)
-Build a Probe when game starts. Starting 6 Probes, send 5 to minerals and 1 straight towards your opponent's base. (Try to make sure your Probes are mining from the closer mineral patches as this gives you more minerals) Produce Probes constantly like normal.
-Build a Pylon at 9/10 food at the location shown aove. This is the best spot as your opponents scouting Probe will not see your Pylon if he does not check this location and instead send the scouting 12 Gateway Probe right to your base. Make sure the range of the Pylon reaches the high ground which allows you to build a Cannon on top.(Do not build at the left corner as his scouting Probe will see it through fog.)
-All this will be the standard Protoss build. Chrono Boost once for your Probes
-Build a Forge at the right side of the Pylon at 12/18 food.
-Chrono Boost once more at 13 Probes
-Stop producing Probes at 14/18 food.
-Place your first Cannon at the corner. (Here my opponent pulls some Probes and I quickly use two Pylons to wall my Cannon)(4-5 Probes are able to take down a building Cannon)
-You can always bring a second Probe if your opponent is being aggressive trying to kill your first Probe.
-Send the Probe into your opponent's base to scout. This is very essential to determine how your opponent is reacting to you as he has most likely determine what your up to.
-If your opponent pulls a lot of Probes to your first cannon, prepare to wall off the Cannon with Pylons.
-If he's not Proceed to place your second Cannon on top. If your opponent starts pulling Probes, try walling the Cannon with Pylons as well. Once your first cannon goes up, he will not be able to kill your second cannon with Probes as the second Cannon will be within range of the first.
-Most players will put down a Forge themself when facing with Cannon rush. Your job here will be trying get build as many Cannons as possible (more than him) within the range of the Mining Probes.
-If you manage to Cannon his mineral lines, you have probably won the game.
-Remember to always pay attention to whether is he counter Cannon rushing you. Check around your base for any Proxy.
-Build a Pylon at your Base and prepare to get out Cannons. Your opponent may send all his Probes and Zealots to your base for a final assault. You have to do whatever you can to hold this off. 2 Cannons at a good location will be enough. Preferable near your mineral line.
-Sometimes, your opponent will start another base somewhere on the map, but he will be too much behind.
-You should be constantly producing Probes while doing the Cannon rush as you need a lot of minerals.
-Your opponent should had left the game by now or he will be trash talking and not leaving the game until his last building goes down.
Good luck in Cannon rushing in PvP on Xelnaga Caverns in the Starcraft 2 online game Battlenet ladder.
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