Small Tips against Dark Templar DT

We all know the feeling when one or two infamous Dark Templars managed to sneak into our defenseless base during our games. This is the worst feeling in the world, being caught with your pants down without a detection. Everyone had definitely experience this before losing the game entirely being killed by only one Dark Templar. In fact, DT is one of the most used strategies in team games where having your allies to pressure while the Protoss player teching happily behind with an extremely greedy build without a single unit. DTs can come out as early as 6:30 in game time.

Let's get to the main point. This is just some small tips for everyone the next time you have a Dark Templar sneaking between your mineral lines. The main objective is to buy as much time for you or your allies Detection whether in the form of Scan, Obs, Overseers or even Cannons.

If the Dark Templar is not being microed, the unit AI will give priority to units instead of workers. For example, if the DT being assigned SHIFT+Right click on the workers, the DT will always attack the Queen
first. Thus, the next time against a DT in your mineral line, send some units there whether Zerglings or even Zealots. Every second against a DT counts. Good players will definitely target down workers by Queing the attack command. However, things can get messy when he is sending DTs to 3 or 4 different locations. If there is no detectors coming its time to get a new base. The best move is still to move all your workers away after they are being targeted down.

You can do this using the recent discovered worker micro, where you select all your workers and right click on the worker at the middle. Then press hold position. Without moving your mouse, click on the middle worker and attack move somewhere with it. This trick was created against Zerglings and it works against unmicroed DT as well.

Another small tips is to target down your own units with Splash damage, such as Archons or Colossus. I have seen this being done by if I've not mistaken the legendary and currently GSL Code S LiquidHero in his PvP match. See where the Dark Templar blur is at and target your own unit with the splash unit.

You can even surround the DT with your units just to buy time using the Hold command. Best done using Zerglings or even Protoss units to buy as much time. Another way is to hold your position at the ramp to buy as much time waiting for your Observer to get back or building one.

Thus, heres some tips to fight against DT if you do not have Detectors at the point and trying to buy time.

1. Run your workers of course.
2. Hold position at your ramp
3. Surround using your units and the HOLD button
4. Use some units to soak up damage eg Zerglings, Zealots
5. Force Field them. Try to trap them between buildings.
6. Using splash units such as Archons, Colossus, Siege Tanks.

Good luck and pray hard not to get caught with your pants down without a detection against the fearsome Dark Assassins from Aiur.