Important Timings for Protoss Players

As an avid Starcraft 2 online game player, I can't stress enough how important timings are in the game itself. The implementation of the 'In Game Timer' by Blizzard into SC2 is invaluable to top tiered gamers as this minor addition to the game has created a new dimension into it. Prior to In Game Timer, players are always left to wonder how long the game has gone and went into a guessing game. Without a timing, players are left in the dark to determine strategies and units that are coming their way.

The most important factor in Timing is determining what opponent strategies and tech path. Lets take an example here. A Clocked Banshee with normally reach the Protoss's base at 7:30 mark. This is a very important factor in crafting your build order as a Protoss. Most players have nightmares if you talk to them about Banshees. I can't stress enough how ugly things will be if a Protoss player is caught without a Detector against  one or even two Clocked Banshee at your Base.

Timings play too much importance in the game itself. All professional gamers utilized the timer to their advantage by determining build orders to certain timing. Lets take a look at the very very important timings below for Protoss players.

vs Terrans

• Marines: 3:05/3:10
• Marauder: 4:10
• Concussive Shell: 4:40
• Banshee Clocked reach your Base: 7:30
• Stim: 8:15/8:30
• Medivac 1 Base ~8:15 (Can vary)

vs Protoss

• Stalker: 4:20
• 4 Gate: 5:40-6:00

vs Zerg

• Zergling out 3:30
• Speed @12 Pool: 5:00
• Hatch First/Speed: 6:00
• Losira (Roach Push)
• Roach Warren 5:30
• Reach your expansion 7:30

Terrans

What do you do with these timings you may ask. Here's an example. When facing against a Terran opponent in your online game, Protoss players will generally send their Probe to scout after Gateway around the map. However, sometimes your Probe will not scout the Terran in time before the first Marine is out at 3:05. Thus, by 3 minutes if your Probe has not scout the Terran, be careful at this point to not lose your Probe walking into the Marine. A Marine with properly done Stutter Step micro will always kill the scout. Thus, just leave your Probe at the Xelnaga Watch tower or outside the Terran base to poke later in determining army composition. There is no point to suicide the Probe unless if you plan to check whether the Terran is going for a Gasless expansion at this stage.

Secondly is the Marauder timing and Concussive shell at 4:10 and 4:40. If you poke your Probe at this time, you may catch the Marauder Shelling at your Probe. If there is a Marauder at the ramp, this means that the Terran went for a 1 Rax tech Lab build and be careful when moving out your Stalker.

Always prepare for a Clocked Banshee haress at 7:30 mark. If you do not have detector against a Clocked Banshee, you are as good as dead where the deadly 1-1-1 build is coming your way. You should know if Banshee is coming by poking the Terran front. If there's a bunker with only Marines, the Terran is going for a tech heavy build like the 1-1-1.

Protoss

PvP is always a die roll and mind games where 4 Gating is still prevalent in this matchup. The 4:20 Stalker timing will help you to scout with your Probe as long as possible to gather important information of your opponent's build. A Probe can outruns a Zealot forever. Just run your Probe out at like 4:10.

Zerg

The 3:30 Zergling out timing is very important. I always try to use my scouting Probe to delay the expansion Hatchery as long as possible and escape around the 3:20 mark before the Zerglings pop out. It is important to save the scouting Probe to proxy Pylon or rescout later.

7:30 in PvZ is where the Losira Roach Zergling push comes. This build was so dominant previously and I have lost count how many times I have lost to it in my online games. However, it seems that this build has died down and not being pull off as much. However, on close positions like Lost Temple, This is still a very common build used by Zerg.

Basically to determine the Zergling Speed Metabolic Boost timing, pay attention to when the Zerg gets the Gas and add 3:15 to it. If the Zerg gets the gas at 3 minutes this means that Speed will be done at 6:15.

Thus, with this in mind, you should be paying more attention to important timings from now onwards. This will help to improve your game tremendously.

As for Zerg and Terran players, you guys should work out important timing marks as well against other opponents. You can do this by watching replays of professional gamers or just pick them out in your online games. Pay attention to builds such as Protoss expansion in ZvP, Dark Templar timings, Blue Flame hellions and bio tank timing.

Good Luck.