John's Terran HotS Build

Since I’ve been working on my terran play, I’ve been looking for a good go to build. Something to compliment Teran in the same way that I have a 5gate for toss and a two base ling bling for Zerg.

I believe I have found that build in a player known only as John. I found his post about a build he uses on the official SC2 forums. He claims an obnoxious win rate with it, and I decided to give it a shot.

* John

10- supply 12- rax 12- gas 16- reaper oc supply depot 19- reaper command center factory 20- reactor on rax rax (2) rax (3) @ completion swap factory to reactor, tech lab on barracks (1). - pump hellions, start stim when tech lab finishes. Put reactors on barracks (2) and (3) when gas is available. Pump Marines, marauders, hellions, push when stim finishes. Start third cc, 2 eng bays, and starport when money is available.

What I really love about John’s build is that, when executed properly, it really does feel like a well orchestrated symphony. The early reapers give map control when the Zerg would normally take it. They allow you the possibliity to both kill drones and queens (with micro).

It allows for a stim timing attack, and can outright win games against a greedy zerg player. But most of all, it taught me the importance of balance of tech labs and reactors. I think that’s a big part of the problem I’ve had playing as terran -- not enough reactors.

When I use this opening, I can feel how the number of active workers matches up nicely with the amount of stuff you can build. I’ve even been modifying this build and using it against Protoss. The trick is, less hellions, more widow mines and marauders.

But the absolute best part of this build is the built in timing on the third. I’d like to think that my macro is pretty good. Halfway decent at least. That is, for the first two bases. I’m at that point in my macro where I’m not too sure about the timing on the third. This build has me taking a third base at what feels like the pro timing to take it. It’s like its exposed this flaw in my macro timing. I honestly feel I’ve learned a lot from this build.

Even better is how flexible it is. I’ve been able to use this build to take my natural, only to have a 4 gate or a baneling bust push me back into my main. It usually doesn’t even matter! Once enough widow mines are out, the protoss will have to retreat. Once enough hellions are out, zerg can’t contain you.

Hats off to you, John.