If you try playing a
public game of
Starcraft on
Battle.net, you will find that while there is some semblance of strategy, everyone basically employs the
same strategies, leading to the eventual contest of who can get what out first, so they can pull off the tricks.
Zerg:
The 6-zergling rushs are a favorite here. Build exactly 7 drones, harvest until you reach 150 minerals (200, actually, with the 1.08 patch), and then immediately spawn one of the drones into a spawning pool. As soon as the pool completes, spawn your three free larvae into zerglings. If you're good, you will possibly be able to waltz into someone's base unmolested and take them out, as they will have no offensive or defensive units other than SCVs/probes/drones. This REALLY pisses people off.
The lurker drop in Brood War is another favorite. It involves packing several overlords full of lurkers and then dropping them into an unprotected area of someone's base. Doesn't work, unless the victim is complacent enough to leave a hole open for the attacker. Once in, they can wreak havoc pretty much everything. Only detectors and psi storm seems to really effectively neutralize this.
Terran:
Utilize Siege Tanks to shoot across rivers and other obstacles. Eventually, use siege tanks wherever you can possibly fit them. Ignore all units except marines and siege tanks. Works well on people who don't build mobile defenses, since the tanks can pick off photon cannons, loaded bunkers, and sunken colonies with ease.
Build lots of wraiths, squads of 12, and equip with the cloaking upgrade. Anyone without a viable air defense is susceptible to this. Any hole in their detection/anti-air will allow you to slip in unnoticed. Once in, take out their SCVs/probes/drones and then proceed to kill their command center/nexus/hive so as to perform a hit-and-run. Evacuate as soon as they go after you, and repeat the procedure every 5 minutes until they begin swearing incoherently at you.
Build 20 battlecruisers. Nuff said.
Protoss:
Zealots are sickeningly strong, so build 12 of these as quick as possible and send them to any fairly weak Zerg player, they will rip him to shreds. They are pretty much effective against anything, but most deadly early in the game. After a while, replace them with dragoons to do more damage.
Use corsairs to stifle all air attacks while building tons of carriers yourself. Use observers to help pick off wraiths that get in your way. Supplement base defense with dragoons and photons. The sooner you can begin crushing the enemy, the better.
Well, there you go. How to beat the
b.netters at their own game. Go get 'em!