This Starcraft 2 guide will focus on how to use a Dark Templar rush against a Terran player. The majority of people out there who know about the Dark Templar rush think that it’s a waste of time to try it against a Terran opponent as they can crush the rush with a simple Scanner Sweep.
Even though most Terran players are likely to have Scanner Sweeps, it does not imply that the Dark Templars you build will be ineffective. The truth does not come even close to this.
It takes energy to perform Scanner Sweeps and they can only be done a limited amount of time. Bear in mind that Terrans have to choose between the Mule and the Scanner Sweep and considering that the Mule is equivalent to 270 Minerals for the Terrans, only doing Scanner Sweeps will leave their economy in ruins.
Make four Dark Templars and send them out to the enemy’s base one at a time so that he’s forced to use the Scanner Sweep over and over again till his energy is exhausted and he is robbed of the Minerals he could have received from the Mule. Terran players usually keep less energy available and this is a good way to deplete their remaining reserves.
Most players have energy left only for 3 scans, so the fourth Dark Templar will start causing massive damage to the opponent. After this point, keep sending in more Dark Templars to sweep his base. Make sure you keep your Dark Templars well separated so that they are not revealed in a single scan. Also keep an eye out for the enemy in case he begins to construct Missile Turrets, as they are detectors too.
As a final measure, destroy the Tech Labs on Starports so that the Terran player is unable to make any Ravens (the Terran detectors). Ravens cost so much gas anyway that most Terran players do not build them.
It is good to note that even if your Dark Templar rush on the Terrans is unsuccessful in wiping them out, they will have wasted a lot of Minerals in scanning out your Dark Templars. Just continue sending in Dark Templars and try to snipe out their units and SCVs.
Be on the lookout for high value units like the Siege Tanks and Ghosts to snipe. Many players simply cannot react fast enough if you kill a Tank in a few strikes. Siege tanks are one of the best units to kill since most players keep them in Siege mode, meaning they won’t run away when you attack them and often times the splash damage that occurs when one explodes damages the other nearby units of the enemy too.
If you’d like to see the numbers: One Dark Templar costs 125 Mineral and 125 Vespene Gas. On the other hand, one Siege Tank costs 150 Mineral and 125 Vespene Gas, along with a scan worth 270 Minerals. So even if you lose a Dark Templar, it won’t be as painful for you as losing 420 mineral and 125 Vespene Gas for the Terran player. If you keep rushing in with Dark Templars, these numbers multiply pretty fast.
Ghosts have the EMP ability which can expose Dark Templars, so keep your Dark Templars separated and focus down the Ghosts since losing a Dark Templar is a waste of money.
Also note that Dark Templars can be used to protect your own base while you do a Dark Templar rush. If the Terran uses a lot of scans to see your attacking Dark Templars, he won’t be able to see the Dark Templars you have in your own base. You may use Phoenix or Stalkers to focus down any Raves the enemy might have.
Even though most Terran players are likely to have Scanner Sweeps, it does not imply that the Dark Templars you build will be ineffective. The truth does not come even close to this.
It takes energy to perform Scanner Sweeps and they can only be done a limited amount of time. Bear in mind that Terrans have to choose between the Mule and the Scanner Sweep and considering that the Mule is equivalent to 270 Minerals for the Terrans, only doing Scanner Sweeps will leave their economy in ruins.
Make four Dark Templars and send them out to the enemy’s base one at a time so that he’s forced to use the Scanner Sweep over and over again till his energy is exhausted and he is robbed of the Minerals he could have received from the Mule. Terran players usually keep less energy available and this is a good way to deplete their remaining reserves.
Most players have energy left only for 3 scans, so the fourth Dark Templar will start causing massive damage to the opponent. After this point, keep sending in more Dark Templars to sweep his base. Make sure you keep your Dark Templars well separated so that they are not revealed in a single scan. Also keep an eye out for the enemy in case he begins to construct Missile Turrets, as they are detectors too.
As a final measure, destroy the Tech Labs on Starports so that the Terran player is unable to make any Ravens (the Terran detectors). Ravens cost so much gas anyway that most Terran players do not build them.
It is good to note that even if your Dark Templar rush on the Terrans is unsuccessful in wiping them out, they will have wasted a lot of Minerals in scanning out your Dark Templars. Just continue sending in Dark Templars and try to snipe out their units and SCVs.
Be on the lookout for high value units like the Siege Tanks and Ghosts to snipe. Many players simply cannot react fast enough if you kill a Tank in a few strikes. Siege tanks are one of the best units to kill since most players keep them in Siege mode, meaning they won’t run away when you attack them and often times the splash damage that occurs when one explodes damages the other nearby units of the enemy too.
If you’d like to see the numbers: One Dark Templar costs 125 Mineral and 125 Vespene Gas. On the other hand, one Siege Tank costs 150 Mineral and 125 Vespene Gas, along with a scan worth 270 Minerals. So even if you lose a Dark Templar, it won’t be as painful for you as losing 420 mineral and 125 Vespene Gas for the Terran player. If you keep rushing in with Dark Templars, these numbers multiply pretty fast.
Ghosts have the EMP ability which can expose Dark Templars, so keep your Dark Templars separated and focus down the Ghosts since losing a Dark Templar is a waste of money.
Also note that Dark Templars can be used to protect your own base while you do a Dark Templar rush. If the Terran uses a lot of scans to see your attacking Dark Templars, he won’t be able to see the Dark Templars you have in your own base. You may use Phoenix or Stalkers to focus down any Raves the enemy might have.