Part 4: Terran Offensive Tactics

Terrans can advance and kill ground bases with bunkers, towers, and Siege Tanks (make sure you have enough).. keep making more bunkers further ahead and move up Siege Tanks. Beware of Reavers, Templars, and Queens.

The Marine rush is best accomplished with three barracks early on. Don't forget the academy when you can afford it. And get Firebats to kill Zerglings and Zealots if it is convenient. Attack in packs of 12 or more. Keep the pressure on but still keep going up the tech tree.

Repair all mechanical units when they are damaged, especially when they are expensive units like Cruisers, Science Vessels, Tanks and Goliaths. Don't waste too much time repairing in a tight battle; don't forget to hold the shift key and right click on several damaged units in sequence so your SCV will go repair them all. You can queue up to 12 commands with the shift key. Always bring a few SCV's with you in your attacks so they can repair and build turrets and bunkers.

You can wall off your enemy with bunkers and barracks if they have a chokepoint. This is fairly risky if they scout early. Press the attack while you have the advantage though, or they'll get something to counter your trick.

Going hard Marines is very powerful against Zerg if they try to climb the tech tree. Hydralisks only do half damage to marines, so if you upgrade your Marines a bit, they can really do well. If you bring a Tank or two, Queens won't be able to get near them to cast Broodling if you position yourself well. The only thing you need to fear is Plague, Ultralisks, or Guardians. And you should attack before they have any of that.

Terran versus Terran can be a war of Siege Tanks. Break it up with Ghosts and Lockdown, and if you get rich with Battle Cruisers. Be sure to have turrets all over later on to protect from cloaked Wraiths.

Against Protoss, try to get Spider Mines early. Mine the area in front of them and keep them boxed in. Try to siege them with Tanks and Marines before they get Shuttles. Expect Shuttle drops on your SCVs if they do. Expand while you have them at a disadvantage. Use Tanks in a spread out manner so that if they run at you with Zealots they will likely lose them all while you'll only lose a tank or two.

Vulture rush versus Protoss: Build only one barracks. Quickly build two Factories, and don't add the machine shop. Pump out vultures like mad. When you get about 6 or 8, start attacking the Protoss. If you are lucky, they won't have Dragoons, and your Vultures can destroy their Zealots. Also try to hit the peons. Keep sending the Vultures if it is working, and you'll likely win.

In late game, Battle Cruisers can be a powerful offensive weapon. Use their Yamatos and high hit points to wade through troops and towers. Back them up with Ghosts, Science Vessels (for matrix), and Tanks and you'll do great. Take out towers and Observers with the Yamato, then lock everything down with the Ghost. Or if he's Zerg, mine the place with Vultures and use Battle Cruisers to clean up the air. Irradiate the dangerous guys like Scourge and Defilers. You can use Yamato to kill off dangerous guys like Defilers, Ultralisks, and Arbiters. Use Defensive Matrix to extend the Battle Cruiser's life to incredible lengths. Don't forget: Repair your expensive units after battle.

Use EMP Shockwave every time you attack the Protoss, especially if there are Archons around. Don't forget to use it on their Templars to waste their energy. Use EMP to spot hallucinations.

Use Irradiate on Templars and Zealots and use irradiate on burrowed units to kill them sneakily.

Get a group of 3 Science Vessels and go irradiate all of their SCVs or drones. Ouch!

Spider mines are great for killing burrowed guys too. The mines seek them out if they are within range. Nothing satisfies me more than seeing the popping of burrowed Zerg units when my spider mines destroy them!

When you can afford it, get a nuke and carefully sneak a couple of Ghosts near their town or near their grouped forces. Use Defensive Matrix if they spot your Ghost. Try to distract them with a fight somewhere else, then go for the nuke! Remember: nukes won't kill large buildings in one shot but will annihilated all units. Against the Protoss, EMP Shockwave first if at all possible; you'll do greater damage to the buildings.