Starcraft II has long been the number one real-time strategy game, which comes from the popularity of its Ranked mode.
While Ranked mode can be extremely rewarding, it can leave you feeling like nothing you do is good enough and that you will never move up through the ranks.
Even though that may seem like the case, I am here to help you start moving upward through the Starcraft II leagues.
Keep reading to see everything you need about build orders, get helpful tips on what to focus on, and finally, build orders for each race that you can start using immediately!
What is a Build Order?
In Starcraft II, a build order refers to the list of steps you take during the first few minutes of a game so you can focus on all of the other things you have to manage during a game.
Each build order lists when you should build a certain structure or unit and at what cost.
But why do we even need build orders?
Well, build orders are used because every Starcraft II game starts with the same structures (a Nexus, Hatchery, or Command Center) and 12 workers for both players. This is your main base.
Since every game begins the same, build orders were created to allow players to automate the first few minutes of each game so they can focus on the greater overall strategy.
The importance of not being left in the moon dust
You’ll quickly fall behind if you don’t have a build order to follow at the start of the game. And you’ll have to spend the rest of the game desperately trying to keep up with your opponent, wondering what you should build next.
There is no efficiency in that type of playstyle, and chances are you’ll get overrun by an early zealot rush or reaper rush, or maybe even a banshee rush or a siege tank push.
Getting wiped out in an early attack is easy, so getting a good start is important.
That’s why you will often see random things coming from Bronze-Silver players; they usually don’t know any build orders, so they randomly build things and see what works.
Once you learn a few build orders, you will see yourself becoming better at the game because you’ll be able to spend more time on things like microing your units and managing your economy.
No standard build order fits all
Notice, there’s not one best build order to rule them all. You need to try out a few and maybe even create your own build order that fits your playing style (the playing style of your opponents).
The optimal build order fits your playing style and can be easily adapted to the playing style of your opponents.
How to Read a Build Order?
Like most newer players, you have probably looked at a basic build order and wondered how to read it.
While build orders may not be intuitive at first, with a little time and practice, you will understand them and be able to put them into practice like a pro in no time!
Here is what you need to know when reading Starcraft II build orders.
This content was first published on GameDaft.com
Supply cost
Firstly, the supply number on the left-hand side represents the current consumed supply. For example, if a build order says 6 in the supply column, six supply are being consumed.
But what about when it says a number that doesn’t make sense, like in the 16/18/17 build shown below?
The reason build orders have seemingly random supply numbers is that they do not tell you to build drones in between main actions.
Using the above example, you build an overlord at 13 supply, with the next three supply being drones.
Anytime you are not producing a certain unit or structure, you should be building drones!
A healthy number of drones is 60 – 80 by the mid-game/late-game as that will allow you to support a large army without running out of resources.
Time (when to build it)
Alongside the supply, most build orders give you a time representing when you should create the next unit or structure.
Starting, you will unlikely hit the timings correctly, so instead, focus on drilling the build order until you can do it without thinking.
Action (what to build)
The final part of a build order is the action you perform on the far-right-hand side of the build order.
It could be a unit, a structure, or a specific command that you should be performing, and it is what makes up the bulk of a build order.
That is all there is to build orders but remember, a build order is only meant for the first few minutes of a game. After that, you must improvise and respond to your opponent’s actions.
Beginner Build Orders
Now that you understand build orders and what to work on for each race, it is time to show some simple build orders that you can use immediately in your games.
Below you will find economic/macro-focused beginner builds (also effective for advanced players) for all three races that will help you improve your basics and give you a solid game.
Zerg Macro Build Order
Zerg don’t have as strict build orders as the other two races, as Zerg players often have to react to their opponent’s actions.
However, just because they are not as strict does not mean that you can get away without using a build order.
The build order shown below is known as the 16/18/17 Quick Third Base build order and is a macro build that builds a second hatchery at 16 supply, an extractor at 18, and a spawning pool at 17.
| Supply | Time | What to Build |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | 0:12 | Overlord |
| 16 | 0:51 | Hatchery (Natural Base Location) |
| 18 | 1:08 | Extractor |
| 17 | 1:16 | Spawning Pool |
| 20 | 1:50 | Overlord |
| 20 | 2:07 | Queen x2 |
| 24 | 2:09 | Metabolic Boost, Zergling x4 |
| 24 | 2:10 | Pull one drone from gas |
| 26 | 2:30 | Hatchery (Third Base Location) |
| 27 | 2:43 | Overlord |
| 30 | 3:00 | Queen |
| 32 | 3:04 | Pneumatized Carapace |
Additional Notes:
- Remember to build drones when not building anything else.
- Keep minerals under 1000.
- Spread your overlords out to provide vision of any enemy units coming.
- If your opponent blocks your natural, send the second hatchery drone to your third base location and build it there.
The Zerg race can feel so alien (pun intended) to play – at least, that’s how I feel about them. They’re not my cup of tea.
That’s why I rely heavily on build orders for the Zerg race. Here are some of the best Starcraft 2 Zerg build orders for beginners I’ve found useful.
Terran Macro Build Order
As many good players will say, Terran build orders require much more precision. Hence the detail of the below build order Vibe did during his Bronze to GM Youtube playlist.
It is a very basic macro build that goes without an opening reaper because when you first start to play 1v1s, it is important to get the basics down.
By the 6:30 mark, you should send two medivacs of marines across the map to attack your opponent.
Leave three tanks home to defend, build several extra barracks, and then float your third Orbital Command to the third-base location.
| Supply | Time | What to Build |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | 0:17 | Supply Depot |
| 16 | 0:45 | Barracks |
| 16 | 0:51 | Refinery |
| 19 | 1:32 | Orbital Command |
| 19 | 1:33 | Marine |
| 20 | 1:41 | Command Center |
| 20 | 1:51 | Marine |
| 21 | 1:52 | Supply Depot |
| 22 | 2:23 | Factory, Barracks Reactor |
| 24 | 2:37 | Bunker |
| 25 | 2:53 | Orbital Command |
| 25 | 2:59 | Marine x2 |
| 28 | 3:09 | Factory Tech Lab |
| 28 | 3:11 | Barracks |
| 33 | 3:24 | Refinery |
| 33 | 3:27 | Cyclone |
| 43 | 4:00 | Starport |
| 43 | 4:01 | Barracks Tech Lab |
| 46 | 4:11 | Siege Tank |
| 54 | 4:33 | Stimpack |
| 58 | 4:43 | Command Center |
| 58 | 4”47 | Starport Reactor |
| 65 | 5:07 | Refinery x2 |
| 67 | 5:22 | Siege Tank |
| 77 | 5:38 | Meddivac x2 |
| 86 | 5:50 | Engineering Bay x2 |
| 91 | 6:02 | Siege Tank |
| 98 | 6:28 | Terran Infantry Weapons Level 1 + Terran Infantry Armor Level 1 |
| 102 | 6:48 | Armory |
Additional Notes:
- Build your first supply depot asap, so you can get those mineral lines up and running
- Build the cyclone if your opponent has built a Stargate and is producing void rays.
- The earlyl expansion should be taken on the low ground.
- Get your second barracks built around the 3-minute mark so you can spawn mass marines later on
- Build your third command center on the high ground to prevent it from being attacked.
- If you’re facing Zerg opponents, send your SCV to scout after building the first barracks; against Protoss and Terran, send the SCV to scout at 17 supply.
Protoss Macro Build Order
| Supply | Time | What to Build |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | 0:18 | Pylon |
| 15 | 0:41 | Gateway |
| 17 | 0:50 | Assimilator |
| 18 | 1:09 | Assimilator |
| 21 | 1:30 | Cybernetics Core |
| 22 | 1:40 | Pylon |
| 23 | 2:05 | Nexus |
| 23 | 2:11 | Stalker (Chrono Boost) |
| 25 | 2:17 | Warp Gate Upgrade |
| 26 | 2:30 | Stargate |
| 27 | 2:41 | Stalker |
| 29 | 2:48 | Pylon |
| 30 | 3:03 | Shield battery |
| 31 | 3:11 | Oracle (Chrono Boost) |
| 36 | 3:26 | Robotics Facility |
| 36 | 3:34 | Void Ray (Chrono Boost) |
| 44 | 3:50 | Assimilator |
| 44 | 4:04 | Assimilator |
Additional Notes:
- With this build you want to play defensively for the early game.
- Focus on your macro game, not micro, so no attempting fancy worker harassment if you are below Diamond.
- Since it is a Skytoss Mech build, you are working up to a strong Colossus and Carrier-based army.
- Great at stopping most Cheese and All-in builds.
- Always produce probes except when saving up for a specific upgrade or tech structure.
Tips for new players
Now that you have a build order that you can begin using in your games regardless of the race you enjoy playing, here are some important tips to keep in mind.
It is easy to get sidetracked by all the possibilities and start spawning new units, and building missile turrets left and right. But when you are attempting to learn and get better at the game, there are a few things you must focus on.
Zerg
As a Zerg player, your worker and unit productions are all the same, as every unit you build comes from larva.
While this makes it easy to remax quickly and rebuild your army, it also means that you have to manage your larva correctly.
How do you do this?
By getting into the habit of using your queens to inject your hatcheries regularly and then using your larva whenever they are available.
The larva that goes unused cuts your production down and will put you behind your opponent in no time.
After getting into the rhythm of injecting and building units, spreading creep around the map is important.
Creep is one of Zerg’s greatest assets, as it gives you vision on the map and provides a speed boost for any Zerg unit walking on it.
The last thing to focus on as a Zerg player is properly spreading your Overlords to give additional vision on the map.
Since you will be reacting to your opponent’s moves most of the time, you will get caught off guard if you can’t see what they are doing.
Protoss
If you decide to play Protoss, you will be much more vulnerable in the early game than Zerg and Terran players.
Protoss relies on high-tech units like High Templar, Archons, and Colossi, which take time to build.
So as a Protoss player, you should focus heavily on mastering your early-game build order and harassing opponents with units like Oracles or Adepts.
As you harass, pump out scouting probes and figure out what manner of tech your opponent is headed towards.
Once you know that, you have three options for your Tier 3 units: Stargate, Twilight Council, or Robotics Facility.
Get your Tier 3 units out by 8 minutes at the latest, and then overwhelm your opponent with the sheer power of your tech!
Terran
The Terran race is often the one everyone starts with first since they are what you learn to play the game with.
As a Terran player, one of the most important things is ensuring you get your orbital commands on time and constantly drop either MULES or scans.
You always want to build a supply building quickly to have the resources for new builds.
Energy that builds up in an orbital is completely wasted, so once it hits 50, use it to keep your economy strong!
If you are below Diamond, I recommend building a marine instead of a reaper, as trying to micro a reaper and manage your economy will unlikely be in your skill set yet.
As a Terran player, you normally have two choices for army composition: Bio play (Marines, Medivacs, Marauders, Tanks) or Terran Mech (Hellbats, Cyclones, Thors).
If you struggle to micro or have low APM, play Mech as it is much easier to manage, though you will be more vulnerable in the early game.
Conclusion
Starcraft II is an intense game that can often seem impossible to improve at.
These are three of the best Starcraft II build orders to give you a good start. They work well for both beginners and experienced players. Try them out in your next battle.
Following the above tips will make it up to the Diamond League in no time.
If you found this article helpful, check out How to Unlock Ranked in League of Legends. Until next time, happy gaming!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jan has played video games since the early 1980s. He loves getting immersed in video games as a way to take his mind off stuff when the outside world gets too scary. A lifelong gamer, the big interest led to a job as a lecturer on game sound at the University of Copenhagen and several written articles on video games for magazines.