[PvP] SnOw's 3 Gate Obs Guide Writeup

Author: WorsT

You can find the subtitled video guide along with more info in the Protoss Discord (https://discord.gg/th4k5jYym2)

Motivation:

Safe, strong against DT builds, strong against certain 1-2 Gateway into expansion openings

  • 8 Pylon
  • 10 Gate (Probe sent to scout unless you're in ASL)
  • 11 Gas (! this is important for the timings to line up well)
  • 13 Core
  • 14 Zealot

According to Snow, this build can deal with pretty much anything your opponent throws at you. However it does not do well against greedy fast expansion builds

  • 16 Pylon
  • 17 Dragoon

To deal with manner pylon, Snow uses his trapped probe(s) and his zealot

  • 21 Range
  • 22 Pylon
  • 23 Dragoon

First dragoon is sent out to gather intel. You should retreat if you encounter the enemy goon

  • 26 Robo
  • 27 Dragoon
  • 30 2x Gateway (Cut probes. You can do it at 30 or 31)
  • 30 Dragoon (Your gateways should finish as this 4th dragoon pops, which should line up nicely for you to get one more round up to 7 and move out)
  • 32 Pylon
  • 33 Observatory

From here cut workers and make 3 Dragoons and an Observer

For every round of 3 goon + obs you'll need a pylon as it maxes out your new supply instantly

After the first round, delay your second observer and make 3 more goons (syncs them up nicely)

At the same time, move out with your 7 goons + obs towards your opponent

@10 Goons cut dragoon production and expand (Try to make your nexus before engaging as you will be busy micro ing after that)

You can transition into shuttle and reaver after and continue making probes again

Note that this playstyle doesn't produce a lot of probes early compared to most other builds. This is why you have to try and get a good trade.

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Matchups: (Source: DoodleDoodle's PvP RPS Document which can be found here)


3 Gate Obs < 1 Gate Reaver Expo

When it’s close spawn, 3 Gate Obs has 1 window at 1z7g timing. If both players followed the build order perfectly, you should have roughly 10 seconds to take the fight before reaver. If the oppo’s goons are not in defensive position, it’s an easy fight for you. Even if the reaver is out, you still need to take the fight since you have 3 more goons coming.

3 Gate Obs >> 1 Gate Obs Expo

Obs expo takes the natural earlier and delays the reaver timing in exchange. 3 Gate Obs will attack before the reaver is out, so 1g obs expo has to give up the nexus.

3 Gate Obs < 2 Gate Reaver Expo

Pretty similar with vs 1 gate reaver except there are more goons to support the reaver. If your goons aren’t organized when you attack, you can actually lose fight to 1z6g which will put you in a even worse state (less worker, late expo and late reaver)

3 Gate Obs >> 3 Gate Goon

Robo 3 Gate Obs adds 2 gateways at 29 – 31 supply and 3 Gate Goon (typically) add them at 25. Thanks to the defender’s advantage, you can match the opponent’s goon count just in time. From here you can see everything your oppo is doing with obs and he has to play blind. You can go shuttle reaver push or counter DT.

3 Gate Obs <<< 1 Gate Expo into 3g

1 Gate Expo will have 1z7g just in time to defend your 1z7g rush. If you outmicro and crush the fight, you have a chance to win here but it will be difficult. Or, you can just retreat as soon as you see the nexus, make a shuttle and prepare reaver. Be prepared for the counter attack from the oppo (set up a nice arc at your nat).

3 Gate Obs – 21 2 Gate

You get soft contained since the attack arrives before your 4th goon. Will need more study for what happens next.

3 Gate Obs – 2g 2 Reaver All in

Need more study

3 Gate Obs >>>>>>>>>>>> DT

Key point is you have to pressure the opponent’s nat with your units. DT should arrive when your 1st obs pops out. Make 2nd obs asap if you saw the DT. Send 1z7g and 1 obs to the oppo’s nat while the next goons guard your ramp to defend DT (if the oppo kept at least 1 dt alive). If there is no cannon at nat, you can just take the fight vs goons and dt. You can win the game here if the opponent doesn’t retreat or you just contain, take expo and enjoy the rest of the game. If the opponent went 1g DT with earlier nexus and cannons, focus their goons and zealots instead of cannons. Make shuttle asap after 2nd obs and elevate goons into the oppo’s main. You killed his goons and forced more cannons at nat. Oppo can’t have any more goons since he had to make HT from 1 – 2 gate he had.