Build Order Notebook: 6 advanced Protoss ladder builds

In this article, we'll be looking at some of the most popular and stable Protoss builds from the ladder. There are two builds for each matchup, one aggressive and one defensive, so you can find one that fits your play style. As well as the build order itself, I'll have a few notes on its characteristics as well as how it develops.

MC's 1 Gate Fast Expand

A relatively defensive and safe FE opening, this build allows you to scout your Terran opponent with a poke up the ramp as you plant down the nexus, in order to scout his composition and determine where to go from here. The scouting continues with a quick Robotics Facility and observers, from which point you can transition into any number of aggressive or defensive options.

9 – Pylon
Chrono Nexus
13 – Gateway
Chrono Nexus
14 – Assimilator
15 – Pylon
Chrono Nexus
17 – Cybernetics Core
18 – Zealot
22 – Warp Gate Research
22 – Stalker
Chrono Stalker
24 – Pylon
Chrono Stalker
26 – Stalker
30 –
Cut probes
30 – Nexus
Push with stalkers up Terran's ramp

At this point, you should react to your opponent's composition.

Marauder –> 1 Barracks Tech Lab Fast Expand

30 – Gateway
30 – Gateway
30 – Assimilator
30 – Stalker
32 – Pylon
Resume probe production
34 – Robotics Facility

3+ Marines, no bunker or reactor already completed –> 2 Barracks, Reactor + Tech Lab

30 – Stalker
Chrono Boost Stalker
32 – Gateway
32 – Gateway
32 – Pylon
32 – Stalker
Chrono Boost Stalker
34 – Assimilator
Resume probe production
35 – Robotics Facility

Bunker or reactor building –> Many possibilities (including drops, 1/1/1 all-in, banshees)

30 – Gateway
30 – Gateway
30 – Robotics Facility
30 – Assimilator
Resume probe production, Chrono Boost Probes
31 – Pylon
Construct two observers before Immortals, unless you scout an immediate push

And that’s it. From here, you should be able to rebuff the Terran’s opening efforts and get into the midgame on equal or stronger footing. This build transitions well into Creator’s Double Upgrade style, which relies on relatively passive play and a strong composition to win out in the late game.

This build was suggested by vaderseven on Reddit. The build was originally noted on TeamLiquid by NrGmonk.

Genius’ 3 Gate Voidray All-In

This aggressive build relies on a proxied Stargate and three Gateways to launch an all-in attack on a Terran’s wall-off.

9 – Pylon
13 – Gateway
14 – Assimilator
16 – Pylon
17 – Cybernetics Core
18 – Assimilator
18 – Warp Gate Research
18 – Stalker
Chrono Boost Stalker and Warp Gate
23 – Proxy Pylon
24 – Proxy Stargate
26 – Sentry
Cut Probe production
28 – Gateway
28 – Gateway
28 – Void Ray
Chrono boost Void Ray twice
32 – Stalker
32 – Stalker
32 – Stalker

From here, you should be able to launch an immediate attack, but it’s often better to wait for your second round of Gateway units and a second Void Ray. Once you’re ready to attack, focus on keeping your Void Ray(s) alive and charged up, while destroying buildings and units that make up the Terran wall-in. Destroying a tech lab researching Stim can often be a game winner, so keep an eye out for this.

This build was suggested by Aeoll on Reddit. A similar build can be found on Liquipedia.

Forge Fast Expand

This is a very standard Forge Fast Expand, a build used very frequently against Zerg opponents at the top levels of play. You give up some aggression in the early game in exchange for a safer fast expand and a good start towards an early +1 timing push. It also transitions well into a six gate Blink Stalker all-in or Stargate pressure.

9 – Pylon
Send Probe to scout.
13 – Forge

At this point, you should have scouted your opponent with your Probe. Now, you can adapt accordingly to the level of early game pressure that he’ll be exerting. Essentially, the less pressure the more economic you can be with your opening.

Early Spawning Pool (before 2:00)

17 – Photon Cannon
17 – Gateway
17 – Nexus
Be ready to block a Zergling run-by with a second Gateway.

Normal Spawning Pool (after 2:05)

17 – Nexus
17 – Gateway
17 – Photon Cannon

Don’t find him in time, but no rush

17 – Photon Cannon
17 – Nexus
17 – Gateway

Six Pool (no timings here, just go ASAP)

– Pylon behind main mineral line
– Photon Cannon in main mineral line, off-center to cover geyser
– Gateway
Chrono Boost Zealot
– Assimilator
– Cybernetics Core
Continue into three Gateways, 2 Assimilators, Zealot / Sentry until you expand

With your opening complete, you’ve now reached the standard Protoss vs Zerg mid-game and the wealth of strategies that exist here.

This build was suggested by vaderseven on Reddit and can be found in more detail on Liquipedia.

Zealot +1 Timing Attack

This build exerts early pressure on the Zerg’s third base thanks to the strength of Zealots with a +1 Attack Upgrade against un-upgraded Zerglings, which will die in two hits (instead of three without). It starts with a standard Forge Fast Expand, as linked above.

19 – Assimilator x2
Build two Zealots, then two Sentries. The Zealots are for early scouting, the Sentries for defence
Construct a proxy Pylon near the Zerg’s eventual (or current) third base
100 Gas – +1 Ground Weapons
24 – Cybernetics Core
6:45 – Gateway x3
8:00 – Zealot x4
Pressure the third base with up to three rounds of Zealot warp-ins
Retreat if large Roach numbers arrive, but push on against Zerglings, Spine Crawlers and Queens

From here, you should have done reasonable economic damage to the Zerg player, whether by killing drones and/or the third or indirectly through forcing him to build units to defend. You can now transition into Colossi, Immortals and Blink versus Infestors or Storm and Blink against Mutalisks, and continue to put pressure on your opponent.

This build was suggested by vaderseven on Reddit and can be found in more detail on Team Liquid by GomJabbar.

Three Stalker Rush

This is a solid opening for Protoss play, allowing for good base defense and Pylon denial thanks to three early Stalkers. This version is slightly greedier, and assumes that you won’t be attacked by an (increasingly rare) Four Gate – if you do suspect this, pool Chrono Boost instead of spending it on your Nexus and get your second Assimilator later.

9 – Pylon
Chrono Boost Probes twice
12 – Gateway
14 – Assimilator
15 – Pylon
17 – Cybernetics Core
19 – Gateway
20 – Assimilator
20 – Stalker
22 – Warp Gate
Chrono Boost Warp Gate research twice
23 – Pylon
25 – Stalker x2
Send Stalkers to scout, sniping Probe and stopping Pylons

At this point you’ll want to add one or two more Gateways, a Robotics Facility or a Twilight Council.

This build was suggested by vaderseven on Reddit and has been detailed on Team Liquid by CecilSunkure.

FXOz’s Aggressive Three Gate

This is a much more attack-oriented opening, focusing on hitting early with one Zealot and four Stalkers. It depends on planting a good proxy Pylon early on, so be careful if your opponent is using the three Stalker rush.

9 – Pylon
Chrono Boost Probes twice.
11 – Gateway
14 – Assimilator
15 – Pylon
15 – Cybernetics Core
16 – Zealot
18 – Warp Gate
18 – Stalker
Chrono Boost Warp Gate continuously
23 – Assimilator
23 – Gateway x2
24 – Pylon
Move out with Zealot, Stalker & Probe
25 – Stalker
Cut Probe production
26 – Stalker x3 at proxy Pylon

From here, you should press the attack. You may want to build some tech (e.g. Robotics Facility, Blink from Twilight Council) after your attack, although if you’ve done enough damage you may wish to expand or continue to press the attack with an additional Gateway.

This build was suggested by Aeoll on Reddit. A similar build can be found on Team Liquid by Alejandrisha.

Conclusion

I hope you found these build orders useful and worthy additions to your build order notebook. If you have any corrections, contributions or comments please share them below. I’ll be posting next with Terran and Zerg build orders, so keep an eye out for these! Thanks for reading.