Starcraft 2 Terran Build Orders - Top 2

To beat your opponent in a 1v1 match as a Terran player in Starcraft 2, the first thing you need is a strategy before the game even starts. You should have a plan for each matchup that you could come across: Terran vs Protoss, Terran vs Zerg, Terran vs Terran, and Terran vs Random.

Depending on what race you are fighting against, you will need to build different buildings and make slightly different units. For example, Ghosts are very important early in the game against Protoss, later in the game against Zerg, and not really at all against Terran.

Once you have your plan, then you will need a strategy to be able to execute it properly and most efficiently. This is where build orders come in. By using a tested and proven Terran build order your chances of surviving an early attack and winning later in the game is essential. And if you're doing a rush, then it matters all the more.

After you finish the build order, it will be up to you to continue with the strategy you choose. Remember, the most important thing to focus on is not micro, it's macro. The better you macro the more resources and bigger army you'll have. Check out this Starcraft 2 Macro Guide for more info.

Here are 2 powerful Starcraft 2 Terran build orders that will get you off to a great start.

**Updated for Patch 1.1.2**

The Reaper rush was hit pretty hard with Patch 1.1.2, but you can still do it. It's not quite as effective as your first Reaper won't get out on the battlefield quite as fast, but things may change in the future. Who knows, maybe now that they've been nerfed so hard they'll lower the build speed back down. Either way if you want to do a Reaper rush post Patch 1.1.2, here's how:

The point of this Terran build order is to get Reapers out as fast as possible into your opponent's base to kill his workers. Every second counts in a build like this, so if you want to do it effectively, practice a lot to get the build order memorized. You'll also need a fairly high APM (actions per minute) to micro your Reapers around in your opponents base and keep building your own base.

The goal of this build is not necessarily to win the game outright in the very beginning, though sometimes that does happen. Your main goal should be to take out as many workers as possible to get ahead in the economy game.

Start off this build by training SCV's until you hit 8/11 population. Then save up your minerals and build a Supply Depot, a Barracks, and a Refinery. Immediately put 3 SCVs in the Refinery right when it finishes. After you start your Refinery make 3 more SCVs so you are at 11/19 population.

By the time your Barracks gets done you should have enough gas to add on a Tech Lab and train another SCV. When your Tech Lab is finished, train a Reaper and rally your Barracks into your opponents base. This will get a Reaper out very early (around 3:20 game time) and should be able to do some damage. Though it's quite a bit later thanks to patch 1.2.

Try your hardest to keep your Reapers alive and keep building more. When you have 3 out you can 1 shot workers, which is what you're working toward. If your opponent gets a counter out retreat with your Reapers and transition your army into a mid game build to keep the pressure on and keep your economy up.

Keep those Reapers alive and hidden! When your opponent moves out to attack you can rush into his base and do a lot of damage with them. Reapers are not used very often for this purpose and your opponent likely won't be expecting it.

Originally Reapers had a Charge that they could throw at targets to do massive damage, but they've been changed a little bit since Beta and now the only way to get access to their charges is as an upgrade in the Starcraft 2 Campaign.

Since doing a rush can be very dangerous (if you fail, you have a very high chance of losing) it's much safer to do a standard Terran build order to get a solid economy and defense up before trying to win later on in the game. This build order has been tested and it proven to be the most economic for Terran players in the early stages of the game. It will give you a solid economy with 1 Refinery to get the Gas income going early.

Start off by training a new SCV and sending your workers to mine minerals. If you're quick with your mouse, send all 6 SCV's to a mineral patch on one side of the line, then grab 3 of them and send them to the other side of the minerals. This is known as a "split" and will get your SCV's bringing in minerals faster.

When your supply count hits 10/11 (the numbers in the upper-right corner) pull an SCV off the mineral line and build a Supply Depot with it. Queue up your 11th and 12th SCV, then when you have 150 minerals, build a Barracks. Remember to wall off if you are against Zerg or Random so you can keep any early Zergling pressure out of your base.

Next train 1 more SCV, then at 13/19 build your first Refinery. As soon as it is done put 2 additional SCV's in it to mine gas so it has 3 workers in it. Make 2 more SCV's in the meantime, putting yourself at 15/19. At this point your Barracks should be done and you will have about 200 minerals banked. Use it all to make your Orbital Command and your first Marine.When you're Orbital Command is finished call down your first MULE and continue making SCVs.

From here you will continue the build to fit your strategy. If you are up against Protoss, it's a good idea to build another Barracks and get an infantry heavy build going. If you're against Zerg or Terran build your first Factory when you reach 100 gas.

For more Starcraft 2 Terran build orders that will help you get off to a great start, check out my blog.