1. Starcraft 2 Screenshot The Zerg is the most different of the three races in Starcraft 2. While the single-player campaign of Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm introduces players to the Zerg playstyle, it can still be very challenging to play in the multiplayer.
2. The starter edition has no time limit, the missions and maps can be replayed as often as you like. All you need to get your chunk of free StarCraft 2 is an internet connection and a Battle.net login.
3. StarCraft II’s relative emphasis on difficult mechanics makes it feel harder than it necessarily has to be, while simultaneously making the game more punishing to play. There’s nothing wrong with real time strategy games feeling hard, punishing, or even frustrating.

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TheStaircase is a learning method for StarCraft. Since there are a lot of learning methods out there, you can easily choose one that suits your needs.

The Co-op Commanders Raynor, Kerrigan, and Artanis will remain completely free, meaning that you can keep leveling them to your heart’s content. In other words, you can now play all of StarCraft II’s multiplayer, every Co-op Commander, and the entire first campaign in the single-player story, for free.

If you want to improve TheStaircase might be for you. Note: TheStaircase was invented for players in the lower leagues (Bronze to Platinum). It should be finished after a couple of games. Depending on talent, time and deliberate practice it should take between 50 and ~200 games, though these numbers are not carved in stone.

• 6Units
• 8Six steps

Just play the game[edit]

If a new player posts 'Help!' on a forum, the following advice often is given out:

• 'Just play the game!'
• 'Watch streams!'
• 'Copy this build!'

Very fast everything is about the correct Opening or Build Order. Even Bronze players are told to copy a professional BO. The opposite is correct.

(...)It seems to me that far too often lower league players are tying themselves unnecessarily to the way progamers play. They see, learn and even get taught builds of progamers, without adjusting them to their own skill level. Let me give you an example of how you can change that and probably have a better personal experience with the game.

SC2 is a very complex game. Often times it overwhelms new players. They watch their Replays and have trouble finding mistakes or focus on irrelevant stuff in their league.

Do not entirely copy progamers[edit]

'Just play the game' is a correct statement, but it's incomplete.

Your rate of improvement is depending on:

• Time
• Focus
• Quality of practice

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You do not need to watch the following video, but it explains these three factors in more detail.

If you don't play the game, you cannot improve. The most important thing for new players is playing the game and to have fun.

TheStaircase does not focus on pros. Therefore it does not require a specific BO.

If you want to play 3vs3 and use TheStaircase, that is absolutely fine.

HowTo start with TheStaircase[edit]

First of all, you should choose a race. Learning three races at once is more complicated than learning one. In older videos you will see 'Choosing a League Goal'. To simplify things every player should aim for 'Masters+'. This means your Spending- and Saturation-Skill should match or exceed Master.Afterwards:

• To pass a game you must meet or exceed the Spending Skill in your League Goal (Masters+).
• When you pass 4 out of your last 5 games move on to the next step.

Since TheStaircase wants to improve your Macro and your Mechanics, you should have a decent understanding about: Using

• Hotkeys, like pressing A to build a Marine (using Standard).
• Cameras (aka Location Hotkeys)

Some players do not use Cameras, but professional gamers like Flash, Leenock or Innovation are using Location Hotkeys.

Your goal is not to win, your goal is to improve[edit]

Since the (1vs1)Ladder will try to match you with equal opponents, you will lose ~50% of your games. With TheStaircase your goal is not to win, your goal is to improve; winning comes later.

Spending Skill[edit]

The Spending Skill is calculated by gggReplays. The math behind the scenes is based on the SQ (Spending quotient).

In the paragraphs below SQ is used more often, than Spending Skill. Reason: SQ is calculated by numerous tools, like SceLight and other Replay Websites. SQ has a major disadvantage though, it does not compare your SQ to other players in your league.

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But if you play 10 games with strategy A and get a SQ of 105 (example) and afterwards you switch to strategy B and only have SQ 80, you should probably stick to A.

Units[edit]

TheStaircase makes a difference between 'Given Units' and 'Battle Units'.

Given Units[edit]

Beside workers, Queens, Warp Prism, Medivacs and other units, every race has at least one basic fighting unit:

• Marine
• Zergling
• Zealot

For Terran there are two additional 'Given Units':

Rule of thumb: Every unit, which only costs Minerals is a 'Given Unit'. For more information see the Jaks guide.

Battle Units[edit]

This type of units are typically higher tier tech units. Often times they cost gas, too. Examples for Zerg: Hydralisks, Broodlords. Terran: Liberators, Thors. Protoss: Archons, Carriers.

Example[edit]

To play Master some day will take more time, than to play in Gold league. But remember: The more fun you have playing the game, the more time you will invest.

E. g. you are Terran and you start your first game. Remember Masters+ is are goal at 'gggreplays.com'. You should have:

• Spending Skill: Master
• Race Macro: 100%

Note: 'Race Macro' for Terran at 100% means that your Orbital Command never reached 200 energy.

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Conclusion: You can lose a game, but still pass your goal/benchmark.

Six steps[edit]

Since TheStaircase simplifies SC2 the learning method comes with some short but important rules for each step. Protoss and Terran start with 'Step #1'. Zerg has a special challenge called Step #0. The video explains an old version of 'Creep or die', but there is also a LotV version.

In order to learn Mechanics (Hotkeys, Cameras & Control Groups) it is very important to start with limited amounts of buildings and units. Other methods might suggest a 1Base-Build using a Timing Attack to kill the opponent.

Since TheStaircase does not suggest a BO it uses other constrictions.

Step #1[edit]

There are only two rules:

1. You may not mine gas!
2. Do not look at your army outside of your base!

The first rule is mandatory for #1 and #2. A common misconception about TheStaircase is: You are never allowed to use Vespene Gas. This is wrong, please see Step #3 below.

The second rule is important for a couple of reasons: Lower league players ...

• tend to watch their fights, just because it looks nice.
• are doing bad Micro, which hurts instead of helping them.
• are doing good Micro, but forget completely about their Macro.

The second rule is important for an additional reason, too. It is absolutely necessary to learn

• A-Move and to use an
• Army-Hotkey (Control Group for your army)

in StarCraft.

Since you are not allowed to look at your army, if it is outside of your base, you have to use an Army-Hotkey. Having your army on a control group enables you to jump to it, in later stages of TheStaircase.

Step #2[edit]

This step introduces Micro and Multitasking to your gameplay.

In this video you see QuanticIllusion using Proxy-Rax and Bunkers near the Zerg Hatcheries to put pressure on the Zerg. The amount of Micro you see in this video is extensive. Since TheStaircase does not suggest a specific BO, you can easily try a strategy like this. Your Replay and your SQ will show if you were up to the task.

You should set a certain amount of money as your limit, when executing this strat. E. g.

• 300 Minerals with 16 workers
• 500 Minerals with more workers

Remember: You can do everything, which is not forbidden by the rules. If you want to build an expansion using Proxy-Rax, that's totally fine. You want to train your worker production and therefore build additional workers and send them to long distance mining, that's totally fine.

What is fun to you is the most important thing, not what a ProGamer would do.

Step #3[edit]

In this Step you are allowed to take gas. Every upgrade and every building can be built. Does it makes sense to build an Ultralisk Cavern? Ultralisks are not allowed in Step #3, but it's up to you if you want to build a Cavern or not.

A Starport would make sense, because you are allowed to build Medivacs.

It is recommended to start with one gas for a couple of games, to see how it will affect your SQ. Oftentimes new players bank tons of gas, without spending it. This will result in a lower SQ than before.

But if you want to take two, three or more gas, that is totally up to you.

Step #4 to #6[edit]

In #4 you choose a so called 'Battle Unit'.

What is a 'Battle Unit'? Please take a look at TheStaircase-Guide.

A Terran player might choose the Marauder or Liberator, a Zerg player might choose Roaches or Mutalisks and a Protoss player might choose Stalkers or Carriers.

If you want to dive into intense Micro (e.g. Ghost, Infestor or Sentry), you can try this type of units as well. What is fun for you is important.

In #5 you choose two different 'Battle Units'.

• Terran: MMM and Widow Mines
• Zerg: Ling-Bling-Muta (Zerglings, Banelings, Mutalisks)
• Protoss: Chargelot (Charge), Archon, Immortal

In #6 you choose three 'Battle Units'.

The rules[edit]

1. NO clicking in the Command Card (bottom right portion of the in-game screen).
2. NO more than 2 queued units per production facility.
3. NO more than b+2 supply structures in construction at a time, where b = the number of mineral saturated bases. Mineral Saturation occurs when there are 16 workers mining minerals.

If you have 2 saturated bases, you are allowed to build 4 Pylons at once (2+2).^[4]

Tips and Notes[edit]

• Have as much fun as possible at all times :D
• Experiment with the new unit/units on your current Step as much as possible!
• Focus as much as possible on your goals, and not on winning the game.
• Avoid arrow keys or moving the mouse to the edge of the screen to move.
• Click on the minimap and use location keys to move screen.
• Use Hotkeys, Control Groups, and Camera Location keys as much as possible.
• Try to get 48 workers on Step 1 and 2 (3 base saturation).
• Try to get 66 workers on all other Steps (3 base saturation) NOTE: only take the gas you need when you need it!!!
• Feel free to rearrange the order of units once you get past Step 2.
• Play aggressively; avoid static defenses.
• Try to keep at least one unit or group of units active on the map after your first scout, this will help train multitasking.
• For Step 2 and onward, try to look at your base only when necessary.
• OPTIONAL: In Step #1 and #2 you might want to veto some maps. Maps with a pocket expansions like Dusk Towers or Acolyte^[5] Reason: You only have basic units and it's easier to attack a Natural with a wide ramp, than a small choke.

References[edit]

1. ↑TLO on Macro Mechanics
2. ↑TheStaircase - An Alternative Improvement Method
3. ↑Destiny going mass queens - Game 1 - Starcraft 2
4. ↑TheStaircase (english) powered by JaKaTaK
5. ↑TheStaircase (german) powered by NeoBlade

For more than 20 years the titles from Blizzard Entertainment have reigned supreme atop the RTS hierarchy. Starcraft 2 released in 2010 as the latest installment in that long lineage, which was established with Starcraft 1 in 1998 and confirmed with Warcraft III in 2002. Among the engaging gameplay, dramatic single player campaign writing, smooth graphics, and polished experience, Starcraft 2 delivers an unforgettable real time strategy game. It offers something for every gamer. Newcomers to the genre can play the single player campaign on easy to absorb a galaxy spanning space opera with heroes, villains, twists, and turns. The cut scenes are beautiful and voice acting superb. Veterans can continually increase the difficulty and master the Terran, Protoss, and Zerg races for some seriously tough AI battles and in-game achievements. And then multiplayer addicts can battle against one another and climb the ladders to eSports fame. Blizzard&'s intellectual property is certainly old and Starcraft II may not be the flashiest title around, but it's certainly a timeless one.

A top-class game from every angle

A gripping sci-fi story with high fun-factor gameplay in one of the most polished packages in the RTS genre. Starcraft II has so much to love.

To get started you'll need a Battlenet account with blizzard. It's a seamless experience that sets you up with the Battlenet client which is where you can play all games from Blizzard. Starcraft II doesn't need to fully download to play, instead there is a minimum amount to install and then you can get started, meanwhile streaming data as needed.

In the free trial version you can play through the entire Wings of Liberty campaign focusing on the Terran (humans) storyline. It's the first of three. The second campaign focuses on the Zerg (insect-like swarm aliens) while the third finishes the entire arc with the Protoss campaign. They're humanoid psionic warrior-monks. Blizzard allows you to play the prologue of the Protoss campaign, which brings you into the story of Zeratul, one of the most famous and important characters in the Starcraft story.

Starting with the tutorial is always the best option for newcomers. It takes you through the mechanics of moving units, attacking, resource management, creating buildings, and achieving each mission's objective. Veterans of the genre can probably skip the tutorial. Once you get the hang of the basic gameplay you can start the Wings of Liberty campaign on casual, easy, medium, or brutal difficulty. Now you get to dive into the first of a three-part epic saga of sci fi prophecy and power.

The game is a blast to play

It weaves a wonderful blend of game mechanics that make you think of how to optimize your resources, units, and attacks. Then when it feels like too much work, you get to sit back and watch beautiful scenes unfold as the story progresses. Each mission feels like it has a purpose and Blizzard varies the mission objectives to keep it interesting the whole time.

Co-Op missions help maintain the replay value of Starcraft II. You can choose to play with an online friend or an AI in shorter, objective based missions that aren't part of the story campaign. What's cool here is that you get to check out all of the playable heroes in the Starcraft II universe. Jim Raynor, Kerrigan, Artanis, and many others. These story-important characters have special abilities beyond the typical units in the standard game.

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Multiplayer delivers the highest replay factor if you want to test your skills against other players. It's a very different experience from single player. The way to beat your opponent is often a frantic pace of resource gathering, expansion, constant attacking, and requires a deep knowledge of the three factions. to make the best attacks, counter-attacks, and adjustments. Competitive RTS games aren't for everyone, though, and it can feel like more work than fun.

Custom games are another way to change up the standard game. Between Melee and Arcade custom games, you can play on altered rules, custom units, and user created maps.

The Collection tab houses all the different items, skins, voice bundles, premium maps, and other purchased custom enhancements you can collect for the game.

Where can you run this program?

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Given its age, Starcraft II should run well on any modern PC. Recommended requirements are for Windows 10 64-bit, Intel Core i5 or AMD FX processor, GTX 650 or Radeon 7790, and 4 GB of RAM.

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Is there a better alternative?

You can't go wrong with any of the other Blizzard developed real time strategy games. Starcraft I and its companion expansion of Brood War is widely considered the greatest RTS of all time. It's still played as a professional eSport in South Korea and while the graphics are outdated, the rest of it is timeless. Warcraft III is another strong contender. It's a fantasy setting as opposed to sci-fi, and the feel of the massive armies in Starcraft take a more focused approach with fewer units and a bit slower pace.

Our take

Blizzard has a knack for making the highest quality games in the industry. They haven't made a dud yet. From the slick Battlenet client to the first of many movie-quality cinematics you see once the game opens, you know Blizzard poured their heart and soul into this game. But calling it a game misses an important point & Starcraft II is ostensibly three games in one. The free version gives you loads of content from the first game with many modular options to add content as you want. The gameplay is incredibly fun but demanding and the combinations to winning missions and multiplayer games are endless. The cinematic feel of the storyline puts some movies and television shows to shame. The maturity of the game, now almost a decade old, means that bugs are few and the community established. Starcraft II may not grab you for life, but it certainly deserves a place on a list of games you must play before you die.

Should you download it

Yes. Considering how much content you get for free, it's a must-download if you're in the market for an RTS or an incredible story driven game. Blizzard gives you tons of options for how to spend money to further the experience.

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