Starcraft 2 DT Rush

Note: This is part 2 of a 2-part article. For part 1, see the Starcraft 2 Dark Templar Rush section.

Dark Templar vs Terran:

Most players mistakenly think that a Starcraft 2 DT rush is completely worthless against Terran players because Terran players can kill them with a Scanner Sweep.

While all Terran players are likely to have a Scanner Sweep, note that this doesn't necessarily mean Dark Templar are worthless.

Scanner Sweep costs energy and is limited in amount. Also, note that players have to choice between the MULE and the Scanner Sweep. Considering the MULE is worth 270 minerals to the Terran player (each one is!) simply having them scan can wreck a Terran player's economy.

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If you have 4 Dark Templar, you can send them in one at a time, costing the Terran player a scan each time. Good players actually keep less energy on tap as they use it for MULEs, so you can quickly exhaust their reserves. At this point, your Dark Templar are free to "wreck shop".

Even bad players are unlikely to have energy for more than 3 scans, so the 4th Dark Templar will start causing some serious damage. At this point, keep warping in Dark Templar and wrecking the opponent.

Dark Templar do very well versus Marines and can kill a Marine in 2 hits (less if the Dark Templar have upgrades). Siege Tanks are also great targets since they won't run away and are very expensive. Siege-mode Tanks are immobile and will die in seconds to an undetected Dark Templar.

Make sure to keep the DTs somewhat separated so they do not get taken out by a single scan. Also, be sure to look out for the construction of Missile Turrets as these are a detector.

Finally, you can kill Tech Labs on Starports to stop the construction of Ravens (the Terran detector). Ravens cost so much gas that many Terran players are unable to get them.

The best thing to remember about using a Starcraft 2 DT rush on Terran players is that even if you are unsuccessful, each scanner sweep costs them 270 minerals. Keep sending in DTs one at a time and try to snipe their units and SCVs.

If you can kill just one Siege Tank and cost the Terran player a Scanner Sweep, you have dealt a significant blow to their economy.

Look for high cost units like Tanks and Ghosts to snipe. Killing a Siege Tank only takes a few swings and many players will not see this coming and scan fast enough, allowing you to kill one (or more) tanks.

Siege tanks are great to kill as most players keep these in "Siege Mode" which means they won't automatically run when you attack them. They will be stuck in place long enough for you to kill one, and often the splash damage from the tanks will hurt their other units in the process.

Just do the math: 1 Dark Templar costs 125 minerals and 125 vespene gas. One Siege Tank costs 150 minerals and 125 vespene gas, and the scanner sweep costs 270 minerals! Losing 125 minerals and vespene is a lot less painful than the 420 minerals and 125 vespene the Terran loses in this situation. By using multiple Dark Templar, this adds up very quickly!

Ghosts can expose DTs temporarily with the EMP ability, so keep an eye out for them and never clump your Dark Templar. Focus these down, as an EMPed Dark Templar that is killed is a waste of money. Use your Dark Templar to focus Ghosts down.

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When performing a Starcraft 2 DT rush, note that Dark Templar can also be used to defend your own base from Terran counter attacks. If they spent all their scans on your Dark Templar, they won't be able to see the Dark Templar in your base. You can use Stalkers or Phoenix to focus down any Ravens in the area.

Dark Templar vs Zerg

Versus Zerg players killing the main hatchery is top priority as if players see that you are coming, they can quickly make an Overseer. Four Dark Templar can kill a Lair before the Overseer comes out if you sneak in quietly.

DTs alone will never defeat a Zerg due to the ease of getting an Overseer. However, you can take out quite a few drones and maybe even a Hatchery if you completely take them by surprise.

Use Dark Templar once to hurt the Zerg player's economy, and then go back to producing units to finish them off. As a general rule, I don't like using the Starcraft 2 DT rush versus Zerg players.

One great way to use Dark Templars though is to put a hurt on their supply count by picking off Overlords with the Phoenix. Focus on Overseers and then Overlords.

While the enemy is distracted dealing with the Phoenix, send in the Dark Templar. Use the Dark Templar to first kill any Anti-Air ground unit (Hydralisks, Queens) and then use the Phoenix to focus down any Overseers that might be forming.

As a general rule, I usually do not bother with Dark Templar versus Zerg players, unless they have no Lair (happens sometimes with very aggressive Zergling and Roach rush play-style).

Conclusion

The Starcraft 2 DT rush is most effective when used against Protoss players, mostly because only good Protoss players bother to get an early observer.

This strategy is often enough to completely finish off Protoss players, especially mediocre players that have a tendency to rush for Void Rays.

The Starcraft 2 DT rush is also a great way to hurt the economy of Terran players. Wear down their scanning energy a bit at a time until they run out.

For more great Starcraft 2 Protoss strategies, I recommend checking out the Shokz Guide: 

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