Starcraft 2 Marines and Marauders

An overlook of the popular "MMM" strategy

In Starcraft 2, one of the most effective combinations for Terran players is that of Marauders and Marines. Oftentimes, the Marine and Marauder are combined with the Medivac in a 3-unit combination known as "MMM".

Unfortunately, most players do use this combination with no any rhyme or reason and as a result never realize its true power. In this article, I will discuss the best ways to use Marines and Marauders in combat in addition to talking about the best races to use these units against.

First off, note that in 1v1 play, the MMM combination is almost never optimal. I've even seen people talk about an "MMM rush". By the time you get a decent-sized MMM army, the rush period if over, especially if you are playing in the higher leagues.

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The truth is that in 1v1, MMM is a very weak combination! Most of the time, you will be better off just making Marines and Marauders and skipping the Medivacs.

Note that to build Marines and Marauders, players only need a Barracks with a Tech Lab attached. To be able to produce a Medivac, players will need to build a Factory (150 minerals, 100 vespene gas), a Starport (150 minerals, 100 vespene gas), and then finally build a Medivac (100 minerals, 100 vespene gas). As a result, the first Medivac costs a grand total of 400 minerals and 300 vespene gas.

You could build 8 Marines or 4 Marauders and still have vespene gas left over for the cost of your first Medivac! In nearly any situation, those extra ground units will be more effective then the Medivac will be. You will want your vespene gas to research Stim Packs, Combat Shield, and Concussive Shells. Additionally, getting an early +1 weapons technology can make a big difference in damage dealt.

As a result, the best way to use Marines and Marauders is to rather build 2 Barracks early in the game; the first with a Tech Lab and the second with a Reactor. Use the first Barracks to pump out Marauders non-stop and the second Barracks to pump out Marines. Keep this output up and you will have a large army in short order.

Once you have enough resources, you should build a 3rd Barracks and attach another Reactor or Tech Lab, depending on who your enemy is and what he is producing.

If you are playing against another Terran player, you will need to see if he is producing Mech, Air, or Infantry. In most cases, using your third Barracks for more Marauders are a good bet when the enemy is building Infantry or Mech. If he is getting air units, get extra marines.

If you are playing against a Protoss player, you will almost always want Marauders. Sentries significantly reduce the amount of damage Marines deal via the Guardian Shield ability. The Marauders' slowing attacks are great versus Zealots and the bonus damage versus armored is great versus Sentries.

If you are playing against a Zerg player, you will want more Marines if he is producing Zerglings, Hydralisks, or Mutalisks and more Marauders if he is producing Roaches.

In 2v2 matches, the MMM combo is much more effective as your Medivac will be healing your ally's troops, not just your own. In longer matches, you should also add Medivacs to your arsenal.. just do not make the mistake of building Medivacs prior to hitting a supply count of about 70 units (20 Marines and 10 Marauders).

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