Description

Carriers are the iconic StarCraft unit. Who doesn't love massing Carriers? Unfortunately, most Protoss die long before they can assemble the Armada, so this opening can help you get there.

The basic idea is to block bases, harass with Adepts, and use a Stargate opening to keep the Zerg off their plan until you get enough space to transition.

From there, you mass Carriers and Adepts (to kill the Hydralisks). Later, you can mix in other advanced units to balance out your composition.

VOD

Build Order

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12 0:00 Probe (Chrono Boost) 13 0:11 Probe (Chrono Boost) 14 0:18 Pylon 14 0:22 Probe (Chrono Boost) 15 0:36 Probe (Chrono Boost) 15 0:37 Gateway Wall-in 16 0:43 Assimilator 1 Probe in gas 16 0:46 Probe (Chrono Boost) 18 0:57 Probe (Chrono Boost) Use this probe to scout 18 1:07 Probe (Chrono Boost) 19 1:18 Probe (Chrono Boost) 20 1:26 Nexus Add 2 more to gas 20 1:34 Cybernetics Core Cut Probes to get this out, then continuous afterwards 20 1:36 Probe (Chrono Boost) 21 1:41 Assimilator 22 1:52 Pylon 23 2:03 Action Stats Pylon blocks the 3rd, but you can skip 23 2:07 Adept (Chrono Boost) Scout with this Adept 23 2:14 Warp Gate 26 2:27 Action Stats continues the 3rd base block with a Cybernetics Core 29 2:50 Stargate 31 2:53 Adept (Chrono Boost) Hold position the gap in your wall 35 3:15 Pylon 35 3:18 Adept (Chrono Boost) 40 3:29 Oracle (Chrono Boost) Harass with the Oracle 42 3:38 Assimilator x2 46 3:45 Stargate 49 4:02 Phoenix (Chrono Boost) Fly around and clear out Overlords. Continuous Phoenix production until Carriers 53 4:28 Gateway x2 57 4:43 Sentry Keep at your ramp 61 4:47 Mothership Core 68 5:12 Adept Continue mixing in Adepts 73 5:15 Phoenix (Chrono Boost) Attack mining bases with 7 Phoenixes. Be conservative 79 5:43 Nexus 79 5:48 Protoss Air Weapons Level 1 91 6:47 Assimilator x2 91 6:48 Fleet Beacon 103 7:16 Forge 103 7:21 Gateway x2 103 7:23 Carrier (Chrono Boost)

Analysis

Scout around 1:10.

Stats gets a pretty big advantage from his Phoenix harass and a failed Zergling Roach push at his 3rd base so that he has space to go into Carriers.

See this PiG Daily for more discussion about Carriers in PvZ. It's mostly from the perspective of a Zerg player looking to defend against Carriers, but you should get plenty of insights from it.

Keep a good spread with your Adepts to fight the Hydralisks and not get blown up by Banelings. Later, add in High Templar for storms (against Hydralisks) and Archons (against Corruptors) to provide more support for your Carriers.

For other things to be wary of, Scarlett faced this same build from Stats and beat it with burrowed Roaches.