Recently, Forge Fast Expands have become very popular within the Korean metagame in PvT. I ripped a bunch of the different variations of the build, and have been playing around with them in depth. Here are some general thoughts and tips for anyone who wants to try them out!

Generally speaking, the FFE is good vs a fast expanding Terran player. If the Terran player goes gas, and you go for the Forge after your Nexus, the game is out of your hands. You should lose if he scouts you with any speed and knows how to react. (for Terran players reading this, try a 1 gas reactor hellion into medivac. From there you can generally do whatever you want.)

You will notice, if you study the way that top pros do the build, that they oftentimes scout late. This can be a bit dangerous, but 1 rax fast expands are totally the norm out here.

You will probably need 2 cannons. 1 cannon only works vs light pressure. You need to be scouting nonstop, and if you can’t get good intel, you will probably need a second one, unless you want to gamble a bit.

Your 3rd base timing is very important. When Terran moves out with Medivacs and Stim, you need to be able to bludgeon the army head-on. Earlier attacks have to be dealt with via good Force Fields.

There are a ton of little tweaks which have to be done as you experiment more and more with the Forge Expand vs Terran, especially centered around the timings of your Robo, gates #2+3, and your 3rd Nexus. For different levels of intel gathered, you have to respond accordingly. If done correctly, it’s extremely powerful.

Make your first Pylon, Forge, and Gateway in a walling formation above your main ramp when doing this build. (much like a 1 base opening vs Zerg). This way, if you mess up and get caught off gaurd vs a marine/scv All-in, you can easily and cheaply finish the wall to buy yourself time. For a possible comeback.

Here is a very general build order, gathered from Oz’s game on Antiga Shipyard vs Fin. It’s not exactly what I use, but it’s a really good starting point if you want to dabble in the strategy:

9 Pylon

16 Nexus

17 Forge

18 Pylon

18 Gate

19 Cannon

20, 21 Gas, Gas

24 Core

24 Zealot

29 +1 Armor

Warpgate, Stalker

Sentry, Gate, Gate

~47 Nexus

Robo, Gas, Gas

+1 Attack

GL!