How to Build Protoss in "StarCraft 2"

Once you understand the basics, you can build a Protoss base in a few clicks.

In StarCraft 2, the Protoss create structures and units similarly to the original StarCraft. If you never played StarCraft 1, you might find yourself scratching your head at this alien race’s construction methods. Unlike the Terrans, Protoss cannot build anywhere on the map, and unlike the Zerg, the areas they can build are not as obvious to new users. Once you understand the mechanics of Protoss building, you’ll be on your way to creating a large Protoss army for battle with other players.

Instructions

1. Open your StarCraft 2 software, and load a game or start a new game.

2. Click on one of your starting Probes. In most game modes, you start with a small number of Protoss Probes and a Protoss Nexus. Probes are your builders and the Nexus is your main, home-base building.

3. Click on the triangular building icon, found in the lower left-hand corner of the Probe’s command box.

4. Click on the Protoss Pylon option. This is the building found in the upper left-hand corner of the build menu. With the exception of your Nexus, every structure that the Protoss creates requires a Pylon.

5. Click anywhere on open ground to place the Pylon. A blue ball of energy appears on the ground, indicating that the building is charging up.

6. Click and drag your cursor over the remaining Probes, then right-click on some nearby crystals to begin harvesting. Probes can harvest crystals and gasses to get more resources for future building. Your current resources appear in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.

7. Click on the Nexus and then click the Probe icon to start building another Probe. Protoss units are created through different buildings; the Nexus builds probes, the Warp Gate builds ground troops, and the Gateway builds spaceships. To create units, click on the appropriate building and then click on the desired unit icon.

8. Click on one of your existing Probe after the Pylon has appeared. After the orb disappears and the Pylon stands erect, it is ready for use.

9. Click on the triangular build icon again. This time, when you select the build command, a ring of blue light appears around the Pylon. This ring is the key to building other Protoss structures. Any new buildings must fall inside that ring in order to remain fully powered and operational. If you run out of space within the ring, you must build additional Pylons. Now you’re ready to start constructing a more advanced base using the Probe commands you’ve learned so far.

Tips & Warnings

• You can choose what buildings you want to create after the basic Pylon is build, including defensive cannons, upgrade facilities, gas refineries and more. The order in which you build around a Pylon is mostly up to you, but some buildings have prerequisites. If a building is gray in color, hold your cursor over it to see what the prerequisite buildings are.

• If you are not sure what a building does, hold the cursor over the Probe’s building option and a short paragraph gives you relevant information.

• Once you build a Gateway and Cybernetics Core, you have access to “Advanced” buildings. This building tab is directly to the right of the basic Probe building options.

• Hold your cursor over a building icon to see how many resources the building costs. Resources are gained through mining, so make sure you let some Probes continue gathering resources while your other Probe builds structures.