Stalkers........What are they good for?

[Essentia]

As a protoss player I'm having trouble finding a place for stalkers in my strategies.

They are not a counter for air for any race.

Vs Zerg:

They do not counter roach/zerglings at all

Vs Terran

They do not counter M&M at all

Vs Protoss

In my experience PvP is a zealot fest anyway, so there's not much use for them there.



So I'm just wondering what are stalkers good for, they just seem very weak and have no real damage output. If u want counter to heavy ground u go immorts, if u want a counter to air u go phoenix or something else but def not stalker. SO WHERE DO THEY FIT?

[Rilgon]

Vs Zerg:

They do not counter roach/zerglings at allWell no kidding that one unit (Stalkers) cannot beat a mix of two units (Roaches/Zerglings).

Zealots forming a defensive line in front of your stalkers to absorb the 'lings + Stalkers focus-firing them down -> take out the Roaches -> stop having a boring life

[Nick]

You just referred to a matchup in an RTS as "PvP" - I think I may have diagnosed your problem. You suck at RTSes. Not to mention apparently thinking all Protoss mirror matches end at the Zealot rush phase... Not very often if both players are any good.

They're like Dragoons that can blink. If you can't see how that can be useful, you're bad. Hint: if you mass a unit you should learn to use its activated ability well.

Sorry, but your the one whos bad here. PvP is the standard Protoss vs Protoss acronym. And he does have a point, with sentries overlapping into their ranged/AA roll, plus extra abilities stalkers are only needed for blink harass and countering armor (most of which they suck at unless microd correctly). Thanks for being an asshole though, that works too I guess.

[Moorehouse]

You just referred to a matchup in an RTS as "PvP" - I think I may have diagnosed your problem. You suck at RTSes. Not to mention apparently thinking all Protoss mirror matches end at the Zealot rush phase... Not very often if both players are any good.

They're like Dragoons that can blink. If you can't see how that can be useful, you're bad. Hint: if you mass a unit you should learn to use its activated ability well.

You use horrible logic, PvP is protoss vs. Protoss, so he actually used a LEGIT name. Because it is OFTEN called pvp. And also understand that blink does NOT work on mixed units of roach/lings. You can't kite against a good player, it is only usefull for getting away, and hes asking how to WIN a battle, not GET AWAY from a battle. So please, don't be rude against the player, even if he sounds newb, he proposing a question that others may be wanting to know as well.

[Moorehouse]

Sorry, but your the one whos bad here. PvP is the standard Protoss vs Protoss acronym. And he does have a point, with sentries overlapping into their ranged/AA roll, plus extra abilities stalkers are only needed for blink harass and countering armor (most of which they suck at unless microd correctly). Thanks for being an asshole though, that works too I guess.

You are now my friend

Why?

Because you are awsome <33333

Edit: You edited my quote, so I edited the quote I quoted

[Ezra]

You just referred to a matchup in an RTS as "PvP" - I think I may have diagnosed your problem. You suck at RTSes. Not to mention apparently thinking all Protoss mirror matches end at the Zealot rush phase... Not very often if both players are any good.

They're like Dragoons that can blink. If you can't see how that can be useful, you're bad. Hint: if you mass a unit you should learn to use its activated ability well.

You're either a troll or a moron.

[Queuequeue]

You just referred to a matchup in an RTS as "PvP" - I think I may have diagnosed your problem.

EPIC FAIL.


I guess that thread the other day theorizing that people with the marine icon were bad may have some merit.

[Moorehouse]

EPIC FAIL.


I guess that thread the other day theorizing that people with the marine icon were bad may have some merit.



That was MY topic too! XD

[Acosnil]

it probably helps to think of them as heavier reapers. Unless you really want to build them en-mass the best thing they're for is anti-utiltiy unit (anti-reaper, anti-rush type ect) and fire-fighting. Blink really circumvents any disadvantages their size, or geographical features may present.

[Zaq]

You just referred to a matchup in an RTS as "PvP" - I think I may have diagnosed your problem. You suck at RTSes. Not to mention apparently thinking all Protoss mirror matches end at the Zealot rush phase... Not very often if both players are any good.

They're like Dragoons that can blink. If you can't see how that can be useful, you're bad. Hint: if you mass a unit you should learn to use its activated ability well.

Their ability to blink does not make up for how much less overall useful they are than goons.

[Zomgalawlrus]

I am certainly not the highest caliber player, but I can contribute from my own experiences. I acknowledge that what I am saying does not apply to TOP level play necessarily, but I think it does apply to almost everyone else below.

I am currently in platinum in 1s and 2s (19 div 10, 1 div 4) and vs. Protoss after the first patch and almost certainly after this one I don't think I'll ever have a problem ZvP at my level.

Optimized and well microed mass roach rush decimates all but the absolute top caliber protoss (usually because they cannon/tech). Zealots are steamrolled by them, proxy rushes don't work anymore, and you can't get enough stalkers by the time the roaches are in. I would say that I've gone about 14-2 in 2s after switching to zerg and rushing a protoss, and I haven't lost to a protoss in 1s yet as zerg after patch 1. The problem of roaches is compounded by the fact that protoss can't fight off their followup: mutalisks. If they start cannoning and try to tech up to avoid getting slammed by roaches, mutalisks pretty much GG them.

It may be true at extremely high level play that heavily microed stalkers+sentries can fight off mutalisks..but it seems to me that that is ridiculously untenable for anyone but pros. I would be willing to wager most people could right click mutalisks to fly over your base and focus fire units/probes/buildings considerably faster and with less trouble than most people could create balanced stalker/sentry armies, micro the shield spell, AND position them properly to cut off mutalisks at every turn considering how agile air is. And on top of all this, if the protoss succeeds in doing all of this, his only reward is that he doesn't get completely RUN OVER. Fending off the mutalisks doesn't really hurt zerg all that much because those mutalisks will still be extremely effective in a full out battle as they still do tons of dps to ground/air. Even if the mutalisks are fended off immediately, the protoss probably still built photon cannons around his main/natural and therefore the mutalisks have already paid for themselves. On the other hand, if the protoss doesn't have cannons/sentries/stalkers he's completely screwed and the game is over. To me it feels like 4 mutalisks can kill probes almost as fast as psi storm in SC1.

Please feel free to post and correct my interpretations/statements. However, I would like to hear some detailed explanation/justification, because it would be completely contradictory to my beta experience thus far. Thanks!

[Roffles]

Theyre actually quite good AA's, my zealots do most of the ground work with some backup

[Divine]

That was MY topic too! XD

i read that topic too! XD

[Namhcir]

As a protoss player I'm having trouble finding a place for stalkers in my strategies.

They are not a counter for air for any race.

Vs Zerg:

They do not counter roach/zerglings at all

Vs Terran

They do not counter M&M at all

Vs Protoss

In my experience PvP is a zealot fest anyway, so there's not much use for them there.



So I'm just wondering what are stalkers good for, they just seem very weak and have no real damage output. If u want counter to heavy ground u go immorts, if u want a counter to air u go phoenix or something else but def not stalker. SO WHERE DO THEY FIT?

its called mix and match, ive lately been thinking of switching my race from terran simply because toss is extremely easy to play and a very dominating race, it requires the last amount of macro as well making it easy to concentrate on microing which is really helpful considering a shielded race..

You should always mix in zealots (if ur facing a lot of melee), shield guys (forget name), colossus if they mass ground, 1 col will take out 5 times amount of units as it costs in resources for that 1 colossus its amazing try it. if u let ur enemy over expand and dominate you, well thats your fault tbh

[Aryxymaraki]

My experience has been that Stalkers are great at countering reaper harassment, and do well to fill out an attack force for ranged/AA/anti-armor, though I rely on Immortals to do the real armor-bashing and ranged damage, Stalkers make good filler.


I don't use Sentires a lot though. I should try replacing my Stalkers with Sentries and see what happens.

[Jalaman]

You just referred to a matchup in an RTS as "PvP" - I think I may have diagnosed your problem. You suck at RTSes. Not to mention apparently thinking all Protoss mirror matches end at the Zealot rush phase... Not very often if both players are any good.

They're like Dragoons that can blink. If you can't see how that can be useful, you're bad. Hint: if you mass a unit you should learn to use its activated ability well.

>doesn't know PvP means Protoss vs Protoss XD XD XD

[Istari]

Blink can be amazing. Good anti-air without having to switch to stargate if you don't need it. Can counter drops and rushes with some range behind good base defense.

[Brian]

They're fast ranged units that can survive a lot longer than most. What's not to love? You can't just zerg (no pun intended) with a ton of them at anything. Mix and match. A few Zealots and some Stalkers can do a lot of damage early game. They're also very easy to get to and have a decently proportioned anti-air ability. They also eat up everything that Terrans use in the sky, pretty much. They're also good against carriers and Void Rays. They can hold their own against Roaches most of the time. They can also use blink to chase down a retreating enemy.

I mean really ... they're not the end all, be all of units but they are very, very good units and every Protoss player should have a few at their base, at least.

[Lojo]

You just referred to a matchup in an RTS as "PvP" - I think I may have diagnosed your problem. You suck at RTSes. Not to mention apparently thinking all Protoss mirror matches end at the Zealot rush phase... Not very often if both players are any good.

They're like Dragoons that can blink. If you can't see how that can be useful, you're bad. Hint: if you mass a unit you should learn to use its activated ability well.

I don't think I've ever seen someone make himself look so stupid with a single post. I like how he hasn't returned to the thread.

[Messana]

You just referred to a matchup in an RTS as "PvP" - I think I may have diagnosed your problem. You suck at RTSes. Not to mention apparently thinking all Protoss mirror matches end at the Zealot rush phase... Not very often if both players are any good.

They're like Dragoons that can blink. If you can't see how that can be useful, you're bad. Hint: if you mass a unit you should learn to use its activated ability well.

Don't post anymore.

[Riken]

Stalkers + Lots + Sentries

[Stasis]

Stalkers + Lots + Sentries
Yep.

Zealots hold off the Zerglings from chewing up your Stalkers.

Sentries keep the Roaches at distance (if at a choke point such as a ramp) or reduce the damage you take from them, depending on how you choose to use their energy.

Stalkers do the heavy lifting against the Roaches.

[Scrat]

Warp Sentry does a good job of warding off ranged attacks. That might help.

[Chung]

They're good. Cheap, nice damage, upgrades well.

[Maben]

I would think the real question is: What makes stalkers so "bad"? I think they are a pretty useful unit. There are plenty of times when I am forced to build stalkers and it saves my game.

The only thing I think should be changed about stalkers honestly is add like a very minimal amount of damage to their attack...like 1-2. They are good at what they do but I do think they are a bit cost inefficient. This would help really round out the unit to the point that I am no longer thinking "man sometimes i just miss Dragoons".