Understanding SC2: A Unit by Unit Analysis

[Alterran]

Phoenix is faster and deals better damage without having to charge up. Plus in that scenario, if he gets hydralisks your void rays are kinda dead, Phoenix can kill equal numbers of hydralisks very easily. Plus Phoenix are cheaper and faster. (You get 1.5 phoenix for every void ray)

Sure, if he went hydra right from the start then my voidrays are dead. But the fact is that going a quick voidray is superior to going quick phoenix since voidrays can easy end the game unless you have failed and letting him scout your stargate.
You get 1.5 phoenix for a voidray? Did you also consider that you need 2+ to do anything other than overlord hunt those that are not protected by queen?
I would say they are best 3x so they can kill queen?

so i either get 3 quick phoenix to scout/ overlord hunt / harass. Or i get 2 voidrays for the same cost and harass / kill hive?

If he already has hydra then ur putting ur money in bad no matter if you are getting voidray or phoenix, hydralisk is a lot cheaper and quicker to mass produce for zerg.

Which is way later tech than the phoenix. So you'll have more phoenix by the time he starts pumping out Vikings. And they're not even that bad against them.

Not way later. Have you never been banshee cheesed ? its about the same time as voidrays.

[SlickR]

I find the corsair perfectly good unit, that serves its purpose and I don't know what all the whining against is.

[zergjuice]

Sure, if he went hydra right from the start then my voidrays are dead.

IIRC the timings, even if the zerg goes hydras you can still get a few stargate units and kill drones/queen.

I think the real problem is if the zerg creates more queens and abuses transfusion/borrow while hydralisk den is on the way.

[Asfastasican]

While I can sorta understand why you like killing workers by fast building phoenixes, you have to realize that Vikings are just as effective at doing that and mutas are even better at doing it as well. I think that's why a number of players will argue you on that point.

And yes, Void Rays will wreck a town hall pretty fast if they are not dealt with, and that's a lot better then clipping workers.

I find the corsair perfectly good unit, that serves its purpose and I don't know what all the whining against is.

I agree, I do wish the Corsair could have made a return. It was a solid unit.

[Norfindel]

I find the corsair perfectly good unit, that serves its purpose and I don't know what all the whining against is.

You mean the Phoenix? Just because neither the Phoenix nor the Void Ray are good to fight ground units. The Zerg can use the Mutalisk for AtG/harass, and the Corruptor can morph into a Brood Lord, and kills the Phoenix easily (no wonder: Armored and 2 Armor). The Terran have the Banshee, and the Viking can go into ground mode, also. The Protoss have the Void Ray, that sucks for cost vs all GtA low-tier units, and the Phoenix that cannot attack ground, unless you use Graviton Beam, and using that makes them a sitting duck.

It must be one of the most specialized units in the entire game: anti-light-air. If it's going to be AtA only, at least don't cripple it's attack against non-light air units. It deals half damage vs everything non-light. Talking about hard-counters...

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[Aldrius]

While I can sorta understand why you like killing workers by fast building phoenixes, you have to realize that Vikings are just as effective at doing that and mutas are even better at doing it as well. I think that's why a number of players will argue you on that point.

Well they're not necessarily right. You need 5 Mutalisks to one-shot a worker. You need 3 Phoenix. And Phoenix move faster and have a lot more health. Seriously, Anti-gravity is a lot easier to use than people think it is. It's no harder than focus firing.

And yes, Void Rays will wreck a town hall pretty fast if they are not dealt with, and that's a lot better then clipping workers.

If they are not dealt with. But it's slow without it's upgrade and it doesn't even have armor anymore. So it can't even escape. Believe me, I'm all too familiar with Void Ray attacks as a Zerg player. And how they can win a game.

Phoenix is a much more legitimate option in harassing your opponent, though. A lot less risky. Again, faster, more durable. Guaranteed to do some damage. But really, the obvious answer is to use them in unison with one another. Phoenix to pick off stray defenders and workers, Void Ray to attack main structures.

You mean the Phoenix? Just because neither the Phoenix nor the Void Ray are good to fight ground units. The Zerg can use the Mutalisk for AtG/harass,

They're great for fighting ground units. They're almost as good as the Mutalisk is which dies to Marines incredibly easy as well. Easier than the Phoenix does, even if they are easier to micro. The Void Ray dies quickly, but it's still a powerful option for your army.

and the Phoenix that cannot attack ground, unless you use Graviton Beam, and using that makes them a sitting duck.

No it doesn't. As soon as you kill the unit it's AGing it stops channeling. And if that's a marine, that takes all of a second. If it's a Hydralisk it might take two. My point is phoenix pretty much one-shot these units once they're up in the air.

And no, you won't be beating any mass stalker/hydralisk/marine armies with solely a Phoenix/Void Ray force. But that's true of every basic air force for the other two races as well. (Well, except maybe the Banshee.) You need to go up to Brood Lords/Carriers/Battlecruisers in order to take those on.

I'm finding the more I use Phoenix, the better I'm getting better at using AG and microing them at the same time. And they synchronize BEAUTIFULLY with blinking stalkers.

[StrongCoffee]

So...whats with the next analysis?

[Aldrius]

I started it yesterday, haven't gotten around to finishing it yet. Sorry. It'll be up soon.

Decided to do the Thor.