Attacking from multiple sides?

[Moser]

What are your feelings on attacking from multiple sides? Would you reccommend attacking from 2 sides or just mass attacking one side?

[Zeltaris]

Ok, first of all, it's called Flanking.

Second, I love it. It's great at disarming armies, freaking your opponent out and best of all, taking mineral only expos on LT, specially when you're playing PvT and the other guy has all those stupid tanks and mines lying around and... ugh... must.. go... kill..terrans

[Kamikaze_Chicken]

its a great strategy to use because if your opponent tries dealing with one side only you can totally cause havoc before they can manage a fight against your force

the downside is it is hella hard to micro both attacking forces...

[Ahzz]

Always, always, if possible, attack from many sides. And with the "if possible" I mean if it would prove useful. If you have multiple amount of army, and you would take the time to go from many directions, your opponent might come to your first bit of army causing more casualities

[Cpt.Chronic]

Flanking is basically attacking from multiple sides at the same time, and it is useful in most situations, but especially useful vs terran (PvT, ZvT), as well as vs Protoss in ZvP. First, I will will tell you WHY flanking is good, then I will explain WHEN you should flank, and finally tell you HOW to flank most effectively.

Why:
There are two main reasons you flank. The most important is because it will get all of your units attacking at the same time. Instead of having units getting clogged up behind the units in front (especially melee units), and unable to attack because they are out of range, a good flank will allow all of your units to start attacking at the same time, thus dealing much more damage. The other reason is to distract certain types of attacks, such as tank splash damage and high-templar psi storms. Since units are much more spread out during a flank, it limits the effectiveness of "area" attacks such as the tank splash and psi storm. The splash will only hit a few units at a time instead of your entire army and for storm your units will be spread out to where there will be less units in one particular spot. So instead of killing 8 hydra with one storm, it may only kill 3. Actually, there is one more reason you flank in PvT and that is because when terran pushes they fortify the front of their push with a lot of mines while many times leaving the rear or side of the push mineless so it's a lot easier for your zealots to get in close on the tanks.

When:
The best time to flank a terran for both P and Z is when he is on the move (aka he has just unseiged and is advancing his army towards one of your bases). Although it is possible to flank after he has seiged, it is not as effective. In PvZ and TvZ many times the zerg will be pressured early on with either rines or zealots. The best way to handle this is to have a group of lings outside your choke area, hidden from the terran or toss. When they come to attack at your choke send the hidden group of lings, plus whatever lings you have in your base at the same time, which should trap his force b/n your two forces. As Protoss vs Terran, the best way to beat a tank/vulture push is to use a flank in combination with 1-2 shuttles full of zealots/dts. Send in the flank and drop the zeals/dts at the same time.

How:
To properly flank YOU MUST HOTKEY MULTIPLE GROUPS OF UNITS. Let's use the map LT for example and assume that you have 3 hotkeys worth of units. So lets say we use 1-3 for the units' hotkeys. What you want to do is set up a semi-circle around where the terran is going to come out, with each hotkeyed group making up a point on the semi-circle. The reason you have to use hotkeys is because your units will not all be on the same screen so it would be impossible to send them all to attack at the same time. Also, as P or Z you will want observe terran movement so you can attack as he is on the move. For zerg, set ovies at his choke and in front of your army, for Toss, use observers. Wait for the terran to exit his choke and once he gets out of range of his cliffs (he probably has tanks on them) attack with all your units from all three sides simultaneously. Since your units are already hotkeyed all you have to do is use the mini-map and type "1, a", click on minimap where terran army is located, "2, a", click on minimap where terran army is located, "3, a", click on minimap where terran army is located, and there you have it. I also hotkey my shuttle(s) to "5" so after I tell my armies to attack I will hit "5" and right click to the terran army and drop my zealots on seiged tanks.

[elitentity]

Flanking is good. For me, I just like sending my army through different sides and not worry about micro too much unless your opponent starts microing against you.

BTW, great description (the post above this one)

[Kamikaze_Chicken]

The best way to flank for me is to attack them front on with a lot of units... but still have heaps that i shuttle in from both sides... under protection of course

[GoatseS_BoxeR]

Flank = ownage do it as much as u can to minimize losses from 1.psionic storm 2. tank splash.

[Spartan-II]

Now that we've decided that flanking is good (Duh?) lets talk about great flanking units.
My favorites in flanking are Dark Templar, Vultures, Dragoons, Hydralisks, and Zealots.

[UA-drpeppa]

Guardians, too. Backing up a frontal attack by flanking with guardians from one or two other sides works very well. Just creates a sense of chaos, really.
haha, I used to use that tactic a lot when I was a really good Zerg player a couple years back.

[X-Master2]

well just massing on one side usually works since your forces are consolidated to one point, and the enemies defenses will eventually crumble, but if you split up the attack then the enemy has to split his attention up, now depending on if its comp or human....human will either
1. give up
2. fend off attack
3. crack under the strain of too many thought processes
4. swear and curse you like theres no tomorrow

comps just do w/e ever they are programmed to do.

[Moser]

Dude.. What the fuck are you talking about in that last paragraph?

[ReD_ICE]

flanking is one of the most useful ways to disturb your opponent. If you are not yet launching your wish-to-be final attack, then you should continously dropping units to just harrass your enemy. Usually, taking out the workers is a good way to slow your enemy's resource income. However, you MUST retrieve the ovies/dropships/shuttles right after you drop (you dont just leave em there and get wasted, mind you they're all pretty expensive). Once you are ready for your big attack, you should always distract your opponent's front area, so that you lure all the enemy units' attention to the front of his base. Once you have made sure there are no more/very less defence at the back, drop in as many units as you can. If this is early in the game, then try to take out his nexus/command/hatchery first, since that's the main resource collecting area. However, if this is later in the game, try to take out all the supplies/pylons/ovies first, becuz they would have enough minerals to make more expansions, and would definitely be building reinforcement. If you take out the population suppliers, it means they have to waste time + money on more of those, and not enough for defence. At the same time, you should send some units to search/guard all the other unoccupied expansions, so that they have no chance. If you flank successfully, they will likely to be gg. ^^

[Ragnarox]

Flanking is great when you are going up against an army with superior firepower. Its the best way to deal with dragoons in my opinion, esspecially when you're Zerg. Using lings and more lings to flank, the dragoons fire sporatic bursts at the lings and if you have full upgrades, then the goons can't take the lings out in one shot! With adrinal glands its even better.

Another thing is that flanking really pisses your opponent off and wrecks their concentration.

[ReD_ICE]

ragnarox...goons can't take out lings in one shot without either sides upgrading already...goons attack = 20, lings hp = 35.....would u say?

[Sambo83]

lol... nice to see that you're progressing, Moser. Of course it's good to attack from multiple sides.. with the zerg 3 or 4 sides even.. with protoss generally 2 sides is good.

In PvZ, flanking isn't really practical because you must keep your forces in one large group with the templar at the rear in order to effectively storm the zerg horde and counter their flanks.

In PvT flanking is absolutely essential.. tanks get all stupid when they have to select targets from multiple directions... you're going to lose vs a terran with equal resources if attack head on. Your goal should be to stay one base ahead (which is often accomplished by an early expo strategy, followed up by expanding whenever he expands) of the terran and always attack his force from 2 sides (3 sides late game).

PvP is entirely different.. flanking is useful sometimes.. difficult to explain.. my general strategy is to open with reavers.. PvP rarely lasts more than 15 minutes. (unless both players are newbs, so don't bother to post your countless carrier vs carrier replays that were NR20 just to rebut this point.)

its a great strategy to use because if your opponent tries dealing with one side only you can totally cause havoc before they can manage a fight against your force

the downside is it is hella hard to micro both attacking forces...
not difficult to micro at all... especially with toss, if you have 2 bases, you can simply rally the gates to different spots.. then drag select units and control group them and when you order the attack, they automatically move from 2 angles.. the alternative is just when you control group your units, move them to different spots so that when you attack ground, they approach from different angles.... do you understand, or do i need to explain more?

ragnarox...goons can't take out lings in one shot without either sides upgrading already...goons attack = 20, lings hp = 35.....would u say?
goons do 10 damage to ling.. it takes 4 shots to kill one, dumbasses.

[Ragnarox]

ragnarox...goons can't take out lings in one shot without either sides upgrading already

I knew that.

<_<
>_>
:D

[Sambo83]

A goon +3 attack still takes 3 shots to kill a 0-0 ling, and if the ling has even +1 carapace it takes 4 shots again. Under no conditions can a goon kill a ling in 1 hit.

[Moser]

lol... nice to see that you're progressing, Moser.
Who said i'm progressing? I just wanted to know what everybody else thought about it and I knew I could get some good strategies. :P

[usclsw]

flanking is good strategic but have to bear in mind that you need more troops and have to scout the enemy's place to ensure that they are open for you to attack them.

[ReD_ICE]

however...never flank a terran player who has tanks spread out on his cliff, and turrets surrounding his base...u'll just be wasting a lot of money....lol....

[Landwaster]

Ok, first of all, it's called Flanking.

Second, I love it. It's great at disarming armies, freaking your opponent out and best of all, taking mineral only expos on LT, specially when you're playing PvT and the other guy has all those stupid tanks and mines lying around and... ugh... must.. go... kill..terrans Ok, first of all, why do you missuse the word "Flanking"? Has most of the StarCrafting community adopted this redefinition of the word? Flanking historically means to attack a military formation from its left or its right. You can flank a formation with only one group of attackers. Or even one attacker.

I think the original poster's use of the phrase "attacking from multiple sides" is much more descriptive of the scenerio he has in mind. It seemed odd that you corrected his verbiage.

Second, how's the view from that high horse?

[Sambo83]

however...never flank a terran player who has tanks spread out on his cliff, How do you "flank" units on a cliff? That doesn't make any sense. Do you know what you're talking about?

Flanking is the key to beating back a terran push.

[Zeltaris]

Ok, first of all, why do you missuse the word "Flanking"? Has most of the StarCrafting community adopted this redefinition of the word? Yes, we have.
Flanking historically means to attack a military formation from its left or its right. You can flank a formation with only one group of attackers. Or even one attacker. Allow me to share a bit of my knowledge of the English language. You see, words may or may not have different meanings depending on their context.
Although militarily, flanking is attacking a formation from one of its sides, StarCraft is a GAME and within the game, the strategy that consists in attacking your foe from multiple sides is called Flanking. Two contexts, two meanings. As simple as that

I think the original poster's use of the phrase "attacking from multiple sides" is much more descriptive of the scenerio he has in mind. It seemed odd that you corrected his verbiage. It's not odd and I did not correct him. I merely stated that the tactic he mentioned is called flanking. If I wanted to correct someone I'd say that it's spelt scenario, not "scenerio". There, happy now?

Second, how's the view from that high horse? Wow, a pun concerning my avatar. How sweet :confused:

[Moser]

It's not odd and I did not correct him. I merely stated that the tactic he mentioned is called flanking. If I wanted to correct someone I'd say that it's spelt scenario, not "scenerio". There, happy now?
Just a word of advice: Next time you want to correct somebody, don't sound like an ass. Because you truely did when you corrected me back there.

[Zeltaris]

Just a word of advice: Next time you want to correct somebody, don't sound like an ass. Because you truely did when you corrected me back there.
Ok, I'll keep it in mind.
In my own defense, though, I will say that I replied to that Landwaster guy above me cos he was doing the exact thing he was jumping down my throat for in the first place

[Sambo83]

Flank, transitive verb, To put (something) on each side of: flanked the driveway with tall shrubs.

i.e. Flanked the terran with hydra/lurker.

Learn English before mouthing off, please.

[Landwaster]

Flank, transitive verb, To put (something) on each side of: flanked the driveway with tall shrubs.

i.e. Flanked the terran with hydra/lurker.

Learn English before mouthing off, please.

Hmmm. Do you think you quoted the most appropriate definition?

My intent when posting that first reply wasn't really to point out the meaning of a word. My thoughts were more along the line, "Gee, what a rude response to such a friendly question. Maybe I should let this person know how he sounds."

Since subtly is lost on you, I'll just thank you for educating me in such an unbiased manner.

English lesson learned: In order to make a point, it's okay to skip more appropriate first three definitions of a word and use 4th definition that just barely applies. And it's okay to let on that nothing was omitted. Just pretend like you don't know what ellipses are.

Thanks for the lesson!

But why are you looking things up in an "English" dictionary? I've been told that players of Starcraft adopt their own meanings for words.

TRANSITIVE VERB:Inflected forms: flanked, flank·ing, flanks
1. To protect or guard the flank of. 2. To menace or attack the flank of. 3. To be placed or situated at the flank or side of: Two stone lions flanked the entrance. 4. To put (something) on each side of: flanked the driveway with tall shrubs.

[thefazant]

damn land waster youre a retard, ask anyone who knows anything about sc and they will tell you that flanking means what sambo said.
sc isnt a dictionary game, i hope you realise this, a lot of sc terms dont make sense in normal english, but in a sc context they make perfect sense and everyone knows what is meant with it, except retarded noobs like you.

[Sambo83]

Hmmm. Do you think you quoted the most appropriate definition? rofl.. I quoted the definition of the word as it applies to starcraft. What definition would you say is more appropriate than the one that applies? You're trying to say that because the word "read" means to view and comprehend text, that it can't also be used to mean the mouthpiece of a wind instrument. O_O

[siuloongbao]

damn this thread aint about flanking or attacking multiple sides, this is about english. What the heck is that all about.

Anyway a toss countering a tank push would be good on LT, with a group of zealots hiding in the center of the map, since people generally go from corner to corner to get to the enemy base. With a main force going straight against the push, once the armies r engaged, it would be a simple matter to toss the army into disarray by sending in the zealots.

[Moser]

rofl.. I quoted the definition of the word as it applies to starcraft. What definition would you say is more appropriate than the one that applies? You're trying to say that because the word "read" means to view and comprehend text, that it can't also be used to mean the mouthpiece of a wind instrument. O_O

I don't wanna get in on the English lesson here, just wanted to say that the "read" of a wood wind instrument is spelled "reed."

Sorry Sambo, I just wanted to point that out.. But as for the arguement about the right term.. Sambo wins. :]

[X-Master2]

Makes me wonder what good this will do any body accept Moser, and any one else that looks for anything on multi side attacks......

[Sambo83]

I guess it won't do anybody any good except for people interested in the topic of the thread. For Shame!

[X-Master2]

Well, lets hope the next post, after this one, will be about the thread, and not anything else, unless it is some how related to the topic, that makes sense, in this universe, not the one across the street mind you.