Overall, Terran strategy tends to be more defense-oriented, especially in the early going, with an emphasis on solid base development and orderly expansion. But the race is balanced enough that you can adapt Terran forces to almost any style of play, conservative or aggressive. Most single-player missions unfold in recognizable phases. Generally, the early phase is about base development and reconnaissance; the middle phase is about expansion; and the endgame is about crushing your foe in a nal showdown.

However, not all missions conclude with the destruction of your enemy’s base or force. Some feature less conventional objectives: mining a certain amount of minerals, or escorting civilians safely down a Zerg-infested road, or simply holding out against an endless stream of enemy forces until a friendly ship can extract your team. Sometimes you’ll have to adapt to changing objectives on the y.

Note also that aspects of each game phase apply to other phases, and that phases overlap. All that said, let’s take a look at how a typical mission unfolds in this starcraft 2 guide.