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GameSpot's Guide to Starcraft

Walk-through
Your base is well established from the beginning, so you can initially focus on mining resources and setting up a defensive perimeter. Your four Dragoons on the outskirts of your base will reveal incoming enemies and buy you some time, but will eventually be overwhelmed. You may wish to pull them back to base, and you would be wise to merge four of your eight Dark Templars into two additional Dark Archons. Expect to be attacked from the east and west entrances by Zealots, Dragoons, and Archons, and later by Reavers; Archons and Reavers are perfect targets for Mind Control. Build several Shield Batteries in close proximity to replenish your Dark Archons' shields. Also build a Robotics Facility, so that you can build Observers and Reavers. When resources allow, begin building Dragoons in force, and upgrade their range and weapons. A large group of Dragoons will take care of anything the enemy Protoss can throw your way.

Although you cannot build Arbiters in this mission, your Dark Archons can use Mind Control on enemy Arbiters, which will become powerful support for your forces.

When you're satisfied with the security of your main base, move a group of Dragoons and Dark Archons, and at least one Probe, to the northeastern expansion, which you can locate with an Observer. Set up your base, and build plenty of Photon Cannons to take care of any attackers that come your way. Once this base is fortified and resources are rolling in, you may wish to expand to the southwestern location as well, although it will prove somewhat more difficult to protect. At this point, you should again gather a force, only a larger one this time, and prepare to move it past a bridge to claim the resources in the center of the map. Shuttle-dropped Reavers can deal with the Photon Cannons easily, though sending masses of Dragoons can work quite well, also. Set up your base, again with plenty of Photon Cannons all around, since the enemy may attack with an air force. He will also send plenty of High Templars your way, which are easily killed by your Dark Archon's Feedback. Move most of your garrison to this new location.

Use a fleet of Carriers to attack Aldaris' true form, to the far north of the enemy Protoss base.

You'll amass plenty of resources between your three or four bases, and these will be well-spent on a fleet of Carriers. You needn't bother wasting money on upgrades initially, either; if you manage to Mind Control an enemy Carrier, you'll gain the enemy's technological advantage. Try not to kill any Carriers, Scouts, or Arbiters on this mission; you should have enough Dark Archons to claim them for yourself. When a fleet of Carriers is ready, then you are prepared to take on Aldaris.

Remember that the northernmost Aldaris is your true target. Work your way toward him slowly, ideally with an Observer and an Arbiter supporting your Carriers. Corsairs can help deal with Photon Cannons, but with enough Carriers on your side, those Cannons don't stand a chance anyway. Watch out especially for enemy Arbiters, which can lock your forces in Stasis, and make sure to deal with Archons before they get too close. Once you reach Aldaris, take him down and victory, albeit sour, is yours.

Next: Mission 8: Countdown
 

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