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GameSpot's Guide to Starcraft

Mission 8: To Chain the Beast

Overview
You must defend your base against a relentless Zerg offensive led by an overpowered Ultralisk, and work to disable three enemy broods by killing their host Cerebrates, after which you can safely transport four Medics to the beacons surrounding the Zerg Overmind, thus drugging the organism into submission.

Possible Expansions
Only a single viable expansion exists, and it is the immediately visible area that contains three Bunkers and a Missile Turret east of your starting base. You will wish to expand there once you've heavily fortified your starting position, and the region will provide you with the resources necessary to complete your task.

Key Points
Take note of the locations of the enemy Cerebrates and the Overmind at the beginning of the mission - they are your targets. Several minutes into the scenario, you will be attacked by a very powerful Ultralisk called Torrasque, which has twice the hit points and deals more than twice as much damage as your typical fully upgraded Ultralisk. You will hear its roar first, and it will arrive at your base soon thereafter, destroying everything in sight until you can kill it. Take note that Torrasque kills Marines in a single stroke, making Medics rather useless for support against it. Torrasque will return periodically, but from an unpredictable direction, until you can eliminate its host Cerebrate. Unfortunately, you will not be able to do so easily, since the red Cerebrate's Sunken Colonies are invincible, surrounding your starting position. You may wish to fly in and kill that Cerebrate before assaulting Torrasque's master. Once Torrasque is no longer a threat, your task is simple.

Torrasque will not fall easily, but an Engineering Bay, Bunkers, and Supply Depots can block it off from your defending forces.

Walk-through
The mission will begin with your eastern Bunkers being attacked by Sunken Colonies. Pull the nine Marines out of the three Bunkers and move them south, out of harm's reach. Later, when you build a Starport, you can build a Dropship to deliver them to the safety of your main base. Early in this mission, those nine Marines can make a difference. Back at your base, quickly take advantage of your high starting resources by building an Academy, an additional Barracks, a Refinery, a Factory, and starting on a Marine weapons upgrade. Crank out new SCVs and start bringing in the resources, then set up several Bunkers on the outskirts of your base, paying particular attention to the northeastern corner, where Torrasque is liable to strike first. Bolster your Bunkers with Siege Tanks, and try to have around a dozen Marines on standby, with Medics for assistance. A Medic in your supply line can also help. Don't worry if your outlying Missile Turrets are attacked and destroyed; build more, but closer to your base.

Next: The Mission 8 Walk-through, continued
 

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