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GameSpot's Guide to Starcraft

Mission 3: The Legacy of the Xel'Naga

Overview
A lone Zerg Cerebrate, surrounded by a sizeable Zerg garrison, exists on an island west of your starting position. You must build up a base, defending it from Zerg Overlord ambushes all the while, until you are prepared to lay siege to the island. The new Protoss Corsair, with its Disruption Web ability, will help by nullifying the island's Spore Colony defenses. A fleet of Scouts will be valuable for surgical strikes, but you'll finally need to finish the job with Dark Templars, who must deal the killing blow to the Cerebrate.

Possible Expansions
You'll see an expansion northwest of your starting position. Soon after the mission begins, Corsairs and Dragoons will be deployed to take care of the Zerg presence there. You should then move those forces to your starting position to help defend what you have; you needn't expand until your original base is heavily fortified with Photon Cannons and Dragoons.

Use the Corsair's Disruption Web to cripple enemy Spore Colonies, then use your Scouts to take them out.

Key Points
You will see the Corsair's Disruption Web ability in action here. You are advised to put it to use when you finally attack the Cerebrate's island. Because there is no land bridge connecting your base to the enemy, the enemy will send many Overlords bearing deadly cargo your way. With good scouting and good Dragoon and Photon Cannon positioning, you can stop many of these invasions cold. Beware, though, for enemy Queens will kill off some of your Dragoons with their Spawn Broodlings ability. Expand only when you have a lot of minerals available and set up five or so Photon Cannons along with your new Nexus.

Once your Scouts have smashed the Cerebrate's defense, drop a team of Dark Templars to finish it off.

Walk-through
Rapidly build up your base. Once the Corsairs and Dragoons do their work, move them to your original position. Don't hesitate to line the coast with Photon Cannons when resources allow. Two Gateways producing Dragoons will also help, but keep in mind that you won't be able to attack the enemy with them directly. When your base is fortified, move a Probe and a small garrison to the northwest expansion and set up a new Nexus and plenty of Cannons. The resources from these two points will allow you to build up a fleet of 12 Scouts, which you should upgrade for speed and weapons. Also be sure to research the Argus Jewel for increased Corsair energy, and consider adding a few Corsairs to your original four, which you should keep out of action until you're ready to attack the Cerebrate. Once your Scouts are ready, you'll want to use your Corsairs to lay down Disruption Webs over the Spore Colonies around the base. Any angle of approach is fine, but you may wish to hug the southern border of the map and work your way north, since most of the enemy Overlords are there just waiting to be killed by your Scouts. Work slowly, eliminating the Spore Colonies one at a time and grouping your Scouts against Hydralisks and Mutalisks. Run them back to the Shield Battery when necessary, and replace any that are lost. You can clear most of the island this way, but eventually you'll need to use a Shuttle to drop several Dark Templars onto the island. Use them to kill the Cerebrate, thereby completing the mission.

Next: Mission 4: The Quest for Uraj
 

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