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GameSpot's Guide to Starcraft

Walk-through
You start with a fairly advanced base, but work quickly to fortify it even further by building advanced structures and setting up plenty of Sunken and Spore Colonies, especially along the northern edges of the map. You will be attacked from the north by Terran infantry soon after the mission begins, and you may eventually want to organize a force to work their way north and destroy the Terran outpost there. But first, organize a couple of dozen Hydralisks and send them against the enemy Zerg base to the east as soon as you feel ready. Remember to provide Overlord cover; enemy Lurkers await your forces.

Hydralisks smash the rival Zerg base near your own, a promise of things to come.

Watch the skies; you can often stop enemy Overlord drops before they start.

Keeping its defenders busy, sneak your Dark Templars in to finish off the Zerg Overmind.

Once that base is destroyed, rather than expand to it right away, expand first to high ground east of your starting position. Defend with plenty of Spore Colonies, then expand again to where the enemy base used to be. You'll want to line the coast with Hydralisks in anticipation of enemy Overlord drops, and you may wish to set flocks of Scourges to patrol the area as well. Be especially watchful for enemy Guardians, and have many Mutalisks and Devourers on hand to help stop rival fleets before they can approach your bases.

After you've upgraded your Overlords, you'll want to send them with Hydralisks and Drones to the southeast corner, where you'll build still another Hatchery. Watch out for Ghosts targeting Nukes from high ground north of the position, and also beware of enemy Science Vessels hunting with their Irradiate ability. Link your new base with a Nydus Canal and start amassing a huge air force, which you'll use to strike the Overmind from the south. Your force will encounter all manner of Terran and Zerg opposition. If you support your fleet with Hydralisks and Queens, and take care to isolate irradiated units immediately, you should be able to press your way to the Overmind. Drop in as many as eight Dark Templars and use them to finish it off while your air force concentrates on the enemy units. As soon as the Dark Templars kill the Overmind, you will have succeeded.

Next: Mission 9: The Reckoning
 

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