Probe

=Basic statistics= Type: mineral extraction

Activity: Minerals, Vespene Geyser

Race: Protoss

=Miscellaenous Stuff Raymond Must Categorize= Offensive Uses of Unit in Combat:

1. Probe + Zeolot Rush: Tactic usually used in PvP. Main purpose is to harass the opponent's minerals. The addition of hte probe allows your zeolot to remain alive when going head to head with another zeolot. Since this is very early in the game, the basic build order for Protoss is usually maintained by both players, and combat will be contained to zeolots and probes. In this rush, you want to keep your probe alive as long as possible while still sending over zeolots to harass minerals. This strategy sacrifices 1 probe to take out at least 1 zeolots and multiple probes of your opponents while obtaining enough recon of the opponents build order to be able to counter it.

2. Proxy: Using a scout probe, after locating your opponent's base, the probe will construct a pylon and gateway(s), and later a shield battery. This "proxy" allows for a totally offensive game on your part and allows you to constantly put pressure on your opponent faster than you normally can. A more effective version of this tactic is to run your scout probe into the opponent's base, find a hidden spot and construct your proxy there. There you can spawn zeolots quickly, and penetrate your opponents mineral line directly without having to go through the enemy units holding the entrance. This maneuver will also throw your opponent offguard and most likely your opponent will move all his attacking units to destroy your units and proxy. Since this opens the entrance, you can follow up your hidden proxy with penetration through the entrance.

3. Pylon Prison: Often used in PvP, when attacking, bring a probe or 2 along. After locating the opponents gateways. Assuming that this is late enuph into the game that your opponent is already able to spawn Dragoons, your probe will construct a pylon to the bottom left corner of hte gateway and the bottom right of the gateway. To seal off the prison, one more pylon is required 1 space below and between the 2 pylons you have just created. This formation traps the dragoon after it comes out of the gate. Different ways to follow up on pylon prison are to 1) build your own gateways off your pylons and 2) destroy their pylon empowering their gate.

Defensive Uses of Unit in Combat:

1. Ramp Hold: Preventing penetration into your base is a crucial key in defense. Thus, if you don't have enuph units to hold the ramp (maybe against zerglings or zeolots), you can always use a few probes to help. Using probes to hold the ramp buys time for more units to spawn.

2. Defeating 6-Spawn: In many cases, in PvZ, the zerg may build a spawning pool on the 6th drone and immediately spawn 6 zerglings. At this point, assuming that protoss has upheld its timing and build order, the matchup will be 1 zeolot vs 6 lings. Now the zerglings are faster than a zeolot and most of the time, a player will not have time to hold the ramp with probes against a 6 spawn attack. Now, what players fail to realize is that PROBES CAN ATTACK ALSO. Instead of GGing when you see this unbalanced matchup, you wait until your opponents lings attack your minerals line. With enough micro and luring of probes, you will be able to quickly eliminate all 6 lings. Unless, your opponent targets your pylons, you will not need to move probes. Continue holding your ramp with that 1 or 2 zeolots you have to prevent further penetration of more lings.