Learn Skytoss! : Beginner Protoss Build Order Guide (2024)

Hey guys! Back again with another beginner build order for protoss in sc2 in 2023. This is a basic skytoss build order that can be done in all matchups (although you may struggle in PvP as you climb, just because of the aggressive options you need to deal with).
I highly recommend it for plat and below, but you could use it into diamond (and beyond) as well. It focuses you on having a strong economy, spending your money on a lot of defensive structures, and eventually winning with the strongest Protoss composition.

Follow me:

[Fimbuvetr]

Some personal notes

Notes
Build pylon after 1st stargate unit to not be supply blocked.
Lots of pylons for carriers (Will bank money after 2nd SG->FB)
First 2 carriers can harass zerg
When getting 4th base (3rd base saturated) at diamond+
Can go storm vs Terran/Zerg (vs corruptor, vikings, hydras) ~
Can go disruptors vs any race, cheaper than going storm

***Continuous probe production***
Standard opener (14 pylon- low ground, 16 gate, 17 gas, 20 nexus, 20 core, 21 gas, 22 pylon)



Cannons and 3rd Nexus interchangeable
Void ray first (chrono)
adept->stalker (2 adepts vs zerg)
Get stargate before warp gate (optional)
Shield battery at natural
Void ray (chrono)
3:25 gases at natural (he’s at 11 probes in nat at this point)
2nd stargate (2nd void before SG in PvP)
Fleet Beacon 4:00
***Natural base saturation at 4 mins
Pylon
Forge
Use extra money on cannons at the front, mineral lines etc
He built 1 cannon at nat ->2 carriers->1 cannon in main mineral line
***Remember to get enough pylons for first 2 carriers***
Carriers- chrono both
Cannons (initially 1 in main mineral line, 1 at nat to prevent harass)
Note- Stop probe production after 2 base saturation until Carriers start building
3rd Nexus (5:11) - 68/78 with 2 carriers in production
2 more carriers
Battery and cannon at 3rd (battery in mineral line, cannon forward- perhaps for carrier micro up the cliff)
+1 air attack
3rd Stargate (7:00) at 3rd base saturation - 108/125 (4 carriers, 2 more in production)
3rd base is saturated at this point

Notes
Take gas at 3rd base and later when base is saturated
***Chronos are all going to carriers
Get up to 75-80 probes for 4 base saturation
Probe builds 1 battery and 2 cannons at 3rd (can add more)

[showmakerjr.]

Really impressive build order, just started playing sc2 this week and it got me to plat1, struggling with early game cheese, but once I weather the storm, basically it’s a guaranteed win

[kiraxalex]

This build order helped me win my first StarCraft 1v1 game. Thanks

[atanii]

thanks for the tutorial!
after playing with terran and zerg for weeks - started playing SC 2 around a month ago - I finally gave in to the temptation to play protoss and with this build I quickly reached 2500 MMR :D
my max was like 2150 so far so this is really working and feels great
Zerg is still problematic -- early ravager / roach rush which messes up my base because im focusing too much on air, doesn't have enough cannon or anything that could defend -- but i just needd practice

[entingzhang]

This is actually a PVZ build order that went wild in the Chinese ladder after the voidray meta. You can get +1 air attack and go for a double carrier pressure that focuses on killing queens. It is really hard for the zerg to deal with because the only viable counter for zerg is corruptors. And they must scout if the protoss is going skytoss or chargelot archon groundtoss after that. This build gets me(60 APM) to 68% PVZ win rate in NA 4000 MMR range(PVT is 30% because people start to do well splitting storm and disruptors and gateway units suck against stim bio with medivacs drops)

[karlmorgan]

Well your standard build order has gotten me to Platinum 2, probably not diamond yet because I am terrible at micro and countering early game aggression. Cant wait to try this build

[WudiPlays]

and another clear precise guide. nicely done.

[alexandernefedov]

Great guide, Probe!
Next thing to learn is how to counter skytoss with Protoss

[douglascarl]

I have played this game off and on and now I'm an addict sort of. I win so very hard levels off and on. But this might prove effective

[Vehement]

Thanks for this, just started playing SC2 and my apm is low af so protoss it is 😅 Been struggling to get a solid build order and am very good at overdoing one element every game so this should help slow things down. Havent even tried playing vs other players yet since i get lost 😂

[DaiN]

Hello! i have a question (you could say im new to the game) what do you mean by "14 pylon 16 gateway 17 gas and 20 nexus" ? thinking both timewise or in quantity none make sense to me :< also just my opinion but making a video where you speak about what exactly you're doing and why would be better than talking about other stuff because i think people cant follow your steps exactly while also paying attention to other stuff :D but maybe its just me so idk heheh

[snowdrop]

Will you be doing more advanced buildorder guides and stuff? I stopped playing for 2 years and have been getting back into protoss, but learning builds is kindof difficult for me as the 2 stargate voidray meta dying has made PvZ buildorders less easy to learn (this was a warranted change, I'll admit that I had a 100% PvZ winrate with it, good execution+scouting+good lategame control was just unbeatable. (Also to be fair I had a 75% ish overall winrate(so my 100%PvZ wasnt that much higher), because I had ladder anxiety and practiced out of ladder so much that I never really managed to reach an mmr my skill was equal to))

[BulkerPasha]

It’s a tough build order to play against as a Protoss. Even tempests seem to struggle against it

[matespider]

Probe OMG stop teaching people how to build Skytoss!! xD
I know you work for Aiur but have some mercy.

Come on man.

[doubleplay]

I've been trying this and sometimes it works for me, sometimes it doesn't. When I lose it's usually because carriers get scouted early and I get mobbed by lings at the third base and forced to expand later than I want...Or they mass hydras or corruptors and just murder my carriers despite the batteries. I'd like to figure out this build with just pure carriers + batteries + cannons, but I usually have better luck by squeezing out storm + archons to go along with just a few carriers.

[TripWithTheMoon]

If I wanna add Storm at some point, when is a good time? On four base?

[jamesrockybullin]

How does the build order change if you decide to get Stargate before Warp Gate? When my Cyber finishes at about 2:12, I have about 110 gas. Does the stargate go down the moment the Cyber finishes, or is there a delay? Should I take a probe of minerals and put on gas at any point? Cheers!

(I'm scouting after first gate if that makes a difference.)

[LeonAl-hlyl]

What does that build order mean:
14 pylon, 16 gateway, 17 gas etc.?

[wizardsofthetoast]

Is there any merit in getting +1 shields to help your static D?

[autosaka]

What if you get attacked? At 4.5 mins, I can get 4 cyclones and two tanks up.