Just wanted to use that name thread. Not pertinent to the discussion…
So, I read here often that Shipmaster is considered one of the top leaders (often put in the top 3 or 5). I love playing as Shipmaster, and I’m glad he gets some love. He was my main for a long time.
My question is this, how do you consider him to be one of the top?
I’m not bashing on him. I think I’m actually asking for strategy tips.
Because here is what I see from (at least) champion lvl Ship players:
Teleport in a jump brute rush
Hurry to T2, and teleport in a locust rush
What else is there that people use to follow up with him? When I’ve played against SM, I can usually win if I get around those two strategies.
He doesn’t have the powerful passives like Cutter or Deci, or the powerful actives like Atriox, Colony, or Arbiter (too soon?)
I guess I’m asking what other strats work for him. Because I only ever see those two.
The most effective strategy I’ve seen is just displacing the enemy forces across the map, destorying that base, then moving away. It’s a hit and run tactic, except when you hit, you take away their units and when they return, you run. Shipmaster could really beat multiple opponents if used properly, he just requires a lot of micro.
More or less any hit-and-run strategy works. When I play Shipmaster (I confess I’m not the best with him) I never fight my enemy in a straight up fight. I displace half their army in pieces and make a push, or just use Teleport/Extraction attacks.
> 2641843709998544;2:
> The most effective strategy I’ve seen is just displacing the enemy forces across the map, destorying that base, then moving away. It’s a hit and run tactic, except when you hit, you take away their units and when they return, you run. Shipmaster could really beat multiple opponents if used properly, he just requires a lot of micro.
I agree. Displacement is super useful. I used to abuse it before they nerfed it down.
> 2533274807562680;4:
> Can anyone comment on whether Raid 3 Cloaking Marauders are worth the leader point investment?
I don’t believe they are worth it until you have all the leader powers you truly want. Then maybe if you just have points to spend you could cause some ruckus with them but it is not often games get that far I find.
Ship is best used when you really know how to use to perfection his ability to teleport, displace and extract all together. You can cause massive headaches and be super annoying to anyone with that. Extraction can sort have act as a negation also leader powers like eradication or enduring salvo or any such attack type leader power.
His ghosts are incredible for taking map control early and then harassing enemy bases as well. Also spirit support with an early push can really put you far ahead in the 4-7 minute mark too. I am a fan of the Ship
> 2533274821521504;9:
> > 2533274807562680;4:
> > Can anyone comment on whether Raid 3 Cloaking Marauders are worth the leader point investment?
>
> You’d be better off building marauders and a shroud.
The shroud would slow them down though, assuming you grabbed Raid 3
A good shipmaster is my least favorite hero to play against. They will rarely allow you to engage their units unless they have a huge advantage and if you are winning they can just teleport away. It is pretty impossible to beat a good one that makes it to midgame, they never need to engage your units.
> 2674682457271996;11:
> A good shipmaster is my least favorite hero to play against. They will rarely allow you to engage their units unless they have a huge advantage and if you are winning they can just teleport away. It is pretty impossible to beat a good one that makes it to midgame, they never need to engage your units.
But it has its limits right? I mean, if you’re going to lose an engagement, you displace them. But then they come back. You can teleport or extract, but if you’re at your own base, what’s the benefit? Opponent will take the base.
I get that he’s strong, especially in team games where he can just raid on and off.
But he’s not all that represented in the top tier of 1’s.
But the players who are up there, I’d love to know what they’re doing.
> 2533274796391115;13:
> > 2674682457271996;11:
> > A good shipmaster is my least favorite hero to play against. They will rarely allow you to engage their units unless they have a huge advantage and if you are winning they can just teleport away. It is pretty impossible to beat a good one that makes it to midgame, they never need to engage your units.
>
> But it has its limits right? I mean, if you’re going to lose an engagement, you displace them. But then they come back. You can teleport or extract, but if you’re at your own base, what’s the benefit? Opponent will take the base.
>
> I get that he’s strong, especially in team games where he can just raid on and off.
>
> But he’s not all that represented in the top tier of 1’s.
> But the players who are up there, I’d love to know what they’re doing.
Run to base with locusts. Drop as much as possible. Extraction out. Walk onto another base immediately, drop what you can. Tele to first base you were hitting, walk them out til cooldowns.
> 2533274863483546;14:
> > 2533274796391115;13:
> > > 2674682457271996;11:
> > > A good shipmaster is my least favorite hero to play against. They will rarely allow you to engage their units unless they have a huge advantage and if you are winning they can just teleport away. It is pretty impossible to beat a good one that makes it to midgame, they never need to engage your units.
> >
> > But it has its limits right? I mean, if you’re going to lose an engagement, you displace them. But then they come back. You can teleport or extract, but if you’re at your own base, what’s the benefit? Opponent will take the base.
> >
> > I get that he’s strong, especially in team games where he can just raid on and off.
> >
> > But he’s not all that represented in the top tier of 1’s.
> > But the players who are up there, I’d love to know what they’re doing.
>
> Run to base with locusts. Drop as much as possible. Extraction out. Walk onto another base immediately, drop what you can. Tele to first base you were hitting, walk them out til cooldowns.
This in spades. If an enemy pushes your base you simply go sack his, extract and repeat.
Surprisingly its it’s fairly easy to macro with shop master because of raid 2 ghosts. You can completely command the map and get far enough ahead in eco and a very fast tech 3 that as long as you don’t totally blow an engagement your set.
