Alright I normally do not give tips of any sort in games only because if I find a way that works I don't want people to prepare because it obviously gives me the advantage. However, I am finding out very quick that games get much more interesting when people actually know the basic guidelines.
I can't help anyone much with covenant but I do have some all around tips that some may have just gone over some of your heads. I don't believe I am that good but I do win over 90% ever since I found my strategies. I have well over 24 hours in the game and I am on my way to captain. I only play as forge at the moment only to learn more before I change. Most of my games average a total time of 15 minutes. I also don't play 1v1 much.
Rule #1
As humans... PLEASE, for the love of god, do not make turrets in the opening. Any rush of any sort will make you regret you just spent 350 or even more trying to defend your base on turrets that just dissapear in litteraly 5 seconds. I can't believe how many people on here keep saying turrets. The only thing that beats a rush is an equal rush for units. Turrets will do absolutly nothing without an upgrade to atleast medium.And if you have nothing protecting your turrets... Well, you're just dead. Turrets are good only in the mid and end game, when they are upgraded and you have the money to waste. When I see a turret on a base and I am rushing, the only thing that goes through my mind is CHECK and MATE. Never have I lost to a human with turrets off the rip. Anyone that tells you otherwise is litteraly a fool.
The first two days I had the game I tried this method and failed miserably. Now I rush and maybe lose 2 games out of 20, most of my losses are obviously from a covenant rush but I am getting extremely better against them in 2v2 and 3v3 games.
Rule #2
Do not cue up buildings like it's your job, build order has to be the most important thing in the opening. Just like they say in chess, never move the same piece twice and always make moves that open up more pieces. If you are sitting on your base with no money and 5 things on cue waiting for the prior building to finish so they can start, there is something wrong. If you are playing as forge or the professor make sure you upgrade to the fortress with your extra cash as soon as possible, start with supply pads and make sure you get your reactors. Don't make a move that is going to slow you down such as your upgrading building. No use in that without reactors right? There is also no point in having extra cash if you have 3 or 4 units cued up waiting for the first to be finished so they could start. Don't waste space with supply pads if they are excessive.
Rule #3
DON'T MAKE A SECOND BASE OFF THE RIP
Waste of money, and it's another check and mate scenario. If I am facing a covenant or human that has already made a second base by the time I rush... They lose, always. Make sure you have units to fight off at least 8 tanks, a brute rush, a prophet rush, or anything coming your way. Please don't build up for an endgame the second you start. The best way to get fast money is not to build for it, but to scout it. Once you have a sizable army, enough to take out rebel bases without a scratch... Do it, they drop loads of it when they die and you can scout it. Obviously if you are a rusher it's probably good to do this while you are waiting for your last units to come out. If you are defending just know your role and do it the second you can. I do prefer a quick attack though. Even if it's not a game over it's the start to a beautiful conflict.
Rule #4
Units before upgrades, meaning do not get grizzly's before you have tanks out there. Do not get hawks before you have hornets out, and for the love of god do not get ODST's before you have marines out there. Stack up and upgrade on the run. Do everything on the run. Learn to attack and manage at the same time. My favorite part of rushing is the time it takes for my units to make it to the other base. Also do not upgrade your MAC/CARPET/FREEZE off the rip, it does hurt but you just killed yourself. Again, if you don't have enough units to fight off atleast 8 tanks, a covenant rush or rine rush, you lose.
Rule #5
Don't be scared of the covenant rush.
Don't be scared of the leader.
You have the best power against him... Disruption BOMB! I don't have to much luck against a 1v1 good covenant rush but the best thing is not to panic.
Here is what you do...
LEARN TO RECYCLE! If you are playing a 2v2 or 3v3 obviously you can let one of your partners handle it, but if you cannot handle it just recycle and rebuild. Go for your rush and if you happen to spot trouble recycle and rebuild. If you are going for hornets and you don't have the resources to make a stop on the brute, recycle and make some warthogs fast, make sure you keep enough money or one of your buddy's has a Disruption BOMB.
Yesterday I had 3 beautiful games where it was 3 on 3 and we were leader rushed. We actually sat them out while the leader pathetically wasted his cash trying to make it a 5 minute game when we turned it around to a 10 minute game in our favor. You just have to remember recycle. Never let him kill a single base of yours, this also stops him from getting his grand points that he wants from destroying your buildings so he can rank up. Always communicate, don't waste unnecessary carpet/mac/cyro bombs and don't let your team waste them either. I never use anything besides disruption bombs in the opening. Have a plan on who drops the first disruption and make it always count.
If you succeed in surviving a covenant rush, you MUST ALWAYS take it to his base. IMMEDIATELY ATTACK the weak! The failed covenant rush is always the best time for you to win the game. This does not mean take your 2 tanks or 5 marines to his base. This means attack in the next minute or 2 at the most. Gather as many units as you can and rush as fast as you can. Keep making units as you rush, and make sure one teammate will have 450 when the time comes to drop another disruption. You don't even want to know how many times I hear "ALL UNITS" as I make more units while I am rushing.
IF and ONLY IF you know you are going to lose to the covanent rush. The best protest is to self destruct your building right before he finishes it off. Without an enemy killed or building destroyed, the game is like a stalemate, no points and no places. In all reality no one wins, after all this is XBOX and most people strive for rank. A brute rusher is powerless against a self destructing base. It is much easier to kill yourself before he does. Heh. Do not do this until you have experimented with what I have said. I have came back from what looks like a very bad situation to a straight win because the covanent rush is defenseless. Do not feed them units however, just practice.
Rule #6
In 2v2 and 3v3 always attack the base you feel will be the easiest. Meaning leave the covenant for last unless he has rushed you and forced you on the defensive. The only time you rush a stronger unit first is if you fear it's middle game, such as a hawk rush. It is so much easier to take out the stronger player with 2v1, trust me, even if he manages to get a dumb scarab. Ignore your real life instincts and don't be dumb. Always attack the buildings that scare you most before the main base, such as an Air Depot, what good will the professor do if she has to no way to make her hornets?
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I will update this as my brain begins to thaw. I had a couple more little tid bits I wanted to add but writing this instead of playing the game makes me forget. I hope this helps. I know I didn't mention any build orders and actual rushes but that's only because I really don't want to get into that, I think guidlines are much more helpful as an overall advantage for players wanting to actually learn. Pay attention to what you are doing. Don't do something merely because it works now and then.
Again I don't think I'm the best and I am a strictly forge player at the moment, but I do have confidence in my strategy and I am improving every game. It's worthless trying to get me 1v1 to try rush stomps because I don't do it. I prefer 2v2 and 3v3 because that's where my strategies are best. 1v1 my rush works but the covenant can still be a little pain and it's a mere flip of the coin anymore.
Last tip
When pressing select. Notice how you can see everyone's score. Think about it.