Terran: A Raven's Reason

So you've seen the Raven unit in your Starport but you have no idea what its for and why you should build it.

Sure you've played the campaign and picked the raven over the Science Vessel so you can have that really cool Seeker Missle and Auto Turret over Irradiate and Defense Matrix.

But do you know the real reason of why the Raven is better than the Science Vessel? Or why it replaced it?

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THEORY

Looks a bit like a star ship

So what makes the Raven a good unit? Ok it detects stealth but I have missile turrets and Scan for that.

Hmm how bout that auto turret, Ok it adds DPS and that Seeker missile helps me deal with massed Zerglings.

This can also be all up in your base killing your SCVs

But the real merit lies in the Point Defense Drone that the Raven is equipped with.

Ever heard of the phrase from old Broodwar players saying that Blizzard gave Dark Swarm to the Terrans?

This but Terran =/

Well yeah they did, in the form of the Point Defense Drone. For a selected area the Point Defense Drone absorbs range fire that isn't considered splash.

That means it absorbs Hydra Spines, Stalker Lasers, etc...

Its a ShamWow Version 5000

Woah isn't that imba incase? Well no your broodlords and banelings and pretty much melee units can still deal damage. So can your sentries and High Templars. (But hey we all know what a mass of Marines can do)

That's a lot of Marines o.o

The other perk? Detection? It might cost a lot to build a raven so you might not think its worth it. But its also the most useful detector unit in the whole game.

It gives you a Point defense drone to let you run from Hydras and also a whole bunch of other weapons which other detectors don't have.

Basically Raven > Overseers and Observers.

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EXAMPLES

Here are some youtube examples of how Ravens have been used.

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Build Orders

There's actually not much you can do in terms of Build Orders if you want to get out that early raven which might not help much early game but it does well mid-game and late game.

But here's a Build Order I found in some little corner of an EU site.
9 Supply 10 Barracks 10 Refinery 12 Refinery 12 Factory 13 Orbital Command 14 Bunker 15 Tech-Lab 16 Starport 17 Supply Depot 18 Switch your barracks with the Tech-lab over with your Starport 18 Raven 20 Research Raven Energy

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Things to note.

Despite Ravens having offensive capabilities, remember that they are still mainly spell-casters if anything.

That means that they aren't meant to be a main attack force or anything close to that manner. They are pretty much made of paper and can be destroyed and their usefulness as an attack unit ends when its energy runs out.

That's probably the most hardcore thing on this site.
Too bad that's not a Raven.

I mean if you really want to have a nice harass and a quick game to finish you'd probably get Banshee and Cloak for them and try to get them to clear out the enemy economy as fast as possible while you defend your little Terran Turtle.

Here's a mental checklist for you.
1. SCV's
2. Mule
3. Gas
4. Tech lab at Barracks!
5. Lift off to change to Starport
6. Get that Raven if you suspect your opponent of using cloaked or burrowed units.
7. If you're getting that Raven get Auto-Turret.

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I know its not a lot but this post definitely tells you about the uses of Ravens and shows videos of how Ravens have been used.

Most people who use Ravens usually only do in the late game or when their trying some weird auto-turret Harass build.

Raven has many weird uses, especially when you're dealing with Zerg players since the Seeker missiles could help turn the tide of the battle when you spam them against Hydras who are off creep.

I hope this tutorial can actually help instill the use of Ravens in your gameplay.

This is Fireport writing another article for thebronzeleagueplayer.blogspot.com Signing Off!