Some lessons I learned from playing my placement matches in the Starcraft 2 beta:
- The game as a whole seems to be faster paced.
- Zerg have a worker rally point and a unit rally point, make sure you use them to full effect.
- Zerg can nydus at long range due to overlord’s creep generation ability.
- Nydus canals are different in Starcraft 2, a nydus canal can create many nydus worms, units can be loaded into any of these structures and unloaded at any of them. This is more powerful but less automatic compared to the nydus canal from Starcraft.
- Overlords are not detectors, they can be morphed into overseers which are detectors which requires you to have the lair upgrade.
- Zerg have the ability to kill scouting overlords early in the game now with the introduction of the Queen, be careful.
- Queens can cast a spell which creates larva at a hatchery.
- Roaches can be used to harass a base without detection due to their high health regeneration rate and mobility underground, you must scout for this.
- Hydralisks are much stronger and the hydralisk den has been upgraded to an advanced building, getting the lair upgrade is now essential if you want anti air units.
- Burrow is cheap and effective primarily when defending against attacks against your mineral line.
- Units move out of the way for you when you are building a structure.
- Minerals are mined away fairly quickly, expansion and containment are issues earlier in the game.
- Reapers kill buildings… really… fast.
