Uses of Patrol

Submitted by Dustin

Patrol is a very useful command that I think most people don't use. Especially, when you have a lot of things to manage and you want to drop some1. After you drop in the units on one side of his mineral patch, simply hit the patrol button at the other side of his minerals. Patrol acts like a homeing beacon. Your units will attack-move to that location (the homeing beacon) and then attack-move right back and continue to do this. The nice thing about it is it keeps your units together, while a normal attack-move, in a drop for example, will send some of your troops attacking 1 way and some another way, as long as they have something to attack; "there is no homming beacon and they will scatter." By keeping your forces together, in unity, you can concentrate your forces better in a specific area without having lossing them to stupid units running away, suiciding 1 at a time on a photon cannon or something. Also, in a 5 Zealot rush, sometimes, after I run past a terran bunker defense, I'll go to their mineral patch and patrol like that. The main reason is, I have things to do at my base, like building reinforcements, getting technology, like goons/templar, and collecting/defending, or just building. But, remember to check up on your patroled units, sometimes, you may need to change the command to something else, like attack this supply depot or destory all his undefended structures. Also, I find, when microing, it is useful to use the Shift button. Did u know that you can take your foces, attack an enemy unit, and then while holding down Shift, right click on other enemy units. This puts it in queue, and is another useful trick when you have other things to manage. Also, sometimes, when my force has just broken down their front door, I will patrol in their base, especially important if they try to draw u away from your attack, like I've seen. Sometimes, the normal, attack-move is better. You need to develop a "feel" for it. I just thought I'd inform u on these many useful tips with patrol. I like that command!

CreepColony's Opinion: Patrolling overlords and scourge are commonly used Zerg tactics.