How do I keep the advantage?

[LooniestRumble]

This is situation, in almost all 1v1 matches I play against people of my same level the match develops the always same, no caring what race do I play or my adversary, I always have a really strong T1, wipe at least one of their units, capture a lot of the map and bleed a lot of VPs of my opponent, but when the match reaches T2 I just can't keep the advantage, besides the fact that somehow they always get to T2 first I just can't keep a hold of the map and then everything goes downhill.

So I ask, how do I keep that advantage i got in T1 and how do I turn it into a victory?

Any help and advice is always appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Wise Windu]

You say your opponent always gets to T2 before you. Do you attempt to bash power, and do you generally use a heavy T1? If you do go heavy T1, it is very important to capitalize on it not only through VPs and map control, but also preventing your opponent from having a power advantage due to their lighter unit expenditure. If they get to T2 first, a quick vehicle or other powerful T2 unit can quickly counter the advantage you had.

It will also depend on what your build order is, and other situational things like the match-up, as well as continued unit efficiency and purchase decisions.

Check out Codex's thread here as well: https://www.dawnofwar.info/forum/viewto ... f=11&t=718

[LooniestRumble]

I usually go for a light T1 when it comes to the number of units but all of them are always upgraded after my T1.5 units comes out.

The power bash is something I can´t never get, I like to get as much req points, non upgraded energy points and VPs as possible before trying to bash power and in the end I can only get one generator.

[Phoenix]

If you post some replays of your games it might be easier to help you.

[LooniestRumble]

Even we I won this one I think the problems I mention can be seen here, besides that is the only 2.5.1 replay I have.

[Phoenix]

OK, admittedly I only watched the first 15 minutes but it should be enough to give you some tips. If I sound rude at some point keep in mind it is not my intention

1) It is fine to get your gens up rather late when you go for a requisition heavy start like DA->DA->shees but then get your gens up ASAP. You were floating 800 requisiton at some point without having a full gen farm. With so much requisiton you might want to get up some nodes on contested power nodes as well.

2) Do not build MWB vs IG for the most part. I guess you wanted to drain the LCs energy shield but a) it has one of the worst damage to energy ratios in the game, b) the wargear is very expensive powerwise and will delay your t2 immensly, c) it is simply not worth it vs the rest of the IG army; I mean do you really need an upgraded weapon to smack some GM around ? If you want to give your warlock a weapon upgrade you might want to consider the immolator.

3) Always have your army and your opponents army in mind. The IG player spent 15 power (stomp) in T1 and went straight to T2. Your army was way bigger and more expensive. Play accordingly, force him off the map, march to his gen farm and take it down! After you took out his sentinel you could have basically baselocked him while was teching up, he could not have done anything with just 2 GM squads. Instead though you played very defensivly and allowed him to bash 1-2 gens with flamer GM. In fact your opponent realized your defensive gameplay and was so cocky to build up another gen farm in t2.

4) If youre behind in tech and you face a vehicle while teching up, save the power for some AV purchases and dont spend it on DA exarchs etc. Your army already was pretty capable of killing his GM squads.

5) I think 3) comes down to aggressive shuriken play more or less. Yes I know it can be vulnerable by moving up but especially when you lead the charge with your WL and the banshees are chopping down stuff there is no reason to keep it in the back. Move it up to support the rest of the army. Dont use it for pure defense purpose.

6) Basically you only might feel like you have the advantage because your opponent happily concedes some parts of the map

7) Try to go with a very light t1 in some other games and stall for a fast tech up to t2. This should show you the weaknesses and strengths of this strategy pretty swiftly.

That is it for now

[LooniestRumble]

Thaks, I'll try the light T1 and the tips in my next game to see how it goes.

Defensive play has being an habit of mine for a long time, it comes from COH 1 but DOW 2 is a more agressive game so I'll need to get use to it.

Besides that, I have nothing more to say, thanks a lot. Any other advice or idea is always welcome.

[Lichtbringer]

Thaks, I'll try the light T1 and the tips in my next game to see how it goes.

Defensive play has being an habit of mine for a long time, it comes from COH 1 but DOW 2 is a more agressive game so I'll need to get use to it.

Besides that, I have nothing more to say, thanks a lot. Any other advice or idea is always welcome.

Yeah, in Dow2 1v1 powerbashing is very important compared to CoH2. While in Co2 you fight over the contested fuel, that income here is the powerfarm.

Buuut, as Eldar you might find it a bit hard to powerbash, because we have no flamer type units. So you pretty much need your whole army there, which leaves you open to devastating counter bashes from just one flamer unit while the rest of his army defends his powerfarm.

You can either use Webwaygates to lessen that problem (but you won't have enough red early on), or for a real good powerbash come Tier 2 with a Brightlance or firedragons. For the early game you can try to bash with Banshees while defending your farm with Shurikens + hero or while fighting. Banshees get their reduced ranged damage while hitting generators in melee, so you can hold out pretty long even if your enemy gets one ranged unit to stop you. When he stops paying attention you can try and jump them with the Banshees.

If you force of your opponent real good, or you have a way stronger army, you can bring everything for a bash. Keep the Shuriken behind, so that your enemy doesn't spot it even if he engages your banshees who bash. Buff the Shuriken with guide, or with Crackshot from the WSE global to suprise your enemy. Even if he normally has the counter for your setupteam, if you suprise him from that range he won't be able to use his counter. You bashing his power might make him move out of base on lower life/not with all squads at once. It also makes it mostly predictable from where he will come, and will make it way harder to outflank your Shuriken.

Still, be aware of a counterbash. You have to know that you forced of atleast his flamer capable units, or leave something behind backcapping on that general side of the map.

Oh, and if you get the feeling your opponent is going for a trade, instead of bashing his whole farm, you can instead steal it, and then go defend. If you have enough Red leave a Gate at his Power, once your armies have engaged you will have enough red for another gate in your base.

[Forestradio]

Bottom line is, in dow2 when you have your foot above somebody's throat, bring it down and crush them for good, failing to follow up on an advantage you have through army composition or tech is a mistake that will let your opponent back into the game which then can and will lose you the game.

Your micro will improve with time, don't forget to learn how to identify those advantages (which are when you should be aggressive) and those disadvantages (when you should be defensive/stall your opponent until you can be aggressive again).

[LooniestRumble]

I think I have a solid idea of where to improve and what to change, the genbash thing is something I'll have to get a hang on, besides that a more agressive play or at least try to do less "Last Stands" and "Hold the line" attempts.

Thanks for help.