Starcraft 2 Tip, "Mineral Boost"

While i was observing random 1vs1 games and watching some of replays i noticed most of diamond and mid master league players do not use the technique known as "mineral boost." I thought this would be a good idea to share the technique with everyone by posting on team liquid. By the way, I play in mid master league. I am pretty damn sure all the high level players are very familiar with "mineral boost." This guide is for those players are not. For those of you who are, you may click on "Back." But this might to be a good review, choices are still yours.

Note: this is a different technique from "sockfolder", which was introduced a while ago.

Introduction

Spoiler

Simple defination, mineral boost is having two workers working on one of near minerals. Near minerals take two workers, and far minerals take three workers to optimize the income. By performing this technique, for each near mineral you will proabably end up with 10~15 more minerals per minute compare to when you did not perform. The number of near minerals varies depnding on which map you play in. Some maps have as low as two near minerals some others can go as high as four minerals. AS of result of performing, you can get as much as 20~30 more minerals to 40~60 more minerals per minute, depending on which map you are playing.

Getting about 50~100 more minerals around 3 ~ 4 minute mark could make a big difference in doing early strategy such as 6 pools, marine bunker rush, zealot proxy gate rush. Imagine carrying 2 more marines, 4 more lings or 1 more zealot on that rush or doing those rushes about 5~10 second faster. Not only rushes, but when expanding early such as double hatcheries, double nexuses, and double command centers, this technique should pull off 10~20second faster expansion depending on which map you are playing at.

In fact a lot of pro starcraft 2 players are using this technique. It should mean that even pro-gamers find it effective.

Conclusion, a few extra minerals come handy in early game, so do this !

How to

Spoiler

In case of a map which has 4 near minerals

1. Spread workers to near minerals, i recommend 3/3 split.

2. Set a rally point to the mineral which first gets harvested.

3. As soon as a worker is produced, right click on the mineral (which you set a rally point). Multiple clicks are required if the timing is little off. (first mineral is done)

4. Grab one of the far minerals harvesting workers and manually right click on the near mineral which other worker is harvesting. (Second mineral is done)

5. Set a rally mineral which is not yet "mineral boosted" for the next producing worker.

6. Repeat the step number 2. (third mineral is done)

7. Reapt the step number 4.

8. Now all 8 workers are optimizing income, try not to grab one of those 8 workers but next or next next woker to build or scout.

General Tip

Spoiler

The timing is the key to success. Let's say SCV "A" is about to return minerals from one of near minerals and SCV "B" is about to finish mining.By the time SCV "A" is back on mining at the mineral, SCV "B" should be returning minerals. As soon as SCV "B" return it's minerals, you want to grab it and right on the mineral where SCV A is harvesting. If the timing was perfect you don't need to right click more than once or twice.

You can mess up your opponent's mineral boosted workers with your scouting worker. Simply right click on the mineral that is being boosted. Have your worker queued for that mineral being harvested.

Try not to use those workers already "mineral boosted" to build or harvest vespene gas.

Please do not misunderstand as this tip will guarantee for you to win a match. But you are a half step closer to win than those you are not using this. Everything you do in the game accumulates.

I hope this post was helpful and i thank you all for reading this post.
i apologize for not posting replays due to such a short playing time of them.
However, i have a clip walk through.
Thank you again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAMnZANsE5M