At various points in every player's experience with Starcraft 2 breaking contains becomes a concern. A properly-executed contain can cause the trapped player to lose valuable resource-gathering time, make them spend crucial time locked within their own home base, and force them to cede large parts of map to their opponent. Players who manage to break or cir[censored] vent contains, however, can quickly seize the momentum and deal devastating blows to their enemies.
The biggest problem is figuring out how to escape the blockade. A good contain offers the blockading side a host of advantages. They can usually am[censored] a sizable force that can resist any direct assault, and will usually have the terrain advantage in any battle. Moreover, their ability to harvest resources unimpeded by any of their opponent's forces will often allow them to strengthen their blockade over time.
Fortunately, there are tactics that can enable the contained player to escape from their predicament, but these techniques require careful attention to tech development and a great deal of patience. Here are a few of the most basic strategies for overcoming an enemy contain and regaining some of that lost momentum as the opponent is sent back.
Some players utilize a direct attack approach. For example, by amassing a large contingent of Zealots, backed up by casting support, many Protoss players have been able to break blockades and deal crippling blows to their opponents' forces. It should be noted, however, that the direct approach is not always the best, especially when the containing player has the experience necessary to effectively reinforce their troops.
A better strategy involves the use of structures and forces that can byp[censored] the enemy blockade altogether. This generally requires tech progression, and thus a great deal of patience. Still, it remains the most effective way to get around an enemy's contain and launch an unexpected and often undefended attack on their resources and home base.
This can be done in several ways. Units like Medivacs and Nydus Worms can quickly escape the trap, while the use of a Warp Prism can enable the trapped Protoss player to simply drop forces on their enemy's home base and begin an assault far from that base's main army. Stealth units can be useful as well, as Banshees, Infestors and Dark Templars can simply slip by blockading forces that are not supported with detection capabilities.
The best measure against any contain is, of course, for the player to avoid the situation at all costs so that they don't lose momentum. That requires a player to use every scouting and intelligence capability at their disposal to ensure that enemy movements are always well-tracked so that effective countermeasures can be put in place before a real blockade is implemented.
The fact is, however, that it is not always possible to prevent a base from being contained by an opponent, especially in the early stages of the game. For players who regularly play Starcraft 2 breaking contains will always remain an important concern that can only be addressed with a firm understanding of the strategies available.
