For fans of the Protoss race, Probe Tactics are an important area of study. Probes have long been used by the Protoss to assist in the colonization of worlds that were judged inhospitable to the race's workers. These units are used to harvest resources necessary for tech advancement and building efforts. They also play a critical role in the Protoss' warp technology.
More than that, however, Probes are also exactly what their name suggest: advance scouting units that can provide strategic information for a Protoss player. This is especially true in the early moments of a game when the player needs to gain a better understanding of where his enemy is located. Probes can collect information regarding opponent base locations, current building tactics, and strategic inclinations.
In warfare, intelligence can be the deciding factor in determining the outcome of any battle. This unit's ability to move quickly to remote areas makes it the perfect scout and intelligence operative for a Protoss player who seeks insight into an enemy's intentions. The unit's vulnerability, however, means that players must take care in how they use their Probes.
There is more to Probes than just scouting and gathering intelligence, however. Their role as resource collectors makes them an invaluable part of any game strategy. For Protoss players who want to build the most powerful force they can in the early stages of a game, the building of at least nine of these units at the onset of the game can often provide the resource advantage the player needs.
The best strategy for early-game expansion involves the creation of a small army of Probes, and the placement of a Nexus building near a mineral deposit. If you're expanding early you'll also need a forward placed pylon, forge and cannon to help defend your expansion. From that point on, the Probes can be set to automatically collect the resources that the player needs, while he shifts his strategic attention to the development of other units and the implementation of a broader strategy.
Protoss players must also remember that Probes have an unique method of building that can make them very dangerous in any combat situation. Because they can warp entire buildings into an area near a pylon and units from a warpgate can warp near a pylon as well, they can be used to place cannons and other threats inside an enemy's territory. No player can afford to allow a Protoss enemy to suddenly begin to flood their base with cannons.
Probes can also be used to disrupt enemy plans. Many times, a sufficiently irritating Probe can draw the ire of an enemy player when it remains near his base for too long. Many players will then become so intent on destroying the intruder that they will disrupt their own building plans to focus on its destruction. Protoss players can use that change of plans to their own advantage.
While not possessed of inherently destructive power, Protoss Probes are still a formidable force in their own way in the Starcraft universe. They have their own unique role within any Protoss strategy, and can successfully alter the course of battle when used wisely. Players who want to enjoy the full benefits made possible by this unit would do well to make use of the best Starcraft 2 Probe Tactics.