How to execute a Terran tank push in Starcraft

In Starcraft (the first one), a Terran tank push is an effective offensive tactic against a wide variety of opponent strategies. This article explains how to execute one.

Step One

Start by sieging the tanks just outside the area you're attacking. Put the marines or goliaths in front of them - their purpose is to guard the tanks against close assaults (melee) and air. Chances are excellent that your opponent will hear the tanks as they siege, and will send some troops over. Be careful not to let the marines and goliaths wander off after the enemy if they retreat - put them on hold so that they stay next to the tanks.

Step Two

Once you've successfully killed the first wave of enemy troops, move half of the tanks in front of the marines and goliaths, and siege them there. Move the marines and goliaths in front of the forward tanks, and put them on hold again. You want to be careful not to let anything get too far in front of the rear tanks, as they will take damage from them.

Step Three

If you have a science vessel, move it up front; the attack range of a tank is actually greater than its visual range, so any air unit you can move forward of them will work - but a science vessel is best because it's a detector. If you don't have a science vessel yet, you can also have the SCV build a turret directly in front of the attack force. Otherwise, keep the scanner handy in case of invisible units like lurkers or dark templars.

Step Four

Lather, rinse, repeat. As enemy buildings get destroyed, keep moving the back two tanks to the front, the marines and goliaths in front to defend them, and the science vessel forward (or keep building more turrets). Keep the tanks, goliaths, and science vessel repaired by the SCV. In this way you can slowly but inexorably cut a wide swath of destruction through entire camps.