Carl's Guides

It can get very very cramped in this mission if you try to build on the upper level. It's far more efficient to expand your base to the east, down the ramp. There are more resources there, which will greatly aid you. If you use a zealot to scout you'll notice that you're on a big island surrounded by lava. Shuttles will be critical in this mission, for that reason. You wouldn't expect to win with scouts, would you?

Before you bother building at the location to the east, first get your starting base running. Ten probes on minerals and three on gas (build another nexus next to the geyser) will be good to get you started. Next you can build a cybernetics core and forge, so you can start building dragoons and photon cannons. A second gateway would be a wise investment, just place it next to the first one.

When you're ready to expand consider that the zerg will have to transport units via air to get to your base (aside from mutalisk attacks). You'll want some photon cannons near your new nexus (build it near the geyser). Dragoons and, when you can afford them, scouts will do very well at taking down the transporting overlords. Six more drones should work on minerals at the new expansion while the standard three go for gas. Now you should do two things: 1. Move up the tech tree (when building new structures keep in mind that your base is now a very large place and the lower level should be used primarily) and 2. Build pylons, well spaced, along the border of your island, from the northeast to south in a large arc (don't bother with west and northwest). Pair each pylon with a photon cannon. This will serve to both increase your population cap and provide an early warning system/minor defense against the zerg. If you notice they are dropping units in a place all the time, build a second photon cannon nearby so they will take twice the fire. Finally, make sure you have two robotics facilities, because you're going to use them fairly heavily when producing shuttles and reavers.

Other than a few scouts, zealots (upgraded speed) and dragoons (upgraded range) to defend your base you should be producing some units for attack, upgrading them and find a good landing spot to deploy them. Send a scout to the area in the screenshot and you'll notice that it's slightly safe to land, as your shuttles will only be getting hit by one spore colony if you land close to one.

Now, build nine shuttles. These will transport two reavers (fill them up with scarabs before you load), two archons, six dragoons and twelve zealots. Be sure to set every unit into hotkeyed groups to avoid confusion upon landing. The ninth shuttle is for you to place Tassadar and the two zealots inside. Leave this shuttle at home while you make your assault, having it ready to bring it in later. Your scout probably had some trouble with scourge chasing it, so you'll want to make some of them to go ahead of your shuttles and attack any mutalisks. They can go in just before your shuttles to draw the fire of the spore colonies, also. Just be sure to back them off once your shuttles are clear. Now, one good trick to clearing the scourge out of the path of your invasion force is to make Tassadar cast hallucination on a scout (he can cast it twice). Take the group of hallucinations and fly around the path you must take and attract the scourge. If any are left after that you can even send them into your landing area and make sure there are no scourge there, too! This is also a great way to get a peek at the enemy base to know what you'll be up against. Before you set out with your shuttles, save the game!

Just before landing, destroy the guardians along the western side of the zerg island with your scouts. When you land, hopefully your reavers immediately start firing. There will be a moment or two when you have to get your units out of a bunch, since you probably ordered all shuttles to land together. This isn't that bothersome, but it can be annoying when you see a scarab hovering in one spot without hitting its target. At any rate, this isn't a very difficult thing, for your reavers will deal a lot of damage to any ground forces. Also, there are no sunken colonies to oppose you. Still, try to take down all the structures on this island. Before too long, general duke will ring in and annoyingly attack you. Now you can bring Tassadar's shuttle onto the island. Keep an eye on it as it flies to help avoid any enemy attacks. Unload the troops near the beacon and step on it with all three to win the mission.