Macro > Micro: Strategy 101
Macro beats APM flex. Your first week plan—economy first, scouting on rails, and decisions that snowball instead of stall.
Why Strategy Looks Like a Spreadsheet (and How to Make It Sing)
RTS and 4X can feel like you’re juggling taxes during a meteor shower: build orders, timings, minimap pings, tech trees with commitment issues. The unlock is simple and rude: macro wins first. Feed your economy, keep production rolling, scout at fixed beats, and make one good decision per minute.
Day 0 Setup (PC • Console • Mobile)
PC
- Control groups: Town/CC on 1, Army on 2-4, Production on 5-7.
- Camera hotkeys: Bind base, natural, and enemy ramp to F1–F3 or side mouse buttons.
- Turn on production queue alerts and larger UI scale if eyes are spicy.
Console
- Radial groups for army/production; map camera bookmarks to D-pad.
- Performance mode; lower deadzone to help selection flicks.
Mobile
- Enable group select and smart path; increase tap area spacing.
- Lock 60 FPS if temps allow; reduce effects to keep touch latency low.
Comfort Pass (All)
- Mute global chat; keep alerts/pings.
- Practice camera jumps for 60 seconds before every session.
First 30 Minutes: The 80/20 Build Script
- Economy first: Workers never stop. If idle, queue two.
- Supply discipline: Pre-build supply houses/depots at fixed timers.
- Scout beat: Send scout at 1:00 and every 90–120s. Write one read: “greedy / tech / rush.”
Quick Win Drill (10 min): Build Script Reps
Against an empty map or easy AI, run a 5-minute opener focusing on worker uptime and no supply blocks. Don’t fight—just produce.
First 3 Hours: The Skill Ladder
- Hour 1 — Economy Floor: Continuous worker production; float < 500 combined resources. Expand once safely.
- Hour 2 — Intel Loop: Scout every 90–120s; park a spotter on a key path. Tag tech, army comp, and expansions.
- Hour 3 — Decision Tree: If opponent is greedy → pressure timing; if turtling → expand/tech; if rushing → wall + defend then counter.
Micro-goals: Supply blocks ≤ 3 • Idle production time < 10% • One clear read per scout.
Week-One Plan: Feedback > FOMO
- Session length: 45–75 minutes.
- Ritual: 5-minute camera/bookmark warmup → one macro-focused match → review first 6 minutes only.
Track These
- Worker uptime (percent of time producing).
- Average float (keep < 500 combined).
- Supply blocks (aim ≤ 3 per match).
Timing Windows
Pick one 2-minute window to act: a pressure push after your first tech, or a greedy expand when they show turtle signs.
Common Pitfalls & Tilt Armor
- Micro first mentality—pretty fights, empty bank.
- Analysis paralysis on tech trees—choose a lane and drive.
- Forgetting supply—set build reminders in queue.
- Scouting without writing a read—info unused is noise.
- Chasing base trades when ahead—bank the win with objectives.
Tilt Reset (3 min)
Pause fights. Queue workers and supply, drop a spotter, expand or wall. Macro oxygen first, then micro again.
Mini-Glossary
- Macro: Economy, production, expansions—your money machine.
- Micro: Unit control in fights (splits, kites, focus fire).
- Supply block: Production halted by cap; a self-own.
- Timing attack: Push synced to a tech/upgrade window.
- Greedy/Turtle/Rush: The three reads your scout labels.
Pocket Drills
Drill A — Worker Waterfall (10 min)
Queue workers non-stop while dropping supply at fixed timers. Expand once with 0 supply blocks.
Drill B — Scouting Rhythm (8 min)
Every 90s, send a scout pathing past tech, army comp, and expand spots. Write one 3-word read each pass.
Drill C — Decision Tree Sparring (10 min)
Set AI to random. For 10 minutes, commit instantly based on your read: pressure / expand / wall. No second-guessing.
Cross-Platform Tweaks
PC
Put production on higher groups so army cycles don’t break your macro. Use camera jump keys for base ↔ front swaps.
Console
Use hold-to-queue shortcuts; map “select all army” to a bumper, but don’t overuse—leave builders alone.
Mobile
Turn on multi-select drag; lower effects to keep taps crisp; enable confirm prompts for critical deletes.
Level-Up Links (Keep It Tight)
- Official hotkey & camera guide for your game.
- One creator focused on macro fundamentals.
- Community wiki page: standard openers & timings.
Next Steps
Once macro feels like breathing, you’re ready for harass patterns, multi-prong pressure, and tech denial. That’s the Intermediate Strategy kit.
Rule of thumb: if you’re floating, you’re slowing. Spend fast, scout often, decide early.