Build Order

These are guides that tell you what to build and when, to accomplish varying goals.

Overview
A Build Order or Build is a rigid set of structures/units, and the order they are built in according to Supply. An extremely simple example of this would be a common Protoss opener:


 * 9 Pylon
 * 13 Gateway
 * 15 Assimilator

This is a common Protoss opening build because it allows the earliest opportunity for these Structures without sacrificing Worker production. Depending on the goal, Builds can be as short or as long as you like. However, you shouldn't use Builds as the be all, end all metric for improvement. Playing via Builds has its pros and cons, but it should be noted that this style of play is very dangerous and can create terrible habits.

Many players come to experience painfully that while learning builds can bring you success in a BO1 format like the ladder, they will leave you woefully unprepared for what experienced players will do to you once they discover a pattern in your play. They don't help you much to grow as a player. When learning a Build, focus less on memorizing what the Build does and when. Instead, pay close attention to why the Build does what it does. [Day9] posits that learning by the timer is much more useful than learning by Build Orders. Knowing what is and isn't possible based on the game timer is strategic gold.

Pros

 * Builds muscle memory and basic game knowledge (what units do, etc).
 * Gives an edge over players fighting on instinct alone
 * Useful reactionary templates (ex. "He's fast expanding, time to all in!")

Cons

 * Can leave players undeveloped one trick ponies
 * Subject to being ineffective after patching
 * Possible inflation of player skill beyond their proper ranking, due to unreliability of BO1 format

Cheese
Cheese builds are a subcategory of build orders, designed to end games during a very early timing window. They usually aim to overwhelm the opponent through a short lived tech or numbers advantage. If the Cheese fails to end the game or do significant damage, the player that performs it will normally be at quite a disadvantage.