1 Burrow, Barracks and Shop before Tech

The standard Orc opener: one burrow, Barracks and Voodoo Lounge before a 20 supply Stronghold, three Grunts and a quick second hero. Flexible into any tier 2 or 3 plan.

By Sart· Updated 24 September 2026

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standardgruntsone burrow

About this build

Full guideStandard 1 Burrow, Barracks, and Shop Before Tech

This opening is one of the most standard and versatile openings for Orc. It allows you to transition into multiple different builds at tier 2 and also get a relatively quick second hero. It does not have the strength of a Headhunter build early on, but it lets you play multiple different first and second heroes.

An ok build for newer players, but not as beginner-friendly as a 2 burrow tech since it is not as easy or safe. Regardless of the matchup, the goal is always to reach 50 supply of your chosen composition with level 3 on both heroes.

Build order · 21 steps

#	Food	Instruction
1	5	Send 4 of your 5 peons into the gold mine and the 5th builds an Altar of Storms.
2	5	Queue up 2 peons in the Great Hall (your first built peon goes to gold).
3	6	When your 1st queued peon is about 60-70% done, take 1 peon out of the gold mine and build a burrow.
4	7	Queue up another (3rd) peon.
5	8	Take the 2nd built peon when it is created and build a Barracks.
6	8	Queue up another (4th) peon.
7	9	Your 3rd created peon goes to gold; you now have 5 peons on gold.
8	9	Never more than 5 peons on gold. Every other peon goes to lumber, and peons that build go to lumber after.
9	9	Queue up another (5th) peon.
10	10	When both your Altar and burrow finish, train your first hero.
11	15	Queue up another (6th) peon.
12	16	At 30 lumber a lumber peon builds a Voodoo Lounge, then shift-click it back to lumber.
13	16	As soon as your Barracks finishes, train 1 Grunt. It is correct that there is a gap in peon production.
14	19	Queue up your last (7th) peon.
15	20	As soon as you have 190 lumber, upgrade your Great Hall to a Stronghold.
16	20	Take your Grunt and hero and creep one green camp before coming back to the shop to buy items.
17	20	When you have 40 lumber, take a lumber peon and build your 2nd burrow.
18	20	When you have enough resources, build your 3rd burrow.
19	20	Train your second Grunt.
20	23	Train your third Grunt. Depending on your end game composition you may not make more Grunts except to replace dead ones.
21	-	Once your tier 2 upgrade finishes, transition into one of the tier 2 builds from the guide.