Dark Templar vs Protoss (no detectors):
If you are playing against Protoss players and are quick about it, you will often find that the Protoss player has no detection, particularly in the lower leagues. The faster your Starcraft 2 Dark Templar rush, the better off you will be when it comes to beating other players!
This also holds true if you wall your base properly with a Pylon and Gateway near the entrance and stick a Zealot in the exit. If they can't get in your base to scout, they don't know you are rushing to Dark Templar!
If you stumble upon a Protoss with no detection, this should be the end of the game. Keep an eye out for any probes that might be trying to build cannons, or any robotics facilities that might be available.
If you see a Robotics Facility producing Observers, kill the pylons quickly (Dark Templar kill pylons very quickly, the Robotics Facility will take awhile).
Use one Templar to start taking out key buildings. Start with the Nexus(es) and Probes then move onto other buildings. Use the other Dark Templar(s) to keep an eye on the enemy's base and kill detectors as they pop up (cannons, more pylons, another robotics facility).
Meanwhile, warp in more Dark Templars to go in and finish the job. It bears repeating that if your Starcraft 2 Dark Templar rush is fast, you will find this strategy extremely effective.
If you have little units at your base, often the other Protoss player will send in all his units to attack your base. Protect yourself from losing the "base race" by building a Dark Templar at your base.
Build tons of cannons and Stalkers if he has air. If you kill off all his probes, even if the opponent races down your main buildings and units with air, he will have to kill the cannons to win (not going to happen). Your DTs will finish off job shortly and the game will end.
DT vs Protoss (with detection):
If you determine that your opponent has Observers, a Warp Prism to warp in Dark Templar is preferred. Place a Warp Prism in the corner of the person's base. Build 4-6 Dark Templar and then rush down the Nexus. You can usually kill it before he will be able to respond.
You can also split the defense by sending in 3 DTs at the main base and then warp 3 into an expansion. Most players only have 1 Observer on defense (especially if you are fast), so you will be able to inflict major damage before being caught.
With that said, I prefer not to use the Starcraft 2 Dark Templar rush when I know the enemy has Observers. I may use Dark Templar to harass, but I won't rush for a technique that won't be fatal. I will simply use them to harass expansions as the game goes on.
In the next section of this article, I will cover how to effectively use Dark Templar versus Terran and Protoss players.
Dark Templar vs Terran:
Most players mistakenly think that a Starcraft 2 DT rush is completely worthless against Terran players because Terran players can kill them with a Scanner Sweep.
While all Terran players are likely to have a Scanner Sweep, note that this doesn't necessarily mean Dark Templar are worthless. The truth is far from it.
Scanner Sweep costs energy and is limited in amount. Also, note that players have to choice between the MULE and the Scanner Sweep. Considering the MULE is worth 270 minerals to the Terran player (each one is!) simply having them scan can wreck a Terran player's economy.
If you have 4 Dark Templar, you can send them in one at a time, costing the Terran player a scan each time. Good players actually keep less energy on tap as they use it for MULEs, so you can quickly exhaust their reserves.
Even bad players are unlikely to have energy for more than 3 scans, so the 4th Dark Templar will start causing some serious damage. At this point, keep warping in Dark Templar and wrecking the opponent.
Make sure to keep the DTs somewhat separated so they do not get taken out by a single scan. Also, be sure to look out for the construction of Missle Turrets as these are a detector.
Finally, you can kill Tech Labs on Starports to stop the construction of Ravens (the Terran detector). Ravens cost so much gas that many Terran players are unable to get them.
The best thing to remember about using a Starcraft 2 DT rush on Terran players is that even if you are unsuccessful, each scanner sweep costs them 270 minerals. Keep sending in DTs one at a time and try to snipe their units and SCVs.
Look for high cost units like Tanks and Ghosts to snipe. Killing a Seige Tank only takes a few swings and many players will not see this coming and scan fast enough, allowing you to kill one (or more) tanks.
Seige tanks are great to kill as most players keep these in "Seige Mode" which means they won't automatically run when you attack them. They will be stuck in place long enough for you to kill one, and often the splash damage from the tanks will hurt their other units in the process.
Just do the math: 1 Dark Templar costs 125 minerals and 125 vespene gas. One Seige Tank costs 150 minerals and 125 vespene gas, and the scanner sweep costs 270 minerals! Losing 125 minerals and vespene is a lot less painful than the 420 minerals and 125 vespene the Terran loses in this situation. By using multiple Dark Templar, this adds up very quickly!
Ghosts can expose DTs temporarily with the EMP ability, so keep an eye out for them and never clump your Dark Templar. Focus these down, as an EMPed Dark Templar that is killed is a waste of money. Use your Dark Templar to focus Ghosts down.
When performing a Starcraft 2 DT rush, note that Dark Templar can also be used to defend your own base from Terran counter attacks. If they spent all their scans on your Dark Templar, they won't be able to see the Dark Templar in your base. You can use Stalkers or Phoenix to focus down any Ravens in the area.
Dark Templar vs Zerg
Versus Zerg players killing the main hatchery is top priority as if players see that you are coming, they can quickly make an Overseer. Four Dark Templar can kill a Lair before the Overseer comes out if you sneak in quietly.
DTs alone will never defeat a Zerg due to the ease of getting an Overseer. However, you can take out quite a few drones and maybe even a Hatchery if you completely take them by surprise.
Use Dark Templar once to hurt the Zerg player's economy, and then go back to producing units to finish them off. As a general rule, I don't like using the Starcraft 2 DT rush versus Zerg players.
One great way to use Dark Templars though is to put a hurt on their supply count by picking off Overlords with the Phoenix. Focus on Overseers and then Overlords.
While the enemy is distracted dealing with the Phoenix, send in the Dark Templar. Use the Dark Templar to first kill any Anti-Air ground unit (Hydralisks, Queens) and then use the Phoenix to focus down any Overseers that might be forming.
Conclusion
The Starcraft 2 DT rush is most effective when used against Protoss players, mostly because only good Protoss players bother to get an early observer.
This strategy is often enough to completely finish off Protoss players, especially mediocre players that have a tendency to rush for Void Rays.
The Starcraft 2 DT rush is also a great way to hurt the economy of Terran players. Wear down their scanning energy a bit at a time until they run out.
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