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Active: 1676 users

Race switch to Zerg - Advice!

Blogs > CooDu
Post a Reply
CooDu
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Australia899 Posts
February 03 2011 00:39 GMT
#1
Hi guys,

I'm a gold level player on SEA currently contemplating swapping to Zerg. I currently play Terran, but of late have become increasingly fascinated with the Zerg style of play. As such, I am going to use my dummy NA account and work up from Bronze playing Zerg as a fresh start to the new race.

So! What I am essentially after is some solid beginner build orders/unit combinations for Zerg for each matchup, so I can practice these while working on my fundamentals (macro etc)

Some good openings would be great also. I'm going to try and focus on FE style economic openings and refrain from all-in or cheese style play.

I'll keep posting some blog updates with a few replays for analysis also.

Thanks for your time, now let's discuss! I know it can be hard on TL, but try to keep the advice to a Gold/Newer level player working on his fundamentals and macro.

Cheers!

Just a simple guy, going wherever this journey takes me.
WniO
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States2706 Posts
February 03 2011 00:43 GMT
#2
switch back to terran. jk. well kinda... yeah try and work on macro, and then once you figure out that, work on all in and more aggressive play.
beg
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
991 Posts
February 03 2011 00:47 GMT
#3
watch this: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=177791


all the VoDs are super sick. it's like the "how to zerg" in amazing detail. depicted by the best of the best zerg.
Lightswarm
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
Canada967 Posts
February 03 2011 00:59 GMT
#4
if u really want to play zerg, i would focus on getting the mechanics down first. that means spreading ur creep whenever they are rdy/using queen energy all the time/constantly produce units. strategies are useless for the zerg unless u have that handled
Team[AoV]
Agama
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States72 Posts
February 03 2011 03:00 GMT
#5
Don't forget to make overlords.

That's probably the biggest thing that holds me back.
red_b
Profile Joined April 2010
United States1267 Posts
February 03 2011 03:09 GMT
#6
I wouldnt suggest a switch unless you are prepared to play ZvZ which is an extremely volatile matchup.

Make overlords in pairs past 40. That's honestly the best advice I can give you. Inject timing isnt so hard and as long as you have supply room you ought to do ok.
Those small maps were like a boxing match in a phone booth.
Torte de Lini
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Germany38463 Posts
February 03 2011 03:22 GMT
#7
Get tissues.
ZvZ literally makes me rip my hair out. So aggravating on so many levels.
https://twitter.com/#!/TorteDeLini (@TorteDeLini)
shindigs
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
United States4795 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-03 03:26:57
February 03 2011 03:25 GMT
#8
I believe Day[9] did a daily on the fundamentals of zerg play a while back. That video does a pretty good job on explaining how Zerg is different from other races and how you can properly utilize the uniqueness of Zerg to overwhelm your opponent.

However as a gold level player the most important aspect of playing Zerg is macroing and not dying. It is inevitable as a Zerg player you will lose to someone less skilled than you executing a 4gate or a banshee opening that completely catches you off guard and there is nothing you can do about it. It happens to EVERYONE so the best thing you can do is not complain, scout better, and focus focus focus on macro. Losing because you overdroned is frustrating, but it's how Zerg plays.
Photographer@shindags || twitch.tv/shindigs
CooDu
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Australia899 Posts
February 03 2011 03:32 GMT
#9
Thanks for the advice guys. I'm actually looking forward to the ZvZ matchup just because I don't particularly like TvT although I do fairly well in it.

In regards to my fundamentals and mechanics as being the best way to go at my level, should I focus on specific unit combinations or just work on trying to make STUFF, upgrades, money low etc.

For example in ZvT, Bling sling Muta seems to be the way to go, should I stick to one set of unit comps per matchup, or just plan before I start and focus on macro (as Day9 says, have more shit.)

Cheers, great advice thus far
Just a simple guy, going wherever this journey takes me.
Ghin
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
United States2391 Posts
February 03 2011 03:44 GMT
#10
Here's how you scout with zerg: Make 4 zerglings with your pool and put them outside his ramp. This will tell you what he's building and when he's going to move out, and therefore how many drones you can make. Put an overlord or two around his base, preferrably in spots stalkers or marines can't hit, and run them in when you're curious about his build timing.

Another random tip: Make way more banelings than you think you need to kill his marines. Having more banelings means you will be guaranteed to kill his army. You are not playing in the GSL. I can't count the number of times I've made too few banelings and gotten killed by a marine spread, or won a game because my opponent thought he could "react" in time and make banelings in response to moving out.
Legalize drugs and murder.
Torte de Lini
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Germany38463 Posts
February 03 2011 03:45 GMT
#11
On February 03 2011 12:32 CooDu wrote:
Thanks for the advice guys. I'm actually looking forward to the ZvZ matchup just because I don't particularly like TvT although I do fairly well in it.

In regards to my fundamentals and mechanics as being the best way to go at my level, should I focus on specific unit combinations or just work on trying to make STUFF, upgrades, money low etc.

For example in ZvT, Bling sling Muta seems to be the way to go, should I stick to one set of unit comps per matchup, or just plan before I start and focus on macro (as Day9 says, have more shit.)

Cheers, great advice thus far


Macro
Scouting (Overseer, Ling at the ramp to see when they push, control the towers, OL sacrifice to scout base, Changeling
Droning
Creep spread/Queen Injects.

Those are the fundamentals of Zerg. Once you get that down, unit composition is unlimited and quite diversified.
https://twitter.com/#!/TorteDeLini (@TorteDeLini)
Lexpar
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
1813 Posts
February 03 2011 04:46 GMT
#12
Switch back.
beg
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
991 Posts
February 03 2011 05:01 GMT
#13
On February 03 2011 12:32 CooDu wrote:
Thanks for the advice guys. I'm actually looking forward to the ZvZ matchup just because I don't particularly like TvT although I do fairly well in it.

In regards to my fundamentals and mechanics as being the best way to go at my level, should I focus on specific unit combinations or just work on trying to make STUFF, upgrades, money low etc.

For example in ZvT, Bling sling Muta seems to be the way to go, should I stick to one set of unit comps per matchup, or just plan before I start and focus on macro (as Day9 says, have more shit.)

Cheers, great advice thus far

i started as terran too... and i really thought TvT is terrible... now i play zerg and just chose to 6pool every game, cause i hate ZvZ like nothing else :D
CooDu
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Australia899 Posts
February 03 2011 05:06 GMT
#14
Thanks for confirming that Torte, gives me a mental checklist to start with. I'll run a couple of games tonight and post a replay or two here and we can do some analysis.

Cheers!
Just a simple guy, going wherever this journey takes me.
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