Range Hydras > Mines

On March 27 2009 14:39 Misrah wrote:
It's been a while TL. I haven't posted in the strategy section for quite awhile. While i was gone however, i have been doing some work. I am really going to try and cut down on how long this 'guide' is because hey, i realize that i am defiantly not good enough to be talking about starcraft for 3+ pages. (I will leave that to Day, Chill, Cloud, Osty ext.)

Getting on topic-

I have made a new cocaine build. That *hopefully* can have some use in play, and isn't a cheap trick you can use to kill noobs. As always comments, criticisms and the like are always appreciated.

My new Crank idea has a few interesting theories, and while i have tested them out in games (rep pack at the bottom of the page) I feel that someone that is far more knowledgeable than i can probably do more, and make a cleaner looking game than I. What i am trying to say is that, as usual i would love it if people would be willing to give this build a try, and better players especially- tell me what your thoughts are.

Zerg on Crank has an interesting style to it. I had been noticing recently that many terrans are now enjoying the mech game against zerg. With maps like destination, i have talked to numerous zerg players that say they have a problem dealing with mech, and or always say they 'hate' playing a mechanic terran. I have to say that this build is more slightly geared towards a mechanic terran, however i have used this against standard bio- and have had good results as well.

Now onto the build. I am trying to use an early game zerg unit (hydra) more effectively in ZvT play during the early game. Hydra have 4 range, and so do marines. With a range upgrade, hydra can get a +1 range bonus, making their range 5. I realize that marines have the same upgrade- however i have been noticing that terrans opt for stim first, and then getting +1 range. So i began to think about how i could use this.

Build order thoughts and ideas-

It has always seemed to me, that unless zerg wants to play a really aggressive 2 hatch build against terran- the only other way to play is 3 hatch. As you all know, 3 hatch is standard, and really when any zerg player goes 3 hatch, it is always best to try and not build more than a few lings. That way you can drone whore, and just build a sunken or two if you need them for defense.

What i don't like about this mindset- is that zerg doesn't have any type of 'halfway' builds. Zergling rushes are too all in, and a good terran will simply scv block and then you will quickly become economically behind. Going 2 hatch muta or 2 hatch lurker is also a very aggressive game, where your muta micro had to pull you into the lead, and lurkers are just too inferior IMO to really be tried against good opponents. I feel that tanks and or a few drop ships are all terran needs to thwart your lurker contain. Not to mention the fact that terran can simply scan your base, and see exactly what you are doing.

So i began asking myself, if there was a way to play a 'softer' type of game. I wanted to have my early game zerg be aggressive in the early game- yet still retain some economical advantage. I realize that what i just said is impossible, but i think that with small sacrifices to both, instead of either all in macro, or attack mode could be a useful tool in the zerg arsenal.

Why Hydralisks?

Hydra are by far my favorite unit that zerg has. I don't know why- but i have always enjoyed their sounds, and attack. I feel that in the early game, zerglings are inferior to marines. Now many say that so are hydra, because of M&M DPS (damage per second) output. While i do agree to the DPS argument to some extent, i think that in the early game, where there are few medics (and now with the resurgence of mech- barely any to speak of) hydra can do very very well against marines.

To do well against marines, i think that hydra need one huge advantage- Range. In my build, i have consistently upgraded hydra range before terran has theirs. This +1 range is actually quite useful- and i feel that zerg can capitalize on this. With range, and proper micro- hydra seem to be quite a match for marines.

Numbers
Hydra Cost: 75 min 25 gas
Marine Cost: 50 min

Hydra range: 4 (+1 with upgrade)
Marine range: 4 (+1 with upgrade)

Hydras kill marines in: 8 shots, so if you have a group of 8 you can be one shotting marines.

You need at least 4 drones mining minerals and 1/1.5 mining gas to pump hydra off of one hatch.

The Build
12 hatch
11 pool
two more drones (so 12 supply)
with your next 50 min, start your extractor
continue to make non stop drones form your hatch.
Once the extractor pops put 3 drones on gas untill 50 gas- and pull them off
Make your Den
When the pool pops make 1 set of zergllings
When your nat hatch pops pull 2-3 drones and send them to mine
14 pop get make a lord
Keep droning up, and with your next 300 min get your 3rd hatch. (i place it at my nat- however i feel that it could also be safe if it were placed at a third.)
once your den pops put 3 drones back on gas
*important* now divide your hatcheries. One hatch continually pumps hydralisk, while your other (natural hatch) pups drones.

Keep up this split build until you reach 150 gas- with your first 150 gas (while still pumping hydra) get hydra range (hot key G)

When your 3rd hatch pops- you can either make continuous hydra, or make drones. either way the build will still easily work.
With your next 100 gas go for you lair.
With your next 300 min go for your 4th hatch (at an expo)
Get your 2nd gas when your lair is completed

At this point in the build, you should have about 12 or more hydra (depending on how many hatcheries you relocated to hydra pumping.) As soon as your +1 range completes you should move to attack terran. Try and harass. You are simply trying to make them build bunkers. (if your playing destination- do nothing at all. Simply sit right before their bridge. ** Please watch my replays as they show the deadly effectiveness of your range hydras fighting marines in a choke.) I have still am unsure if you can out range a bunker with only 5 range. Range goons have 6- and can out range the bunker, only with proper micro. I have had mixed results. Make sure to try and micro your hydra, and have them shoot as a group (especially if there are medics present). Otherwise, if you feel that you do not want to attack- that can be fine as well. You are holding ground, and terran will think that you are doing some 2 hatch lurker build- and be quite happy to sit safe inside of his base.

If terran is going mech- you can simply waltz into his base and do what ever you feel. Tanks have a range of 7- so you can snipe a terran wall, if it is not ramped. If you rally your hydra to the front of his base, you will be able to contain terrans vult harass as well.

Once your lair has popped get a spire, and begin playing the game as if you were playing standard 3 hatch muta. You will have a very early 3rd, and should be able to supply a good amount of gas to your muta. I normally only get about 6/7 muta and then proceed to ravage his base. If i was careful with my hydra, and still have a group or 1.5 groups left over, and the terran is mechanic, i can run over them. The beauty is this- as soon as your muta are in his base, you can decide what you want to do with your first 200 gas. Get lurker upgrade? for the bio terran, or simply get hydra speed for the meching terran. Your choice.

Once you hit this point in the game, continue to play as you normally would in a standard game.

Variations
I am still experimenting, with mass hydra and queen broodling for a zerg counter to mech, using this opening. I still need more testing and games before i bring this forward- feel free to give any thoughts ext.

Replays

* Please note that i suck, and am only playing low grade terrans. I did have the chance to play a 'supposed' B+ terran, but i played a terrible game. Of course if this rep is requested i will provide it.*


http://www.mediafire.com/file/d2y0tymlbxm/HydraMuta.rep
http://www.mediafire.com/file/yctwziqgwmj/HydraMuta2.rep
http://www.mediafire.com/file/dmjgnudjtk5/HydraMuta3.rep
http://www.mediafire.com/file/z4q5mgtdwkh/HydraMuta4.rep
http://www.mediafire.com/file/zyr4ymwmjt2/HydraMuta5.rep
http://www.mediafire.com/file/myrmm1mnyzt/HydraMuta6.rep