EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/LxFKC.png)
I'm extremely glad I decided to buy the ticket for the October season of GSL. I always learn an incredible amount watching code S, and at a time when I'm looking to improve my Zerg play, this season couldn't have been more timely. Before the tournament inevitably spiralled into TvT oblivion, it delivered some of the most entertaining and sophisticated ZvTs I have seen in SC2.
I was so impressed that I started to jot down notes on some of the more subtle changes in the way Zerg is currently being handled by top level players. Here is my summary of the observations that most impressed me. Interestingly, many of these techniques (which did not exist, or at least were not mainstream a couple of months ago) have now been adopted across the board by Nestea, DongRaeGu, Leenock, LosirA, CoCa, and Zenio. I've also seen them in use by IdrA at MLG Orlando.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/2GHew.png)
After the standard 15 hatch and double queens, it has now become much more common to immediately start a third, and often a fourth queen. This Spanishiwa-esque approach provides several benefits. First, it allows Zerg to drone like a madman, spending all larvae on economy. Nestea had 49 drones at the 7:30 mark in one game using this strategy. Second, it provides great defense against the now ubiquitous hellion builds. Third, if Zerg reacts quickly, it can completely annul the effect of drops.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Gx1c2.jpg)
With 2-4 queens defending the main, medivacs can be taken down extremely quickly.
In addition, more queens early in the game allows for...
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/aSqMW.png)
With most top Zergs now devoting a queen or two to creep spread, code S has been painted purple. Check out the creep spread achieved by the 15 minute mark (in-game time):
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/dirlu.png)
This obviously confers huge advantages in terms of mobility and vision. It's nice to see that the top players are now achieving the level of multi-tasking necessary to manage creep spread on top of all the other macro and micro demands.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/OrsQu.png)
One of coolest things I've noticed this season is the use of spine crawler movement; what I call 'Spine Walking'. With Terrans converging to the Nash Equilibrium of building hellions in absolutely every game no matter what, it is becoming increasingly hard to zone them out from drone lines, and protect the livelihood of new creep tumors. However, the ingenious solution top Zergs have found is to continually walk the spines with the leading edge of the creep. Here's a great example of a meticulous 'Spine Walk' from Zenio:
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/5JMzL.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/qZhs4.png)
The use of macro hatcheries is now completely standard in ZvT, largely due to the prevalence of ling-based armies. What's particularly interesting however, is the reordering of buildings. Back when Zergs relied on two base muta against Terran, the typical order was 1) Tech (spire + mutas) then 2) Third base, then 3) Macrohatch. As Terrans became better at exploiting the timing while Zerg was teching, it became much more common for Zergs to take a third base before teching, and so the typical order switched to 1) Third, 2) Tech/Macro-hatch, 3) Macro-hatch/Tech.
But on many maps, this in turn opens up a new vulnerability. With hellions on the map, it can be difficult to get over to defend the third, meaning if Terran scouts at the right time, they can force a cancel on the Third. An earlier third can also spread Zerg too thin before they have an army, making drops a nightmare to deal with. However, Zerg needs the extra larvae. Therefore, this season it became common for Zergs to use a new order, to great effect: 1) Macro-hatch, 2) Third/Tech, 3) Tech/Third.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/RVqZg.png)
This new order also goes hand in hand with earlier queens, as it means there's already an extra queen available to provide injects.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Z7K7n.png)
With the latest patch lowering the cost of Overseers, many Zergs are now opting for an Overseer around the 8-9 minute mark.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/SPzfG.png)
This is a critical time for scouting Terran's intentions, since many stim/tank pushes come around the 10 minute mark. It's great to see the patch already having an effect in this respect, and I'll be interested to see if this scout becomes standard.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/kNnUK.png)
Burrowed banelings have always been super entertaining in the GSL, from the antics of Moon to Nestea's uncanny ability to salvage terrible positions with cleverly placed banelings. However, most of the excitement has been generated by the static use of banelings: Zerg burrows them somewhere clever, then the audience and commentators sit on the edge of their seats waiting to see if Terran scans or is unfortunate enough to walk over them.
This season, the use of burrowed banelings in dynamic situations has been truly impressive. It is now very common for Zergs to use mutas to lure marines into banelings. Zergs are also occasionally starting to burrow banelings during battle, where it's particularly hard to tell whether a baneling has been killed or burrowed, so as to cover the retreat path. Possibly my favorite play of all this season was Leenock's use of burrowed banelings to zone out defenders (similar to a tactical nuke):
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/CwyGv.jpg)
All in all, an extremely informative season! ZvT is already an extremely sexy match-up, and it's amazing to see it continue to evolve.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/TqORo.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Cl9To.png)
