• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 07:04
CEST 13:04
KST 20:04
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
TL.net Map Contest #22 - Voting & Ladder Map Selection1Code S Season 2 (2026) - RO8 Preview4[ASL21] Finals Preview: Two Legacies21Code S Season 2 (2026) - RO12 Preview2herO wins GSL Code S Season 1 (2026)7
Community News
StarCraft II 5.0.16 PTR Patch Notes may 26th77Weekly Cups (May 18-25): MaxPax wins doubles0Crank Gathers Season 4: BW vs SC2 Team League4Weekly Cups (May 11-17): Classic wins double1Code S Season 1 (2026) - RO8 Results2
StarCraft 2
General
TL Poll: How do you feel about the 5.0.16 PTR balance changes? Changing from 12 to 8 is just asking for StarCraft StarCraft II 5.0.16 PTR Patch Notes may 26th AllPanelExch com Overview: Registration, Login, an Weekly Cups (May 11-17): Classic wins double
Tourneys
GSL Code S Season 2 (2026) Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament Crank Gathers Season 4: BW vs SC2 Team League GSL Code S Season 1 (2026) Maestros of The Game 2 announcement and schedule !
Strategy
[G] Having the right mentality to improve
Custom Maps
[D]RTS in all its shapes and glory <3 [A] Nemrods 1/4 players
External Content
Welcome to the External Content forum Mutation # 527 Hell Train The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 526 Rubber and Glue
Brood War
General
BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ VPN experiences Every Matchup's Top 5 Winrates (all ASLs & KSLs) FlaShFTW vs A.Alm Grudge Match Event Pros React To: ASL S21 Finals
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues [ASL21] Grand Finals Escore Tournament StarCraft Season 2 [BSL22] WB Final & LB Semis - Saturday 21:00 CEST
Strategy
Any training maps people recommend? Muta micro map competition [G] Hydra ZvZ: An Introduction Fighting Spirit mining rates
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread ZeroSpace Megathread Path of Exile Dawn of War IV
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Vanilla Mini Mafia Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas TL Mafia Community Thread Five o'clock TL Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Trading/Investing Thread Dating: How's your luck?
Fan Clubs
The herO Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books
Sports
McBoner: A hockey love story 2024 - 2026 Football Thread TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 Formula 1 Discussion
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread Facing Challenges in Mobile App Development
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Customization Drives Loyalty…
TrAiDoS
Why RTS gamers make better f…
gosubay
ramps on octagon
StaticNine
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1839 users

ZvP is imbalanced

Forum Index > BW General
Post a Reply
1 2 3 4 5 45 46 47 Next All
motbob
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
United States12546 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-10-20 21:42:36
September 25 2009 08:12 GMT
#1
EDIT2: Since about page 30 this thread has turned into a haven for statistics nerds! Enter at your own risk.

EDIT: I'm a strong believer in the theory that maps can fix any balance issues inherent in the way Blizzard designed the races. Therefore, I believe that the imbalance I'm talking about in this OP will pass eventually. However, what I really wanted this thread to be about was why the matchup shifted towards zergs for no obvious reason over the past 8 months. I was hoping that some people would have some theories on that.

ZvP is seriously imbalanced at the pro and semi-pro level. It's remarkable how that fact has sort of snuck up on us over the past few months, but it's absolutely true. Since about March, it seems like zergs have reached a point in the metagame where they always have the build order advantage.

Whether it's because of Jaedong leading the way for zergs everywhere, or the inability for protosses to come up with any innovation in their play since the zealot/archon push that was popular 8 months ago, Protosses are in a bad place right now when they play zerg. And it's not the maps. Destination used to be balanced ZvP (56-54 before Mar 1 2009). Now it is not (61-44 after).

Let's talk numbers. In the upcoming OSL prelims, the maps used are Destination, Heartbreak Ridge, and Return of the King. The combined stats for those three maps after early March, including "non-official" games like prelim games, is 60% ZvP. Outsider is 41-27 (60.3%). Neo Medusa is 34-25 (57.6%).

Why is this matchup suddenly so drastically imbalanced?
ModeratorGood content always wins.
barth
Profile Joined March 2008
Ireland1272 Posts
September 25 2009 08:15 GMT
#2
Perhaps its the players, not the match-up?
"Somebody you are talking to disappears mid sentence, and the universe shoots you because you talked to someone that wasn`t there." - MasterOfChaos
motbob
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
United States12546 Posts
September 25 2009 08:16 GMT
#3
On September 25 2009 17:15 barth wrote:
Perhaps its the players, not the match-up?

Zerg players with progaming licenses are inherently better than Protoss players?
ModeratorGood content always wins.
disciple
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
9071 Posts
September 25 2009 08:18 GMT
#4
A wise man once said (seriously who was that? FS?) that if protoss is losing, nothings wrong with the balance. If they are winning there must be something wrong, so I think the situation right now is nothing surprising if you look at the MU historically
Administrator"I'm a big deal." - ixmike88
BookTwo
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
1985 Posts
September 25 2009 08:19 GMT
#5
not even at the semi pro level. I never play zerg, and I played as zerg the other day against a protoss, and I won without even following a strict BO. go figure.

I just massed hydras
lazz
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
Australia3119 Posts
September 25 2009 08:19 GMT
#6
ZvP has always been the most imba match up in starcraft..
Camlito
Profile Blog Joined July 2007
Australia4040 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-09-25 08:23:03
September 25 2009 08:20 GMT
#7
On September 25 2009 17:19 BookTwo wrote:
not even at the semi pro level. I never play zerg, and I played as zerg the other day against a protoss, and I won without even following a strict BO. go figure.

I just massed hydras


I can beat c+ zergs TvZ with gaycute leta/fantasy style builds.

Go figure.

edit: like the person below.
sAviOr...
Saracen
Profile Blog Joined December 2007
United States5139 Posts
September 25 2009 08:21 GMT
#8
Have you watched the recent Preseason games? But yes, Protoss needs more innovation, and everyone knows ZvP is inherently imbalanced. It's just that Zerg seems to have a lot more options with an easy 3-base 3-gas that's so common in maps nowadays.
Ver
Profile Joined October 2008
United States2186 Posts
September 25 2009 08:21 GMT
#9
Pretty simple.

Nearly all of the best Tosses are slumping overall. It's just not as noticeable with PvT because most of the maps are really toss favored so the stats come out relatively even.

Not really a big deal. Every race has their ups and downs.
Liquipedia
lokiM
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
United States3407 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-09-25 08:26:35
September 25 2009 08:24 GMT
#10
I'm guessing you got destroyed by some random zerg, and you are only comparing the pro scene

destination @ iccup zvp = 51% 16,000 games

Outsider @ iccup zvp = 50.89% over 3,000+ games

Neo Medusa @ iccup zvp = 52% with just under 3k games

seems pretty balanced to me..
You can't fight the feeling.
TreK
Profile Joined August 2004
Sweden2089 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-09-25 08:29:00
September 25 2009 08:25 GMT
#11
Stop making silly 2nd entrence with mineralpatch kind of maps that favour 9 pool alot imo.
Altho that may not be a problem on progaming level maybe -,-
Zerg has so many options with 3 hatch 3 gas---> 5 hatch 3 gas , den and spire at the same time never gives any intel anyways ;p

Perhaps its as simple as mutta control being out of control ? Lets just hope Bisu JR shows his face soon and starts raping jaedong until he slumps
Bergkamp ftw!
motbob
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
United States12546 Posts
September 25 2009 08:26 GMT
#12
On September 25 2009 17:24 lokiM wrote:
im guessing you got destroyed by some random zerg, and you are only comparing the pro scene

You're absolutely correct! I am only talking about in the pro scene. In fact, I even say so in the OP!
ModeratorGood content always wins.
iamho
Profile Joined June 2009
United States3347 Posts
September 25 2009 08:26 GMT
#13
personally ive always felt z balance is a bit off, zvp is really easy esp. in hive tech, zvt is so fucking hard, zvz is just a screwed matchup
lokiM
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
United States3407 Posts
September 25 2009 08:29 GMT
#14
On September 25 2009 17:26 motbob wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 25 2009 17:24 lokiM wrote:
im guessing you got destroyed by some random zerg, and you are only comparing the pro scene

You're absolutely correct! I am only talking about in the pro scene. In fact, I even say so in the OP!

did you edit the first line? because i read it right when you posted, and I took it as you were complaining and only comparing the overal stats
You can't fight the feeling.
NiTenIchiRyu
Profile Joined February 2009
United Kingdom273 Posts
September 25 2009 08:29 GMT
#15
ITT toss fanboys. Close the thread please? It's not like it's going anywhere...
Camlito
Profile Blog Joined July 2007
Australia4040 Posts
September 25 2009 08:30 GMT
#16
On September 25 2009 17:26 iamho wrote:
personally ive always felt z balance is a bit off, zvp is really easy esp. in hive tech, zvt is so fucking hard, zvz is just a screwed matchup


man i hate being like yarnc (best matchup zvt, great/respectable zvz, terrible zvp...)
sAviOr...
XeliN
Profile Joined June 2009
United Kingdom1755 Posts
September 25 2009 08:30 GMT
#17
On September 25 2009 17:24 lokiM wrote:
I'm guessing you got destroyed by some random zerg, and you are only comparing the pro scene

destination @ iccup zvp = 51% 16,000 games

Outsider @ iccup zvp = 50.89% over 3,000+ games

Neo Medusa @ iccup zvp = 52% with just under 3k games

seems pretty balanced to me..


Link to source of these stats plz (not questioning them just cant find them on iccup site)
Adonai bless
lokiM
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
United States3407 Posts
September 25 2009 08:31 GMT
#18
http://www.iccup.com/starcraft/mapinfo/iccup_destination_1.1.html
You can't fight the feeling.
baubo
Profile Joined September 2008
China3370 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-09-25 08:32:51
September 25 2009 08:32 GMT
#19
I kind of wish progamer protosses would play something other than standard FE->Starport/Citadel->dts. It's predictability allows zergs to counter against it way too easily.

Personally, it's really frustrating to watch a PvZ as a protoss fan, because basically the zerg is the one that can do all the cute rushes and tricks for basically the first 10 minutes of the game. While the protoss has this one build that only works if everything the zerg tries fails.
Meh
motbob
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
United States12546 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-09-25 08:34:12
September 25 2009 08:33 GMT
#20
On September 25 2009 17:29 lokiM wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 25 2009 17:26 motbob wrote:
On September 25 2009 17:24 lokiM wrote:
im guessing you got destroyed by some random zerg, and you are only comparing the pro scene

You're absolutely correct! I am only talking about in the pro scene. In fact, I even say so in the OP!

did you edit the first line? because i read it right when you posted, and I took it as you were complaining and only comparing the overal stats

I did edit it, but before you (or anyone else) posted.
ModeratorGood content always wins.
1 2 3 4 5 45 46 47 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Maestros of the Game
11:00
Preliminary Stage
SKillous vs Ryung
Solar vs Percival
Maru vs sOs
Lambo vs Arrogfire
TaKeTV243
ComeBackTV 105
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
Ryung 381
Lowko275
Livibee 252
Rex 102
EnDerr 8
StarCraft: Brood War
Zeus 604
Britney 587
EffOrt 236
hero 154
Last 136
Dewaltoss 92
Sexy 71
Sacsri 45
sorry 36
Sea.KH 24
[ Show more ]
Noble 17
Liquid`Ret 11
zelot 8
Barracks 0
Dota 2
XaKoH 634
League of Legends
JimRising 348
Counter-Strike
edward113
Heroes of the Storm
MindelVK14
Other Games
singsing1403
B2W.Neo233
Mew2King45
Organizations
Counter-Strike
PGL255
Other Games
BasetradeTV203
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
[ Show 11 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Nemesis2204
Upcoming Events
IPSL
4h 56m
ZZZero vs WorsT
Julia vs eOnzErG
BSL
7h 56m
TerrOr vs Dewalt
Bonyth vs eOnzErG
Replay Cast
12h 56m
RSL Revival
19h 56m
Maestros of the Game
1d 1h
SHIN vs Nicoract
Rogue vs Gerald
ByuN vs Shameless
Cure vs TriGGeR
OSC
1d 1h
IPSL
1d 4h
Dragon vs Artosis
dxtr13 vs Hawk
BSL
1d 7h
Wardi Open
2 days
Monday Night Weeklies
2 days
[ Show More ]
Replay Cast
2 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
2 days
WardiTV Spring Champion…
2 days
Maestros of the Game
3 days
The PondCast
3 days
Kung Fu Cup
3 days
Maestros of the Game
4 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Replay Cast
4 days
WardiTV Spring Champion…
4 days
Maestros of the Game
5 days
Replay Cast
5 days
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
6 days
Maestros of the Game
6 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Solar vs Classic
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Escore Tournament S2: King of Kings
2026 GSL S1
Heroes Pulsing #1

Ongoing

2026 KK StarCraft Pro League
BSL Season 22
IPSL Spring 2026
KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 2
KK 2v2 League Season 1
Acropolis #4
CSCL: Masked Kings S4
YSL S3
SCTL 2026 Spring
WardiTV Spring 2026
Maestros of the Game 2
2026 GSL S2
RSL Revival: Season 5
Murky Cup 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026

Upcoming

BSL 22 Non-Korean Championship
CSLAN 4
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
CranK Gathers Season 4: BW vs SC2 Team League
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Heroes Pulsing #3
Heroes Pulsing #2
Esports World Cup 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3
XSE Pro League 2026
IEM Cologne Major 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.