Strengthening Foreign BW - Page 15

In most standard TvZ, when Terran goes bio and Zerg goes Mutalisks into Lurkers, there are couple crucial moments (timings) that may decide the game straight away or at least secure the advantage for either side. First important timing occurs when Terran adds two Medics to his initial Marine force. As a principle, he then immediately moves out, heading towards Zerg natural expansion. It all happens before Mutas pop out, so Zerg can either throw down Sunken Colonies or try to make a backstab attack with the Zerglings. The whole purpose of Terran maneuver is not killing the enemy, but forcing the Sunkens to be made, which shall weaken Zerg economy as he loses Drones to make static defense. And then, since Terran doesn't want to leave his bases vulnerable to Zergling backstab, he will often make a round of Firebats and puts them at the choke. Many decent Zerg players will try the third option and use Zerglings to poke around and delay Terran infantry, keeping his Creep Colonies unmutated into Sunkens until it's absolutely necessary to do so.

The second important moment is when first Science Vessel is out. This unit can Irradiate the Mutas if they're still around, shutting down the harass attempts. Vessel also makes Lurkers visible and vulnerable to Tank and infantry attacks, so Zerg has to retreat from the position he occupied (considering he tried to set up very standard Lurker contain). Now, Terran pushes out for the second time, usually with 2-3 Tanks and about two control groups of Medic/Marines. This time, he wants to inflict as much damage as possible before Defilers and Dark Swarm come into play. At this stage, Zerg tactics often involve making lot of Sunken colonies to delay the push and/or placing Lurker eggs at chokes to block infantry access to Zerg bases. On certain maps, Zerg will also divide his forces and sent some units through side paths, either to prepare a flanking attack against advancing enemy, or to cut the reinforcements he is sending out.

Finally, if Zerg survives this second stage, the third important moment can be largely in his favor, as it involves spawning many Ultralisks from gas he's been stockpiling so far. Sometimes, this moment has to be postponed or even forsaken, because Terran manages to damage Zerg gas supply or kills some of his important, lower-level tech before Ultralisk Cavern is made. Nevertheless, when Ultralisks come into play, Terran needs to have large Science Vessel count (for mass Irradiate) and/or 3rd base already secured. At this point, some Terrans will transition into Tank-heavy play, using them for defence while keeping some Marines and Medics outside for map control. Note that full-health Ultralisk won't die solely to one Irradiate, and it can turn the radiation against it's distributors, by fighting and poisoning Terran infantry during it's own period of contamination.