• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 14:55
CEST 20:55
KST 03:55
  • 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
[ASL20] Ro8 Preview Pt2: Holding On6Maestros of the Game: Live Finals Preview (RO4)5TL.net Map Contest #21 - Finalists4Team TLMC #5: Vote to Decide Ladder Maps!0[ASL20] Ro8 Preview Pt1: Mile High15
Community News
5.0.15 Balance Patch Notes (Live version)56$2,500 WardiTV TL Map Contest Tournament 151Stellar Fest: StarCraft II returns to Canada10Weekly Cups (Sept 22-28): MaxPax double, Zerg wins, PTR12BSL Season 217
StarCraft 2
General
5.0.15 Balance Patch Notes (Live version) Stellar Fest: StarCraft II returns to Canada SC2 5.0.15 PTR Patch Notes + Sept 22nd update Had to smile :) Weekly Cups (Sept 22-28): MaxPax double, Zerg wins, PTR
Tourneys
$2,500 WardiTV TL Map Contest Tournament 15 Stellar Fest Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament LANified! 37: Groundswell, BYOC LAN, Nov 28-30 2025 Maestros of The Game—$20k event w/ live finals in Paris
Strategy
Custom Maps
External Content
Mutation # 493 Quick Killers Mutation # 492 Get Out More Mutation # 491 Night Drive Mutation # 490 Masters of Midnight
Brood War
General
Flash On JaeDongs ASL Struggles & Perseverance ASL20 General Discussion Thoughts on rarely used units BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Any rep analyzer that shows resources situation?
Tourneys
[ASL20] Ro8 Day 4 Small VOD Thread 2.0 [ASL20] Ro8 Day 3 3D!Community Brood War Super Cup №3
Strategy
Current Meta I am doing this better than progamers do. Simple Questions, Simple Answers Cliff Jump Revisited (1 in a 1000 strategy)
Other Games
General Games
Dawn of War IV Nintendo Switch Thread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Path of Exile Liquipedia App: Now Covering SC2 and Brood War!
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion LiquidDota to reintegrate into TL.net
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
TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
Russo-Ukrainian War Thread US Politics Mega-thread The Games Industry And ATVI Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Canadian Politics Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
The herO Fan Club! The Happy Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 MLB/Baseball 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
SC2 Client Relocalization [Change SC2 Language] Linksys AE2500 USB WIFI keeps disconnecting Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List BarCraft in Tokyo Japan for ASL Season5 Final
Blogs
Mental Health In Esports: Wo…
TrAiDoS
[AI] Sorry, Chill, My Bad :…
Peanutsc
Try to reverse getting fired …
Garnet
[ASL20] Players bad at pi…
pullarius1
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1590 users

ZvP , fighting off early zealot pressure

Forum Index > Brood War Strategy
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
Zvi
Profile Joined April 2009
Israel29 Posts
December 17 2009 00:19 GMT
#1
Hey all, i'm a D+ player on iccup, playing zerg.
Lately i've been enocuntering these early 2/3 gate zealot pushes. when i was a d, fighting those off was easy. can just pump a ton of lings, and some sunks, micro around a little, and at some point, even if i lost some drones or something, i'd get a faster tech and kill him with mutas. (if he stops earlier, to tech, I can keep playing standard)

Nowdays, however, facing better opponents, it seems they not only macro more zealots then i can easily deal with, but also keep pumping some probes, and getting tech.
This means, while I spend all my larvaes on lings, they manage the get some economy.
Also means that by the time i get to mutas, they already have a corsair flying around.

Maybe I just shouldn't pick up my nat when i see early pressure, but then I feel like I fall even further behind on economy, and I need a second hatch anyway, so it feels like a waste, putting that in my main.

Don't have a specific replay due to problem with the autoreplay. sorry.
Anyway I hope you can still help.

Zvi

:o
Evolpeac
Profile Joined December 2007
United States34 Posts
December 17 2009 01:21 GMT
#2
Traditional standard build for early ZvP is 9ovie/12hatch as close to your minerals as possible then grab your gas as your drop your pool then move it into getting your Evo chamber so you are able to tech the +1 armor for your lings to have any sense of survivability, then move into teching for something with a little more power than lings.
If there is no early push a decent start is an oviepool 9ovie then with the next 200 min drop a pool then get your first batch of lings after you get to 11 drones. If done right the 3rd larvae should appear when you're ready for your first batch of lings. Good for an early scout with some force in case you encounter a rush and great for harass if there is and early expo. Hope it helps
Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do. - Benjamin Franklin
meeple
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
Canada10211 Posts
December 17 2009 01:37 GMT
#3
Well the best thing to do is get a really good scout about their timing, and think about placing a sunken at your expo to help the lings deal with it. Experiment with sunken placement and building simcity, learning off pro vods is really great for this cuz they basically do the work for you. Don't be afraid to pull drones to block the sunken if there are alot of zealots, since if it goes down its a pretty bad situation for you.

When this happens, be sure to save the rep and post it here so people can point out specifics.
Chill
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
Calgary25986 Posts
December 17 2009 01:52 GMT
#4
On December 17 2009 09:19 Zvi wrote:
Maybe I just shouldn't pick up my nat when i see early pressure

I need a replay because this sentence shows that you don't really understand ZvP. You've already taken your natural far, FAR before you see any early pressure. So can you please attach a replay to show your exact problem?

Also, read the strategy forum guidelines.
Moderator
inReacH
Profile Blog Joined August 2008
Sweden1612 Posts
December 17 2009 02:05 GMT
#5
I think he means not vs FE
Grobyc
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Canada18410 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-12-17 02:09:41
December 17 2009 02:06 GMT
#6
The Protoss having a corsair out before you have mutas is normal in modern ZvP. If he is able to kill 2 or more ovies AND scout you, then your mutas are probably late.

You can either make a dozen speedlings and continue tech/drones,
or make a sunken at your natural and 3rd and use your initial lings. Both have their pros and cons. If you make the speedlings I'm pretty sure it's a little more expensive since you are getting the speed upgrade that you may not have wanted to get, but a) you will need to upgrade speed sooner or later anyways, and b) you can put a little more pressure on the protoss if he has a crap wall or something and you can deny scouting more easily.

But like Chill said, you might not have too great of an understanding on ZvP, so post a replay if you don't think what I said applies.

EDIT: If you do mean vs 1 base play, you should have said so, but yes his corsair will be even earlier. It's most common to get a hydra den before spire because of that. You shouldn't worry about taking a 3rd ZvP if he goes 1base play unless it's a protected 3rd like God's Garden or something. Good 1base PvZ can still put you in a good position if no one has an advantage mid game, so I wouldn't say you will be ahead if you survive, but you should almost never be behind if you reacted properly.
If you watch Godzilla backwards it's about a benevolent lizard who helps rebuild a city and then moonwalks into the ocean.
w3jjjj
Profile Joined April 2007
United States760 Posts
December 17 2009 02:07 GMT
#7
Sounds like you are rushing to mutas on crappy economy. The game plan is not to tech to mutas for a win, that won't happen at higher level. Just survive the zealot attacks and make drones. Getting economy is always your first priority.
Chuck Norris can salvage his opponent's structures.
Shikyo
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Finland33997 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-12-17 02:33:43
December 17 2009 02:32 GMT
#8
I'm guessing that you mean against a 1-gate or 2-gate? In the case of a 2-gate, you aren't able to support a third hatchery at the normal timing of 13~ supply. Your hatcheries will all just collect larvae and you won't have enough stuff for anything. In this case, depending on when you scout the 2-gate, I find that the best reaction would be to either cancel the third hatchery or skip it altogether, and getting a gas immediately after you scout this. However, if you end up scouting the 2-gate really early, then don't put the gas down as soon as the normal 2-hatch timing is but a little bit later, so you have enough minerals for everything.

After this, you will just get lings and sunkens appropriately, but make sure to not get them too early or your economy will just be completely screwed. If you see him have 5 Zealots on top of his ramp, do NOT immediately make up to 16 lings or so. Instead, you can survive at that point by having maybe 8 lings and as you see him move out, make some additional Zerglings and possibly one sunken. It's extremely important to not overreact, but even so it's exactly the mistake 95% of the Zerg players make.

It is important to note that the Protoss actually can't keep up a constant Zealot pump off 2 gates and also tech properly while making probes continuously. This is why it's extremely important to note when the P starts teching. At this point you can pretty safely just pure drones and you should be able to react in time with sunkens and emergency lings the moment you see him move out.

As for teching, it entirely depends on what he is going for. Against a speedlot rush, mutas are good, as long as they aren't rushed off ~10 drones or whatever. Lurkers are also a good choice. Hydras might work better against a less unit-intensive build and well, they actually work against just about anything but like a 4-gate speedlot attack. Just react accordingly.


About 1-gate, it's about the same except you can drone a lot more heavily and, importantly, you need the gas a lot sooner. If you get a third hatchery early, you need to get it immediately afterwards, and in this case it might give you too much larvae once again. 2-hatch build is preferable again, since you need the gas in order to defend against the sair or whatever. Basically almost the same thing but you can power a lot more early on.

Take this advice with a grain of salt since I'm not amazing(Damn Avi-Love just wtfpowned me 3-0 >< .. oh right he's not toss, w/e), but it should work for at least D+.
League of Legends EU West, Platinum III | Yousei Teikoku is the best thing that has ever happened to music.
TheNessman
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
United States4158 Posts
December 17 2009 04:23 GMT
#9
my friend does this odd thing where he goes 2 gate and PUMPS lots and probes until he has at least 12 lots, and what seems to be a very good econ to me, then this large amount of zealots gets to my base faster than normal.

i am stumped and i feel like this is a good place to ask for help.
~~! youtube.com/xmungam1 !~~
XJungWonx
Profile Joined December 2009
United States72 Posts
December 17 2009 04:27 GMT
#10
If he zealot you go for fast lurker or muta because there is nothing the opponent can do if they go straight up zealot
Ultralisks + Dark Swarm FTW
TheNessman
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
United States4158 Posts
December 17 2009 04:46 GMT
#11
k thanks thats what i kind of thought.
~~! youtube.com/xmungam1 !~~
DrainX
Profile Blog Joined December 2006
Sweden3187 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-12-17 05:39:17
December 17 2009 05:37 GMT
#12
If your opponent is doing a 2 gate rush as in 9/10 gate or something similar and you are doing a 12 hatch his first zealot should reach your natural around the time your hatchery is finishing. Your objective then is to get sunkens down as fast as possible while you try to keep the zealots busy with your lings. He will probably bring a few probes with his first zealot to block your creep colonies and you might need to bring a few drones yourself. Once you get 2 or so sunks down you should be able to hold of the initial push.

If you are going pool before hatchery you will have to rely more on lings. The attack with 3 or so zeals will happen before you can get your sunks up at your nat. You will have the army advantage in the very start but as the numbers increase on both sides the zealots will get more powerful. It is imperative that you finish your second hatchery. You wont be able to outproduce your opponents two gate zeals with 1 hatch zerglings.

I don't play zerg so I don't know the details from your POV. This is just from the eyes of a protoss player who likes 2 gating.
TheNessman
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
United States4158 Posts
December 17 2009 05:46 GMT
#13
Very helpful thank you DrainX

summary:
if you 12hatch, lay down at least 2 sunks while bringing more drones up to counter probes, along with the initial lings.

if you 9pool, use lots of lings. lots. then expand into nat. quickly. then win.

haha ok if this is at all right i think i get it.
~~! youtube.com/xmungam1 !~~
HiHiByeBye
Profile Joined August 2009
Canada365 Posts
December 17 2009 06:33 GMT
#14
I think wat his describing is a +1 speed lot rush. Ya those are so hard to deal with.

Just need to switch to mutas as fast as possible while having a good simcity (or else his zealots are just going to focus ur hatch then even if u kill all his zealots u are still behind).

After ur mutas fend off the rush dont try to kill him with mutas switch to hydras because most ppl transition +1 zealot into 2 stargate sairs dt
Heaven_n
Profile Joined April 2009
Mexico170 Posts
December 17 2009 07:04 GMT
#15
Well i have a doubt myself, what if he 2 gates and i go for 12 pool and know his going for a fast corsair? when should i get my gas? should i tech to muta? go hydra? extra info. He wont stop producing zealots so i can't just outproduce him with lings ty.

To the op i read somewhere if u go 12 hatch ur supposed to send 2 drones and lay 2 creep colonies, he'll attack one, when its almost dead u cancel it and place it again then defend with zerlings (because ur zlings will be later than the fight i mentioned. Then u'll have to scout what tech tree he's chosing like robo stargate or templar.
Savior: I will destroy everyone in 2009 if thats ok with u thanks
Catch]22
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
Sweden2683 Posts
December 17 2009 13:13 GMT
#16
Zvi, there is no need to sign your post, we can see your name at top of the post!

Also, read the forum guidelines plz.
NiGoL
Profile Joined September 2008
1868 Posts
December 17 2009 13:15 GMT
#17
a good scout is always good no matter what, but the thing is i would just counter him with lings n hatch in his main or something, this really depends on situation.
http://www.twitter.com/NiGoLBW playing league on a competitive level
LastWish
Profile Blog Joined September 2004
2015 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-12-17 13:26:58
December 17 2009 13:22 GMT
#18
I think you talk about 2 gate toss play.

What's good about it is you may actually make tech of your choice - mutas, lurkers or hydras all work.
I personally use mainly 2 builds :

1. 2 hatch mutas - It's a low eco build, all you really need is like 12 drones alltogether, maybe some more later for second gas. But the point is to upgrade zerg speed(first 100 gas) and then tech lair immediately(second 100 gas). Meanwhile pump 100% speedlings in order to to be able to defend against speedlots and deny possible early expansion attempts. Once you build a bunch of mutas 6-9
harras him while remaking economy + expanding.

2. 3 hatch hydras. This time no speed for lings, and only make small amount of lings but more sunkens. Why sunkens? Because they save larva count to make better economy. But you won't need to pressure him so early. You want to make a timing 3 hatch hydra attack with 12+8+6 drones. Upgrades : first hydra speed, than lair and continue with hydra range + overlord speed and latter on lurker upgrade. Pressure the toss expansion and expand yourself into 5 hatch hydra lurk.
- It's all just treason - They bring me down with their lies - Don't know the reason - My life is fire and ice -
AsianEcksDragon
Profile Joined March 2008
United States1036 Posts
December 17 2009 18:09 GMT
#19
Unless it's 9/9 gate, you should always get that nat. 1 sunken and a handful of lings easily deal with any early zealot pressure and since you have an overlord in his base, you can see if he's continuing production or teching. If he techs, pump drones and tech. If not, then get another sunken up and tech. Sometimes Protoss will go all in and send a lot probes as well, that's when you should just play safe and tech
神は乗り越えられる試練しか与えない
ProoM
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
Lithuania1741 Posts
December 17 2009 19:34 GMT
#20
10 hatch = earlier (20s) + more lings, earlier (20s) hatch, and a little (3-5s) delayed eco, compared to 12 hatch.
IMBA - International Mountain Bicycling Association.
1 2 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 4h 5m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
mouzHeroMarine 657
UpATreeSC 161
JuggernautJason54
StarCraft: Brood War
Larva 393
firebathero 177
Dewaltoss 134
Hyun 82
sSak 71
Leta 68
BRAT_OK 62
Mong 41
Aegong 29
Dota 2
Gorgc7345
Counter-Strike
fl0m2224
ScreaM211
flusha76
kRYSTAL_29
Heroes of the Storm
Liquid`Hasu340
Other Games
FrodaN2975
Beastyqt631
mouzStarbuck167
KnowMe165
ArmadaUGS114
C9.Mang0109
Mew2King63
NeuroSwarm60
QueenE56
Organizations
Other Games
BasetradeTV48
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 19 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• davetesta38
• Hupsaiya 36
• Kozan
• sooper7s
• Migwel
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• IndyKCrew
• intothetv
StarCraft: Brood War
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
• BSLYoutube
Dota 2
• masondota2871
• Ler95
• lizZardDota247
League of Legends
• Nemesis3619
Other Games
• imaqtpie1215
• WagamamaTV413
• Shiphtur223
Upcoming Events
Online Event
4h 5m
Wardi Open
16h 5m
Online Event
22h 5m
Online Event
1d 16h
[BSL 2025] Weekly
1d 23h
Safe House 2
1d 23h
Sparkling Tuna Cup
2 days
BSL Team Wars
3 days
Team Bonyth vs Team Dewalt
Dewalt vs kogeT
JDConan vs Tarson
RaNgeD vs DragOn
StRyKeR vs Bonyth
Aeternum vs Hejek
Replay Cast
3 days
The PondCast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2025-09-25
Maestros of the Game
HCC Europe

Ongoing

BSL 20 Team Wars
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 3
BSL 21 Points
ASL Season 20
CSL 2025 AUTUMN (S18)
Acropolis #4 - TS2
EC S1
ESL Pro League S22
Frag Blocktober 2025
Urban Riga Open #1
FERJEE Rush 2025
Birch Cup 2025
DraculaN #2
LanDaLan #3
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
IEM Cologne 2025
FISSURE Playground #1

Upcoming

IPSL Winter 2025-26
SC4ALL: Brood War
BSL Season 21
BSL 21 Team A
RSL Revival: Season 3
Stellar Fest
SC4ALL: StarCraft II
WardiTV TLMC #15
ESL Impact League Season 8
SL Budapest Major 2025
BLAST Rivals Fall 2025
IEM Chengdu 2025
PGL Masters Bucharest 2025
Thunderpick World Champ.
CS Asia Championships 2025
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 © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.