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Hydralisks in ZvZ

Forum Index > Brood War Strategy
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1 2 Next All
Rainalcar
Profile Joined April 2010
Croatia360 Posts
April 10 2020 17:26 GMT
#1
Hydras are not viable in ZvZ, but can you imagine a map where they could be? Disruption webs? Low gas geysers? What do you think?
j.r.r.
StaticNine
Profile Blog Joined March 2017
27 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-04-10 17:57:06
April 10 2020 17:56 GMT
#2
The only way I could see them being viable is if there were literally only a single gas geyser. I think as soon as you have a second gas then mutalisks become the superior option...or maybe a map that somehow causes an insane amount of lag, but I don't see either being realistic scenarios.
Rainalcar
Profile Joined April 2010
Croatia360 Posts
April 10 2020 19:24 GMT
#3
Interesting. 1base hydra vs 1base muta. It wouldn't work for tournament play though because other matchups would be too heavily affected.
j.r.r.
srj
Profile Joined July 2010
Canada134 Posts
April 10 2020 22:43 GMT
#4
This hypothetical low gas map would also have to somehow render hydras more effective than lings...
WGT-Baal
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
France3356 Posts
April 11 2020 02:34 GMT
#5
Look for this old thread about it, Satanik was using hydras in zvz to great effect.
https://tl.net/forum/bw-strategy/335586-hydra-zvz-an-introduction
Horang2 fan
Rainalcar
Profile Joined April 2010
Croatia360 Posts
April 11 2020 09:30 GMT
#6
Yes, I've read it. But it doesn't delve in this matter. I have never seen a pro open hydra and it would be interesting to see is it possible to make tournament worthy map which would allow this.
j.r.r.
kogeT
Profile Joined September 2013
Poland2037 Posts
April 11 2020 09:41 GMT
#7
Hydras are great vs mutas (cost proportion wise), problem is getting to a good macro situation to make a lot. It is all about early-early game in ZvZ..
https://www.twitch.tv/kogetbw
MeSaber
Profile Joined December 2009
Sweden1235 Posts
April 11 2020 10:16 GMT
#8
Was just gonna say that. If you can get a hydra ball going its unstoppable until swarm/plague. Even just bumping armor +1 early can make a huge difference vs both lings/mutas.
-.-
prosatan
Profile Joined September 2009
Romania7995 Posts
April 11 2020 11:25 GMT
#9
Nostalgia has no gas at the natural location.
Maybe someone could try hydras in a serious zvz.
I saw larva going hydras in a match , but only for fun. He won anyway
Lee JaeDong Fighting! The only church that illuminates is the one that burns.
kogeT
Profile Joined September 2013
Poland2037 Posts
April 11 2020 12:04 GMT
#10
On April 11 2020 20:25 prosatan wrote:
Nostalgia has no gas at the natural location.
Maybe someone could try hydras in a serious zvz.
I saw larva going hydras in a match , but only for fun. He won anyway


But you need 2 gas for hydra anyway. Hydras are same as bio in TvZ, it is only good at bigger numbers.
https://www.twitch.tv/kogetbw
Rainalcar
Profile Joined April 2010
Croatia360 Posts
April 11 2020 12:27 GMT
#11
On April 11 2020 19:16 MeSaber wrote:
Was just gonna say that. If you can get a hydra ball going its unstoppable until swarm/plague. Even just bumping armor +1 early can make a huge difference vs both lings/mutas.


Actually lurkers would be a hard counter to mass hydra.

But on subject, I also feel that you need the 2nd gas for hydras, at least for +1 carapace and range and speed upgrades. And yes, 2 gas muta will beat that on common maps. Is there anything to do on the map to change this? The point is that the change should not disbalance other matchups. For example:
allied spore colony in the mineral line - no, PvZ and partially also TvZ would suffer
distuption web between the assimilator and the hatchery - doesn't protect against air

So, I don't have great ideas
j.r.r.
Sonic_md
Profile Joined March 2020
Moldova275 Posts
April 11 2020 18:00 GMT
#12
Is anybody saw some ZvZ games (with PRO-players) where one of the players used only hydra? (may be it was some for fun games))
i want to see some VOD. it will be interesting))
Subscribe to my YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Sonic_md...."SC:BW it is just game, but i love this game!" (c)Sonic_md.
Rainalcar
Profile Joined April 2010
Croatia360 Posts
April 11 2020 20:52 GMT
#13
Hydras at some point in the game, yes, but I have never seen an official game where a pro opened hydra.
j.r.r.
MeSaber
Profile Joined December 2009
Sweden1235 Posts
April 12 2020 06:50 GMT
#14
Reason is simple. With mutas you can snipe and keep the hydra count low and also drone count. Its only viable if youre left alone.
Once you leave your base he will roll your main but you will also roll his whole base + bring drones.
-.-
prosatan
Profile Joined September 2009
Romania7995 Posts
April 12 2020 21:24 GMT
#15
Zero tried it here. It is a zvz played in 2019, on the ladder !

Lee JaeDong Fighting! The only church that illuminates is the one that burns.
Rainalcar
Profile Joined April 2010
Croatia360 Posts
April 13 2020 10:17 GMT
#16
Nice game, but not a hydra opening, it was Zero incorporating them in a one-off hive zvz.

What we are looking is to imagine a map where hydra opening could be viable, and the map still up for tournament play.

Arbiter field above the gas drone line to prevent muta snipes? It would still be possible to check whether gas was mined or not (for other matchups).
j.r.r.
Garrl
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
Scotland1972 Posts
April 13 2020 21:27 GMT
#17
On April 13 2020 19:17 Rainalcar wrote:
Nice game, but not a hydra opening, it was Zero incorporating them in a one-off hive zvz.

What we are looking is to imagine a map where hydra opening could be viable, and the map still up for tournament play.

Arbiter field above the gas drone line to prevent muta snipes? It would still be possible to check whether gas was mined or not (for other matchups).


neutral arbs only cloak other neutral unit sprites, would be possible to just give the players arbs that can't move/attack with triggers but not in melee gametype. Dwebs also don't work as they only affect ground units.

what you're probably looking for is neutral dark swarm, which is possible to place over mins [image loading]

You can't get a full coverage as you can't place unit sprites within an area of player starts, but it might be enough to stop you getting harrassed to death by mutas. ZvT would probably be the most affected by this as T would probably spend a lot less on turrets to hold muta harrass.
Rainalcar
Profile Joined April 2010
Croatia360 Posts
April 13 2020 22:49 GMT
#18
Very good. It could affect TvZ substantially, as you say. It would affect it in a way that terran drops without firebats would be far less effective. It could be somewhat balanced by tinkering with dark swarm coverage.
Any other ideas or considerations?
j.r.r.
sataNik[pG]
Profile Joined July 2003
Greece722 Posts
April 20 2020 15:39 GMT
#19
I had decent results vs korean pros/semi pros at around 2005 to 2007. I have kept reps.

This playstyle is more strategic (macro, decision making, timing), nullifying skill (micro, multitask) difference to an extent.
Hence playing to my strengths maximizes my winrate.
Pros don't use it because at an equal high level skill, its inferior.
But at equal medium level skill, I find it actually superior.

Vs pure muta ling you can add a few lurkers.
Vs muta crack you are toast without lurkers.
Vs mass muta (4 gas) you can crush it with 2 base hydra + devourers.
Vs lurkers you need speed overlord.

In general its important to create a much bigger eco (drone and hatchwise), else it fails. You do that the same way you would 4-5 hatch vs P. You start 3-4 hatch before gas, mass drones and spore up just in time.
Rainalcar
Profile Joined April 2010
Croatia360 Posts
April 22 2020 17:34 GMT
#20
I've read your guides, they were very interesting. But in essence, on pro level hydra is not viable. Maybe you have map specific suggestions?
j.r.r.
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