• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 04:02
CET 09:02
KST 17:02
  • 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
ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT29Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book19Clem wins HomeStory Cup 289HomeStory Cup 28 - Info & Preview13Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info8
Community News
Weekly Cups (March 2-8): ByuN overcomes PvT block0GSL CK - New online series11BSL Season 224Vitality ends partnership with ONSYDE20Team Liquid Map Contest - Preparation Notice6
StarCraft 2
General
Weekly Cups (March 2-8): ByuN overcomes PvT block GSL CK - New online series Weekly Cups (Feb 23-Mar 1): herO doubles, 2v2 bonanza Vitality ends partnership with ONSYDE How do you think the 5.0.15 balance patch (Oct 2025) for StarCraft II has affected the game?
Tourneys
RSL Season 4 announced for March-April Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament PIG STY FESTIVAL 7.0! (19 Feb - 1 Mar) $5,000 WardiTV Winter Championship 2026 Sea Duckling Open (Global, Bronze-Diamond)
Strategy
Custom Maps
Publishing has been re-enabled! [Feb 24th 2026] Map Editor closed ?
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 516 Specter of Death Mutation # 515 Together Forever Mutation # 514 Ulnar New Year
Brood War
General
BSL 22 Map Contest — Submissions OPEN to March 10 BSL Season 22 BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ battle.net problems ASL21 General Discussion
Tourneys
ASL Season 21 Qualifiers March 7-8 [Megathread] Daily Proleagues BWCL Season 64 Announcement [BSL22] Open Qualifier #1 - Sunday 21:00 CET
Strategy
Soma's 9 hatch build from ASL Game 2 Fighting Spirit mining rates Simple Questions, Simple Answers Zealot bombing is no longer popular?
Other Games
General Games
Nintendo Switch Thread PC Games Sales Thread Path of Exile No Man's Sky (PS4 and PC) Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion The Story of Wings Gaming
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
Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas Vanilla Mini Mafia TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Mexico's Drug War Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine YouTube Thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books [Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Cricket [SPORT] Formula 1 Discussion TL MMA Pick'em Pool 2013
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Laptop capable of using Photoshop Lightroom?
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
FS++
Kraekkling
Shocked by a laser…
Spydermine0240
Gaming-Related Deaths
TrAiDoS
ONE GREAT AMERICAN MARINE…
XenOsky
Unintentional protectionism…
Uldridge
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1706 users

[PvP] How to defend vs. 2 gate zealot into nexus

Forum Index > Brood War Strategy
Post a Reply
Jubinell
Profile Blog Joined September 2009
333 Posts
August 05 2022 19:04 GMT
#1
Hi guys,

I am about 1600-1700 on ladder. I am having trouble defending against 2-gate rush in PvP.

I'd like to go directly into dragoons with core, skipping zealots. Which kinda makes it very susceptible to this build I know, but could you tell me step by step what should my reaction be depending on when I scout it, if I DO go for dragoons + range?

1. If I scout it before my first dragoon is started, I will make a zealot instead. And immediately start the core.
- Here should I remove 1 probe from gas? Should I build a second gateway? How many probes should I cut? When to put the 3rd probe back on gas?

2. I usually try to manner a pylon at his expansion to slow down the nexus and zealot stream. Is this advisable?

3. It usually gets very difficult to block the ramp on time. Usually the first zealot gets in, what is the best strategy to defend here with no zealot, later with 1 zealot or 1 dragoon? In terms of probe micro, should I try to pull each probe after it gets 2 hits? Or should I try to drone drill to kill the zealot? I have noticed drone drilling really hurts the economy when done incorrectly.

4. If the guy goes for a manner pylon with battery, what should the response be?

Any nice VODS or replays I can learn from? Any other considerations? Thanks for your advice.
TMNT
Profile Joined January 2021
3122 Posts
August 05 2022 22:57 GMT
#2
Well first of all, the timing of your 1st dragoon is the same whether you skip zealot or not. The difference is you have 1 more probe if you skip zealot. Consider what you gain and what you could potentially lose for skipping that zealot.

Then, defending 2 gate zealot rush is more about skill than build order. If you're good enough, you can hold the first 3 zealots with only dragoons and lose nothing, but it's really hard. Send the 1st dragoon out and get as many shots as you can on his incoming zealots. You can't block the ramp. Let them in. By the time they're aproaching your mineral line, your 2nd dragoon should be out. By good control of the dragoons and probe drill, you can kill all 3 zealots and take minimal loss.

If he goes manner pylon and battery, chances are it's proxy and all-in. In that case you should build your own battery, another gateway, produce zealots nonstop and prepare for a micro battle.
psd
Profile Joined February 2016
France94 Posts
August 21 2022 22:26 GMT
#3
If you scout it early, you can shield battery + block your ramp. Only cost you 100 mineral and you will take no damage.

ArmadA[NaS]
Profile Joined January 2014
United States347 Posts
August 22 2022 14:26 GMT
#4
Open zealot core zealot with pylon and shield battery near ramp. Gas steal with your scouting probe. If they kill the gas just go contain and if they expand just proxy reaver (same opening as you would vs 12 nex).
XenOsky
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
Chile2327 Posts
Last Edited: 2022-08-25 00:15:14
August 25 2022 00:07 GMT
#5
Battery as soon as 2 gate confirmed (gate scout if 4 player)
(core scout if 3/2 player)
-1 probe in gas
21 gate
23 pylon

By the time 3 zealots come if u dont lose 1st zealot u have 2 gon 1zea, and adjust...

6 goon contain is good to force Cannons, threat bust and expand...

Try to not cut probes
Try not to lose any probes vs initial 3 zealot


Nexus robo 4 gate and adap to wtf hes doin, at 1600-1800 most will Try to all in 2 base 8 gate no ob or some stupid shit like that...
StarCraft & Audax Italiano.
Jubinell
Profile Blog Joined September 2009
333 Posts
August 25 2022 15:17 GMT
#6
On August 25 2022 09:07 XenOsky wrote:
Battery as soon as 2 gate confirmed (gate scout if 4 player)
(core scout if 3/2 player)
-1 probe in gas
21 gate
23 pylon

By the time 3 zealots come if u dont lose 1st zealot u have 2 gon 1zea, and adjust...

6 goon contain is good to force Cannons, threat bust and expand...

Try to not cut probes
Try not to lose any probes vs initial 3 zealot


Nexus robo 4 gate and adap to wtf hes doin, at 1600-1800 most will Try to all in 2 base 8 gate no ob or some stupid shit like that...



- OK cool when do I put probes back on gas and how many?
- Any tips to micro probes against zealot attack?
- What if he goes manner pylon + battery or additional gate inside base? Make forge? 2nd gate? More batteries?
IvaNioX_twitch
Profile Joined August 2022
25 Posts
Last Edited: 2022-08-30 03:27:44
August 29 2022 14:46 GMT
#7
well,

8/9 pylon and 9/9 gateway (this is important) near ramp [pylon range can add battery]

when first zealot is 30% block ramp with 1 probe (if you do properly he cant join into ur base with probe), then 1stzealot is completed and block ramp with zealot+probe, if no enemy probe appear, in 5 seconds, you can scout MIDDLE MAP just for discard proxy 2 gate.

Another zealot is ready, and your probe is scouting map.

If 1 enemy zealot appear, send 1 probe between 2 zealots.

If total 3 zealot sent by enemy, send 2 probes (your third zealot should be almost finished or already finished), its no problem to stop.

If your probe scouted no gas, just add 1 battery for defense vs 5 zealot, your advantage is gas, you have to block enemy nexus (pylon his expansion) if you success then you have gas and technology advantage (maybe you can exp, or reaver or whatever you want, you have both advantages). if he gas you still have more gas than the oponent feel free to try 3 gate obs, or robotic exp (observer reaver exp shuttle reaver + go)
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
OSC
00:00
OSC Elite Rising Star #18
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
SortOf 187
ProTech123
StarCraft: Brood War
Calm 1153
Shuttle 336
Larva 148
Hyuk 144
Hyun 130
Leta 88
ToSsGirL 81
Aegong 76
Sharp 50
Shine 30
[ Show more ]
yabsab 26
JulyZerg 13
910 8
Free 7
GoRush 3
Light 0
Dota 2
NeuroSwarm119
XaKoH 59
League of Legends
JimRising 531
Counter-Strike
Stewie2K856
m0e_tv593
Other Games
summit1g8218
WinterStarcraft495
C9.Mang0270
Liquid`RaSZi202
Happy177
Mew2King67
ceh90
Organizations
Dota 2
PGL Dota 2 - Main Stream1876
Other Games
gamesdonequick791
Dota 2
PGL Dota 2 - Secondary Stream133
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 11 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH109
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Upcoming Events
Wardi Open
3h 58m
PiGosaur Monday
15h 58m
GSL
1d 1h
WardiTV Team League
1d 3h
The PondCast
2 days
WardiTV Team League
2 days
Replay Cast
2 days
Replay Cast
3 days
CranKy Ducklings
4 days
WardiTV Team League
4 days
[ Show More ]
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
4 days
BSL
4 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
5 days
WardiTV Team League
5 days
BSL
5 days
Replay Cast
5 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Wardi Open
6 days
Monday Night Weeklies
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

ASL Season 21: Qualifier #2
WardiTV Winter 2026
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Jeongseon Sooper Cup
Spring Cup 2026
BSL Season 22
RSL Revival: Season 4
Nations Cup 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual

Upcoming

ASL Season 21
Acropolis #4 - TS6
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
CSLAN 4
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Bellum Gens Elite Stara Zagora 2026
NationLESS Cup
CS Asia Championships 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
CCT Season 3 Global Finals
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
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.