• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 08:10
CEST 14:10
KST 21:10
  • 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
RSL Season 1 - Final Week6[ASL19] Finals Recap: Standing Tall15HomeStory Cup 27 - Info & Preview18Classic wins Code S Season 2 (2025)16Code S RO4 & Finals Preview: herO, Rogue, Classic, GuMiho0
Community News
Esports World Cup 2025 - Brackets Revealed14Weekly Cups (July 7-13): Classic continues to roll8Team TLMC #5 - Submission extension3Firefly given lifetime ban by ESIC following match-fixing investigation17$25,000 Streamerzone StarCraft Pro Series announced7
StarCraft 2
General
RSL Revival patreon money discussion thread Who will win EWC 2025? Server Blocker Weekly Cups (July 7-13): Classic continues to roll The GOAT ranking of GOAT rankings
Tourneys
Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament FEL Cracov 2025 (July 27) - $8000 live event Sea Duckling Open (Global, Bronze-Diamond) RSL: Revival, a new crowdfunded tournament series $5,100+ SEL Season 2 Championship (SC: Evo)
Strategy
How did i lose this ZvP, whats the proper response
Custom Maps
External Content
Mutation # 482 Wheel of Misfortune Mutation # 481 Fear and Lava Mutation # 480 Moths to the Flame Mutation # 479 Worn Out Welcome
Brood War
General
Soulkey Muta Micro Map? Flash Announces (and Retracts) Hiatus From ASL BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ [ASL19] Finals Recap: Standing Tall BW General Discussion
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues Cosmonarchy Pro Showmatches CSL Xiamen International Invitational [BSL20] Non-Korean Championship 4x BSL + 4x China
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers I am doing this better than progamers do.
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Path of Exile Nintendo Switch Thread CCLP - Command & Conquer League Project The PlayStation 5
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
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Stop Killing Games - European Citizens Initiative Summer Games Done Quick 2025!
Fan Clubs
SKT1 Classic Fan Club! Maru Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Movie Discussion! Anime Discussion Thread [\m/] Heavy Metal Thread
Sports
2024 - 2025 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 NBA General Discussion NHL Playoffs 2024
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Ping To Win? Pings And Their…
TrAiDoS
momentary artworks from des…
tankgirl
from making sc maps to makin…
Husyelt
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 791 users

[D] Patrol vs Hold position - muta micro

Forum Index > Brood War Strategy
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
DarkSaieden
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
South Africa254 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-02-23 13:43:09
February 23 2009 13:37 GMT
#1
Before, like most people I think I used to exclusively use hold position for my muta micro because its easy to reach and doesn't require that extra click to confirm the order.

Before, like most people I think I used to exclusively use hold position for my muta micro because its easy to reach and doesn't require that extra click to confirm the order.

Lately however I've been finding patrol to be much better and more flexible than hold because I've picked up that there is a slight delay between the move component of patrol and the actual glaive attack. What I've found, is that within a small arc your mutas turn and then fire with just one click. This greatly reduces the accuracy needed to hit things especially when there's lag. try it in single player and you'll see the split second delay.

here's a possible way of improving fly-bys over mineral lines. it works really well on medusa mains if the terran built turrets on his min line instead of the surrounding high ground. here you can fly in along a parallel to the minerals, turn towards and snag an scv and get out in just two actions, which would make it a alot easier to time as wouldn't have to be constantly spamming right-click just to keep them together.


........................| <-mutas come from here
muta group->....m
......................... \
..............................;s
.............................;s..p <- SCVs (p-click here)
................................ ;..s
; = minerals

..........................m...; x <-dead SCV
........................./ ...;s...s
.move away->..../.........;s

try it and see what you think. I used to find it hard to move my mouse to right click away, but if you H then right click too fast the mutas dont attack and because of this I find having to move the mouse actually more helpful than otherwise.
Amber[LighT]
Profile Blog Joined June 2005
United States5078 Posts
February 23 2009 14:29 GMT
#2
I'm not understanding what you're talking about. There are a number of issues with this, and I will begin here:

1) From what I understand you are saying to P click to where the SCV line is, but when you do this you will have a problem. From where the Mutalisks come in to that line, any and all enemy buildings and units will become the target, so that doesn't work.

2) Now unless you mean get your mutalisks into the mineral line, and THEN patrol the line, okay I can understand that, but typically wouldn't the turrets be somewhere in this line? You might land a shot or two on the SCV, but since they are patrolling the second that turret fires they will all go for the turret and ignore the SCV's. (If there are marines they will target them)

3) You say this saves clicks, but I'm pretty sure your math is wrong. Basically to do what you have to do you must first move the mutas into the base (1), hit the P button (2), left click where you want to patrol (3), and then move out (4). This is technically 2 right clicks, 1 left click, and one keyboard key. Now I'm not a Zerg expert but I'm assuming that this is how you muta harass. You will move to the mineral line (1), right click on the SCV you want to target (2), and then move out (3). This is technically three right clicks. To me this seems easier. And why hold position if there are missile turrets in the area? I checked just to make sure but holding position with turrets or cannons that are firing out of the glauve worm range stops the mutalisks from attacking all together. I don't see why you would do that.

And I tried patrol moving over buildings and units to see if it was quicker than doing three right clicks, and to be honest I think the latter is a lot faster and the mutalisks fire more effectively.
"We have unfinished business, I and he."
meegrean
Profile Joined May 2008
Thailand7699 Posts
February 23 2009 14:43 GMT
#3
I use hold because "h" is closer to the "a" button.
Brood War loyalist
Piy
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
Scotland3152 Posts
February 23 2009 14:51 GMT
#4
patrols alot better than hold position if you're going down over ridges I find or harrassing scvs. It's also better if you're lagging a little. Holds better if you've got 9+ mutas and are engaging mnm.

It does have a different timing though so you need to get used to it.

note to people saying it's bad. Zero uses it. thats why he can kill archons so easily.
My. Copy. Is. Here.
Chill
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
Calgary25980 Posts
February 23 2009 15:03 GMT
#5
Please use paint. I can't follow your logic with ascii drawings.

Hold is better in all situations except when you are fleeing because it stops the Mutalisks from flying into danger. I can't comment on your lag situations because I don't play in lag or BNet latency anymore.
Moderator
sprawlers
Profile Joined June 2007
Norway439 Posts
February 23 2009 15:08 GMT
#6
yeah a paint or rep would be needed here. honestly have no idea whats happening there.
Cloud
Profile Blog Joined November 2004
Sexico5880 Posts
February 23 2009 15:38 GMT
#7
As chill said, patrol is better only when you are fleeing from a big mass of mnm and theres like a single one separated and close to your mutas, since turning manually takes too long and you may get hurt, but if there arent many marines, turning manually is better because using patrol will not make all of your mutas turn at once and they will spread.
BlueLaguna on West, msg for game.
Shikyo
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Finland33997 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-02-23 17:49:55
February 23 2009 17:47 GMT
#8
I like using patrol like with muta vs scourge micro, clicking right in front of my mutas. For example when I'm flying away I can patrol behind the minline without having to turn around, or for example in ZvP patrol while flying my mutas above zealots to keep moving in one direction and not having to do the back and forth motion of the hold position. Patrol is basically useful if you want to attack your sides / back while still moving to the same direction the whole time.
League of Legends EU West, Platinum III | Yousei Teikoku is the best thing that has ever happened to music.
Centric
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
United States1989 Posts
February 23 2009 19:16 GMT
#9
As echoed by everyone else, patrol is for running away, and hold position is for direct engagement.
Super serious.
Neivler
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
Norway911 Posts
February 23 2009 19:31 GMT
#10
On February 23 2009 23:51 Piy wrote:
patrols alot better than hold position if you're going down over ridges I find or harrassing scvs. It's also better if you're lagging a little. Holds better if you've got 9+ mutas and are engaging mnm.

It does have a different timing though so you need to get used to it.

note to people saying it's bad. Zero uses it. thats why he can kill archons so easily.


I think that is more like the muta vs scourge thing. Dont think he uses it vs T thou?
I pwn noobs
koreasilver
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
9109 Posts
February 23 2009 21:06 GMT
#11
Patrol is actually better to use against archons over a cliff or beyond an edge or something, as you are able to stop your mutas and attack the archon, but your mutas will be just out of the archon's attack range if you do it properly.
AttackZerg
Profile Blog Joined January 2003
United States7454 Posts
February 23 2009 21:28 GMT
#12
koreasilver that is 100% true.

Although not if archon is already within muta range thou since the delay of stop gives him enough time to enter and fire before you can move.
DarkSaieden
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
South Africa254 Posts
February 24 2009 07:55 GMT
#13
I think my main point is missed a little bit, so i'l try to elaborate. When you use hold, for all your mutas to attack they have to be facing the target exactly. With patrol, the delay between turning towards the target and firing gives you a degree of freedom in the direction they're facing and how well stacked they are.
Zapdos_Smithh
Profile Blog Joined October 2008
Canada2620 Posts
February 24 2009 09:04 GMT
#14
I tested it out, and I can understand what you are saying.

However, this would be much better for trying to muta micro on bnet lag. The delay is pretty annoying b/c if you have to muta micro in a tight position (let's say you need to defend your third base and he is streaming marines too them), and need to make instant decisions(i.e. deciding when to attack instantaneously), it's really hard if you have to take into the account the delay with patrol.

Interesting, but not good vs marines I would say. I didn't know though that patrol is better vs archons so I will test that out (lol like I will ever use that in a game anyway, but still).
Dead9
Profile Blog Joined February 2008
United States4725 Posts
February 24 2009 09:07 GMT
#15
[image loading]

I think he means something like that, where you hit patrol and click on top or right in front of the mutas?
AttackZerg
Profile Blog Joined January 2003
United States7454 Posts
February 24 2009 09:08 GMT
#16
It isn't better vs archons. There are just situations were is reduces muta vs archon to simple hiting p and clicking on your stacked mutas.

Pro gamers would only ever need to use it vs archon if they were running away at the same time
DarkSaieden
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
South Africa254 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-02-24 09:39:27
February 24 2009 09:30 GMT
#17
vs straggling marines, I find it better because you can almost guarantee that rine (if you target it specifically) will die, even if its moving. with hold its easy to miss lone moving targets because you need to time when you hit H to when your mutas will be lined up correctly whereas with patrol you can get away with just facing in the general direction and even a bit unstacked.

I'm pretty sure though that the delay (lag aside) between hitting H and the mutas attack is the same as with patrol, though I would wanna test this myself (which I cant do now).

For me, the only time hold is really better is when I engage a clump of marines but this is seldom because I only do it when I know I will own the group without losing too many mutas and have surplus lings/minerals or when the rines are plagued (rare for me ever).

edit: I hit patrol and click the direction of the units I want to attack, like a quick, one-attack a-move, or I hit the rine/scv/ht itself which is more accurate but you dont get a spread.
AttackZerg
Profile Blog Joined January 2003
United States7454 Posts
February 24 2009 09:36 GMT
#18
umm if you know how to use hold position, you can angle your mutas to target without ever having to manually target anything. Patrol is less effective and is only good in certain situations.

Having mutas in large numbers when you have plague means your doing something wrong.

If you seldom engage marines when they are moving out you are missing the entire idea of mutas which are to harrass/delay terran while you do other things. Picking off marines and wasting medic energy is so important zvt that it is often game changing.

If you time hiting H with your mutas range and refresh timing they fire instantly, same with patrol.... how do you not know this?
AttackZerg
Profile Blog Joined January 2003
United States7454 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-02-24 09:48:08
February 24 2009 09:47 GMT
#19
I only ever get a spread with H when I angle my mutas to get a spread. I control that ...

The best thing about Patrol is instant turn around spread kills versus marines =(

Check youtube there has to be a vod explain how to micro mutas ....
Ingenol
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
United States1328 Posts
February 24 2009 13:00 GMT
#20
Should we still be right clicking or a-moving to take out individual targets? I find this more effective than hold position if I just want to snipe one thing (like a medic, turret, etc.) rather than using hold position and having my mutas target a bunch of different stuff or fly past my target to acquire a different one.
1 2 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Epic.LAN
12:00
Epic.LAN 45 Group Stage
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
mouzHeroMarine 170
Creator 70
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 34661
Larva 621
Hyuk 600
EffOrt 553
Stork 523
firebathero 355
Pusan 281
Light 194
Snow 149
Rush 149
[ Show more ]
Dewaltoss 116
Soulkey 106
TY 96
Shuttle 83
ToSsGirL 80
zelot 55
Aegong 47
Barracks 39
sas.Sziky 36
Sharp 32
Backho 28
Shinee 23
sSak 19
Icarus 18
Sacsri 18
[sc1f]eonzerg 14
JulyZerg 12
Bale 5
Dota 2
Gorgc8504
singsing2389
XcaliburYe254
Fuzer 254
qojqva207
Counter-Strike
sgares350
Other Games
B2W.Neo971
DeMusliM430
Lowko150
hiko101
SortOf90
ArmadaUGS54
Liquid`VortiX45
Liquid`LucifroN29
Trikslyr27
QueenE17
ROOTCatZ3
Scarlett`1
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick2506
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 11 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Jankos117
Upcoming Events
Big Brain Bouts
3h 51m
sebesdes vs SpeCial
Harstem vs YoungYakov
GgMaChine vs uThermal
CranKy Ducklings
21h 51m
Epic.LAN
23h 51m
CSO Contender
1d 4h
Sparkling Tuna Cup
1d 21h
Online Event
2 days
Esports World Cup
3 days
ByuN vs Astrea
Lambo vs HeRoMaRinE
Clem vs TBD
Solar vs Zoun
SHIN vs Reynor
Maru vs TriGGeR
herO vs Lancer
Cure vs ShoWTimE
Esports World Cup
4 days
Esports World Cup
5 days
Esports World Cup
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

JPL Season 2
RSL Revival: Season 1
Murky Cup #2

Ongoing

BSL 2v2 Season 3
Copa Latinoamericana 4
Jiahua Invitational
BSL20 Non-Korean Championship
CSL Xiamen Invitational
CSL Xiamen Invitational: ShowMatche
Championship of Russia 2025
FISSURE Playground #1
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 7
IEM Dallas 2025
PGL Astana 2025
Asian Champions League '25

Upcoming

2025 ACS Season 2
CSLPRO Last Chance 2025
CSLPRO Chat StarLAN 3
BSL Season 21
RSL Revival: Season 2
SEL Season 2 Championship
uThermal 2v2 Main Event
FEL Cracov 2025
Esports World Cup 2025
Underdog Cup #2
ESL Pro League S22
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
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.