EPTI have noticed that Leenock's play is very reactionary, so I analyzed his play to see his decisions and the reasons why he gets upgrades and expands when he does.
These are some guidelines/build orders that I came up with to be applicable in most situations and timings that I should be aware of. Since I am only a high platinum player, I was wondering if you guys could add analysis, critique, or steps to my guide? That would be greatly appreciated!
General ZVT
Strat Vs Common Hellion pressure & Bio Push
eg: Leenock vs MVP Xel Naga Bio, Leenock vs Clide G1 Taldarim ZVT,
1min
• 10 OL
• 10 Scout
2 min
• 15 Hatch First
• Extractor Before Pool (Delay as much as Possible) Scout Pressure
4 min
• 2 Queens when 2 Hatches Finish
• ZSpeed ASAP
4-6min
• 8-10 Zerglings
• Another Queen(Creep)
• Spine Crawler
• Evolution Chamber(Can come later but to block Hellions)
7min
• Macro Hatch(If Ground Push)
• OR Lair & Some Extractors(If Scout Air) Delay Lair as much as possible
7min-8min
• Baneling Nest(Before Lair)
• Lair(If Macro Hatch) & Extractors
• Macro Hatch(If Lair)
• Garmor1
10 min-11min *BIO PUSH*
• Spire ASAP
• 3rd Expand (must earlier if Lair First)
• Upgrades
o Burrow
o Bspeed
o Flier Attack1
o Keep Upgrading
12-13min
• Expand Again 1 or 2 times
14min
• Infestor Pit
15min
• Hive
• 3 infestors
17min
• Push to Broodlords
• Keep Upgrading
• Preemptively Make Corruptors
General ZVZ Strategy
Small Maps: Xel Naga
Eg: Leenock vs Ducky ZVZ MLG Xel Naga Rush Build
• 7pool
• Drone Up using Double Extractor Trick
• At 12 Drones stop
• Build 2Queens(Put in choke) to defend against counter, 6 lings to attack
• Get Extract Next
o Banelings
o Zspeed
***Morph banelings away from vision
ZVZ
Big Maps: Antigua, Taldarim, Metalopolis, Shattered
Eg: Leenock vs IDRA ZVZ MLG Taldarim, Leenock vs IDRA ZVZ MLG Metalopolis ***Early Econ, High Pressure transition to Mutas
2-3min
• 15 Hatch
• 15 Ex or(any order)
• 15 Pool Timed to When Hatches Finish
4min-5min
• 2 queens
• Build 6 Early Zerglings(2 Drone on gas) then
• Spine (defend against counter)
5min
• Prepare to midgame push get
o Zspeed
o Baneling Nest
6min
• 32 supply Build Zerglings(Harass run into main kill queens)
• Extractors
• Evo Chamber
7min
• Get Lair
• Spine(Defense against counters)
• Garmor1
9min
• Expand
• Spire
• Upgrades
o Bspeed
o Fattack1
o Mattack1
o Check for enemy third, apply pressure
10min
• Make sure you have economic lead over enemy, can transition back to roach, hydra, infestor
• ***Likely Roach, Hydra attack, Use speed banelings to kill hydras, clean up rest with zerglings and mutas
ZVP General Strategy
Route 1 (Early)Roach Pressure open chokes (Xelnaga):
(All in or Slowing Down Expansion): FFE or FEF (Try to Deny or Delay Expand while
Eg: Leenock vs Naniwa MLG when he FFE
Gaining Econ Lead
1 min:
• 10 OL
• 10 Drone Scout for
1-2min
• 13 Extractor
• 14 Pool
3-4min
• 4 Zerglings deny scouting kill probe
• Queen
• Zspeed
• Expand
• Roach warren with expand then cancel expand and all in (game over)
• 3:45 Overlord Scout
5 min (If not all in):
• 22 Roach Warren
• 2 OL(prevent getting supply capped)
• 8 or more Roaches
6min:
• Drone up
7min-8min:
• Queen#2
• Evo
9min:
• If delay, Protoss will likely harass with Dt’s or Voidrays
• Against Dt’s: Get Overseer ASAP
• Against Voidrays:
o 2 more queens, Spores
o Macro Hatch (hold off with queens and spores)
o Rattack 1, 3 Extractors
10min:
• Lair
• Hydras
11 min:
• Hydras (Collosus push will come at 14min)
12min:
• Hydra Range
• Rattack 2
• Infestor Den
• Build 3 Infestors
13-14min:
• Expand
• Glial Recon
• Spire
• Mattack 1
14-15min:
• Colossus Push should be coming, prepare with Corruptors, delay army with infestors
ZVP Econ game
Route 2: If 1 Gate wall, expect expand at 6min or some sort of tech harass, blink, dt’s, robo, voidrays
1min:
• 10 overlord
• 10 Scout
2-3min:
• 15 - pool/hatch (your preference)
• 18-19 - gas (your choice, normally after spawning pool finishes is my timing)
4min:
• Zspeed then 1 drone on gas
• 18-21 - third base (only vs forge expand, can be put down after protoss starts his natural read overview for a more detailed view)
5min:
• 27-35 - Roach warren (this is very dependent on if he is 3 gate fe'ing/4gate if he forge fast expands make it same time you start lair)
6min:
• make an evo chamber
7min
• Garmor1
• put both drones back on gas
• 2 More Extractors
8min
• Lair
9min
• Garmor1
• Mattack 1
• Burrow
• Infestation Pit
• If air
o Hydras
• No air:
o Spire(transition to broodlords)
10min
• Expand
• Stall and Defend against colossus push(corruptors)
• Transition to Broodlords
