• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 21:04
CET 02:04
KST 10:04
  • 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
[ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt1: New Chaos0Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - Presented by Monster Energy5ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT30Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book19Clem wins HomeStory Cup 289
Community News
Weekly Cups (March 16-22): herO doubles, Cure surprises0Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool42Weekly Cups (March 9-15): herO, Clem, ByuN win42026 KungFu Cup Announcement6BGE Stara Zagora 2026 cancelled12
StarCraft 2
General
What mix of new & old maps do you want in the next ladder pool? (SC2) Weekly Cups (March 16-22): herO doubles, Cure surprises Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool Potential Updates Coming to the SC2 CN Server Weekly Cups (March 2-8): ByuN overcomes PvT block
Tourneys
World University TeamLeague (500$+) | Signups Open RSL Season 4 announced for March-April Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament WardiTV Team League Season 10 KSL Week 87
Strategy
Custom Maps
Publishing has been re-enabled! [Feb 24th 2026]
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 518 Radiation Zone Mutation # 517 Distant Threat Mutation # 516 Specter of Death
Brood War
General
ASL21 General Discussion Soulkey's decision to leave C9 BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ JaeDong's form before ASL [ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt1: New Chaos
Tourneys
ASL Season 21 LIVESTREAM with English Commentary [Megathread] Daily Proleagues [ASL21] Ro24 Group A [BSL22] Open Qualifiers & Ladder Tours
Strategy
Fighting Spirit mining rates Simple Questions, Simple Answers Soma's 9 hatch build from ASL Game 2
Other Games
General Games
General RTS Discussion Thread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Path of Exile Dawn of War IV
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion The Story of Wings Gaming
League of Legends
G2 just beat GenG in First stand
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 Five o'clock TL Mafia Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine YouTube Thread Canadian Politics Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Cricket [SPORT] Formula 1 Discussion Tokyo Olympics 2021 Thread General nutrition recommendations
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Laptop capable of using Photoshop Lightroom?
TL Community
U4GM Tips Counter Enemy Gadgets Fast in Black Ops rsvsr How to Keep Reward Chains Rolling in Monopol u4gm What to Do First in MLB The Show 26 Spring
Blogs
Funny Nicknames
LUCKY_NOOB
Money Laundering In Video Ga…
TrAiDoS
Iranian anarchists: organize…
XenOsky
FS++
Kraekkling
Shocked by a laser…
Spydermine0240
Unintentional protectionism…
Uldridge
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 3541 users

[D] Zerg threat in the early game. - Page 2

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
Post a Reply
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next All
Amber[LighT]
Profile Blog Joined June 2005
United States5078 Posts
May 03 2010 03:50 GMT
#21
The problem with Zerg early game is the fact that there is none. There's a lot of pressure to get to T2 to avoid air harass (ie ZvT).

If Hydras were T1 and roaches were T2 then early game aggression would be a bit easier.

It's pretty hard to play with weak units (zerglings), units that die after they do damage (banelings) and GtG tanks (roaches) that move extremely slow relative to T and P units.

And hey maybe lurkers could come back into T2 to avoid the bitching from some of the people about Zerg :p
"We have unfinished business, I and he."
Insanious
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Canada1251 Posts
May 03 2010 03:55 GMT
#22
If an opponent DOESN'T wall v Z, then speedlings win games. But since everyone walls in...

I find that people fear the 6/8 pool rushes more then me as a zerg fear being rushed. A 10 pool shut down any sort of cheese anyone can throw at me besides cannon / bunker rushing me... but a scouting overlord fixes that problem.

Really... I don't see the need for early aggression. As zerg i see my overwhelming maco potential and total map control for most of the game being an early form of agression. T and P have NO map control v zerg once speedlings come out, and they fear the Zerg Macro Machine. Those things put pressure on the T and P.

If you say do 10 min NR with T, P, and Z... the Z will win hands down, theres just nothing that can be done vs the macro that a Z can put out... I mean really just time your self in practice games. Sure T and P can tech pretty far, but if you know you wont be attacked, in 10 mins when you have 3 base and are getting your broodlords up well...

Zerg have psychological early agression and do not need units like reapers to do physical early aggression.

Does T and P want to waste mining time moving their scvs/ probes to their choke to wall? No. Does this hurt their already smaller economy? Yes.

Does the T and P want to do early timing pushes? No. But do they have to? Yes, they need to shut down the Zerg macro machine.

Does the Z need to do anything but play standard to win? Yes.

Do T and P need to play standard to beat Z? No, usually most plays v Z are all ins, where if it fails you are too far behind economically to ever catch up...

Zerg are mind ninjas... where T and P cannot get in to see whats going on, you come out of no where with 50 hydras and just tear their puny armies up.
If you want to help me out... http://signup.leagueoflegends.com/?ref=4b82744b816d3
Megabyte
Profile Joined April 2010
United States29 Posts
May 03 2010 04:24 GMT
#23
I tried going an 8 pool as Zerg versus Protoss and it works surprisingly well. Basically, your 8 lings get to the Toss base before he has his first Zealot out (unless he sends a super early scout).

Then you try and knock out his plyon, forcing him to pull probes off the line. The only response that the Protoss has is to go 2 gate at this point. Meanwhile, you transition to roaches at around 18 supply and attack again with about 6 roaches. If you did a good job harrasing with the first 8 lings, the cybercore should be delayed enough where it will be a GG. If your roach push fails, you tech to Lair and scout to see if you can expand.

Its not a 100% perfect but it does allow you to put early game pressure and put the Toss out of his Zone.
febreze
Profile Joined April 2010
167 Posts
May 03 2010 04:31 GMT
#24
On May 03 2010 11:31 Vexx wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 03 2010 09:47 febreze wrote:
I play zerg, and honestly I haven't experience any of the above problems. Disclaimer: I'm only in bronze 2v2 with ~1400 score so maybe I just haven't experience higher levels of play.

If they wall in, you have map control, expand.




This is stupid advice for reasons covered in the thread already. A SC2 wall is a one team door, not a wall.

You can start talking about map control once you have an army that controls the map and contains your opponent. Fast expanding is an investment (an expense) that does not pay for itself for a few minutes. Until the point where the expansion is making profit, you are behind one base play and if they attack during that period of time, you will lose.


Fine, I concede.

However, I think you would agree the game would be pretty boring if every game could be won by massing tier 1 units. Zerg are still on even footing in the race to tier 2, and poor walls still cost games.
Beauty in truth, deception with dogma, meaning through life.
lotri
Profile Joined April 2010
United States81 Posts
May 03 2010 04:37 GMT
#25
Speaking of zerg mines, it might be kinda cool if they allow blings to burrow but they auto-unburrow when enemy units are near. Maybe that's imba though.
sk`
Profile Joined November 2008
Japan442 Posts
May 03 2010 04:43 GMT
#26
Send a message to Bliz, everyone who plays Z should switch to P until they address the staleness of the race. There are already a lot of Ps in the game... a lot.
www.pureesports.com
SQneo
Profile Joined April 2009
Canada89 Posts
May 03 2010 04:47 GMT
#27
I'm a silver zerg only player.

Ling speed takes forever to finish, they should decrease the time needed for the upgrade. It helps in playing mind games at the ramps and also stopping timing pushes.

There's nothing I can do after they wall in, and if I don't sneak in a ling or use my overlord to peek inside, I HAVE TO tech to lair ASAP in fear of air attacks which i think is complete BS.
!! har har
peckham33
Profile Joined April 2010
United States267 Posts
May 03 2010 04:47 GMT
#28
boycott zerg? good luck there. maybe you will get something before the end of the patch notes to the real game.
dead men tell no lies, and i am dead, yet i can talk so i must be alive, but i was just shot in the head five times so i must be dead, but if i am dead then all i have said must be true, so now i am dead and alive?
Insanious
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Canada1251 Posts
May 03 2010 05:02 GMT
#29
@ those that say Zerg is stale, we are only a few months into Beta... the game is far from being explored. People barely uses corrupters let alone their ability, people don't use burrow, people don't use ultras, people don't use infested terran, etc...

there are a lot of things that we haven't found the correct use for yet... people thought that pheonix's sucked and were useless... now look people are massing them like crazy because of Nony.

Zerg, Terran, and Protoss are far from being fully explored.

I mean seriously, Most people in the NA and EU server don't use Spine crawlers, while in Asia spine crawlers are used like MAD.

There are a lot of things people don't use yet, or don't use to the fullest... give it some time, there is a lot of exploring left to do.

Experiment with corrupter harass (shut down his production buildings for 30s = awesome abilitiy, use it more... keep him from getting those colossi)

Experiment with burrow (set up ambushes / start using burrowed roaches again)

Experiment with different builds. Anyone tried to do a one base to broodlords... just test things out come on, the game isnt stale yet... people just havent tried yet.
If you want to help me out... http://signup.leagueoflegends.com/?ref=4b82744b816d3
leeznon
Profile Joined April 2010
United States255 Posts
May 03 2010 07:11 GMT
#30
This thread is so true. I hate not being able to attack in the early game unless I go quick pool. Terran and Protoss walling in forces the player to macro up.
Zerg=Skill
Thamoo
Profile Joined March 2010
Canada234 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-05-03 07:24:03
May 03 2010 07:22 GMT
#31
I agree. And really it all comes down to the poor AA we have at T1 imo. We're forced to get a relatively fast lair to not auto-lose to air harass, and before lair we don't even have the tools to scout fast air harass, so we have to do it blindly. The only time going for early army is acceptable is to counter early aggression such as a very aggressive 2 gate, its never acceptable to stay T1 against a eco or teching opponent.

Buffing spore crawler's range by 1 would help ALOT. Currently the only time I use spore crawlers is against mutalisks because of their short-range. Banshee's and void rays can always find places to attack easily unless you have like 5 spores...
wat?
red_b
Profile Joined April 2010
United States1267 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-05-03 08:08:49
May 03 2010 08:05 GMT
#32
If you want to win early why not do a one base all in roach rush?

Personally I like the 15 pool 16 hatch build the best out of any build in starcraft 2, I feel like that vs T and P, especially on the garbage level Im at, if I survive the first push I win. My economy literally EXPLODES, which is the reason they have to do those pushes in the first place right? I realize that if your idea of a fun game is constant non stop action from the beginning that kind of sucks.

I think it would be super sweet if 3 zerglings could take a zealot though.
Those small maps were like a boxing match in a phone booth.
Shenron
Profile Joined May 2010
United States105 Posts
May 03 2010 08:43 GMT
#33
This doesnt really bother me too much as I really prefer macro-orientated games over cheesefests. However, when I do try to apply pressure it seems the only thing I am able to accomplish is prevented my opponent from applying pressure as well. It's difficult to get anything besides that done.
Death is nothing to us, since when we are, death has not come, and when death has come, we are not. ~Epicurus
pigscanfly
Profile Joined April 2010
Singapore147 Posts
May 03 2010 09:28 GMT
#34
speedlings = win. as protoss all you need is one zealot out of position on your ramp and if the lings get to the probes you can quit right there and then. zerg get full map control practically from the moment the first 4 lings come out... unless your opponent went some kind of cheese. how is that now aggression?
Catch]22
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
Sweden2683 Posts
May 03 2010 09:47 GMT
#35
I do agree that zerglings and banelings are a bit too weak atm, even with their diminished HP, Zealots take on far more zerglings than they used to, and even with speed they can't properly chase running units, its like you NEED Adrenal Glands to even be able to attack moving targets with them, an upgrade that requires Hive, and provides little other benefit.
ManiacTheZealot
Profile Joined December 2009
United States490 Posts
May 03 2010 10:47 GMT
#36
On May 03 2010 18:47 Catch]22 wrote:
I do agree that zerglings and banelings are a bit too weak atm, even with their diminished HP, Zealots take on far more zerglings than they used to, and even with speed they can't properly chase running units, its like you NEED Adrenal Glands to even be able to attack moving targets with them, an upgrade that requires Hive, and provides little other benefit.


Zerglings and banelings are the most tactical units in the Zerg arsenal. Would you buff their damage if it meant increasing build time and decreasing speed? I wouldn't. If you need to beat a lot of zealots build roaches.
ZergOwaR
Profile Joined March 2010
Norway280 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-05-03 10:49:02
May 03 2010 10:47 GMT
#37
i know i'm pretty much a lower grade player, but i did manage to "outsmart" a protoss using forcefield to block the ramp, i tried to get in with lings fist then later bane+ling, but instead of going a all or nothing charge i went close enough for the forcefield to pop, retreat wait for it to go out close in again. and suddenly the shield didnt come and i went all in, got up the ramp and took out a few lots with the banelings and the sentries got surrounded right after by many lings. basicly the taunting for shield lost me maybe 4 lings, easily cost effective to drain as much energy from sentries witch would force him to build more of them.

ofc the player got sligthly bm and went "how can toss defend against that" "fu" then left. wouldn't waiting for the lings to get abit up the ramp then splitting the army with a forcefield int he middle of the gang sort of stop this lure totaly though? zealots can kill all the trapped lings right?

edit: i guess this goes under the psychological terror mentioned above
dig dig dig dig dig dig die!
Izzachar
Profile Joined February 2010
Sweden285 Posts
May 03 2010 12:31 GMT
#38
On May 03 2010 11:54 houseurmusic wrote:
I disagree with OP. Banelings are the way to go for early aggression against all 3 races. I am rank 10 platinum (playing for a total of 3 days) and been having much success with the following build I made against teching opponents.
10 - ovie
10 - extractor trick and scout.
14 - gas
13 - pool
15 - ovie
This opening stops any kind of rush and leaves you with a decent eco. If toss is teching, terran is going for fast tech or reaper, or anything build vs zerg the following has worked for me.

When pool pops -> 2 lings, speed up, and queen.
next 50 gas baneling nest and take 2 off gas.
make non top lings until 26/26 then take expo.
When banelings nest pops speed will be done make 3 - 4 banelings outside opponents base.
Attack with about 15 speedlings and 3-4 banelings.

Toss will not have a sentry yet and if they do, it wont help them. Banelings will hit and kill there zelots/supply depot/pylon. You will be in there base with speedlings while pumping more if everything has gone well. I usually like to run a few speed lings to the corner of there base and morph them into banelings while running around with my other lings. Then use those banelings to hit the worker line.

**This build is especially effective vs those damn void ray rushes.

You can definitely do some damage if micro'd right. If you cant win the game right there you can now begin building another queen and massing drones. I'm not at my home comp now, but i can try to post some reps when i get home.


Was gonna try this today. Ended up in 5 ZvZ in a row. And one against protoss. He went two gate and I owned him, even with 2 sentries trying to block his ramp. although I can't help to think it was one of the worst toss players I faced in a long time. Still I felt confident during the game. Thanks. I will look into this more later today and hope it continues to provide
baconbits
Profile Joined April 2010
United States419 Posts
May 03 2010 13:38 GMT
#39
On May 03 2010 13:37 lotri wrote:
Speaking of zerg mines, it might be kinda cool if they allow blings to burrow but they auto-unburrow when enemy units are near. Maybe that's imba though.


They already do; just set unburrow to autocast.
denzelz
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
United States604 Posts
May 03 2010 16:11 GMT
#40
I can suggest a few things for you:

10 pool vs P (use first 6 lings to kill first zealot, harass mineral lines). 20 Roach 19 Gas ~22-23 Expand

Midgame harrass by researching burrow and roach burrow movement. Terran is almost impossible to harrass but I would much rather play against a 1 base T than against a siege expanding T. Smart Ts expand, bad Ts stay 1 base.

Honestly, I would much rather focus on macro than harrass. Harass wouldn't win you games against good players.
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 8h 56m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
PiGStarcraft392
SpeCial 181
Nina 90
RuFF_SC2 89
CosmosSc2 37
WinterStarcraft30
StarCraft: Brood War
GuemChi 6310
Artosis 732
Stork 134
ggaemo 76
NaDa 23
LancerX 22
ajuk12(nOOB) 17
Terrorterran 12
Dota 2
monkeys_forever744
LuMiX0
Counter-Strike
taco 646
Super Smash Bros
hungrybox447
C9.Mang0343
AZ_Axe159
Liquid`Ken18
Other Games
summit1g9973
Maynarde156
ToD140
Trikslyr61
UpATreeSC32
JuggernautJason9
Day[9].tv6
deth5
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick1061
Dota 2
PGL Dota 2 - Main Stream65
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Hupsaiya 177
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• RayReign 7
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Other Games
• Scarra1180
• Day9tv6
Upcoming Events
Sparkling Tuna Cup
8h 56m
Afreeca Starleague
8h 56m
Soulkey vs Ample
JyJ vs sSak
Replay Cast
1d 7h
Afreeca Starleague
1d 8h
hero vs YSC
Larva vs Shine
Kung Fu Cup
1d 9h
Replay Cast
1d 22h
KCM Race Survival
2 days
The PondCast
2 days
WardiTV Team League
2 days
Replay Cast
2 days
[ Show More ]
WardiTV Team League
3 days
RSL Revival
4 days
Cure vs Zoun
herO vs Rogue
WardiTV Team League
4 days
Platinum Heroes Events
4 days
BSL
4 days
RSL Revival
5 days
ByuN vs Maru
MaxPax vs TriGGeR
WardiTV Team League
5 days
BSL
5 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Afreeca Starleague
6 days
Light vs Calm
Royal vs Mind
Wardi Open
6 days
Monday Night Weeklies
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-03-23
WardiTV Winter 2026
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
BSL Season 22
CSL Elite League 2026
CSL Season 20: Qualifier 1
ASL Season 21
Acropolis #4 - TS6
RSL Revival: Season 4
Nations Cup 2026
NationLESS Cup
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual

Upcoming

2026 Changsha Offline CUP
CSL Season 20: Qualifier 2
CSL 2026 SPRING (S20)
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
BSL 22 Non-Korean Championship
CSLAN 4
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
CCT Season 3 Global Finals
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
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.