• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 05:58
CET 10:58
KST 18:58
  • 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 Energy7ByuL: 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 surprises3Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool48Weekly Cups (March 9-15): herO, Clem, ByuN win42026 KungFu Cup Announcement6BGE Stara Zagora 2026 cancelled12
StarCraft 2
General
herO wins SC2 All-Star Invitational Potential Updates Coming to the SC2 CN Server What mix of new & old maps do you want in the next ladder pool? (SC2) Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool Weekly Cups (March 16-22): herO doubles, Cure surprises
Tourneys
WardiTV Mondays Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament World University TeamLeague (500$+) | Signups Open RSL Season 4 announced for March-April WardiTV Team League Season 10
Strategy
Custom Maps
[M] (2) Frigid Storage 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
RepMastered™: replay sharing and analyzer site mca64Launcher - New Version with StarCraft: Remast BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Gypsy to Korea Soulkey's decision to leave C9
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues [ASL21] Ro24 Group A [ASL21] Ro24 Group C [ASL21] Ro24 Group B
Strategy
What's the deal with APM & what's its true value Fighting Spirit mining rates Simple Questions, Simple Answers Soma's 9 hatch build from ASL Game 2
Other Games
General Games
Darkest Dungeon Nintendo Switch Thread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread General RTS Discussion Thread Path of Exile
Dota 2
The Story of Wings Gaming Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
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 Canadian Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece
Sports
Cricket [SPORT] 2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion Tokyo Olympics 2021 Thread General nutrition recommendations
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
[G] How to Block Livestream Ads
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
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: 2300 users

[G] How To Stop A 6 Pool ZvP - Page 2

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
Post a Reply
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 11 12 13 Next All
cyrusdm
Profile Joined June 2010
Canada55 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-09-24 02:56:11
September 24 2010 02:46 GMT
#21
For the life of my I can't understand why anyone needs help or advice defeating a 6 pool.


by the time he gets his first 6 lings to you you'll probably have 14 probes

14 probes > 6 lings....and the 11 or 12 you have left after the fight is still more than the 7 or 9 drones he has.

Simple. Pull drones...get the surround, keep working to get that blocking zealot out...when the initial lings die go back to mining and building more probes...if he sends more..pull more probes and whatever zealots you have


cannons are not necessary

the exception being if its an all in 6 pool with full drone pull as well. This can be very problematic and largely will come down to drone/probe/ling micro
Darthturtle
Profile Joined May 2009
United States718 Posts
September 24 2010 02:47 GMT
#22
If you watch the replays, Fingo cuts probes to throw down the forge AFTER he scouts a 6 pool. This is even worse than just randomly going forge first, since he could've squeezed out at least one probe and gotten the forge at the exact same timing.

Scouting a deadwall is a perfect chance to drone up and expo fast. With early lings, you can stop a one-gate zealot counter and easily catch up and surpass the one-base toss. Especially since he wasted 350 on cannon/forge, and took an extremely late gate(two and a half minutes into the game, are you serious?). Even macroing back up from six-pool, six-eight lings is easy, since you have queens, and the toss just cut a ton of stuff.

Basically, this build is terrible against a zerg that decides to go directly into a macro game. You have cannons, but no ability to get out of your own base. Zerg is free to get three base, defend with just lings, and you have no way to push out to get an expo yourself.
cyrusdm
Profile Joined June 2010
Canada55 Posts
September 24 2010 02:49 GMT
#23
On September 24 2010 10:20 Goobus wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 24 2010 10:19 tru_power22 wrote:
Or you could micro your probes, try dropping a 13 gate at the ramp and when you see the zerlings coming pull workers to block the choke and click the minerals to bring them back if they get to low. Keep reinforcing till your zealot finishes.


That results in far too many probe losses =\ This way is the cleanest way we found to do it.



Actually his way results in no losses. Since drones can walk through each other while they are gathering minerals, the first probe can eat 3 or 4 shots then you should click the minerals and your next probe is now the blocker. Keep the micro up and you wont lose any
Fingo
Profile Joined July 2010
34 Posts
September 24 2010 03:04 GMT
#24
Darth- A 6 pooling zerg is not going into a macro game. If he chooses not to attack when he sees the walloff he will be down significant workers, while the protoss is down 100 minerals (pylon to destroy to leave base).

Cyrus- It isn't this simple. You won't just "get the surround" versus a zerg who has a mouse. Keep in mind the lings can micro as well. There is a reason this strategy is gaining popularity in top level play. This being said, if you were up for it, I'd love to see this flawless probe micro defense.
FreeZEternal
Profile Joined January 2003
Korea (South)3396 Posts
September 24 2010 03:11 GMT
#25
Fingo!!! It's me rasengan, anyways, @cyrusdm, you will lose way too many probes if you do that -.-;;
Goobus
Profile Joined May 2010
Hong Kong587 Posts
September 24 2010 03:22 GMT
#26
On September 24 2010 12:11 FreeZEternal wrote:
Fingo!!! It's me rasengan, anyways, @cyrusdm, you will lose way too many probes if you do that -.-;;


Exactly. This is the point I keep making. What's the point of surviving a 6 pool if you're even with the zerg by the end of it? He can just play as usual then. Unless he's dumb and gg's.
Darthturtle
Profile Joined May 2009
United States718 Posts
September 24 2010 03:25 GMT
#27
On September 24 2010 12:04 Fingo wrote:
Darth- A 6 pooling zerg is not going into a macro game. If he chooses not to attack when he sees the walloff he will be down significant workers, while the protoss is down 100 minerals (pylon to destroy to leave base).


In your specific replay, you walled with forge, cannon, and gateway. You can't expand quickly for one plain reason - you can't get out of your base. If you kill the cannon, you risk a runby. Killing the gateway is an obvious no-no. Killing the forge means no cannons at your expo. You can't expect to hold with just one gate worth of slow-zealots

You forget that an early pool doesn't just mean early lings. It also means early queen. Two rounds(a minute and twenty seconds) of larvae injected droning off one hatch is enough to catch up to the toss, and a toss that went forge/cannon is committed to sitting on his godawful infrastructure. If you take a second gate, you delay core even harder. If you core, forget about pushing out in the next six/seven minutes, you won't have an army.

If you deadwall, even as a sixpool, I will absolutely go into a macro game. Plain and simple. There is no reason for me to not abuse the 350 minerals you basically threw down the toilet, and the horrible field position. You're giving up map control and an expo's worth of minerals. I'm surprised you don't just GG right there.
ZapRoffo
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States5544 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-09-24 03:28:05
September 24 2010 03:25 GMT
#28
On September 24 2010 12:04 Fingo wrote:
Darth- A 6 pooling zerg is not going into a macro game. If he chooses not to attack when he sees the walloff he will be down significant workers, while the protoss is down 100 minerals (pylon to destroy to leave base).

Cyrus- It isn't this simple. You won't just "get the surround" versus a zerg who has a mouse. Keep in mind the lings can micro as well. There is a reason this strategy is gaining popularity in top level play. This being said, if you were up for it, I'd love to see this flawless probe micro defense.


Good players might, he's doing damage to you just by making you do that build. He can drone like crazy when he sees your build.

Also, you are putting yourself behind by cutting probes any time he doesn't 6 pool.

Do a normal build, take a few probe losses, win the game, and don't cripple yourself against anything that's not a 6 pool.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just like, your opinion man
Zeroes
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States1102 Posts
September 24 2010 03:27 GMT
#29
its ok to lose 1 or 2 probes the zerg saced a lot of his econ to 6 pool you
Check out my SC Lan pics Here: http://picasaweb.google.com/bunk.habit
kzn
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
United States1218 Posts
September 24 2010 03:38 GMT
#30
On September 24 2010 12:25 Darthturtle wrote:
You forget that an early pool doesn't just mean early lings. It also means early queen. Two rounds(a minute and twenty seconds) of larvae injected droning off one hatch is enough to catch up to the toss, and a toss that went forge/cannon is committed to sitting on his godawful infrastructure. If you take a second gate, you delay core even harder. If you core, forget about pushing out in the next six/seven minutes, you won't have an army.


Early queen 6pools are significantly easier to defend against than no-queen all-ins. 2 rounds of larva injection is 57 seconds for 14 drones max (I think probably less), which is 11 more than the Protoss can make non-chronoboosted in the same time. If you do this, you are not making any offensive units for an entire minute, while the Protoss is. You are not managing an expo AND permanent drone production from constant injections for quite a while, and with a less ridiculous wall than the one proposed in the OP the protoss can move out at a cost of 100 minerals, drop a cannon or two with the nexus, and basically be safe until you commit to making units again.

Deadwalls are the most consistent way to handle a 6pool, and the only way to handle a completely all-in 6pool. If that ends up making you only "even" with the zerg, I'll take that any day over a strategy that will fail sometimes and cost you the game instantly, and sometimes will put you significantly ahead.
Like a G6
Goobus
Profile Joined May 2010
Hong Kong587 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-09-24 03:58:58
September 24 2010 03:53 GMT
#31
10 gate + probe block isn't a 100% strategy. This forge build is. For those of you who are complaining that it's "not normal" or whatever, this build order can be adapted so that it's as normal as possible, until you manage to get a scout in (i.e. Chrono 10th/11th probe, or 10 gate/cancel into forge+gate block). This is a 100% strategy. You will win against a 6 pool 100% of the time, all-in with drones or not. That's the point. There's no uncertainty.

After you fend it off this way, you're at 15 probes to his 7 drones. Even if you're slightly behind from doing this build, you can simply go about your business, and push out with 2 gate zealots and kill him shortly after, or go 4 gate or whatever you want, if he hasn't gg'd by then. There is no way he is recovering from a 8 worker deficit. Hell, a 2 gate followup would wreck him.

Those of you who are 10-gating and using probes to block can continue to lose SOME percentage of the time. If I played toss, I'd rather take my 100% win-rate vs 6 pool, tyvm.

TL;DR: This works 100% of the time.
Akuemon
Profile Joined June 2010
Canada151 Posts
September 24 2010 03:54 GMT
#32
On September 24 2010 11:47 Darthturtle wrote:
If you watch the replays, Fingo cuts probes to throw down the forge AFTER he scouts a 6 pool. This is even worse than just randomly going forge first, since he could've squeezed out at least one probe and gotten the forge at the exact same timing.

Scouting a deadwall is a perfect chance to drone up and expo fast. With early lings, you can stop a one-gate zealot counter and easily catch up and surpass the one-base toss. Especially since he wasted 350 on cannon/forge, and took an extremely late gate(two and a half minutes into the game, are you serious?). Even macroing back up from six-pool, six-eight lings is easy, since you have queens, and the toss just cut a ton of stuff.

Basically, this build is terrible against a zerg that decides to go directly into a macro game. You have cannons, but no ability to get out of your own base. Zerg is free to get three base, defend with just lings, and you have no way to push out to get an expo yourself.


whats stopping him from scouting he is droning and break down his wall?? and there is no way he can stop a four-gate with 7 drones to 14 probes. taking down a pylong takes but all of 1 second with 4 gate units
Iankill
Profile Blog Joined February 2008
Canada109 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-09-24 03:58:19
September 24 2010 03:55 GMT
#33
On September 24 2010 11:36 Yilar wrote:
Couldn't you just micro over the gateway location, or send the following drone right after? There is no need for these drones in terms of getting the first 6 lings anyway.

Actually if you pull a drone after the new drone is done and move in with 2 drones you can completely shut down his wall build. It takes almost 10 seconds to get probes from the mineral line upto the wall and even more time to kill the actual drones, which should ruin the timing on wall build vs ling arrival.

If you think about how this would actually go down. Your doing a six pool and he scouts it, so you decide instead of leaving your drones to mine to send to random drones up to stop a wall that may or may not be there depending on if he's doing this build or not. If he doesn't do this build it just puts you even further behind in worker count, if you don't kill him and just take down some probes.

I'm just pointing out that sending the 2 drones is not something you think of if your doing a 6 pool.
novabossa
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States350 Posts
September 24 2010 04:13 GMT
#34
Why don't you block the middle position with the canon? That way only 1 ling can be hitting it at any point, and you can always just bust it when you've got your warpgates running and push out for the win.
Rachel: First game. oGsMC: Yea. Rachel: Dark Templar. oGsMC: Yea. Rachel: Countered. oGsMC: Yea. Rachel: Were you worried? oGsMC: What?
Leeto
Profile Joined August 2007
United States1320 Posts
September 24 2010 04:18 GMT
#35
I watched a game recently where Dimaga 6pooled White-Ra, and what Ra did was just throw down another pylon to fully block off the ramp with buildings until the chronoboosted zealot finished. He also had time to put down a forge and a cannon before the lings could do anything. It seemed to work pretty well.
ZapRoffo
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States5544 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-09-24 04:44:57
September 24 2010 04:21 GMT
#36
Cutting probe 11 + 12 is unacceptable for a "just in case he 6 pools" scenario. Since the 10 gate build is 10 pylon, you also don't scout in time for the right 10 gate timing.

The only way this build can be considered good is if it works if you 12 forge, because that's when your scout arrives at the zerg, when you are at 12 food (if you were 10 gating, your gate would already be started, so adjusting into an unoptimal 10 gate is also pretty bad).

It also only works on Steppes, Metal close and LT close, because otherwise your scout doesn't arrive in time.

So replays of 12 forge working (or a 10 forge with a canceled gateway since you need to cancel your gateway if you were going 10 gate), or it's not a viable strategy. Also you should adjust your title to How to stop 6 pool on Steppes, Metal close or LT close.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just like, your opinion man
shiNe.
Profile Joined July 2010
Canada120 Posts
September 24 2010 07:39 GMT
#37
nice post man
cyrusdm
Profile Joined June 2010
Canada55 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-09-24 08:17:14
September 24 2010 07:53 GMT
#38
On September 24 2010 12:04 Fingo wrote:

Cyrus- It isn't this simple. You won't just "get the surround" versus a zerg who has a mouse. Keep in mind the lings can micro as well. There is a reason this strategy is gaining popularity in top level play. This being said, if you were up for it, I'd love to see this flawless probe micro defense.



As a zerg I've gotten very used to dealing with 6 pools...granted its different as a toss, but in both situations you're going to want to involve your harvestors. probes > drones, and drones can do it... so the key is going to getting the surround on the lings (easy - lings wont have speed and you'll have 2x the #'s) while keeping your gateways pylon safe. Let the pylon take some hits then engage with your probes..as he engages your probes pull back a bit...if he chases your probes you a)go for the surround b) have a safe pylon and a zealot still on the way.

Bottom line is if he 6 pools and manages to kill 4 probes..which would be great ling micro and terrible probe micro...but if the toss lost 4 probes..he'd still be at 10 or 11 while the zerg is on 7 or 8 drones.

Don't screw your build by preparing for something like the 6 ling. Just build your initial gate one or max two supply early on steppes and you can come out ahead regardless of losing a couple probes.


cyrusdm
Profile Joined June 2010
Canada55 Posts
September 24 2010 07:55 GMT
#39
On September 24 2010 12:11 FreeZEternal wrote:
Fingo!!! It's me rasengan, anyways, @cyrusdm, you will lose way too many probes if you do that -.-;;



14 probes will win vs 6 lings with probably 12 probes. more if you're good at seleting the probes that are losing hull and selecting them to go back to harvesting - thus escaping the ball of probes behind them.

if 14 drones can stop a 6 pool why cant 14 probes
cherubim
Profile Joined August 2010
2 Posts
September 24 2010 07:55 GMT
#40
Im mid-high Dia player and never had big troubles with 6pool. Just scout it, go Forge and/or Wall in and gg ... Funny someone invested so much time on that :D
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 11 12 13 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 2h 2m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
SortOf 171
mouzHeroMarine 37
MindelVK 22
StarCraft: Brood War
Sea 6163
Killer 5751
Bisu 1641
Jaedong 1357
PianO 575
EffOrt 165
BeSt 163
Hyuk 162
Stork 158
Soma 123
[ Show more ]
ggaemo 116
Leta 109
ToSsGirL 80
Soulkey 69
Rush 67
hero 49
yabsab 45
Aegong 43
sorry 41
ZerO 33
Pusan 29
Shinee 12
ajuk12(nOOB) 8
Dota 2
XaKoH 550
canceldota104
XcaliburYe102
League of Legends
JimRising 397
Counter-Strike
shoxiejesuss1120
olofmeister940
Other Games
singsing1166
B2W.Neo589
ceh9551
crisheroes190
Fuzer 141
Livibee83
Sick79
ZerO(Twitch)5
Organizations
Other Games
BasetradeTV49
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 13 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• LUISG 57
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• iopq 9
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Jankos1432
Upcoming Events
WardiTV Team League
2h 2m
Big Brain Bouts
7h 2m
Fjant vs SortOf
YoungYakov vs Krystianer
Reynor vs HeRoMaRinE
RSL Revival
1d
Cure vs Zoun
herO vs Rogue
WardiTV Team League
1d 2h
Platinum Heroes Events
1d 5h
BSL
1d 10h
RSL Revival
2 days
ByuN vs Maru
MaxPax vs TriGGeR
WardiTV Team League
2 days
BSL
2 days
Replay Cast
2 days
[ Show More ]
Replay Cast
2 days
Afreeca Starleague
3 days
Light vs Calm
Royal vs Mind
Wardi Open
3 days
Monday Night Weeklies
3 days
OSC
3 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
4 days
Afreeca Starleague
4 days
Rush vs PianO
Flash vs Speed
Replay Cast
4 days
Afreeca Starleague
5 days
BeSt vs Leta
Queen vs Jaedong
Replay Cast
5 days
The PondCast
6 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
WardiTV Winter 2026
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

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.