• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 18:46
CEST 00:46
KST 07:46
  • 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
[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Rough Waters9[ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Siren's Call8[ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Summer's End9Serral wins HomeStory Cup 2915Serral wins Maestros of the Game 244
Community News
Weekly Cups (Aug 30-Sep 7): herO thrives amid growing schism6Official StarCraft website teases new content ahead of BlizzCon?119Stellar Fest TWO the Moon (Dec 16-20)9Weekly Cups (August 24-30): Patches' balance mod takes over3New 3v3 BGH Ladder (and more) on ShieldBattery!46
StarCraft 2
General
Weekly Cups (Aug 30-Sep 7): herO thrives amid growing schism SC4ALL: II Winner Will Earn a Spot at HSC 30! SC4ALL II: StarCraft 2 Player Announcement 7/8 Nexon wins bid to develop StarCraft IP content, distribute Overwatch mobile game Balance hotfix patch 5.0.16b (July 16)
Tourneys
Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament Sea Duckling Open (Global, Bronze-Diamond) 2026 GSTL Announcement Stellar Fest TWO the Moon (Dec 16-20) IntoTheTV X SOOP SC2 League : Weekly & Monthly
Strategy
[G] Having the right mentality to improve
Custom Maps
Nexus Wars 2021 GUIDE [M] (2) Industrial Park
External Content
Mutation # 542 The Ascended Mutation # 541 Binary Choice The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 540 Dodge This
Brood War
General
Official StarCraft website teases new content ahead of BlizzCon? [ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Rough Waters ASL22 General Discussion Pros React To: Calm's Big Brain Play Vs Mini New 3v3 BGH Ladder (and more) on ShieldBattery!
Tourneys
[ASL22] Ro16 Group B [Megathread] Daily Proleagues [ASL22] Ro16 Group A BWCL Season 65 Announcement
Strategy
Replay Review Process - What do you do? Simple Questions, Simple Answers Odyssey Mineral Stack Saturation Game Theory for Starcraft
Other Games
General Games
Nintendo Switch Thread EVE Corporation Diablo IV [Maplestory Hardcore] Let's Play~!! General RTS Discussion Thread
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
[TL LoL EUW IHs] Teemo shall perish TSM pausing esports and CLG Dead
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Power Rank TL Mafia Community Thread NeO.D_StephenKing vs This Guy From 1 Million Dance
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread Trading/Investing Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine
Fan Clubs
MarineLorD Fan Club The Creator Fan Club The ShoWTimE Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Movie Discussion! Anime Discussion Thread
Sports
Football (Soccer) Thread TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 MLB/Baseball 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List Northern Ireland Global Starcraft
Blogs
F* the Children and Get Off …
TrAiDoS
Dreaming of BW patches (mod…
c3rberUs
Regacy Esports: The Bh…
regacyesports
LOCKPICKING NOOB
LUCKY_NOOB
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 6434 users

[G] ZvZ: 26 Speedling Expand Aggression - Page 7

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
Post a Reply
Prev 1 5 6 7 All
Swave2011
Profile Joined June 2011
China3 Posts
June 20 2011 15:11 GMT
#121
On February 11 2011 23:35 michaelhasanalias wrote:
Introduction (Updated 4/22/11)
This is a build I've been using to cheese NA, KOR and SEA ladders for quick-wins in ZvZ from 1.1-1.3 with high success. It is tremendously strong against every standard zerg opener except a PERFECTLY executed 14gas/pool speedling baneling (and I mean perfectly). You can scout/counter 10 pool baneling easily and you can also scout/counter (and be very slightly behind) 14gas/pool baneling.

You may also choose to go all-in or take a completely safe expansion (independent of what your opponent decides to do, even if it's this exact build).


Goal:
I wanted a quick-win build that beats most other speedling timings, speedling/baneling timings, 1-base roach timings, and ALL builds that seek to fast expand. While this build most certainly is NOT all-in due to it being a mirror matchup, it most definitely does depend on you dealing reasonable damage to your opponent. Your attack will secure your own expansion, but if you fail to deal any real damage (re: kill some workers+queen+ some/most of his army), you may be a sad panda.


The Build:
10 Extractor
10 Extractor trick drone
11 Spawning Pool (then 2 drones to gas)
10 Extractor trick drone
11 Overlord
11 Queen
13 Zergling (Same time as queen)
14 Zergling (depending on how precise your timing and drone micro)
14 Metabolic Boost (~2:55, PULL OFF GAS)
Inject/Spam zerglings.

Expand or All-In?
If you decide to expand, you should hotkey a drone, and rally it out ~200min, then with your next queen energy after 1st inject, drop 1-2 tumors (depending if you hunted OLs and lost time).

If you decide to all-in, send 4-5 drones (or however many you like, although I think more is less here since they will get in the way of ling dps if you send too many) and instead of expoing, drop spines as you attack.
-TIP: try to position the spines such that they can't be surrounded. Put them between gas/pool/hatch area, or in mineral cracks.


Tips:
- Queue your 2nd OL to his first OL so you can (hopefully) hunt it down with your Queen. Your lings will keep your queen safe.

- Since you are only making 11 drones, you need to MICRO them very well. This means not just herp-a-derp boxing them and clicking them to the middle patch, then going AFK for a poptart. Make sure you have all 4 closest mineral patches doubled up as soon as you can. When you only have 11 drones, this can literally shave 10-12 seconds off your timing attack. In a game that may only last 6 minutes, that's a big deal. Reference this thread if you are looking for an in-depth guide on worker micro: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=211953

- Your first two zerglings should deny scouting if there is a drone. Next, at least one should charge up the ramp and perimeter the base. You want to gauge your opponent's pool and gas timing, and if he has opted for any tech (baneling nest or roach warren).

- Make sure you make a good "overlord vision highway" from your ramp to your opponent's.

- Immediately after your 2nd inject, send your Queen down your ramp to kill his closest overlord. As this is a 26 food timing push, your 3rd inject is not necessary, and allows you to creep tumor while you expand, or inject for a finishing move.

- Properly timed, this should beat most speedling/baneling and roach openers, and give you map control as long as the game lasts. Your speed will ALWAYS finish first (at least I can't think of a reasonable build that beats this meta boost timing) and you will ALWAYS have more lings.

- If you spot an expansion with your scouting lings, you've very likely won the game outright.

- Your rush should be HITTING his base right about 5 minutes.

- You have the option to expand or reinforce, or spine+queen and defend.

- When you attack, your goal is to overwhelm. You need every ling alive for the attack and try to hit AS SOON as your ling speed finishes. You have a small window when your ling speed will give you a tremendous engagement (re: concave) advantage on your opponent's slow zerglings (if he went speedling). This window is larger if your ling scouts later pool/gas timings or any similarly greedy opening (a lot of drones).

- It can help greatly to hotkey a drone for your expansion. It's very likely that when you are expanding, you will also need to inject, and you will be in the middle of microing the most important battle of the game. Hotkeying a drone and also a camera angle at your nat will be VERY beneficial in ensuring you don't forget your expansion (which I do in many of these games, although it doesn't end up mattering).

- If you feel like playing slightly more passive, you can feel free to add a 12th drone to this build with only a slightly delayed 13th pair of zerglings. You can also choose to add more drones at the cost of 2 zerglings each. However, any drones you create after 3:30 will not repay themselves before you attack.


Replays (All-In):
vs. Master
vs Michael vs Kraqit [image loading] vs speedling baneling

vs. Diamond
vs Michael vs Kimchi [image loading] vs speedling roach expand

vs MFCHAS vs Michael [image loading] vs speedling roach

vs Michael vs smokedit [image loading] vs double hatch

vs Michael vs cartonbox [image loading] vs speedling expand (std)

vs jaydubz vs Michael [image loading]

vs Michael vs Metal [image loading]

Replays (Expand):
vs. Grandmaster
vs iCHORNinja vs Michael [image loading] against 14gas/pool standard (long game)

vs TAEdgE vs Michael [image loading] against 15h roach, late lings, loss


vs. Master
vs SoYLauroS vs Michael [image loading] vs 1base roach, lots of BM

vs [deleted by opponent request] against roach expand

vs Michael vs ProAnnn [image loading] against 14g/p 1-base roach


vs. Diamond
vs Michael vs Angel [image loading] against 10pool speedling (~close game)

vs Michael vs 콩라인득도 [image loading] against 14h cross-slag

vs Michael vs HyperGeist [image loading] against fast baneling aggression (close game)

vs Michael vs Samuel [image loading] against 13pool/13gas/18bling/20meta (likely loss, opponent disconnect)

vs Michael vs Quasit [image loading] against 14gas/pool speedling roach

vs Michael vs DangsteR [image loading] against 14gas/14pool/20bling

vs Michael vs Samuel [image loading] against 6 pool drone all-in

vs Michael vs ZergSPR [image loading] against 12gas/pool speedling baneling

vs Michael vs Daren [image loading] against 13pool/12gas speedling roach


vs. Platinum
vs Michael vs fenril [image loading] against 14pool/gas speedling baneling aggression (closest game)

vs Michael vs desmoulins [image loading] against 11 pool/13gas speedling baneling

vs Michael vs Terror [image loading] against 12 overpool/14gas fast lair/roach (close game)



Summation:
Again, I feel this is a pretty strong build against your run-of-the-mill zerg opponent who does pretty standard stuff. This build is nothing magical, but the slightly earlier meta boost timing due to 10 extractor allows you to almost perfectly hit a number of timing windows against most standard zvz openers.

Please offer any criticisms, analysis, and/or replays of your own. Thanks for reading!



User was warned for this post
SolidSMD
Profile Joined April 2011
Belgium408 Posts
June 20 2011 15:29 GMT
#122
the problem with this build is that it's larvae inefficient, you might wanna try changing it up a bit so you can keep spending your larvae, cuz you're sitting on 3 unused larvae pretty long when waiting for the pool to finish.
Working on Starbow!
Prev 1 5 6 7 All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 1h 14m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
SpeCial 121
ViBE101
CosmosSc2 36
Vindicta 20
StarCraft: Brood War
NaDa 29
Dota 2
monkeys_forever433
NeuroSwarm67
LuMiX1
League of Legends
Doublelift5331
Counter-Strike
minikerr9
Super Smash Bros
hungrybox531
Other Games
gofns3079
Grubby2275
shahzam429
C9.Mang0295
XaKoH 212
ZombieGrub93
Trikslyr23
Nathanias12
Liquid`Ken4
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• davetesta30
• musti20045 19
• mYiSmile116
• RyuSc2 14
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• Migwel
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• masondota22268
Other Games
• imaqtpie1392
Upcoming Events
Replay Cast
1h 14m
The PondCast
11h 14m
KCM Race Survival
11h 14m
OSC
23h 44m
Escore
1d 11h
IntoTheTV X SOOP
1d 12h
CranKy Ducklings
2 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
3 days
Shopify Rebellion Sundays
3 days
Spirit vs Mixu
Clem vs TBD
RSL Revival
3 days
Serral vs Rogue
[ Show More ]
BlizzCon
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Afreeca Starleague
4 days
WardiTV Weekly
4 days
Afreeca Starleague
5 days
GSL
5 days
PiGosaur Cup
6 days
The PondCast
6 days
Kung Fu Cup
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-09-08
PiG Sty Festival 8.0
Big Dog Cup 2026 Div 1

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 3
K-JUNGMAN
ASL Season 22
Super Anchor Qualifying S3
CSL 2026 AUTUMN (S22)
Acropolis #5
Acropolis #5 - TRS
RSL Revival: Season 6
Calamity Invitational
FISSURE Playground #3
BLAST Open Fall 2026
Esports World Cup 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3
XSE Pro League 2026

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S3: King of Kings
Acropolis #5 - GSA
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
Acropolis #5 - GSB
Acropolis #5 - GSC
SC4ALL II: Brood War
HSC XXX
Stellar Fest 2: Lunar Cup
SC4ALL II: StarCraft II
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
RSL Offline Finals
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 6
BLAST Rivals Fall 2026
IEM Beijing 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 5
PGL Masters Bucharest 2026
1win Private Club #2
Thunderpick World Champ. '26
ESL Pro League Season 24
Stake Ranked Episode 4
1win Private Club #1
Logitech G Play Connect 2026
SL StarSeries Fall 2026
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.