• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EST 17:52
CET 23:52
KST 07:52
  • 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
TL.net Map Contest #21: Winners11Intel X Team Liquid Seoul event: Showmatches and Meet the Pros10[ASL20] Finals Preview: Arrival13TL.net Map Contest #21: Voting12[ASL20] Ro4 Preview: Descent11
Community News
Weekly Cups (Nov 3-9): Clem Conquers in Canada0SC: Evo Complete - Ranked Ladder OPEN ALPHA2StarCraft, SC2, HotS, WC3, Returning to Blizzcon!45$5,000+ WardiTV 2025 Championship7[BSL21] RO32 Group Stage4
StarCraft 2
General
SC: Evo Complete - Ranked Ladder OPEN ALPHA Mech is the composition that needs teleportation t Weekly Cups (Nov 3-9): Clem Conquers in Canada RotterdaM "Serral is the GOAT, and it's not close" TL.net Map Contest #21: Winners
Tourneys
Constellation Cup - Main Event - Stellar Fest Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament $5,000+ WardiTV 2025 Championship Merivale 8 Open - LAN - Stellar Fest Sea Duckling Open (Global, Bronze-Diamond)
Strategy
Custom Maps
Map Editor closed ?
External Content
Mutation # 499 Chilling Adaptation Mutation # 498 Wheel of Misfortune|Cradle of Death Mutation # 497 Battle Haredened Mutation # 496 Endless Infection
Brood War
General
BW General Discussion BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ FlaSh on: Biggest Problem With SnOw's Playstyle [ASL20] Ask the mapmakers — Drop your questions Where's CardinalAllin/Jukado the mapmaker?
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues [ASL20] Grand Finals [BSL21] RO32 Group A - Saturday 21:00 CET [BSL21] RO32 Group B - Sunday 21:00 CET
Strategy
PvZ map balance Current Meta How to stay on top of macro? Soma's 9 hatch build from ASL Game 2
Other Games
General Games
Nintendo Switch Thread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Should offensive tower rushing be viable in RTS games? Path of Exile Dawn of War IV
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
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread SPIRED by.ASL Mafia {211640}
Community
General
Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Canadian Politics Mega-thread The Games Industry And ATVI
Fan Clubs
White-Ra Fan Club The herO Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread Movie Discussion! Korean Music Discussion Series you have seen recently...
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion NBA General Discussion MLB/Baseball 2023 TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
SC2 Client Relocalization [Change SC2 Language] Linksys AE2500 USB WIFI keeps disconnecting Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Learning my new SC2 hotkey…
Hildegard
Coffee x Performance in Espo…
TrAiDoS
Saturation point
Uldridge
DnB/metal remix FFO Mick Go…
ImbaTosS
Reality "theory" prov…
perfectspheres
Our Last Hope in th…
KrillinFromwales
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1537 users

[Q] Nestea's fast Lair/Spines vs. Toss FE

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
Post a Reply
1 2 3 Next All
staxringold
Profile Joined October 2010
United States173 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-08 21:12:37
May 08 2011 21:12 GMT
#1
Nestea recently "debuted" this ZvP strategy vs. Anypro in the GSL.

http://www.gomtv.net/2011gslsponsors3/vod/65228

Short version is if you see early Nexus you rush lair for creep pooping and drop 3 spines to slowly open his door and do massive damage. There are obvious details like the openness of the natural, but that's not relevant here. This topic also popped up in one of Mr. Bitter's lessons and he suggested the strategy was actually viable as a standard response in this situation.

Here is my question: If the Protoss waits long enough and masses sufficient forces can't he run in and snipe the Overlord? And does doing so kill the push (as the spines will slowly die off and won't be able to reposition once the creep is gone)?

I'm a Terran, so obviously not familiar with the high level technicalities of all this, but that seems like a workable response. Or will the Zerg just have too many lings/spines before you have sufficient Sentries/Stalkers to kill the ovie?

Thanks!
Jtn
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
444 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-08 21:17:44
May 08 2011 21:16 GMT
#2
What do you mean by "wait long enough"? The Nexus dies if you "wait long enough". And the 3 spines + handful of zerglings are enough to kill any units that try to kill the spines.

EDIT: I'm also not sure how you would snipe the overlord when there's 3 spines and lings protecting it. Also creep recedes pretty slowly and it's not like the spines instantly die off-creep.
staxringold
Profile Joined October 2010
United States173 Posts
May 08 2011 21:17 GMT
#3
On May 09 2011 06:16 Jtn wrote:
What do you mean by "wait long enough"? The Nexus dies if you "wait long enough". And the 3 spines + handful of zerglings are enough to kill any units that try to kill the spines.

Not saying kill the spines. I'm saying absorb some damage as you build your force and snipe the Overlord. That, to me, seems like the weak point of the push.
Deleted User 47542
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
1484 Posts
May 08 2011 21:20 GMT
#4
By the time you have enough stalkers to kill off 2-3 overlords while getting wacked by 3 spines, your nexus will probably be dead. Even if you get the ovies, spines will still be alive long enough to fuck shit up.

So no.
Ezze
Profile Joined October 2010
Canada934 Posts
May 08 2011 21:21 GMT
#5
On May 09 2011 06:17 staxringold wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 09 2011 06:16 Jtn wrote:
What do you mean by "wait long enough"? The Nexus dies if you "wait long enough". And the 3 spines + handful of zerglings are enough to kill any units that try to kill the spines.

Not saying kill the spines. I'm saying absorb some damage as you build your force and snipe the Overlord. That, to me, seems like the weak point of the push.


That makes no sense and the guy above me explained why so not sure what you're saying.
jazzbassmatt
Profile Joined August 2010
United States566 Posts
May 08 2011 21:23 GMT
#6
One way that seems possible is to simply make an extra cannon in front of your nexus. This leaves you more open to roach all ins, and reduces your economic advantage, but it seems to shut down any spine attacks on your front (unless they are willing to sacrifice lings to tank damage until the spines can root. this still seems pretty defendable though)
SpicyThaiBoy
Profile Joined December 2010
Thailand26 Posts
May 08 2011 21:27 GMT
#7
I think the build only works if your opponent goes Forge first FE. That way P has minimal forces.
jazzbassmatt
Profile Joined August 2010
United States566 Posts
May 08 2011 21:33 GMT
#8
Yeah, it should be assumed by everyone posting that this is meant ONLY against FFE. It may or may not work in other cases, but I think the point is to discuss if it can be easily defended/prevented when the toss goes FFE.
Amui
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
Canada10567 Posts
May 08 2011 21:38 GMT
#9
That early on after a forge FE the protoss doesn't have the units necessary to deal with even 12 lings without the help of the cannons and simcity. If you actually look at the timings, the core finishes when the first spine starts. You don't make zealots after a forge FE, or at least not more than 1 because the 2 things that really threaten the FE, is banes and roaches, which destroy the zealots. From thinking about it protoss needs 1 cannon in front of the nexus on open natural forge FE's, and if somebody tries to do that strat, put up one cannon for every spine in front.

Spines don't die THAT quickly from lack of creep nourishment. It's approximately equivalent to an 2 probe attacking it. Three spines have time to kill 2-3 nexuses before they die of lack of nourishment.
Porouscloud - NA LoL
WrathOfAiur
Profile Joined May 2010
Germany243 Posts
May 08 2011 21:41 GMT
#10
On May 09 2011 06:12 staxringold wrote:
Here is my question: If the Protoss waits long enough and masses sufficient forces can't he run in and snipe the Overlord? And does doing so kill the push (as the spines will slowly die off and won't be able to reposition once the creep is gone)?
Thanks!


after a forge FE you have no units at that time. that's the whole point of this attack.

it does not work, if you have a wall of buildings in front of your nexus. this only worked, becuause the nexus was part of the wall and the canons were behind that wall (obviously).

If you have a wall and canons in front of your nexus, this doesnt work, because you actually can not target the nexus. this build was a specific reaction to the risky building placement of anypro.
JaqMs
Profile Joined August 2007
United States73 Posts
May 08 2011 21:42 GMT
#11
I made an extremely fast lair build here that is safe to any opener except 2 gate. I tested this strategy with the build and my 3 spines completed at 5:20, which is a good 1 minute 40 seconds earlier than nestea's execution. That means rushing void ray won't be able to take out the spines in time. Could this be an instant win against FFE?
jazzbassmatt
Profile Joined August 2010
United States566 Posts
May 08 2011 21:45 GMT
#12
On May 09 2011 06:41 WrathOfAiur wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 09 2011 06:12 staxringold wrote:
Here is my question: If the Protoss waits long enough and masses sufficient forces can't he run in and snipe the Overlord? And does doing so kill the push (as the spines will slowly die off and won't be able to reposition once the creep is gone)?
Thanks!


after a forge FE you have no units at that time. that's the whole point of this attack.

it does not work, if you have a wall of buildings in front of your nexus. this only worked, becuause the nexus was part of the wall and the canons were behind that wall (obviously).

If you have a wall and canons in front of your nexus, this doesnt work, because you actually can not target the nexus. this build was a specific reaction to the risky building placement of anypro.


Are there ways in which you can still make the spine crawler push strategy effective? Maybe through using an ALL IN roach/spine crawler combination? Maybe by getting an evo and putting down spore crawlers to counter air units?
Xanbatou
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
United States805 Posts
May 08 2011 21:53 GMT
#13
On May 09 2011 06:42 JaqMs wrote:
I made an extremely fast lair build here that is safe to any opener except 2 gate. I tested this strategy with the build and my 3 spines completed at 5:20, which is a good 1 minute 40 seconds earlier than nestea's execution. That means rushing void ray won't be able to take out the spines in time. Could this be an instant win against FFE?


I'm pretty sure that Nestea wanted a relatively quick expansion too in addition to the fast lair, which is why the lair wasn't the fastest possible lair. If Nestea didn't expand, I'm sure the protoss would have gotten suspicious.
Yoshi Kirishima
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
United States10364 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-08 22:09:33
May 08 2011 22:08 GMT
#14
basically it seems you need to put down some cannons yourself

Seems smart to me, as it will cause the P to cut probes or unit or tech (cutting probes hurts them much more than you since you can build more than 1 worker at a time).

Concept looks like a 2 rax; you don't kill them, but it just forces both of you to be on a lower econ, with possibly higher footing for you if you micro well or the other has bad decision making or messes up.

Question:

Why did nestea build the 3 spines perpendicular to the nexus, instead of parallel? What if the P builds 3 canons in front of his Nexus? Only 1 spine would be able to hit back, and the other two would be sitting there o.o
Mid-master streaming MECH ONLY + commentary www.twitch.tv/yoshikirishima +++ "If all-in fails, all-in again."
FeyFey
Profile Joined September 2010
Germany10114 Posts
May 08 2011 22:20 GMT
#15
umm buildings don't die fast without creep. it shoudl take 4 minutes or so for the spines to die ? (so no it doesn't work to snipe the ovis to let the spines die)

So if the spines are burrowed in the ground early game they are pretty much undefeatable (only a pf is stronger ^.^ ).

Should be possible to surround spines on the move with probes hehe, or delay them a lil on build, but the eco damage would be really hard and fast lair + expansions ... t2 zerg can destroy a toss on so many ways with 4 gases avialable even with a low drone count.

But well we already saw offensiv spines in several games, but mostly only with a hatch ninjad. Even though lair is in a way cheaper and as fast. So it was only a natural that this would happen . nestea probably watched some bw matches on colosseum ;P
Jaeger
Profile Joined December 2009
United States1150 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-08 22:28:34
May 08 2011 22:28 GMT
#16
Anypro's build techs too slowly vs what he scouted. He saw a 14gas/13pool which finishes speed around 5:05 and gets its first larva inject around 4:40.

He went for nexus forge pylon cannon cannon and then a gateway and his 2nd cannon finished at 4:26. There was no reason for him to get that second cannon before his gateway.
https://www.dotabuff.com/players/8137911
staxringold
Profile Joined October 2010
United States173 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-08 22:32:47
May 08 2011 22:32 GMT
#17
On May 09 2011 06:38 Amui wrote:

Spines don't die THAT quickly from lack of creep nourishment. It's approximately equivalent to an 2 probe attacking it. Three spines have time to kill 2-3 nexuses before they die of lack of nourishment.

I guess that's the core of my question, you so rarely see un-creeped Spines I wasn't sure what the timing would be like.

Thanks!
hugman
Profile Joined June 2009
Sweden4644 Posts
May 08 2011 22:33 GMT
#18
On May 09 2011 06:41 WrathOfAiur wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 09 2011 06:12 staxringold wrote:
Here is my question: If the Protoss waits long enough and masses sufficient forces can't he run in and snipe the Overlord? And does doing so kill the push (as the spines will slowly die off and won't be able to reposition once the creep is gone)?
Thanks!
it does not work, if you have a wall of buildings in front of your nexus. this only worked, becuause the nexus was part of the wall and the canons were behind that wall (obviously).


Have you tried it?
Even if it's a core / gateway / forge wall-off you don't have anything to stop the spines from killing all those three buildings. If the Zerg player brings lings and a Queen to transfuse the spines (depending on rush distance) then I don't see how the toss will hold it.
Datum
Profile Joined February 2011
United States371 Posts
May 08 2011 22:45 GMT
#19
I'm trying to think of a counter for this... I suppose it would be up to the protoss to scout gas usage/lair tech, and then get a void ray if this build is being used. One void ray can pick off three drones as they make their way across the map.
Kornholi0
Profile Joined November 2010
Canada634 Posts
May 08 2011 22:50 GMT
#20
If 3 spines are attacking a nexus, and there are 3 overlords dropping creep on the spines, and you zerglings in position, it takes like 15 seconds for creep to decipate or something like that its on the 1000 tips post.
Take that into account + having enough stalkers to shoot overlords + the time it takes for spines to actaully die off creep which btw if you send 3 more ovies when your 3 ovies are already in place you can repoop creep as spines don't die when they are unburrowed.
Then after this long ass time that the spines have not died they are doing 35? damage per shot x3. If the nexus isn't dead its dying and speedlings can come and clean it up..

I liked the play very much and I don't see it working on shattered any time soon but it looks cool.
Team Channel: VTeX Team Co-leader: AGGhost 223 Stream: http://www.twitch.tv/agghost
1 2 3 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 8m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
JuggernautJason137
ForJumy 38
CosmosSc2 2
StarCraft: Brood War
Shuttle 752
UpATreeSC 187
Free 112
NaDa 29
Super Smash Bros
PPMD17
Other Games
Grubby5537
shahzam482
Liquid`Hasu376
Maynarde127
Mew2King76
ZombieGrub51
fpsfer 3
Organizations
Other Games
BasetradeTV92
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 19 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Hupsaiya 59
• davetesta11
• IndyKCrew
• sooper7s
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• Migwel
• intothetv
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Kozan
StarCraft: Brood War
• Eskiya23 19
• mYiSmile14
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
• BSLYoutube
Dota 2
• masondota21013
League of Legends
• imaqtpie3069
• TFBlade1016
Other Games
• Scarra826
• Shiphtur309
Upcoming Events
Replay Cast
8m
CranKy Ducklings6
WardiTV Korean Royale
13h 8m
OSC
18h 8m
Replay Cast
1d
Replay Cast
1d 10h
Kung Fu Cup
1d 13h
Classic vs Solar
herO vs Cure
Reynor vs GuMiho
ByuN vs ShoWTimE
Tenacious Turtle Tussle
2 days
The PondCast
2 days
RSL Revival
2 days
Solar vs Zoun
MaxPax vs Bunny
Kung Fu Cup
2 days
[ Show More ]
WardiTV Korean Royale
2 days
PiGosaur Monday
3 days
RSL Revival
3 days
Classic vs Creator
Cure vs TriGGeR
Kung Fu Cup
3 days
CranKy Ducklings
4 days
RSL Revival
4 days
herO vs Gerald
ByuN vs SHIN
Kung Fu Cup
4 days
BSL 21
4 days
Tarson vs Julia
Doodle vs OldBoy
eOnzErG vs WolFix
StRyKeR vs Aeternum
Sparkling Tuna Cup
5 days
RSL Revival
5 days
Reynor vs sOs
Maru vs Ryung
Kung Fu Cup
5 days
WardiTV Korean Royale
5 days
BSL 21
5 days
JDConan vs Semih
Dragon vs Dienmax
Tech vs NewOcean
TerrOr vs Artosis
Wardi Open
6 days
Monday Night Weeklies
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2025-11-07
Stellar Fest: Constellation Cup
Eternal Conflict S1

Ongoing

C-Race Season 1
IPSL Winter 2025-26
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 4
SOOP Univ League 2025
YSL S2
BSL Season 21
IEM Chengdu 2025
PGL Masters Bucharest 2025
Thunderpick World Champ.
CS Asia Championships 2025
ESL Pro League S22
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual

Upcoming

SLON Tour Season 2
BSL 21 Non-Korean Championship
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
HSC XXVIII
RSL Offline Finals
WardiTV 2025
RSL Revival: Season 3
META Madness #9
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026: Closed Qualifier
eXTREMESLAND 2025
ESL Impact League Season 8
SL Budapest Major 2025
BLAST Rivals Fall 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.