• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 01:57
CEST 07:57
KST 14:57
  • 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] Ro8 Preview: Within Reach2[ASL22] Ro8 Preview: In A Tizzy11[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Holy Diver5[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Rough Waters10[ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Siren's Call8
Community News
Weekly Cups (Sep 13-20): herO scores triple3BSL Season 2313Weekly Cups (Sep 7-12): SHIN, ByuN, MaxPax double down1StarCraft open world shooter announced at BlizzCon102Weekly Cups (Aug 30-Sep 7): herO thrives amid growing schism10
StarCraft 2
General
StarCraft open world shooter announced at BlizzCon How do you feel about the StarCraft shooter announcement at BlizzCon 2026? Weekly Cups (Sep 13-20): herO scores triple Balance hotfix patch 5.0.16b (July 16) Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool
Tourneys
2026 GSTL Grand Finals ScienceCraft (October 24-25) - Live Event Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament Master Swan Open (Global Bronze-Master 2) Stellar Fest TWO the Moon (Dec 16-20)
Strategy
[H] ZvP Mid-Late Game: Stalkers Collossi HT
Custom Maps
[M] (2) Sweltering Sands [M] (2) Frigid Storage
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 545 And Drops and Rifts Mutation # 544 Double Trouble Mutation # 543 Enhanced Defenses
Brood War
General
Bot on ladder [ASL22] Ro8 Preview: Within Reach an AI researcher's take on the ladder bot BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ StarCraft Human 'N' AI League
Tourneys
[ASL22] Ro8 Day 3 [Megathread] Daily Proleagues [ASL22] Ro8 Day 2 [ASL22] Ro8 Day 1
Strategy
Cliff Jump Revisited (1 in a 1000 strategy) Replay Review Process - What do you do? Simple Questions, Simple Answers Odyssey Mineral Stack Saturation
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Total Annihilation Zero Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne Nintendo Switch Thread EVE Corporation
Dota 2
Dota 2 Champions League Season 3 Begins April 25! Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
[TL LoL EUW IHs] Teemo shall perish
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Artificial Intelligence Thread All you football fans (soccer)!
Fan Clubs
MarineLorD Fan Club The Creator Fan Club The ShoWTimE Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece Diablo Animated Series on Netflix
Sports
Football (Soccer) Thread
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
Recent Gifted Posts
Blogs
Violent-Cooperative Play and…
TrAiDoS
38 yo Retired SWE loo…
PurE)Rabbit-SF
Can Bots Beat Pros?? Starcr…
namkraft
[meme] I finally understa…
LUCKY_NOOB
Regacy Esports:Our Goa…
regacyesports
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 10477 users

[Q] 14, 15 or 16 Hatch?

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
Post a Reply
1 2 3 Next All
CluEleSs_UK
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United Kingdom583 Posts
June 09 2011 21:00 GMT
#1
I've tried search and not really found anything relevant on this topic!

So after listening to many other zergs on different builds, each player seems to have their own time to fast expo. Spanishiwa's original build was a 16 hatch, Idra prefers 15 hatch, I've seen some other players 14 hatch, etc. When I ask why a player hatches at a certain time, I don't seem to get a definitive answer. Answers include

16 hatch is more economic (my question is "why?")
15 hatch is safer (my question is "why?")
14 hatch is safer/gets a better economy later ("what?)

Sorry if I'm perhaps just being a real noob, but I'm a mid diamond level zerg, and have never really understood the benefits of each.


Thanks, and much love

CluEleSs
"If it turns out he is leaving the ESL to focus on cooking crystal meth I'll agree that it is somewhat disgraceful, but I'll hold off judgement until then."
Juddas
Profile Joined January 2011
768 Posts
June 09 2011 21:04 GMT
#2
My best ideas are

16 hatch is the most economic because you will have the income to support it

15/14 hatch being safer is just being able to get it down w/out blocking
Kornholi0
Profile Joined November 2010
Canada634 Posts
June 09 2011 21:06 GMT
#3
13 hatch 15 pool. Gives you ovie at 17 and constant drone production without wasted larva (with perfect macro not hard at the 2 minute mark).
The hatch pops and pool pops at the same time (if you rush the pool the pool will pop after the hatch giving time for creep to spread for spines).

This allows for a virtually non-blockable expo on maps such as Tal, Shakuras, and Shattered. You can get away with it on xel if you sneak the drone around. If they are dead set on blocking you your 2nd ovie should be over the expo anyways and you can transition into a 14g 14p or 15g 15 p.

Of course follow suite with lots of spines and queens with little zerglings made maybe 2 for scouting 4 at most.
Team Channel: VTeX Team Co-leader: AGGhost 223 Stream: http://www.twitch.tv/agghost
Coutcha
Profile Joined November 2010
Canada519 Posts
June 09 2011 21:08 GMT
#4
The later you wait the better the economy but its risky especially in ZvZ

Its not really hard to understand :O
This is what the world is for Making ELECTRICITY :D
CluEleSs_UK
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United Kingdom583 Posts
June 09 2011 21:10 GMT
#5
On June 10 2011 06:08 Coutcha wrote:
The later you wait the better the economy but its risky especially in ZvZ

Its not really hard to understand :O


But why though? Is it simply because you have more drones mining for longer or?
"If it turns out he is leaving the ESL to focus on cooking crystal meth I'll agree that it is somewhat disgraceful, but I'll hold off judgement until then."
garbobjee
Profile Joined February 2011
19 Posts
June 09 2011 21:10 GMT
#6
15 hatch and 14 hatch are safer because you usually get your spawning pool out earlier compared to a later hatch like 16. An earlier pool means you will be able to repel early pressure or harassment sooner.
 (ಠ益ಠ)
Zowon
Profile Joined December 2010
Norway237 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-06-09 21:15:14
June 09 2011 21:14 GMT
#7
The more drones you make before putting down the hatchery - the stronger your economy will be, because the earlier you make your drones, the better it is for your eco, as they will a have longer mining time.
¯\(シ)/¯
HelloSon
Profile Joined April 2010
United States456 Posts
June 09 2011 21:19 GMT
#8
On June 10 2011 06:10 mcclurg wrote:
Show nested quote +
On June 10 2011 06:08 Coutcha wrote:
The later you wait the better the economy but its risky especially in ZvZ

Its not really hard to understand :O


But why though? Is it simply because you have more drones mining for longer or?

Jesus, just think about it. Chances are you are correct.
yo
Kritzkrieg
Profile Joined October 2010
United States57 Posts
June 09 2011 21:19 GMT
#9
I prefer the 13 hatch, but thats due to my preference for early queen play. 15 hatch is a bit more economical, but good injections and better creep spread are more valuable than the mild econ lead youd get from 14 or 15 hatch. Also, 13 hatch gives you a lead on zergs third resource, larvae.

ask yourself what your early game goals are. that question will help you know when to hatch. IMO gassless zerg should hatch as early as possible.
"Check 4 check 5 check 6 check 7 check money check map" -Day9, aka the voice in my head.
Rasun
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United States787 Posts
June 09 2011 21:22 GMT
#10
On June 10 2011 06:08 Coutcha wrote:
The later you wait the better the economy but its risky especially in ZvZ

Its not really hard to understand :O


15 hatch is really the only common hatch first ZvZ opening, and many people consider it the most dangerous of the common opening. It is tricky to hold off any planned early aggression and when it turns into ling/bane micro wars your at a disadvantage because you get everything later, and have a hard time making use of your early hatch. I never hatch first ZvZ, its asking to be all-ined.

I know Machine tried it twice in a row against Losira in MLG and got owned very quickly both times. I know that doesn't say a lot about the opening but it does show how risky it can be and how quickly things can go bad if you do it.
"People need to just settle the fuck down!"- Djwheat <3
zezamer
Profile Joined March 2011
Finland5701 Posts
June 09 2011 21:27 GMT
#11
Could someone actually answer his questions instead of posting ton of useless/inaccurate stuff

"
16 hatch is more economic (my question is "why?")
15 hatch is safer (my question is "why?")
14 hatch is safer/gets a better economy later ("what?)

"
darkscream
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Canada2310 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-06-09 21:32:23
June 09 2011 21:31 GMT
#12
16 hatch more economic - 16 drones = saturation on only minerals, you should try to have 16 drones mining minerals at every expansion

15 hatch 15pool leads to a situation where your nat and pool finish at about the same time, and you have 300 minerals, letting you either take a 3rd, make 2 queens, make 1 queen and some lings/drones.. its safe because the timings on most maps, some rush maps still beat this tho

14 hatch is stupid, if you dont see zerg pros do it (just watch what they make in the first 2 minutes every game) its probably not good. Except for spanishiwa you wont ever see a hatchery before 15 because if youre gonna pool minerals and cut drones to make a building at 14, you do a pool or gas not hatch.

Antpile
Profile Joined March 2009
United States213 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-06-09 21:39:06
June 09 2011 21:33 GMT
#13
Think about it this way. To make a hatch, you have to stop making drones and save 300. Same with a pool, you gotta stop and save 200.

Now, the more drones you have, the more you mine during that period you aren't making drones. If you stop making drones for 20 seconds, clearly 16 drones will mine more than 13 or 14 drones. This equals better econ. In the early game where you are often waiting on that last 50 minerals to make everything, every mineral counts.

This is further exaggerated by the fact that you will have to stop droning for less time the more drones you have. 16 drones will get you to 300 faster than 14 drones, obviously.

Ergo, the longer you wait, the better your econ. The obvious downside to waiting longer is if you get bunkered or cannon rushed, your defenses are out later. In ZvZ, a speedling all in might overwhelm you if you wait too long. Make sense now?
zezamer
Profile Joined March 2011
Finland5701 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-06-09 21:35:40
June 09 2011 21:35 GMT
#14
@ darkscream,awesome post, thanks, have been wondering this for a while, +1
Jyan
Profile Joined July 2010
Canada8 Posts
June 09 2011 21:36 GMT
#15
16 hatch is more economic early because you are building drones at all times, no idle larvae. If you want to hatch on 14 or 15 u need to save up minerals for the hatch, and while you are saving you have idle larvae. idle larvae are bad because they could be made into drones, which mine minerals, and give you more money. therefore 16 hatch is the most economical build.

15 hatch is safer because a regular protoss scout will reach you after the hatch goes down(on most maps, in my experiance at least, but im only in the upper diamond region) meaning your hatch wont get blocked.

14 hatch is safer for the same reason, and also has the added benefit of giving you creep at your nat earlier which is very useful for defending terran early pressure builds. I was not aware that it gave you more economy later, but it is probably because you get a 2nd queen and more larvae faster.

tldr; having more drones earlier is good, idle larvae is bad.

I tried to be as thorough with this explanation as possible i hope you now understand.
Hoon
Profile Joined December 2010
Brazil891 Posts
June 09 2011 21:37 GMT
#16
On June 10 2011 06:27 zezamer wrote:
Could someone actually answer his questions instead of posting ton of useless/inaccurate stuff

"
16 hatch is more economic (my question is "why?")
15 hatch is safer (my question is "why?")
14 hatch is safer/gets a better economy later ("what?)

"

The questions were already answered in other threads, you just need to search it.
Also, if you read the posts from this thread you'll have those questions answered as well.
SEn Fanclub: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=170834
agahamsorr0w
Profile Joined April 2011
Netherlands359 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-06-09 21:41:10
June 09 2011 21:39 GMT
#17
16 hatch will give u more workers faster. A worker gains u 50 minerals in 1.06 min 15 hatch for safety , creep, earlier queen. And 14 hatch should be only used if enemy wants to block you. So now its up to you which one you prefer. I do 15 just because i want the hatch a little bit faster.
Kritzkrieg
Profile Joined October 2010
United States57 Posts
June 09 2011 21:46 GMT
#18
On June 10 2011 06:19 HelloSon wrote:
Show nested quote +
On June 10 2011 06:10 mcclurg wrote:
On June 10 2011 06:08 Coutcha wrote:
The later you wait the better the economy but its risky especially in ZvZ

Its not really hard to understand :O


But why though? Is it simply because you have more drones mining for longer or?

Jesus, just think about it. Chances are you are correct.


I think what hes (admittedly poorly) getting at is which is better by say, the 5 minute mark, 13 hatch with "delayed" econ, or 16 hatch with "delayed" larvae.

a larvae spawns every 15 seconds. so its a long-term difference slightly I suppose. just saying, hes not necessarily being an idiot.
"Check 4 check 5 check 6 check 7 check money check map" -Day9, aka the voice in my head.
Ruscour
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
5233 Posts
June 09 2011 21:46 GMT
#19
There was a theorycrafting thread where it was determined that the most economic (pure economic, assuming you make only queens and drones) build was 14 pool 14 hatch.
CluEleSs_UK
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United Kingdom583 Posts
June 09 2011 21:47 GMT
#20
On June 10 2011 06:31 darkscream wrote:
16 hatch more economic - 16 drones = saturation on only minerals, you should try to have 16 drones mining minerals at every expansion

15 hatch 15pool leads to a situation where your nat and pool finish at about the same time, and you have 300 minerals, letting you either take a 3rd, make 2 queens, make 1 queen and some lings/drones.. its safe because the timings on most maps, some rush maps still beat this tho

14 hatch is stupid, if you dont see zerg pros do it (just watch what they make in the first 2 minutes every game) its probably not good. Except for spanishiwa you wont ever see a hatchery before 15 because if youre gonna pool minerals and cut drones to make a building at 14, you do a pool or gas not hatch.



Why exactly is 14 hatch stupid?
"If it turns out he is leaving the ESL to focus on cooking crystal meth I'll agree that it is somewhat disgraceful, but I'll hold off judgement until then."
1 2 3 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Replay Cast
00:00
2026 GSTL: Grand Finals
CranKy Ducklings95
LiquipediaDiscussion
OSC
23:00
OSC Masters Cup #151 Qualifier
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
NeuroSwarm 167
StarCraft: Brood War
soO 454
hero 423
BeSt 252
Mind 35
Terrorterran 26
Bale 22
Noble 12
yabsab 10
ZergMaN 10
Icarus 5
Dota 2
monkeys_forever1206
League of Legends
JimRising 685
Counter-Strike
taco 380
Super Smash Bros
Mew2King150
Other Games
summit1g10122
ArmadaUGS41
Livibee29
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick480
StarCraft: Brood War
Kim Chul Min (afreeca) 8
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH339
• practicex 36
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• Migwel
StarCraft: Brood War
• Pr0nogo 3
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• lizZardDota2267
League of Legends
• Rush1354
• Stunt412
Upcoming Events
Afreeca Starleague
4h 3m
Soma vs Jaedong
WardiTV Weekly
5h 3m
Monday Night Weeklies
10h 3m
Sparkling Tuna Cup
1d 4h
Afreeca Starleague
1d 4h
Leta vs Soulkey
PiGosaur Cup
1d 18h
Kung Fu Cup
2 days
The PondCast
3 days
Replay Cast
3 days
CranKy Ducklings
5 days
[ Show More ]
Online Event
5 days
FEL
5 days
BSL: Ladder Tournament
5 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
6 days
BSL Open Qualifier
6 days
BSL Open Qualifier
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-09-27
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
Calamity Invitational

Ongoing

ASL Season 22
Super Anchor Qualifying S3
CSL 2026 AUTUMN (S22)
Acropolis #5
1win Private Club #1
Logitech G Play Connect 2026
SL StarSeries Fall 2026
FISSURE Playground #3
BLAST Open Fall 2026
Esports World Cup 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3

Upcoming

Acropolis #5 - GSB
Acropolis #5 - GSC
BSL Season 23
SC4ALL II: Brood War
BSL 23: Non-Korean Championship
HSC XXX
Stellar Fest 2: Lunar Cup
SC4ALL II: StarCraft II
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
RSL Offline Finals
Custodian Cup
Copium Cup
PGL Major Singapore 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
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.