• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 15:34
CEST 21:34
KST 04:34
  • 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] Ro8 Preview Pt1: Inheritors4[ASL21] Ro16 Preview Pt2: All Star10Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - The Finalists16[ASL21] Ro16 Preview Pt1: Fresh Flow9[ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt2: News Flash10
Community News
2026 GSL Season 1 Qualifiers19Maestros of the Game 2 announced92026 GSL Tour plans announced15Weekly Cups (April 6-12): herO doubles, "Villains" prevail1MaNa leaves Team Liquid25
StarCraft 2
General
MaNa leaves Team Liquid Maestros of the Game 2 announced 2026 GSL Tour plans announced Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - The Finalists Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool
Tourneys
Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament 2026 GSL Season 1 Qualifiers INu's Battles#14 <BO.9 2Matches> GSL CK: More events planned pending crowdfunding RSL Revival: Season 5 - Qualifiers and Main Event
Strategy
Custom Maps
[D]RTS in all its shapes and glory <3 [A] Nemrods 1/4 players [M] (2) Frigid Storage
External Content
Mutation # 523 Firewall Mutation # 522 Flip My Base The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 521 Memorable Boss
Brood War
General
[ASL21] Ro8 Preview Pt1: Inheritors Leta's ASL S21 Ro.16 review FlaSh: This Will Be My Final ASL【ASL S21 Ro.16】 BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ ASL21 General Discussion
Tourneys
[ASL21] Ro16 Group D [Megathread] Daily Proleagues Escore Tournament StarCraft Season 2 [ASL21] Ro16 Group C
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers What's the deal with APM & what's its true value Any training maps people recommend? Fighting Spirit mining rates
Other Games
General Games
Nintendo Switch Thread Dawn of War IV Diablo IV Total Annihilation Server - TAForever Starcraft Tabletop Miniature Game
Dota 2
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
Vanilla Mini Mafia Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas TL Mafia Community Thread Five o'clock TL Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread Canadian Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Russo-Ukrainian War Thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books Movie Discussion!
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion McBoner: A hockey love story
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Strange computer issues (software) [G] How to Block Livestream Ads
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Sexual Health Of Gamers
TrAiDoS
lurker extra damage testi…
StaticNine
Broowar part 2
qwaykee
Funny Nicknames
LUCKY_NOOB
Iranian anarchists: organize…
XenOsky
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 2121 users

Catz's 7 pool on Shakuras Plateau (ZvP)

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
Post a Reply
1 2 3 4 Next All
wikipal
Profile Joined July 2011
Ireland18 Posts
October 03 2011 13:20 GMT
#1
I was watching Catz's stream last week, and while he was laddering he came up against the same protoss player twice in a row on Shakuras Plateau.
Catz's lost the first game after some gimmicky Void Ray play, and when he was matched to the same guy on the same map, he said:
Watch me rape this guy. He's never seen this before.

Catz proceeded to build one drone, put down a 7 pool, and attack the protoss player, and then transition into a 16 hatch.
I was amazed by the economic damage done by Catz by using this build, and decided to write a quick thread on it.

+ Show Spoiler +

Send O/L to Closest possible Spawning location.
7 Pool
Drone to 9
Your 9th drone and Pool should pop around the same time.
Double Extractor Trick, Build 6 lings.
12 O/L
@150 Minerals Build Queen
16 Expand.


This will do significant damage to an FFE. You can kill the initial pylon, supply block him, get him to pull his probes off the line, and kill 4-5. That's 300-350 minerals worth of damage and delay mining time significantly. Since this a semi-all-in, you are trying your best to keep the Toss player from mining as long as possible, so you can afford to lose all your initial lings.
With a Gate-way First player, while you are unlikely to encounter a Zealot by the time you attaci t is essential you kill the pylon in this Scenario, you do not want that zealot spawning, or you will be too far behind to win the game.
This will only probably work on Shakuras Plateau due to there being only two spawning locations. (Cross Map, and Double Top/Bottom)
This could also work on Xel'Naga Caverns, but I have not tested it yet.

Replays will be available ASAP.
ReaperX
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
Hong Kong1758 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-10-03 13:59:49
October 03 2011 13:23 GMT
#2
This seems cool for Zerg players to start doing, but scary for Protoss players like me to face on ladder. Thanks for sharing!

+ Show Spoiler +
I was being sarcastic lol, this is so old!
Artosis : Clide. idrA : Shut up.
TTneko
Profile Joined August 2011
Australia70 Posts
October 03 2011 13:24 GMT
#3
Hasn't this been done for about a year? nothing new here I don't think :S ?
Come watch my Grandmaster Zerg stream! // http://www.twitch.tv/ttneko
Jermstuddog
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
United States2231 Posts
October 03 2011 13:27 GMT
#4
Nothing new, see Fail Pool in liquipedia,

The links to discussions have a lot of input from CatZ.
As it turns out, marines don't actually cost any money -Jinro
Arcanefrost
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
Belgium1257 Posts
October 03 2011 13:28 GMT
#5
You can just wall with forge and 2gates.
Valor is a poor substitute for numbers.
Antieque
Profile Joined January 2011
Korea (South)79 Posts
October 03 2011 13:28 GMT
#6
Very old, nothing new here.
wikipal
Profile Joined July 2011
Ireland18 Posts
October 03 2011 13:33 GMT
#7
The Fail Pool, is actually different. Its 2 Lings, O/L 2 more lings. The difference in the build is the double extractor, which allows you to get the zerglings just that bit quicker. And while I did search for this on liquidipedia, I thought it deserved its own thread due to it being slightly different and more structured than the Fail Pool.
TTneko
Profile Joined August 2011
Australia70 Posts
October 03 2011 13:33 GMT
#8
No it doesn't
Come watch my Grandmaster Zerg stream! // http://www.twitch.tv/ttneko
BearDK
Profile Joined March 2011
Denmark101 Posts
October 03 2011 13:35 GMT
#9
if you scout it, it should be quite easy to get that wall up at the natural in time.
Jermstuddog
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
United States2231 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-10-03 13:37:43
October 03 2011 13:37 GMT
#10
On October 03 2011 22:33 wikipal wrote:
The Fail Pool, is actually different. Its 2 Lings, O/L 2 more lings. The difference in the build is the double extractor, which allows you to get the zerglings just that bit quicker. And while I did search for this on liquidipedia, I thought it deserved its own thread due to it being slightly different and more structured than the Fail Pool.


I put a section in there saying you can vary it up however you want: 9 drones, double extractor trick into 6 lings or 8 drones, ovie, then 8 lings are both very good options. The 9 drone is a bit more economical, the 8 drone has a bit more punch.

On the other side, there is what I call "The Hero Drone." I always send one because he can block buildings to leave a door open for your lings and generally be annoying, but it is very costly to do so ~100 minerals. On 2 player maps, the drone is optional, but on maps like Shakuras or LT, you almost always want to send one because it also scouts for you.

The article is not the only way to do things, it's just an example.
As it turns out, marines don't actually cost any money -Jinro
kAra
Profile Joined September 2004
Germany1416 Posts
October 03 2011 13:39 GMT
#11
should be defended easily with a 12 forge + wall of afterwards, no?
mada mada dane
Antieque
Profile Joined January 2011
Korea (South)79 Posts
October 03 2011 13:44 GMT
#12
You guys are missing the point, the build isn't a 7 pool all in, it's just a 7 pool opener. This means that the even if the Protoss scouts it, they will have to react with a wall off, which requires them to cut probe production. This allows the zerg to catch up on economy because they are droning after the 6 initial lings anyway. For the Protoss to know if it's not a 6 pool all in, they just simply count the larva on your hatchery, if it's laying around until the pool pops, it's an all in, if the larva isn't laying around and turning into drones, it's likely not a big commitment. It can also be scouted by checking for the fast 2nd overlord which usually is made right after the zerg player puts down the 7 pool, of course thats if the zerg player is planning to commit to the fast pool.
-Dustin-
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
United States718 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-10-03 13:50:27
October 03 2011 13:49 GMT
#13
Wait I'm confused as hell about all these early pool subjects now. When Toss talk about 6Pool they say its OP on a FFE, but 7Pool is "easily held off" could someone explain the difference? I understand the Lings will be slightly delayed.

Seems solid may try it out on ladder as I like to do an early Pool vs Toss as it can give me an advantage/straight up win the game, but at a risk, if I fail to do any damage its pretty much game. I like the risk vs reward of a early pool. I see everyone saying its old, I understand that but I've never seen the exact BO for it as I don't look at Liquipedia much.

I also second what Jermstuddog is saying I love to send a scouting Drone just to block buildings harass the Toss and eventually do a little tanking for my Lings.
mage36
Profile Joined May 2011
415 Posts
October 03 2011 13:53 GMT
#14
how is this different from other 7 pools? I'm pretty sure 6 pool can be held off by FFE, so why can't a 7 pool be? Granted you have to pull some probes, but you'd be ahead in probe count just so long as you don't lose a whole lot of them.
Sbrubbles
Profile Joined October 2010
Brazil5776 Posts
October 03 2011 13:58 GMT
#15
Early pool plays vs Protoss are quite strong and may be played into economic variants. Still, this build is as old as heck, so I'm not sure it warrants a new thread.

Bora Pain minha porra!
Chemist391
Profile Joined October 2010
United States366 Posts
October 03 2011 14:40 GMT
#16
CatZ did this to me on Shakuras at MLG Anaheim. I took no economic damage from the 7pool and then proceeded to lose after making extremely silly decisions. Also, CatZ is far better than I am.

FFE can easily defend this.

Replay
Gotmog
Profile Joined October 2010
Serbia899 Posts
October 03 2011 14:47 GMT
#17
I use 7pool quite often, when i remember on some maps in ZvP. Just making 6 lings, and proceeding to expand/drone up non stop, gass/queen all normal stuff. The point is to stop the horrible lead that protoss gets when he is allowed nexus 1st, or nexus before canon, or forge FE in general....

If he opens normally...well dunno, never happened yet. You are behind, can't really do any dmg.
"When you play the game of drones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground"
Jermstuddog
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
United States2231 Posts
October 03 2011 14:47 GMT
#18
On October 03 2011 22:44 DemoraliZ wrote:
For the Protoss to know if it's not a 6 pool all in, they just simply count the larva on your hatchery, if it's laying around until the pool pops, it's an all in, if the larva isn't laying around and turning into drones, it's likely not a big commitment.


This is not true and only going to steer people wrong.

The big commitment is in getting the pool so early, not the lings. The difference between making 2 lings and 6 lings after making a pool at 7 isn't really that much. You might as well make the 6 since the 2 will be largely ineffective. Pooling larva is negligible.
As it turns out, marines don't actually cost any money -Jinro
SoKHo
Profile Joined April 2011
Korea (South)1081 Posts
October 03 2011 14:51 GMT
#19
I mean, you'll only do damage if you go nexus first. You can wall off easily with 3 builds b4 lings come
"If you don't understand my silence, you won't understand my words"|| Big Nal_rA fan boy!! Nal_rA, Bisu, Huk, MC, Hero fighting! SKT1---->
BroboCop
Profile Joined December 2010
United States373 Posts
October 03 2011 14:57 GMT
#20
this build was created by catz within the first couple months of the game. on steppes of war, a notoriously broken map which zerg couldn't possibly win on catz created this strategy. It lead to protoss to saying steppes was broken for zerg because since the rush distance was so quick there was absolutely nothing the protoss could do and honestly was a very strong build. Moreover, at MLG dallas 2010, protoss would ban steppes of war vs catz because they knew he would do it. As for vs gateway openings, it is possible to come out even or in a slightly favorable position, however, it is very difficult and requries very high apm (efficient) which will only be able to be executed by grandmaster and very few high masters players. Moreover, if a protoss goes forge,gate,gate b4 cannon, the zerg will be able to kill the forge and get in meanwhile droning back home.
1 2 3 4 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
BSL
19:00
RO16 TieBreaker - Group B
LiquipediaDiscussion
Ladder Legends
15:00
Valedictorian Cup #1
ByuN vs SolarLIVE!
MaxPax vs TBD
SteadfastSC442
TKL 353
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
SteadfastSC 442
TKL 353
Liquid`TLO 293
mouzHeroMarine 190
MaxPax 168
BRAT_OK 126
StarCraft: Brood War
Calm 3093
Mini 393
Horang2 371
firebathero 218
ggaemo 157
Dewaltoss 150
Dota 2
LuMiX1
Counter-Strike
byalli1227
Super Smash Bros
C9.Mang0697
Mew2King65
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor1397
Liquid`Hasu674
Other Games
Grubby3762
FrodaN1488
KnowMe246
crisheroes228
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick1010
BasetradeTV239
StarCraft 2
angryscii 37
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
[ Show 18 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Shameless 34
• Kozan
• Migwel
• sooper7s
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
StarCraft: Brood War
• Airneanach30
• RayReign 15
• FirePhoenix6
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
• BSLYoutube
League of Legends
• Jankos2023
Other Games
• imaqtpie1304
• WagamamaTV542
• Shiphtur225
Upcoming Events
CranKy Ducklings
4h 26m
Replay Cast
13h 26m
Wardi Open
14h 26m
Afreeca Starleague
14h 26m
Soma vs hero
Monday Night Weeklies
20h 26m
Replay Cast
1d 4h
Replay Cast
1d 13h
Afreeca Starleague
1d 14h
Leta vs YSC
Replay Cast
3 days
The PondCast
3 days
[ Show More ]
KCM Race Survival
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Escore
4 days
Replay Cast
5 days
Replay Cast
5 days
IPSL
5 days
Ret vs Art_Of_Turtle
Radley vs TBD
BSL
5 days
Replay Cast
6 days
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
6 days
BSL
6 days
IPSL
6 days
eOnzErG vs TBD
G5 vs Nesh
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Escore Tournament S2: W4
RSL Revival: Season 4
NationLESS Cup

Ongoing

BSL Season 22
ASL Season 21
CSL 2026 SPRING (S20)
IPSL Spring 2026
KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 2
StarCraft2 Community Team League 2026 Spring
Nations Cup 2026
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S2: W5
KK 2v2 League Season 1
Acropolis #4
BSL 22 Non-Korean Championship
CSLAN 4
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Maestros of the Game 2
2026 GSL S2
RSL Revival: Season 5
2026 GSL S1
XSE Pro League 2026
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
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.