• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 16:39
CEST 22:39
KST 05:39
  • 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] Ro24 Preview: Siren's Call8[ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Summer's End9Serral wins HomeStory Cup 2915Serral wins Maestros of the Game 244ByuL, and the Limitations of Standard Play3
Community News
Stellar Fest TWO the Moon (Dec 16-20)7Weekly Cups (August 24-30): Patches' balance mod takes over2New 3v3 BGH Ladder (and more) on ShieldBattery!38Weekly Cups (August 17-23): Zerg dominate the week6Weekly Cups (August 10-16): SHIN doubles3
StarCraft 2
General
SC4ALL II: SC2 Player Announcement 6/8 - Maru Weekly Cups (August 10-16): SHIN doubles Weekly Cups (August 24-30): Patches' balance mod takes over How would you feel about frequent/monthly balance patches for SC2? Weekly Cups (August 17-23): Zerg dominate the week
Tourneys
Stellar Fest TWO the Moon (Dec 16-20) 2026 GSTL Announcement PIG STY FESTIVAL 8.0! (13 - 23 August) Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament 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 # 541 Binary Choice The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 540 Dodge This Mutation # 539 Thunder Dome
Brood War
General
[Personal Project Share] Terran Defense v0.60 Which box art did your first copy of StarCraft 1 have? BW General Discussion ASL22 General Discussion New 3v3 BGH Ladder (and more) on ShieldBattery!
Tourneys
[ASL22] Ro24 Group F [Megathread] Daily Proleagues Small VOD Thread 2.0 Escore Tournament - Season 3
Strategy
Replay Review Process - What do you do? Game Theory for Starcraft Odyssey Mineral Stack Saturation Fighting Spirit mining rates
Other Games
General Games
General RTS Discussion Thread Nintendo Switch Thread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Anyone here play Quakeworld back in the day? EVE Corporation
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 Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Canadian Politics Mega-thread European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread
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 NBA General Discussion
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List Northern Ireland Global Starcraft
Blogs
Regacy Esports: The Bh…
regacyesports
Violent Games and Crime Rate…
TrAiDoS
LOCKPICKING NOOB
LUCKY_NOOB
Cathedral Of CS And NY pizza a…
FuDDx
Please support my new stand…
Peanutsc
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 7465 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
Germany1446 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 States368 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
Next event in 3h 21m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
mouzHeroMarine 483
BRAT_OK 114
JuggernautJason60
Railgan 53
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 14984
Shuttle 991
Horang2 167
Light 15
Dota 2
420jenkins557
Pyrionflax181
Counter-Strike
edward61
minikerr5
Other Games
Liquid`RaSZi2163
Grubby1944
mouzStarbuck323
XaKoH 187
C9.Mang0172
ArmadaUGS139
Trikslyr60
Mew2King43
QueenE38
Organizations
Other Games
BasetradeTV55
[ Show 12 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• intothetv
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• Migwel
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• masondota21851
League of Legends
• TFBlade952
Other Games
• imaqtpie1368
• Shiphtur261
Upcoming Events
PiGosaur Cup
3h 21m
Kung Fu Cup
14h 21m
Replay Cast
1d 3h
The PondCast
1d 13h
IntoTheTV X SOOP
2 days
CranKy Ducklings
3 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
4 days
OSC
4 days
Afreeca Starleague
5 days
Soma vs Shuttle
BeSt vs Rush
WardiTV Weekly
5 days
[ Show More ]
Afreeca Starleague
6 days
Leta vs ggaemo
Jaedong vs Queen
GSL
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

BSL 2026 LAN: Kraków
PiG Sty Festival 8.0
Light Tournament 2026

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 3
K-JUNGMAN
ASL Season 22
Super Anchor Qualifying S3
CSL 2026 AUTUMN (S22)
Proleague 2026-09-01
RSL Revival: Season 6
Big Dog Cup 2026 Div 1
BLAST Open Fall 2026
Esports World Cup 2026
Esports World Cup 2026: LCQ
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3
XSE Pro League 2026
IEM Cologne Major 2026

Upcoming

Acropolis #5
Acropolis #5 - TRS
Escore Tournament S3: King of Kings
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
Acropolis #5 - GSA
Acropolis #5 - GSB
Acropolis #5 - GSC
HSC XXX
SC4ALL II: StarCraft II
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
RSL Offline Finals
Calamity Invitational
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
FISSURE Playground #3
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.