• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 09:02
CEST 15:02
KST 22:02
  • 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
[ASL19] Finals Recap: Standing Tall9HomeStory Cup 27 - Info & Preview18Classic wins Code S Season 2 (2025)16Code S RO4 & Finals Preview: herO, Rogue, Classic, GuMiho0TL Team Map Contest #5: Presented by Monster Energy6
Community News
Flash Announces Hiatus From ASL54Weekly Cups (June 23-29): Reynor in world title form?13FEL Cracov 2025 (July 27) - $8000 live event16Esports World Cup 2025 - Final Player Roster16Weekly Cups (June 16-22): Clem strikes back1
StarCraft 2
General
Weekly Cups (June 23-29): Reynor in world title form? The SCII GOAT: A statistical Evaluation PiG Sty Festival #5: Playoffs Preview + Groups Recap The GOAT ranking of GOAT rankings Statistics for vetoed/disliked maps
Tourneys
RSL: Revival, a new crowdfunded tournament series Korean Starcraft League Week 77 Master Swan Open (Global Bronze-Master 2) [GSL 2025] Code S: Season 2 - Semi Finals & Finals $5,100+ SEL Season 2 Championship (SC: Evo)
Strategy
How did i lose this ZvP, whats the proper response Simple Questions Simple Answers
Custom Maps
[UMS] Zillion Zerglings
External Content
Mutation # 480 Moths to the Flame Mutation # 479 Worn Out Welcome Mutation # 478 Instant Karma Mutation # 477 Slow and Steady
Brood War
General
Player “Jedi” cheat on CSL BW General Discussion Flash Announces Hiatus From ASL BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Unit and Spell Similarities
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues [BSL20] Grand Finals - Sunday 20:00 CET Small VOD Thread 2.0 [BSL20] GosuLeague RO16 - Tue & Wed 20:00+CET
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers I am doing this better than progamers do.
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Path of Exile What do you want from future RTS games? Beyond All Reason
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
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Trading/Investing Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Russo-Ukrainian War Thread The Games Industry And ATVI
Fan Clubs
SKT1 Classic Fan Club! Maru Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread [Manga] One Piece [\m/] Heavy Metal Thread
Sports
Formula 1 Discussion 2024 - 2025 Football Thread NBA General Discussion TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 NHL Playoffs 2024
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
Blogs
Culture Clash in Video Games…
TrAiDoS
from making sc maps to makin…
Husyelt
Blog #2
tankgirl
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Trip to the Zoo
micronesia
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 657 users

[G] Zerg Guide to Macro-Aggression - Page 2

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
Post a Reply
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 Next All
zylog
Profile Joined August 2010
Canada943 Posts
January 09 2012 01:50 GMT
#21
Hey, I really like how this guide is presented with both the pictures and attention to detail.

Although aggressive play is riskier and a theoretically perfect defensive player should always win via superior scouting and adaptation, in practice no one is perfect and even pro players will make mistakes. Playing the conventional passive defensive style requires and develops good scouting ability, whereas more aggressive styles require and develop good multitasking. Playing defensively means recognizing what your opponent is doing, coming up with the correct counter response; however there are many builds/variations to learn and sometimes you just die when you misread a situation. Playing aggressively makes scouting somewhat redundant as you force him to show what units he's been building, and meanwhile you need to learn to switch quickly between controlling units, making more units, spreading creep and injecting hatcheries. In addition you might have to build stuff in reaction to what you see during the attack (e.g. prepare for banshees if you see starport with techlab) in addition to everything else. Learning to multitask well in such situations can be quite valuable in terms of skill development regardless of what style you prefer.
TangSC
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
Canada1866 Posts
January 09 2012 03:19 GMT
#22
On January 09 2012 10:50 zylog wrote:
Hey, I really like how this guide is presented with both the pictures and attention to detail.

Although aggressive play is riskier and a theoretically perfect defensive player should always win via superior scouting and adaptation, in practice no one is perfect and even pro players will make mistakes. Playing the conventional passive defensive style requires and develops good scouting ability, whereas more aggressive styles require and develop good multitasking. Playing defensively means recognizing what your opponent is doing, coming up with the correct counter response; however there are many builds/variations to learn and sometimes you just die when you misread a situation. Playing aggressively makes scouting somewhat redundant as you force him to show what units he's been building, and meanwhile you need to learn to switch quickly between controlling units, making more units, spreading creep and injecting hatcheries. In addition you might have to build stuff in reaction to what you see during the attack (e.g. prepare for banshees if you see starport with techlab) in addition to everything else. Learning to multitask well in such situations can be quite valuable in terms of skill development regardless of what style you prefer.


Thanks zylog, I think you're right about multitasking and aggression. While macro can be a very active style if you're spreading creep, rallying overlords, producing drones/workers, spitting, AND scouting, there is generally more multitasking to do when you're putting pressure on. So I think it is fair to say this type of style will improve multitasking faster than macro, but macro will improve your ability to scout/responding.
Coaching www.allin-academy.com | Team www.All-Inspiration.com
DarKcS
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Australia1237 Posts
January 09 2012 03:41 GMT
#23
Ultraisks ARE on the way, not Ultraisks is on the way. FIX IT :@ LOL.
Die tomorrow - Live today
Ascendance
Profile Joined March 2011
United States57 Posts
January 09 2012 03:47 GMT
#24
Wow. If I were to make a guide, I would model it after yours and give you credit for it. Very user friendly, but slightly long and could use some condensing. As for the guide itself, the level of specificity it goes to is, I would hazard, only capable by those of Korean descent... lol. The bronze- platinum guides are much more realistic. Very nicely done.
Bunker rushing <3
chayde
Profile Joined October 2010
United States13 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-09 04:54:10
January 09 2012 04:47 GMT
#25
Another fantastic write up Tang thank you for this. I think a lot of people have misconceptions that aggressive players can't macro behind their aggression and there's no thought behind aggressive builds. Posts like these really help show just because you're being aggressive that macro is still super important and gives lower players like myself specific mini concepts we can focus on while still trying to improve with our aggressive style. I also have to disagree with Ascendance. I really enjoyed how the guide was broken up with ideas for each "level". I'd love to see a write up similar to this from a ZvP standpoint.
mahO
Profile Joined April 2011
France274 Posts
January 09 2012 08:50 GMT
#26
I think this build is actually a brillant way, at high level (well, not really high level, i mean from master to mid gm I guess) to throw a lot of terrans off.
I think it is clear that terrans are used to be safe in many circomstances in TvZ nowadays, except for some 6/8 roach early pressure vs helion opening, which can be resolved quite easily if scouted with one marauder in bunker instead of switching add ons right away.
But this timing seems quite unusual, plus it got a follow up, 7 min is the right time, one minute later it could be a huge fail I think, and before that it would be completely all in. I'll try to work on this one and master it, can be really usefull in a BO3!
And by the way, thanks for the time you devoted into the image editing etc. Good guide

P.S: pardon my english, but i'm french :p
Tobberoth
Profile Joined August 2010
Sweden6375 Posts
January 09 2012 10:29 GMT
#27
On January 09 2012 13:47 chayde wrote:
Another fantastic write up Tang thank you for this. I think a lot of people have misconceptions that aggressive players can't macro behind their aggression and there's no thought behind aggressive builds. Posts like these really help show just because you're being aggressive that macro is still super important and gives lower players like myself specific mini concepts we can focus on while still trying to improve with our aggressive style. I also have to disagree with Ascendance. I really enjoyed how the guide was broken up with ideas for each "level". I'd love to see a write up similar to this from a ZvP standpoint.

There is. Well, I don't know about a write up, but here's TangSCs lesson on how to do macro-aggression versus a toss FFE:
http://tangstarcraft.com/?p=590
EndOfLineTv
Profile Joined February 2011
United States741 Posts
January 09 2012 11:09 GMT
#28
On January 09 2012 08:40 Flonomenalz wrote:
Tang, I'm going to try this right now.

However, I will say that this is never going to be executed anywhere near perfectly due to microing army, scouting, sharking, dealing with drops, etc.

How do you deal with drops with this style? You're skipping muta, so 2 medivac drops are really dangerous... when I play Ling Festor, I usually leave a festor and around 10 or so lings and 2 banes at my main, 3rd, then every base after that is mass spines. How do you deal with drops?


As someone who uses a similar style as tang, I can tell you your best defense to drops (which will be the most dangerous thing vs you in the mid game) is good overlord spread.

It is VERY important to send your OL's around your mains perimeter and your "thirds" asap. Additionally, send OL early to the corners of the map, so you can watch for any sneaky drops too.

Knowelege is power, and having 16 lings having a party under drop ships will prevent most of the drops for actually occuring.
nface
Profile Joined June 2011
106 Posts
January 09 2012 11:18 GMT
#29
You played something like this against me on Ladder and I can just say it's a terrible strategy. It is pretty much an All in too, you may have several hatcheries but your worker count is low and thus your satturation on the other bases is bad. You failed your first All in attack against me and did two more all in attacks which got weaker continuesly. Against a regular Reactor Hellion Expand build this is not viable. As a matter of fact I don't see this being viable at all except against a 1 rax gasless expand maybe or an early double expand build. So basically you're calling an All in 'Macro Aggression', I don't see how you can possibly enter a macro game with this build when not doing huge damage. You shouldn't teach people all ins, rather help them play solid macro games.
grs
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
Germany2339 Posts
January 09 2012 11:38 GMT
#30
Very detailed explanation; I like the step by step guides especially. I think you forgot "Start Zergling Speed" in the Step One part though.
Tobberoth
Profile Joined August 2010
Sweden6375 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-09 11:45:28
January 09 2012 11:44 GMT
#31
On January 09 2012 20:18 nface wrote:
You played something like this against me on Ladder and I can just say it's a terrible strategy. It is pretty much an All in too, you may have several hatcheries but your worker count is low and thus your satturation on the other bases is bad. You failed your first All in attack against me and did two more all in attacks which got weaker continuesly. Against a regular Reactor Hellion Expand build this is not viable. As a matter of fact I don't see this being viable at all except against a 1 rax gasless expand maybe or an early double expand build. So basically you're calling an All in 'Macro Aggression', I don't see how you can possibly enter a macro game with this build when not doing huge damage. You shouldn't teach people all ins, rather help them play solid macro games.

How is it more all-in than any big terran push? Doing a timing push will always cost the aggressor, and doing a push in itself does mean you have to do damage to gain or lose an advantage. I especially don't get why it wouldn't work against a hellion expand, roaches rofl at hellions and 8 roaches + 30 lings is way more than a bunker can hold. The terran will be forced to scout it and react, which is damage in itself, and the push will probably still do some damage. Since the Zerg still gets his third by 7 minutes, gets map control and forces the terran to build defenses, I really don't see how this differs all that much from any terran or toss timing push.

I especially have some issues with your claims that zergs should learn to play macro games instead. How? After a hellion expand, from terran, it's extremely hard to get a third since hellions take map control and a terran can easily go all-in with hellions or get dropships and put hellions in your main. The most common strategies are indeed early roaches or 2base muta, neither being much more economical than this one.
nface
Profile Joined June 2011
106 Posts
January 09 2012 11:50 GMT
#32
Then maybe his execution was just very bad, because after I held it off I won the game, eventho it went on for another 10 minutes
EndOfLineTv
Profile Joined February 2011
United States741 Posts
January 09 2012 13:28 GMT
#33
This counters helion expand for sure. What stops this is two rax bunker rush (or proxy 2 rax bunker rush)

Or inbase expand with 1-2 bunkers with scvs ready to repair.
They_
Profile Joined January 2011
Japan62 Posts
January 09 2012 14:11 GMT
#34
This is a really good guide that can counter the current ZvT metagame (reactor hellions). It is really aggressive and macro-oriented at the same time by taking the third before the 8 min mark. This can be even deadlier if used by the right person. I have a question though, when do you scout for this build? Usual 13 (short) 11 (long) just to check gases?

Really solid build all around. I also think that banshees won't be out in time for this build as well. Even so, it would leave the terran with even less ground units. All in all, not only the metagame is dealt with, but also it lets you transition into a solid mid-late game play safely.
Diamond Zerg | Diamond ADC/MID | 音ゲー | Legendary Eagle
TangSC
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
Canada1866 Posts
January 09 2012 14:17 GMT
#35
On January 09 2012 23:11 They_ wrote:
This is a really good guide that can counter the current ZvT metagame (reactor hellions). It is really aggressive and macro-oriented at the same time by taking the third before the 8 min mark. This can be even deadlier if used by the right person. I have a question though, when do you scout for this build? Usual 13 (short) 11 (long) just to check gases?

Actually on most close-air spawns (Metal, shattered, shakuras, antiga) you can perch your overlord in vision of both the terran gas. I generally don't scout until after the expansion (usually 14 or 15 supply) because my build doesn't really deviate until after the pool finishes, regardless of what I see. If I determine it's a 2rax or bunker rush, I start the queen at my expansion only, pull a bunch of drones, and start 1-2 spines with zerglings right away. I keep making lings until I feel like I'm definitely going to get the spines finished, then switch back into drones with the same roach/ling transition planned - it'll just be delayed by however many drones I used to make spines/zerglings.
Coaching www.allin-academy.com | Team www.All-Inspiration.com
nOondn
Profile Joined March 2011
564 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-09 14:48:46
January 09 2012 14:46 GMT
#36
seem similar to DRG style, very good build indeed.
Mid Master Terran @ kr server fighting !!!
mrGRAPE
Profile Joined November 2011
Singapore293 Posts
January 09 2012 15:06 GMT
#37
Hi Tang,

I've used this a couple of times and I realised that this works pretty well against reactor hellion expand at Platinum level provided that I manage to get the hellions before running my zerglings in. A small misstep by sending in the zerglings too early can easily wipe them all out if the opponent has >4 hellions and some marines with a bunker as well. If all goes well, the Terran should lift off the command center and retreat back up his wall. At this point I think it's pretty much whether or not I have enough roaches to bust up the wall or retreat.

There were a couple of games where I misread the situation thinking that I should have enough when actually I don't have as much as I needed. I think it's important to drone up behind this attack or expand as the Terran can still turtle behind this especially if some roaches were lost in the initial push then it might not be as easy to bust up the ramp. Additionally, if the Terran had been mining gas then it's entirely possible that he was going mass hellion into a cloaked banshee all in. I find that also building an evo chamber whenever possible during larva down time while pushing can help improve chances of surviving if a banshee comes out. You never really stated a particular timing or supply for that so I do it once I hit my opponent's ramp because if he's going banshees behind that wall of hellions then it'll be very likely that his first banshee would have already been out by the time the push comes.
Starcraft 2 and eSports enthusiast. https://twitter.com/#!/mrGRAPETV | http://mrgrapetv.wordpress.com/
Olsson
Profile Joined April 2011
Sweden931 Posts
January 09 2012 15:16 GMT
#38
On January 09 2012 08:17 TTneko wrote:
Great, lets raise a generation of Zerg to cheese and all-in T_T


How is this cheese/all-in. Terran does marine/tank pushes, 2rax, drops, hellion pokes and banshee harass, is that all-in? No.
Naniwa <3
WhiteLen
Profile Joined April 2011
8 Posts
January 09 2012 15:32 GMT
#39
Yes, this clearly isn't all in at all. Just because he used a small push to deter his opponents doesn't mean he is risking his game. In a reactor hellion expand the terran still spends some money on hellions to harrass. Here, Tang uses 8 roaches and some lings to pressure.
nface
Profile Joined June 2011
106 Posts
January 09 2012 15:34 GMT
#40
On January 10 2012 00:32 WhiteLen wrote:
Yes, this clearly isn't all in at all. Just because he used a small push to deter his opponents doesn't mean he is risking his game. In a reactor hellion expand the terran still spends some money on hellions to harrass. Here, Tang uses 8 roaches and some lings to pressure.


And this would be about 15 potential drones not being built, if you fail with your pressure, you're behind. Let's call it semi-all in then.
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
WardiTV European League
12:00
Swiss Groups Day 2
WardiTV1198
TKL 366
Liquipedia
CranKy Ducklings
10:00
Master Swan Open #93
CranKy Ducklings86
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
TKL 366
Hui .279
BRAT_OK 84
MindelVK 43
StarCraft: Brood War
Calm 11547
Horang2 2182
Bisu 1330
Jaedong 1212
Flash 1209
Larva 874
Mini 536
BeSt 383
Stork 382
actioN 314
[ Show more ]
Last 206
Soulkey 190
Hyun 163
hero 103
Mind 103
Sea.KH 68
TY 56
sSak 49
Mong 36
Icarus 21
Free 17
HiyA 12
GoRush 11
Terrorterran 1
Stormgate
NightEnD19
Dota 2
XcaliburYe593
canceldota187
Counter-Strike
zeus475
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor283
Other Games
Gorgc3088
singsing2852
B2W.Neo1352
DeMusliM557
Happy330
Fuzer 264
XaKoH 228
Lowko205
SortOf113
Organizations
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Adnapsc2 22
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• C_a_k_e 2280
• WagamamaTV692
League of Legends
• Nemesis3053
Upcoming Events
FEL
2h 58m
RSL Revival
20h 58m
Clem vs Classic
SHIN vs Cure
FEL
22h 58m
WardiTV European League
22h 58m
BSL: ProLeague
1d 4h
Dewalt vs Bonyth
Replay Cast
2 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
2 days
WardiTV European League
3 days
The PondCast
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
[ Show More ]
RSL Revival
4 days
Replay Cast
5 days
RSL Revival
5 days
RSL Revival
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

BSL 2v2 Season 3
HSC XXVII
Heroes 10 EU

Ongoing

JPL Season 2
BSL Season 20
Acropolis #3
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 2
CSL 17: 2025 SUMMER
Copa Latinoamericana 4
Championship of Russia 2025
RSL Revival: Season 1
Murky Cup #2
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 7
IEM Dallas 2025
PGL Astana 2025
Asian Champions League '25
BLAST Rivals Spring 2025
MESA Nomadic Masters
CCT Season 2 Global Finals
IEM Melbourne 2025

Upcoming

2025 ACS Season 2: Qualifier
CSLPRO Last Chance 2025
2025 ACS Season 2
CSLPRO Chat StarLAN 3
K-Championship
uThermal 2v2 Main Event
SEL Season 2 Championship
FEL Cracov 2025
Esports World Cup 2025
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
IEM Cologne 2025
FISSURE Playground #1
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.