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Stephano’s play versus protoss and terran depends greatly on the map, but the important thing is that his ultimate plan for late game is the same. There are various commonalities that can be drawn through his game. These can be anchor points throughout the game so that when one is playing, one can check on their progress with following game plan. Stephano’s general game plan is the same versus protoss and terran: Safely get a strong economy through exploiting timings of helions at 5min, 2base 4 gate at 7:30, 10-11 minute pushes, etc, and getting defendable creep spread then applying pressure early so that the opponent needs to keep up production with you to stay alive. Hopefully, the opponent starves out on two bases, if he is defending well. If the opponent attacks you, you will have the appropriate creep spread between your bases to defend the push with a superior economy. The key to Stephano’s play is crisp timing to gain an early economy lead, and then the rest of the game is in his control!
Format: I wrote down key timings for things that are recommended to get a better economy. I also have explanations for most of his choices in building units/buildings. Also, I wrote down helpful details that I saw in his play through streaming. Hopefully this is helpful.
Stephano Notes vs Toss
Plan:
3 Base then try to delay his third for as long as possible with roaches. When you see that its not possible, get a fourth and tech to infestors with spinecrawlers, camp then tech to broodlords
Build:
• 15 Pool, 16 Hatch, 24 Hatch(Before 2nd Comes out)
• Go down with 2nd queen and lay creep tumor to spread creep to second/third build queen in main( creep spread to third base very important!)
• 44-50 food 2 Ex(about when two bases saturated)
• Get Lair at first 100 gas( want to get upgrades and speed asap after to apply pressure)
• If zealots coming to kill third, build 14 zerglings micro very important. (very common)
• Scout 7min (if his natural is getting gas and has few probes, then teching to blink or voids) Response: Gather overlords, get more queens at each base, spores in each mineral line
• 7 min make roach warren with evo chamber(4 gate timing off two base) Evo helps you to defend against voidray push at 7:30
• 2 More gases half way before Lair Pops( gas for upgrades)
No pressure from Toss- you want to apply pressure because he is probably teching so if he cut any corners then you can kill him.
• 9min Bases Should be Saturated. Start Building Roaches and Lings to pressure his third keep on the pressure if you sense you can persist.
• 10 min macro hatch. You can bring in reinforcements faster.
• Transition 11min If on two base or cant do damage, get infestors, rest of extractors, spines, evolution chamber , macro hatch, Get Fourth, fifth if possible. Infestors should be ble to delay until broodlords come out.
If going ling infestor(expand as well very defendable with this unit composition, can counter with zergling run bys)
• Get rest of 2 gases, 2nd evo, tech to infestor zergling, get spine crawlers at exposed bases
• Tech to broodlords, keep main army to protect from stalker blink
Tips:
Double Spire to get upgrades
Spread creep to cut center in half, so that you can put spines cutting map in half and you can take those bases
Zergling Run By if army is out of position
Enter Army and attack once its blinked
Keep lings in base if getting dropped/ build spine
Spread Creep after first inject, walk 2nd queen to third
Keep on changing rally point of bases to match army
Keep Rally on bases, just transfer drones to prevent over saturation
Chase probe, knowing where pylon is is very helpful
Scout map early with zerglings
If early pressure, delay gas, and get zerglings, start zergling speed, get roaches
After pressure, pressure him and get all extractors(only for infestor zergling)
If Dts, surround with zerglings, do not let it get anywhere
Stephano vs Terran
Plan:
More defensive than playing against toss so more you want to go more tech heavy path on 2 base. Expand third with some troops to protect. Terran has the ability to split you up with drops and attack early so you want to be sure that you have the necessary tech to defend against this.
Get Roach Zerging Infestor, then tech to broodlords very fast. Defend until broodlords come out
Try to stay on two base then expand (Shakuras)
On maps with easier to get thirds, try getting third before hellions come to kill drone. (Defend with roach spread creep).
3 Base Maps
• 15 hatch, Scout 15 Make sure safe, 15-17 pool, 15-17 ex. Try to get as good of an economy as possible early to get an edge on opponent.
• First 100 Gas Zergling Speed
• Get third queen at natural/ spread creep to third
• Get third before extractors(if helion depends on map)
• Keep Drones in Gas to get
• 44-50 food 3 more ex (when bases saturated)
• Roach Warren 5min. When Factory gets ready(If one baracks expand( have a little more time 6:30 hellions)
• 4Roaches then expand to third
• 7min 2 Evo chamber (timed with the extractors) defend against banshes more gas for upgrades.
• 8:00 Build Lair with upgrades(4 extractors should be running by now) +1 armor helps against tanks a lot
• 8:30 macro hatch(or save money for defense
• 9minutes get some units then only drone(to fight off push) PIVOTAL, get roach speed immediately
• Transition to Infestors immediately when lair finishes ling infestor(some roaches left over) This will help you hold off his tank push
• Full map control(creep spread your half of map)
• Infestor 9-10 Minutes to Delay push 5 infestors not to many because you want to save for broodlords
• Get expansions aggressively, its ok if one of them dies because you have a lot of minerals
• Spire to Go down when hive goes down, expand multiples times before broodlords come out
• 15 minutes get broodlords out (Don't build too many, just defend the ones you already have with corruptors/ infestors)
2base- On maps like shattered temple and taldarim, this will help you get early upgrades while building an early defense on two base will help you to kill the rocks to get your third
• 15Hatch, 15 scout(if you know exactly where he is because drone will get there in time to see) 15pool, 17 Ex (keep on getting gas)
• First 100 Speedlings
• Third Queen Spread Creep
• Roach Warren around 6min if 1 Racks Expand
• 2nd Ex 50(Build Early Roaches to kill rocks wherever) Early defense as well so you can drone.
• 7min Evo Chambers, time 3rd and 4th extractors( You need lots of gas to keep up unit production with upgrades) also this helps you defend against banshees.
• Work on Upgrades
• 7min Work towards expanding using built troops that are also used to defend against helions
• 8-8:30min Lair
• Right When Lair Finishes Get Infestor Pit, Roach Speed
• Infestors when upgrade 30seconds in(Five infestors)
• Tech to Broodlords Spire with Hive, 6 Broodlords only then rest corruptors, Infest vikings
Tips in general
Keep infestors on different hotkey and select all if you want to select army
1 overlord scout, 2nd overlord at natural( Do not want to be bunker rushed)
To defend early bunker pull drones to kill marines first
Then build zerglings and queens to defend
perhaps build spine crawler if needed
After you defense, you have to pressure and check out what he has.
When he moves out, you move in to do damage then retreat
Get 4-5 roaches against hellion to expand to spread creep
Spread overlords to top half, bottom half of the map. Only spread certain overlords in key positions, keep rest in base prevent getting killed
Scout to see if attack is coming... If not then drone a lot( Expand Aggressively after third pops and you are safe)
Get upgrade first, at 30 seconds 5 Infestors then straight to hive
Creep spread is to keep half side connected together
Lategame creep spread is not as important
Always scout and keep one base ahead, he cannot be aggressive while expanding
Build building placement to split drones if you need to split! Run the drones through the maze of buildings
Spread overlords early to spot medivac drops
If ever feel like going to loose to big force, counter his base
2base, if under pressure get burrow for burrow micro not many scans
Get macro if under attack and high on minerals
Delay gases if being attacked
Put drones around the bunker at different corners when trying to kill
Get third before helions come, then get roaches to defend
Build infestors when upgrade is 30 seconds in
Focus down units that the medivac isnt healing
Spread Creep tumors evenly, very important for zvt
On Taldarim and shipyard, get zerglings first if you can't scout because you need to be safe from rush
2nd base different mineral rally point
No gas at 15 from terran, should be 1 barracks expand or double racks if low scv count.
If pressured early, make 1 spine to defend the queen
Put spine just in range of bunker
Its ok if your natural dies, just keep on building drones and transfer when you rebuild it, pressure with the defenses that you made
If marines come, just take off drones and save zerglings
Put up 2 spines if you feel an attack is coming
For 2 Base play, get all extractors for double upgrades
Get infestors right when lair finishes
If behind try baneling bust zergling all in.
If getting dropped try spread troops over all bases
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While some of the English here is a little confusing, a good write up nonetheless! I have been watching Stephano stream the past several days, and I have learned a lot, and it is nice to have a post like this to confirm some things I learned from him.
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His ZvP opening is 15 pool, 16 hatch, 15ol not 15 pool 15 hatch.
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I really enjoyed reading the builds, thanks for a good clear post.
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Very nice writeup, simple and to the point. Will be practicing some of his styles tomorrow ^_^
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I feel like while his ZvT is stylistic, his ZvP is pretty much like everyone else's, except he doesn't make much mistakes and always has the correct reads.
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On March 10 2012 11:06 crfty wrote:
While some of the English here is a little confusing, a good write up nonetheless! I have been watching Stephano stream the past several days, and I have learned a lot, and it is nice to have a post like this to confirm some things I learned from him.
Sorry! I didn't have quite enough time to proof read everything, but its good to hear that a majority of it made sense to you guys.
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On March 10 2012 14:50 K3Nyy wrote:
I feel like while his ZvT is stylistic, his ZvP is pretty much like everyone else's, except he doesn't make much mistakes and always has the correct reads.
He's known for taking some interesting late thirds and putting pressure at interesting timings...dunno I feel like his ZvP is stylistic too. Day9 does a great analysis of the way he plays.
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Hi!
I've been lurking on TL for a while, but this is my first post here! 
I had look at Stephanos ZvP by checking the latest replay pack. I think there is an easier way to look at the build. I made little notes myself on it and I'd like to share them;
He opens 14-15 pool and tries to expand into natural if possible (in case of pylon block, just take natural 3rd first). As pool finishes, make queen (2nd queen right after 1st finishes) and few zerglings for scouting purposes. He takes 3rd by around 21-24 food, which is almost always by 4:10-4:15 (I think this is quite important).
First I though he took double-gas always at around 6:00, but after a closer look I think he takes them at the time when 3rd finishes. With first 100 gas he makes the Lair (100 gas is gathered usually a bit after 7mins). Lair, Roach Warren and Evolution Chamber are made at the same time. Second 100 gas are used for the zergling speed.
My notes finish usually after writing down when he takes his 4th base, which is at around 10mins (9:50-10:30) in the most of the replays. I think the game will carry itself on after this time
I like your notes anyway! They are obviously not wrong in any means if compared to mine.
- partycat
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Which map does Stephano veto on the ladder ? He does not play on Lost Temple doesn't he ?
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On March 11 2012 04:36 Gros Bill wrote:
Which map does Stephano veto on the ladder ? He does not play on Lost Temple doesn't he ?
I've seen play on shattered temple. I haven't seen him play on entombed valley. Maybe thats his only veto?? im not sure
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On March 11 2012 04:36 Gros Bill wrote:
Which map does Stephano veto on the ladder ? He does not play on Lost Temple doesn't he ?
Only Entombed Valley.
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On March 10 2012 09:06 Stevom188 wrote:
Stephano’s play versus protoss and terran depends greatly on the map, but the important thing is that his ultimate plan for late game is the same. There are various commonalities that can be drawn through his game. These can be anchor points throughout the game so that when one is playing, one can check on their progress with following game plan. Stephano’s general game plan is the same versus protoss and terran: Safely get a strong economy through exploiting timings of helions at 5min, 2base 4 gate at 7:30, 10-11 minute pushes, etc, and getting defendable creep spread then applying pressure early so that the opponent needs to keep up production with you to stay alive. Hopefully, the opponent starves out on two bases, if he is defending well. If the opponent attacks you, you will have the appropriate creep spread between your bases to defend the push with a superior economy. The key to Stephano’s play is crisp timing to gain an early economy lead, and then the rest of the game is in his control!
Format: I wrote down key timings for things that are recommended to get a better economy. I also have explanations for most of his choices in building units/buildings. Also, I wrote down helpful details that I saw in his play through streaming. Hopefully this is helpful.
Stephano Notes vs Toss
Plan:
3 Base then try to delay his third for as long as possible with roaches. When you see that its not possible, get a fourth and tech to infestors with spinecrawlers, camp then tech to broodlords
Build:
• 15 Pool, 15 Hatch, 24 Hatch(Before 2nd Comes out)
• Go down with 2nd queen and lay creep tumor to spread creep to second/third build queen in main( creep spread to third base very important!)
• 44-50 food 2 Ex(about when two bases saturated)
• Get Lair at first 100 gas( want to get upgrades and speed asap after to apply pressure)
• If zealots coming to kill third, build 14 zerglings micro very important. (very common)
• Scout 7min (if his natural is getting gas and has few probes, then teching to blink or voids) Response: Gather overlords, get more queens at each base, spores in each mineral line
• 7 min make roach warren with evo chamber(4 gate timing off two base) Evo helps you to defend against voidray push at 7:30
• 2 More gases half way before Lair Pops( gas for upgrades)
No pressure from Toss- you want to apply pressure because he is probably teching so if he cut any corners then you can kill him.
• 9min Bases Should be Saturated. Start Building Roaches and Lings to pressure his third keep on the pressure if you sense you can persist.
• 10 min macro hatch. You can bring in reinforcements faster.
• Transition 11min If on two base or cant do damage, get infestors, rest of extractors, spines, evolution chamber , macro hatch, Get Fourth, fifth if possible. Infestors should be ble to delay until broodlords come out.
If going ling infestor(expand as well very defendable with this unit composition, can counter with zergling run bys)
• Get rest of 2 gases, 2nd evo, tech to infestor zergling, get spine crawlers at exposed bases
• Tech to broodlords, keep main army to protect from stalker blink
Tips:
Double Spire to get upgrades
Spread creep to cut center in half, so that you can put spines cutting map in half and you can take those bases
Zergling Run By if army is out of position
Enter Army and attack once its blinked
Keep lings in base if getting dropped/ build spine
Spread Creep after first inject, walk 2nd queen to third
Keep on changing rally point of bases to match army
Keep Rally on bases, just transfer drones to prevent over saturation
Chase probe, knowing where pylon is is very helpful
Scout map early with zerglings
If early pressure, delay gas, and get zerglings, start zergling speed, get roaches
After pressure, pressure him and get all extractors(only for infestor zergling)
If Dts, surround with zerglings, do not let it get anywhere
Stephano vs Terran
Plan:
More defensive than playing against toss so more you want to go more tech heavy path on 2 base. Expand third with some troops to protect. Terran has the ability to split you up with drops and attack early so you want to be sure that you have the necessary tech to defend against this.
Get Roach Zerging Infestor, then tech to broodlords very fast. Defend until broodlords come out
Try to stay on two base then expand (Shakuras)
On maps with easier to get thirds, try getting third before hellions come to kill drone. (Defend with roach spread creep).
3 Base Maps
• 15 hatch, Scout 15 Make sure safe, 15-17 pool, 15-17 ex. Try to get as good of an economy as possible early to get an edge on opponent.
• First 100 Gas Zergling Speed
• Get third queen at natural/ spread creep to third
• Get third before extractors(if helion depends on map)
• Keep Drones in Gas to get
• 44-50 food 3 more ex (when bases saturated)
• Roach Warren 5min. When Factory gets ready(If one baracks expand( have a little more time 6:30 hellions)
• 4Roaches then expand to third
• 7min 2 Evo chamber (timed with the extractors) defend against banshes more gas for upgrades.
• 8:00 Build Lair with upgrades(4 extractors should be running by now) +1 armor helps against tanks a lot
• 8:30 macro hatch(or save money for defense
• 9minutes get some units then only drone(to fight off push) PIVOTAL, get roach speed immediately
• Transition to Infestors immediately when lair finishes ling infestor(some roaches left over) This will help you hold off his tank push
• Full map control(creep spread your half of map)
• Infestor 9-10 Minutes to Delay push 5 infestors not to many because you want to save for broodlords
• Get expansions aggressively, its ok if one of them dies because you have a lot of minerals
• Spire to Go down when hive goes down, expand multiples times before broodlords come out
• 15 minutes get broodlords out (Don't build too many, just defend the ones you already have with corruptors/ infestors)
2base- On maps like shattered temple and taldarim, this will help you get early upgrades while building an early defense on two base will help you to kill the rocks to get your third
• 15Hatch, 15 scout(if you know exactly where he is because drone will get there in time to see) 15pool, 17 Ex (keep on getting gas)
• First 100 Speedlings
• Third Queen Spread Creep
• Roach Warren around 6min if 1 Racks Expand
• 2nd Ex 50(Build Early Roaches to kill rocks wherever) Early defense as well so you can drone.
• 7min Evo Chambers, time 3rd and 4th extractors( You need lots of gas to keep up unit production with upgrades) also this helps you defend against banshees.
• Work on Upgrades
• 7min Work towards expanding using built troops that are also used to defend against helions
• 8-8:30min Lair
• Right When Lair Finishes Get Infestor Pit, Roach Speed
• Infestors when upgrade 30seconds in(Five infestors)
• Tech to Broodlords Spire with Hive, 6 Broodlords only then rest corruptors, Infest vikings
Tips in general
Keep infestors on different hotkey and select all if you want to select army
1 overlord scout, 2nd overlord at natural( Do not want to be bunker rushed)
To defend early bunker pull drones to kill marines first
Then build zerglings and queens to defend
perhaps build spine crawler if needed
After you defense, you have to pressure and check out what he has.
When he moves out, you move in to do damage then retreat
Get 4-5 roaches against hellion to expand to spread creep
Spread overlords to top half, bottom half of the map. Only spread certain overlords in key positions, keep rest in base prevent getting killed
Scout to see if attack is coming... If not then drone a lot( Expand Aggressively after third pops and you are safe)
Get upgrade first, at 30 seconds 5 Infestors then straight to hive
Creep spread is to keep half side connected together
Lategame creep spread is not as important
Always scout and keep one base ahead, he cannot be aggressive while expanding
Build building placement to split drones if you need to split! Run the drones through the maze of buildings
Spread overlords early to spot medivac drops
If ever feel like going to loose to big force, counter his base
2base, if under pressure get burrow for burrow micro not many scans
Get macro if under attack and high on minerals
Delay gases if being attacked
Put drones around the bunker at different corners when trying to kill
Get third before helions come, then get roaches to defend
Build infestors when upgrade is 30 seconds in
Focus down units that the medivac isnt healing
Spread Creep tumors evenly, very important for zvt
On Taldarim and shipyard, get zerglings first if you can't scout because you need to be safe from rush
2nd base different mineral rally point
No gas at 15 from terran, should be 1 barracks expand or double racks if low scv count.
If pressured early, make 1 spine to defend the queen
Put spine just in range of bunker
Its ok if your natural dies, just keep on building drones and transfer when you rebuild it, pressure with the defenses that you made
If marines come, just take off drones and save zerglings
Put up 2 spines if you feel an attack is coming
For 2 Base play, get all extractors for double upgrades
Get infestors right when lair finishes
If behind try baneling bust zergling all in.
If getting dropped try spread troops over all bases
Do you mean taking a quick before the 2nd queen comes out?
User was warned for this post
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This is really fun to read.
Worth my time !!!!!
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Does anyone have his build order on the game he played against whitera yesterday in the IPL series?
It was a 2 spire build on tal'darim, and i'm interested in it :D
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Hi,
really well done, I study these BO all afternoon lol. Do you have any replay of him doing so? This could be very helpful.
Thanks.
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[/QUOTE]
Do you mean taking a quick before the 2nd queen comes out?
[/QUOTE]
Yes, against protoss you want to take your natural at 15-16, then before your 2nd queen at around 23-24 supply get your third. Doing this build, however, takes a lot of scouting and skill to repel early aggression to kill the third.
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On March 12 2012 13:34 Jabu wrote:
Hi,
really well done, I study these BO all afternoon lol. Do you have any replay of him doing so? This could be very helpful.
Thanks.
I basically watched a bunch of games off of his twitch.tv account. You can see all of the games under his video section. http://www.twitch.tv/mstephano
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Thanks for the write up. Working on adapting to this style currently. I find that I don't have enough gas when I play this though. When should I put up my other gases? (Mid-Master lvl)
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On March 13 2012 16:19 Drmooose wrote:
Thanks for the write up. Working on adapting to this style currently. I find that I don't have enough gas when I play this though. When should I put up my other gases? (Mid-Master lvl)
In ZvP, he takes 2 gases at 6 minutes, a third at 7 minutes, and after that it really depends if the P is all in or if he is teching. If the P appears to be teching, sometimes Stephano put down a spire and transition to muta pressure while double expanding and pressuring the front with his roach/ling army.
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TY. I tend to take my gases at around 7 or so which is a bit too late for what I'm trying to do. I'll toss them down earlier and see how it works out!
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Very short, informative and precise.
Thank you very much. *saved*
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On March 13 2012 16:54 Drmooose wrote:
TY. I tend to take my gases at around 7 or so which is a bit too late for what I'm trying to do. I'll toss them down earlier and see how it works out!
I agree, before studying his stream closely I used to take them way later than that, but it works well, with the following priority as stated by the OP :
First 100 gas to lair, next 100 gas to speedling upgrade, next 100 gas to +1 missile attack, and after that speed roaches whenever you can afford it.
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What does he do when toss goes for air? I understand that he can defend with spores and queens, but does he not bother getting aggressive with the roaches? Muta to kill the air? Hyrda?
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This a very cool write-up.
Stephano himself has said he barely goes off of food or timer timings, he goes off of feel and what he thinks is best so he may change some of these timings from time to time. I'm not sure, but to anyone that bothers to read my post you should use some of these timings and the understanding behind them to help them develop your own style and help feel the game .
Also scouting is extremely important, thanks for mentioning it!
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Also, I have problems versus the 2 base 4-gate, my roaches are a little too late to defend my third.
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On March 18 2012 23:39 Zealos wrote:
What does he do when toss goes for air? I understand that he can defend with spores and queens, but does he not bother getting aggressive with the roaches? Muta to kill the air? Hyrda?
Heres a game of Stephano Vs Elfi Where Elfi goes double SG after FFE. Stephano gets queens and spores as immediate defense while teching to hydras. Then rolls Elfi with a big Roach hydra ball
http://www.sc2rep.com/replays/(P)AcerElfi_vs_(Z)MǂStephano/18436
Ive put this BO into yabot as stephano gets up to 86 supply by the 8 min mark in this game for anyone who wants to add it to yabot to help train their macro heres a link to sc2builds so you can put it into yabot to practice unfortunately it only lets you add the first 15 steps but I mean those are really the most important in a standard ZvP Vs FFE
http://www.sc2builds.com/build-orders/zerg/9595.aspx?s=Build Successfully Updated
or here is the BO from that game
9 overlord
14 pool
16 hatch
15 overlord
15 queen inject walk to natural
17 zerglings 1 pair
22 queen
24 overlord
24 hatch
25 overlord
29 queen
36 tumor at nat wall to third
42 overlord
5:50 double extractor
53 overlord
54 supply 6:47 roach warren Evo chamber
100 gas ling speed
54. Overlord
100 gas lair
62 overlord
62 8 zerglings
66 4 roaches
8 min
86 supply
55 drones
10 overlords
3 queens
10 lings
IN PRODUCTION
16 lings
6 roaches
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On March 19 2012 02:00 SKGZombie wrote:Show nested quote +On March 18 2012 23:39 Zealos wrote:
What does he do when toss goes for air? I understand that he can defend with spores and queens, but does he not bother getting aggressive with the roaches? Muta to kill the air? Hyrda? Heres a game of Stephano Vs Elfi Where Elfi goes double SG after FFE. Stephano gets queens and spores as immediate defense while teching to hydras. Then rolls Elfi with a big Roach hydra ball http://www.sc2rep.com/replays/(P)AcerElfi_vs_(Z)MǂStephano/18436Ive put this BO into yabot as stephano gets up to 86 supply by the 8 min mark in this game for anyone who wants to add it to yabot to help train their macro heres a link to sc2builds so you can put it into yabot to practice unfortunately it only lets you add the first 15 steps but I mean those are really the most important in a standard ZvP Vs FFE http://www.sc2builds.com/build-orders/zerg/9595.aspx?s=Build Successfully Updatedor here is the BO from that game 9 overlord 14 pool 16 hatch 15 overlord 15 queen inject walk to natural 17 zerglings 1 pair 22 queen 24 overlord 24 hatch 25 overlord 29 queen 36 tumor at nat wall to third 42 overlord 5:50 double extractor 53 overlord 54 supply 6:47 roach warren Evo chamber 100 gas ling speed 54. Overlord 100 gas lair 62 overlord 62 8 zerglings 66 4 roaches 8 min 86 supply 55 drones 10 overlords 3 queens 10 lings IN PRODUCTION 16 lings 6 roaches
the number of zerglings and roaches he makes varies from game to game. for example, he only makes 1 pair of lings on shakuras because of the narrow middle of the map he can use an overlord + 1 ling to scout the entire middle of the map if any probes go through. also his first 100 gas goes into lair usually.
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You can't describe Stephano's style as this and that. If you watch his gfames closely you will see that he infact does a lot of different stuff exactly depending on the game situation.
His style is perfect macro and perfect defense. Sometimes he plays as greedy as possible, so extremely that everybody would say WTF NO WAY YOU CAN GO THROUGH WITH THIS like having a forth base coming up at 9:30 with nearly 80 drones relying on spine crawlers only and goint straight to infestor broodlord without even try to delay the third base then on other maps he maxes out at 12 minutes with 1/1 speed roaches and kills any protoss who thinks about the silly idea of a third base.
What makes him really unique and what I would describe his style is being absolutely not afraid to make amounts of defense any other zerg would consider retarded in that situation but it magically works out every time. I remember games where he's stuck on 2 base making 7 spines and being significantly behind in eco but still winning thanks to his defense and a unreal macro explosion when he gets to expand.
I also remember a game aganst Polt on Taldarim where he opts for a 6:40 third base against a 2 base marauder hellion push overmaking dozens of spine acrawlers at his nat and losing them as well as the natural to the push but keeping his third and being practically even in eco after reclaming the natural.
The style Stephano plays is practically being as efficient as possible and having exactly as much stuff as you can possibly have when opting for a style at a certain point in combination with perfectly estimating how much he needs for defending.
The only match up where he goes for a really characterstic unit composition is ZvZ. He is a hard-boiled roach player never ever going muta. He defends any muta play with massing queens and spores turtling on three base and then rolling the muta ling bling player with a practically unholdable roach queen infestor push. He also never goes for Ultra in ZvZ, always broodlord.
@Zealoss: White-Ra has played mass air against him a good few times with nearly always the same outcome. Stephano guesses/scouts the style extremely early, takes a 9 min forth and drones to ninety while massing spines and spores in bizarre numbers eventually zoning out the whole map with creep and unpenetrable spine/spore walls. He completely forgoes low tech units and builds corruptor/infestor only. With the infestors he makes any engagement of the spores suicidal. He then continually hunts the mothership with a huge flock of corruptors until he is able to threaten the protoss with his constantly moving frontier of creep, spores and spines and brood lords.
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+ Show Spoiler +On March 19 2012 02:00 SKGZombie wrote:Show nested quote +On March 18 2012 23:39 Zealos wrote:
What does he do when toss goes for air? I understand that he can defend with spores and queens, but does he not bother getting aggressive with the roaches? Muta to kill the air? Hyrda? Heres a game of Stephano Vs Elfi Where Elfi goes double SG after FFE. Stephano gets queens and spores as immediate defense while teching to hydras. Then rolls Elfi with a big Roach hydra ball http://www.sc2rep.com/replays/(P)AcerElfi_vs_(Z)MǂStephano/18436Ive put this BO into yabot as stephano gets up to 86 supply by the 8 min mark in this game for anyone who wants to add it to yabot to help train their macro heres a link to sc2builds so you can put it into yabot to practice unfortunately it only lets you add the first 15 steps but I mean those are really the most important in a standard ZvP Vs FFE http://www.sc2builds.com/build-orders/zerg/9595.aspx?s=Build Successfully Updatedor here is the BO from that game 9 overlord 14 pool 16 hatch 15 overlord 15 queen inject walk to natural 17 zerglings 1 pair 22 queen 24 overlord 24 hatch 25 overlord 29 queen 36 tumor at nat wall to third 42 overlord 5:50 double extractor 53 overlord 54 supply 6:47 roach warren Evo chamber 100 gas ling speed 54. Overlord 100 gas lair 62 overlord 62 8 zerglings 66 4 roaches 8 min 86 supply 55 drones 10 overlords 3 queens 10 lings IN PRODUCTION 16 lings 6 roaches
Perfect :D Exactly what I was looking for
+ Show Spoiler +On March 19 2012 02:40 Baio wrote:
@Zealoss: White-Ra has played mass air against him a good few times with nearly always the same outcome. Stephano guesses/scouts the style extremely early, takes a 9 min forth and drones to ninety while massing spines and spores in bizarre numbers eventually zoning out the whole map with creep and unpenetrable spine/spore walls. He completely forgoes low tech units and builds corruptor/infestor only. With the infestors he makes any engagement of the spores suicidal. He then continually hunts the mothership with a huge flock of corruptors until he is able to threaten the protoss with his constantly moving frontier of creep, spores and spines and brood lords.
Was more thinking agaisnt a single stargate, just to build a few voids, nonetheless, this is useful information if anyone was to go mass air, cheers.
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On March 19 2012 21:22 Zealos wrote:+ Show Spoiler +On March 19 2012 02:00 SKGZombie wrote:Show nested quote +On March 18 2012 23:39 Zealos wrote:
What does he do when toss goes for air? I understand that he can defend with spores and queens, but does he not bother getting aggressive with the roaches? Muta to kill the air? Hyrda? Heres a game of Stephano Vs Elfi Where Elfi goes double SG after FFE. Stephano gets queens and spores as immediate defense while teching to hydras. Then rolls Elfi with a big Roach hydra ball http://www.sc2rep.com/replays/(P)AcerElfi_vs_(Z)MǂStephano/18436Ive put this BO into yabot as stephano gets up to 86 supply by the 8 min mark in this game for anyone who wants to add it to yabot to help train their macro heres a link to sc2builds so you can put it into yabot to practice unfortunately it only lets you add the first 15 steps but I mean those are really the most important in a standard ZvP Vs FFE http://www.sc2builds.com/build-orders/zerg/9595.aspx?s=Build Successfully Updatedor here is the BO from that game 9 overlord 14 pool 16 hatch 15 overlord 15 queen inject walk to natural 17 zerglings 1 pair 22 queen 24 overlord 24 hatch 25 overlord 29 queen 36 tumor at nat wall to third 42 overlord 5:50 double extractor 53 overlord 54 supply 6:47 roach warren Evo chamber 100 gas ling speed 54. Overlord 100 gas lair 62 overlord 62 8 zerglings 66 4 roaches 8 min 86 supply 55 drones 10 overlords 3 queens 10 lings IN PRODUCTION 16 lings 6 roaches Perfect :D Exactly what I was looking for + Show Spoiler +On March 19 2012 02:40 Baio wrote:
@Zealoss: White-Ra has played mass air against him a good few times with nearly always the same outcome. Stephano guesses/scouts the style extremely early, takes a 9 min forth and drones to ninety while massing spines and spores in bizarre numbers eventually zoning out the whole map with creep and unpenetrable spine/spore walls. He completely forgoes low tech units and builds corruptor/infestor only. With the infestors he makes any engagement of the spores suicidal. He then continually hunts the mothership with a huge flock of corruptors until he is able to threaten the protoss with his constantly moving frontier of creep, spores and spines and brood lords. Was more thinking agaisnt a single stargate, just to build a few voids, nonetheless, this is useful information if anyone was to go mass air, cheers.
A single stargate is virtually useless against Stepano. Void + Phoenix do no damage because he is not afraid to make mass queens and spores. He easily gets the timing right to defend his third and then rolls you with superior economy and pure roach mostly. Against mass phoenix I saw him creepspreading like crazy and bringing queens to the frontline.
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Nice post. It sounds really easy when you write it like that but its so incredible hard to actually do.
I do admit his normal ZvT style has really helped me alot I rarely lose to terran these days. Ling/infestor/ultralisk. I think ill try to practise this new roach/ling/broodlord style now
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While I see Stephano getting Brood Lords in many of his ZvT's, why did you not add that he usually also goes for Ultralisk/Crackling/Infestor with 3/3 in the late game (possible tech switch to double Spire Brood Lord)? I've seen more games where he goes Ultralisks over Brood Lords and I've seen many of Stephano's games. It would be great if the OP added this.
Also in this VOD http://www.twitch.tv/mstephano/b/312303166 he plays iNcontroL on the NA ladder and the late game ends up as Ultralisk/Crackling/Infestor vs Chargelot/Archon/DT/Mothership. The Infestor/Ling ZvP build has not been seen many times lately, though it has been used many times in the past. I do not know the optimal build since Stephano got his natural and third delayed a lot by iNcontroL's pylon block.
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Also if anyone has replays of Stephano vs. Terran Mech, please link them.
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Hi,
quick question here, in ZvT (3 base map) when you say get 3rd before extractor, are you talking about the first one or the 3 other when the main and natural are saturated?
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On March 26 2012 05:34 Jabu wrote:
Hi,
quick question here, in ZvT (3 base map) when you say get 3rd before extractor, are you talking about the first one or the 3 other when the main and natural are saturated?
Hey Jabu,
You want to get your third before your three extractors that are timed around 6min or 44-50 supply. Dry to sneak your drone past his helions, and once your 3rd hatchery starts building, the helions cannot deny your expansion.
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On March 24 2012 21:45 c_kAelle wrote:While I see Stephano getting Brood Lords in many of his ZvT's, why did you not add that he usually also goes for Ultralisk/Crackling/Infestor with 3/3 in the late game (possible tech switch to double Spire Brood Lord)? I've seen more games where he goes Ultralisks over Brood Lords and I've seen many of Stephano's games. It would be great if the OP added this. Also in this VOD http://www.twitch.tv/mstephano/b/312303166 he plays iNcontroL on the NA ladder and the late game ends up as Ultralisk/Crackling/Infestor vs Chargelot/Archon/DT/Mothership. The Infestor/Ling ZvP build has not been seen many times lately, though it has been used many times in the past. I do not know the optimal build since Stephano got his natural and third delayed a lot by iNcontroL's pylon block.
I will look more into this! This draft is very preliminary, I ultimately want to get to a build that takes different paths depending on what you scout from your opponent. From his recent ladder games it seems like he tends to stick to broodlords against protoss, but in tournament/ pro play it could be different.
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What about Tal Darim Altar or any map that has rocks blocking the 3rd? How does Stephano adjust to that in ZvP when the Protoss FFE??
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Very solid write-up, I found myself reading this in WhiteRa voice because of the simplicity and clearness of it ^^.
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Love this thread, I've been basing pretty much everything I do except ZvZ on Stephano's play, if only I had this before I would've saved a lot of time!
Other than that I'll just say that Stephano has really solid, fun builds that pretty much eliminated the "coin flippiness" for me. I recommend it for any Zerg. I don't even get mad when I lose anymore because I can clearly see where I screwed up.
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I'm a bit confused about gas timings for the ~7 minute fast third ZvT. So, you take your 1st gas at a normal timing (~17), and leave on gas to make 4 roaches after your 5 minute warren? And then you stay on gas until ~40 drones where you add on three more extractors and then get 1/1 then Lair?
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My only gripe with this write-up is you don't interpret anything as a mistake Its ok if your natural dies, just keep on building drones and transfer when you rebuild it, pressure with the defenses that you made Losing your natural is not okay, it is a mistake and I'm fairly certain Stephano would tell you himself that you are pretty far behind if that happens. He just made the best of it in whatever replay you watched.
My point here is when you are trying to learn from replays is that you shouldn't assume that everything that happened in the game was intentional. Sometimes it can be difficult to separate what part of the build was planned and which part was a deviation based on a mistake or an odd opening on behalf of the opponent.(Unless the player specifically said to you that the replay showcases his/her build in its most optimal form) In this case I think it's safe to say it is never okay to lose you're natural expansion.
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On March 10 2012 11:15 Biggun69 wrote:
His ZvP opening is 15 pool, 16 hatch, 15ol not 15 pool 15 hatch.
It says in the article that he DOES do a 15pool 16 hatch 24 hatch build. doesn't say he does 15hatch.
User was warned for this post
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EPT
