[G] First Overview of HotS Zerg - Page 21

On May 09 2013 06:11 Spyridon wrote:
Few questions.

I haven't had nearly as much time to play since HotS release compared to beta, and my play is suffering from being a bit rusty. But on top of this, I'm not so faithful in my strat lately, so I feel like my strats getting a bit behind the times.

Basically since both my gameplay and strat are suffering, I really need a viable strat to get practice in on to improve my play, since I don't have the time to experiment with strats to find out what works best.

Ling/Bling/Muta in to SH then Corr/BL was my primary strat in the end of beta, but now it seems it's been somewhat figured out and only works vs certain compositions, since it's so gas heavy. So I tried going according to this guide for ling/bling/roach in to SH compositions, but it also feels very hit or miss depending on compositions.

I'm not sure if it's my play lacking, or if SH may be best as a tech switch depending on enemy compositions rather than a primary strat? Is SH midgame as viable as Mutas as a primary strat and I just need practice? Or should I go for a Muta midgame and then switch to SH only if I see Widows or Mech?

On May 15 2013 08:34 xzumiex wrote:
Hi blade,

I have some questions about the zvp play with swarmhosts.
I'm not 100% sure how to play it in the meta game. I will start my lair, after that infestation pit & hydra den.
When this transition is starting, must i make extra units so i'll be sure to defend any aggression?

Then If ur oppenent goes stargate, you go hydra's before swarmhosts, I get that, but how do i follow this up.
Should I go straight to my hive for vipers or add corruptors first?

Also when you transition to hive, you don't go maxed out or do you say i'll add ultra's after the 1st engagement.

I've added my replay when i try to execute this build: http://ggtracker.com/matches/3211191

On May 15 2013 13:49 Atthasit wrote:
Is 1 gate expand becoming a new meta in ZvP? And if so, are you planning on adding a section about it to the OP, blade? ^^

I've returned to EU after playing exclusively on AM for a couple of weeks yesterday and I got rolled by different variations of 1 gate expand 4 times in a row. I think 2 immortal warp prism zealots MSC +1 push was the worst of it, cos it outright killed me right there. Other variations delayed my tech/eco so I could only barely get 10 SHs out in time when their huge 3 base colossus amove came, and that obviously didnt work out well. Maybe a gas timing or other signs like units/buildings he has and what to expect from there would be nice, because I am absolutely clueless atm :/

On May 17 2013 11:45 Spyridon wrote:
Couple more questions...

1) Since the new Spore changes, what is seeming like the new meta for ZvZ? Or is it still too unstable? I seen Idra going Muta still, Catz seemed to be going heavy lings in to infestors, then switching to roach/hydra.

2) I tend to re-read the Terran section quite a bit since there's so many possible combinations to face, and I don't know if it's just me, but it seems a bit disorganized when reading since you give so many options. For example Muta midgame, SH midgame, Muta + SH midgame, and then the mech section for a switch to Roach/Hydra/SH/Viper... Even after reading many times I don't know the exact situations I should concentrate on the primary strat or if I should do a tech switch.

My main question regarding this... I've been focusing on Ling/Bling/Muta again rather than SH lately. You say not to use Ling/Bling/Muta when facing Mech, and the tech switch for fighting Mech (SH/Roach/Hydra then adding Viper/Ultra)... Question considering this... What exactly constitutes "Mech"? Obviously if they push with something like hellion hellbat tank thor that's Mech.... but for example lately my training partner has been doing bio/widow openers and then mid game added in maybe 5-6 tanks and sometimes a thor or 2, and even when flanking optimally and attempting to catch Tanks out of potion it's actually been fairly hard to handle if he micros properly if we're having a close game - it's been reliant on me being quite a bit ahead (and even then he can pull it off sometimes). So much firepower mows down the ling/blings even on creep, and they can't get a good surround if his units are positioned nicely, and once the ground armys gone the Mutas can't handle it alone.

Should Terran just adding a few tanks be considered mech and should I start focusing on SH/Roaches/Hydra/Vipers immediately? Basically I need to know a little more clearly, what exactly I should be looking for before doing the tech switch to other units and when to continue just pumping out ling/bling/muta.

Regarding the original guide, as some advice regarding my misunderstanding, in the ZvT matchup it may be a bit better organized if you reorganize a section for each strategy and list when to tech switch each unit when using that strategy (ie: for the Ling/Bling/Muta strat, when to add SH, Vipers, when to switch to Roach/Hydra, etc.... followed by Roach/Ling/Bane/SH strat and when to add Infestors, Viper... etc). Hope that makes sense lol, it would make it easier for me to read at least =)

On May 19 2013 21:42 PoulsenB wrote:
Hi Blade, I wanted to ask about infestors in ZvT - do you think they would still be a viable option pre-hive, or are mutalisks the only way to go? I have a lot of problems against bio/hellbat pushes (I'm Platinum btw), since mutas just don't do as much against them, and I can't seem to have enough ling/bane/roach in time to stop them. I feel like a couple of fungals would really help, even against bio/mine pushes. What are your thoughts?

On May 20 2013 11:49 JSK wrote:


Hi Blade,

may I ask if this is standard for you now, to skip corruptors and go for vipers? (since the guide indicates to go corruptors after hydra, i wanted to ask?)

On May 21 2013 08:12 phrenzy wrote:
What when they go straight colossi? I find more and more players not building immortals anymore. And if i play as standard by the time hive hits they have +5 and going templar stargate tech.

edit:// dont think i have seen a single immortal in the last 5 zvp's ive played. It has all been straight colossi into templar/sky

On May 21 2013 09:34 phrenzy wrote:
Ahh, thank you. Makes a lot of sense. This reminds me of what i used to do in the beta. But with these adjustments and the rest of the guide incorporating vipers/hydras/ultras it is so much stronger. What would i do in this game without you and your guides.

I have notice some adjustments to your ZvT on your stream. Do you still go double upgrades before lair and then a couple of roaches for defense? I find it very hard to scout with slow overlords so i can never identify a greedy terran or one preparing t do something like a hellbat drop.

On May 25 2013 01:03 Diddywhop wrote:
Blade,

I'm a low master Zerg. I'm having most of my trouble with my ZvZ match up. I feel my play is very random and gimicky. Let me try to paint a picture of my issue for you.

I either open 15 pool or 15 hatch depending on the map. Thats not so much my issue. The problem is when I see the player is going into a standard opening and making drones before 30 supply. At this point, I feel obligated to flood lings to force him to make lings or kill him, almost like this is the safest route. If I play a more standard macro style and make drones with that first inject larvae pop than I find myself dying a lot to those players who make lings right at 30 supply.

Should I just make 2 defensive banes around that time to be safe? Is it a bad idea to try and make lings yourself to either force them out of your opponent? I find if I do pump lings at 30 supply, I'm at the least forcing him to do it and defending from the same sort of play.

Thanks

On May 25 2013 03:56 Wertheron wrote:
The OP was edited the 2 day ago, so i assume the guide is still up to date, right ? Because i work on this guide and these BO since the beginning of Hots and i want to know if it's still good.