• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 17:35
CEST 23:35
KST 06:35
  • 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
Classic Games #3: Rogue vs Serral at BlizzCon9[ASL20] Ro16 Preview Pt1: Ascent10Maestros of the Game: Week 1/Play-in Preview12[ASL20] Ro24 Preview Pt2: Take-Off7[ASL20] Ro24 Preview Pt1: Runway13
Community News
SC4ALL $6,000 Open LAN in Philadelphia7Weekly Cups (Sept 1-7): MaxPax rebounds & Clem saga continues29LiuLi Cup - September 2025 Tournaments3Weekly Cups (August 25-31): Clem's Last Straw?39Weekly Cups (Aug 18-24): herO dethrones MaxPax6
StarCraft 2
General
Weekly Cups (Sept 1-7): MaxPax rebounds & Clem saga continues #1: Maru - Greatest Players of All Time Team Liquid Map Contest #21 - Presented by Monster Energy Classic Games #3: Rogue vs Serral at BlizzCon What happened to Singapore/Brazil servers?
Tourneys
Maestros of The Game—$20k event w/ live finals in Paris RSL: Revival, a new crowdfunded tournament series WardiTV TL Team Map Contest #5 Tournaments Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament SC4ALL $6,000 Open LAN in Philadelphia
Strategy
Custom Maps
External Content
Mutation # 491 Night Drive Mutation # 490 Masters of Midnight Mutation # 489 Bannable Offense Mutation # 488 What Goes Around
Brood War
General
Pros React To: SoulKey's 5-Peat Challenge BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ BW General Discussion ASL20 General Discussion BSL Team Wars - Bonyth, Dewalt, Hawk & Sziky teams
Tourneys
[IPSL] ISPL Season 1 Winter Qualis and Info! Is there English video for group selection for ASL [ASL20] Ro16 Group B [ASL20] Ro16 Group A
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Muta micro map competition Fighting Spirit mining rates [G] Mineral Boosting
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Borderlands 3 Nintendo Switch Thread Path of Exile General RTS Discussion Thread
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion LiquidDota to reintegrate into TL.net
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
Community
General
Canadian Politics Mega-thread US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread The Big Programming Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine
Fan Clubs
The Happy Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion MLB/Baseball 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Linksys AE2500 USB WIFI keeps disconnecting Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread High temperatures on bridge(s)
TL Community
BarCraft in Tokyo Japan for ASL Season5 Final The Automated Ban List
Blogs
The Personality of a Spender…
TrAiDoS
A very expensive lesson on ma…
Garnet
hello world
radishsoup
Lemme tell you a thing o…
JoinTheRain
RTS Design in Hypercoven
a11
Evil Gacha Games and the…
ffswowsucks
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1508 users

[G] First Overview of HotS Zerg - Page 3

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
Post a Reply
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 22 23 24 Next All
YuiHirasawa
Profile Joined August 2012
Japan220 Posts
March 14 2013 08:50 GMT
#41
Thank you for this. I was THIS close to switch to protoss.
Fun things are fun
Insoleet
Profile Joined May 2012
France1806 Posts
March 14 2013 08:51 GMT
#42
On March 14 2013 17:50 YuiHirasawa wrote:
Thank you for this. I was THIS close to switch to protoss.


You would have make a terrible, terrible mistake ! :D
blDraX
Profile Joined March 2011
Germany39 Posts
March 14 2013 09:12 GMT
#43
Please do something like this for protoss.
Teoita
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
Italy12246 Posts
March 14 2013 09:13 GMT
#44
Added to recommended threads.
ModeratorProtoss all-ins are like a wok. You can throw whatever you want in there and it will turn out alright.
ForumErik
Profile Joined June 2012
Netherlands52 Posts
March 14 2013 09:50 GMT
#45
This guide is so good it makes me cry ;_;

Couple of questions though!

In ZvZ when going for Mutas I often end up with a huge excess of larvae when my two bases are saturated. Should I take my third earlier? Mass Speedlings (if this, what do I do with them if he's defensive?)? Does it just mean my Lair is too late?

In any matchup (mostly ZvP) is there a max amount of Swarm Hosts where you don't want any more?

Might edit with more :>

Once again thanks for writing this!

Hoi
TOP_Paper
Profile Joined August 2011
United States4 Posts
March 14 2013 09:52 GMT
#46
Really appreciate this guide. Would have taken a lot of trial by loss to figure this out on my own. Hope you write more guides later as the meta changes and patches change things. Cheers and thanks again.
freedom is granted by god, not man
blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
March 14 2013 09:57 GMT
#47
On March 14 2013 18:50 ForumErik wrote:
This guide is so good it makes me cry ;_;

Couple of questions though!

In ZvZ when going for Mutas I often end up with a huge excess of larvae when my two bases are saturated. Should I take my third earlier? Mass Speedlings (if this, what do I do with them if he's defensive?)? Does it just mean my Lair is too late?

In any matchup (mostly ZvP) is there a max amount of Swarm Hosts where you don't want any more?

Might edit with more :>

Once again thanks for writing this!



In zvz once you saturate both bases you should be taking a third + massing speedling either to put pressure on him or to defend against his pressure.

If he's defensive try being aggressive yourself no reason not to as you don't have to commit if you don't think you can.

I would recommend about 12-14 swarmhosts at the most. I have found that to be the perfect number that you want as a zerg :D

On March 14 2013 18:52 TOP_Paper wrote:
Really appreciate this guide. Would have taken a lot of trial by loss to figure this out on my own. Hope you write more guides later as the meta changes and patches change things. Cheers and thanks again.


You do not have to worry about that, just like in wol I well keep making guides when there is a new meta or something .
When I think of something else, something will go here
Infenwe
Profile Joined September 2009
Denmark170 Posts
March 14 2013 10:24 GMT
#48
Content seems great.

To further improve it, here are some spelling/grammar/wording mistakes that could use fixing:
  • Detailed Explanation of the Build
    • "doing a 8 minute marine/marauder/hellbat timing": "a" should be "an"
    • "a bit later then normal as well.": "then" should be "than"
    • "Since Zerg's normally don’t know": "Zerg's" should be "Zergs"
    • "is safest bet": missing "the" or "your" after "is"
    • "just in-case": "-" should be " " (a space)

  • Dealing with the Early Game
    • "What the Zerg should do is once": "is" should be removed
    • "a couple SCV kills": missing "of" after "couple"
    • "three-four reapers": "three-four" should be "3-4" (for consistency with earlier text)
    • "worry about the drops anymore": "anymore" should be "any more"
    • "happening anymore": "anymore" should be "any more"
    • "they need to make to not over-drone": missing "sure" after "make"
    • "it is fine to just sack it": "sack" should be "sac" or "sacrifice" (you sack something when you raze e.g. an enemy fort to the ground)
    • "far very far ahead": first "far" should be removed

  • Mid Game Strategies
    • "dealing with the viking.": "viking" should be "vikings"
    • "to as few bases for as long as possible": "to as" should be "to a"
    • "Terrans are make vikings to counter vipers": "are" should be "will" or "are going to"

  • Late Game Transitions: Roach/Ling/Bane/Swarmhost into Ultra/Broodlord
    • "This is a much stronger defensive unit composition then aggressive": should be "This unit composition is much stronger used defensively than aggressively"
    • "a strong enough army to take his head on": "take his" should be "face it"
    • "show case": should be "showcase"


That does it for the versus Terran section. I might add more for the versus Zerg and versus Protoss sections later.
close the world - txen eht nepo
Ramiz1989
Profile Joined July 2012
12124 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-03-14 10:47:00
March 14 2013 10:43 GMT
#49
Great guide! Was hoping for something like this!

I find it a bit strange that you didn't mention Infestors in the mid game anywhere. Yes, they are a lot weaker, but I still think that they have their uses. I mean, as you said Roach/Ling/Baneling/Swarm Hosts are used defensively(usually), but with Infestors instead of Swarm Hosts, or even adding couple of Infestors, to that army with a little less Roaches/Banelings/Swarm Hosts as a trade off, you can be aggressive as well. And they can delay the pushes even better together with Swarm Hosts.

What do you think?

And yes, what do you think about Roach/Hydra vs. Terran? Many Korean pros are using that composition against the Terran players, and they actually have success, even though it isn't easy, and it has many weaknesses, and you really need to pick up good engagements with good flanking. Also, in one of your videos you said that you don't think that Roaches aren't good with Hydras, and that you will explain that later, but you have never really explained it(or I didn't hear about it).
"I've been to hell and back, and back to hell…and back. This time, I've brought Hell back with me."
Expir3d
Profile Joined November 2011
Spain17 Posts
March 14 2013 11:08 GMT
#50
Thank you so much for this guide.

I was also so close to do a race swap..
KawaiiRice
Profile Blog Joined May 2007
United States2914 Posts
March 14 2013 11:24 GMT
#51
On March 14 2013 19:43 Ramiz1989 wrote:
Great guide! Was hoping for something like this!

I find it a bit strange that you didn't mention Infestors in the mid game anywhere. Yes, they are a lot weaker, but I still think that they have their uses. I mean, as you said Roach/Ling/Baneling/Swarm Hosts are used defensively(usually), but with Infestors instead of Swarm Hosts, or even adding couple of Infestors, to that army with a little less Roaches/Banelings/Swarm Hosts as a trade off, you can be aggressive as well. And they can delay the pushes even better together with Swarm Hosts.

What do you think?

And yes, what do you think about Roach/Hydra vs. Terran? Many Korean pros are using that composition against the Terran players, and they actually have success, even though it isn't easy, and it has many weaknesses, and you really need to pick up good engagements with good flanking. Also, in one of your videos you said that you don't think that Roaches aren't good with Hydras, and that you will explain that later, but you have never really explained it(or I didn't hear about it).

Infestors midgame aren't very reliable compared to before. In midgame you tended to have very few infestors and relied on them to gather energy/get good fungals while teching fast (zvp/zvt). Now they have a high chance to miss, teching too fast isn't necessarily useful ZvT/bad ZvP so infestor midgame isn't that great.

Roach hydra makes engaging a lot easier ZvT since you don't have to flank compared to muta ling bane, mines aren't as big of a headache and roach hydra viper is super strong in straight up fights. However, roach hydra is much worse to defend multi drops and are awful against pure bio without spellcaster support (viper/infestor, although infestor isn't very good vs pure bio anyway). Tactics like engaging outside your base -> doom dropping into your main once out of vision or something makes roach hydra really bad later on so zergs should shy away from it really.
@KawaiiRiceLighT
Ramiz1989
Profile Joined July 2012
12124 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-03-14 12:10:58
March 14 2013 12:04 GMT
#52
On March 14 2013 20:24 KawaiiRice wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 14 2013 19:43 Ramiz1989 wrote:
Great guide! Was hoping for something like this!

I find it a bit strange that you didn't mention Infestors in the mid game anywhere. Yes, they are a lot weaker, but I still think that they have their uses. I mean, as you said Roach/Ling/Baneling/Swarm Hosts are used defensively(usually), but with Infestors instead of Swarm Hosts, or even adding couple of Infestors, to that army with a little less Roaches/Banelings/Swarm Hosts as a trade off, you can be aggressive as well. And they can delay the pushes even better together with Swarm Hosts.

What do you think?

And yes, what do you think about Roach/Hydra vs. Terran? Many Korean pros are using that composition against the Terran players, and they actually have success, even though it isn't easy, and it has many weaknesses, and you really need to pick up good engagements with good flanking. Also, in one of your videos you said that you don't think that Roaches aren't good with Hydras, and that you will explain that later, but you have never really explained it(or I didn't hear about it).

Infestors midgame aren't very reliable compared to before. In midgame you tended to have very few infestors and relied on them to gather energy/get good fungals while teching fast (zvp/zvt). Now they have a high chance to miss, teching too fast isn't necessarily useful ZvT/bad ZvP so infestor midgame isn't that great.

Roach hydra makes engaging a lot easier ZvT since you don't have to flank compared to muta ling bane, mines aren't as big of a headache and roach hydra viper is super strong in straight up fights. However, roach hydra is much worse to defend multi drops and are awful against pure bio without spellcaster support (viper/infestor, although infestor isn't very good vs pure bio anyway). Tactics like engaging outside your base -> doom dropping into your main once out of vision or something makes roach hydra really bad later on so zergs should shy away from it really.

Good answer, but that is strange, even before the HotS, people were saying that Roach Hydra composition work the best vs. pure Bio without Siege Tanks. As long as you don't mass Roaches(make like 15 of them since they only soak damage and have terrible dps), and mass Hydras, you can take on Bio army. That is what I've been told, and what I've seen from many HotS games so far, but when the Siege Tanks are out, half of your army evaporates even before you manage to attack.

You are right, but I think that there is something else, obviously, since Koreans wouldn't go Roach Hydra as much as they do if it was that bad.
"I've been to hell and back, and back to hell…and back. This time, I've brought Hell back with me."
Crownlol
Profile Blog Joined October 2011
United States3726 Posts
March 14 2013 13:59 GMT
#53
Really can't overstate how good Mutas are right now in ZvP midgame. Those things are ouchy and annoying- if nothing else, you can frustrate a Toss into a blinding rage and force him to do stupid things.
shaGuar :: elemeNt :: XeqtR :: naikon :: method
Ramiz1989
Profile Joined July 2012
12124 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-03-14 14:47:02
March 14 2013 14:44 GMT
#54
On March 14 2013 22:59 Crownlol wrote:
Really can't overstate how good Mutas are right now in ZvP midgame. Those things are ouchy and annoying- if nothing else, you can frustrate a Toss into a blinding rage and force him to do stupid things.

You are overreacting, lol. :D
The Phoenixes with 5(7) range are equally annoying for Zerg players. Dancing around, killing Queens, Overlords, Drones, other units etc, with no real way to stop them because they are even faster than Mutalisks.
"I've been to hell and back, and back to hell…and back. This time, I've brought Hell back with me."
dragoon
Profile Joined December 2010
United States695 Posts
March 14 2013 14:55 GMT
#55
really great guide as always, thanks!

however, theres one thing that i disagree with in the build sections. for most every timing you're basing it off of the ingame timer rather than the food count. while this is fine most of the time (and required sometimes, rw in zvp) i really would prefer you to use food counts so its easier to understand why you're doing what youre doing.

gas timings for example. why would you build 2 gas at x time? who know? you're doing it because its part of the build.
but if you took 2 gas at 36 suddenly you're just like "oh! i guess THATS the drone count where i can support 2 gas!"

not a big deal, but its just my 2 cents ^^
i love you
Ragnarork
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
France9034 Posts
March 14 2013 15:05 GMT
#56
Great guide ! Was considering to try other races for HotS, definitely something I'll keep close when playing !

One thing make me sad though...

Did our WoL Zerg guide get outdated too fast? Here, have another, this time in a HotS flavor.


Well, the Terran and Protoss WoL guide got outdated fast too... wait... QQ
LiquipediaWanderer
tili
Profile Joined July 2012
United States1332 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-03-14 15:43:14
March 14 2013 15:38 GMT
#57
This is a classy guide! Thanks blade + editing/graphics team.

How did it feel to make meta-game? :D

Edit*
Can further detail be added concerning dealing with widow mines? I'm really too nervous to go ling/bling vs. terran. It's way too risky that they will all die instantly.

The only good response I saw was life's micro against Mvp during the Blizz showmatch... but it seems unlikely I could pull that level of technical control off.
MilesTeg
Profile Joined September 2010
France1271 Posts
March 14 2013 16:27 GMT
#58
This guide helped me so much, especially in ZvT where I was so lost.

Roach/ling/baneling into swarm host is something I'd never tried, and...what can I say it's amazing. I haven't lost doing that, it seems good against everything.

Swarm hosts are imba, there I said it. Once people get more used to them they'll be a dominant unit in ZvP and ZvT.
blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
March 14 2013 18:04 GMT
#59
On March 14 2013 22:59 Crownlol wrote:
Really can't overstate how good Mutas are right now in ZvP midgame. Those things are ouchy and annoying- if nothing else, you can frustrate a Toss into a blinding rage and force him to do stupid things.


Yeah if protoss doesn't open stargate mutalisks are insanely good, sadly 99.9% of the time most protosses will open stargate (there is no reason not to it's a strong opener right now anyway) and going mutas is suicidal verse a stargate protoss.

On March 15 2013 00:38 tili wrote:
This is a classy guide! Thanks blade + editing/graphics team.

How did it feel to make meta-game? :D

Edit*
Can further detail be added concerning dealing with widow mines? I'm really too nervous to go ling/bling vs. terran. It's way too risky that they will all die instantly.

The only good response I saw was life's micro against Mvp during the Blizz showmatch... but it seems unlikely I could pull that level of technical control off.


Well I don't think going roach/hydra is a good response the best way is to send a pack of 5-6 lings or get swarmhosts to deal with widow mines. No easier way sadly xD

On March 15 2013 01:27 MilesTeg wrote:
This guide helped me so much, especially in ZvT where I was so lost.

Roach/ling/baneling into swarm host is something I'd never tried, and...what can I say it's amazing. I haven't lost doing that, it seems good against everything.

Swarm hosts are imba, there I said it. Once people get more used to them they'll be a dominant unit in ZvP and ZvT.


hehe their really strong, but I don't think imba. You do have to remember that swarmhosts were very rarely used in zvt bio so terrans will have to adjust like protosses to deal with them.
When I think of something else, something will go here
Fencar
Profile Blog Joined August 2011
United States2694 Posts
March 14 2013 18:13 GMT
#60
Are you going to add more stuff regarding widow mines? For example, you say to bring an overseer along with your mutalisk harassment to make sure not to die to widow mines, but you don't say anything else on the subject.
This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 22 23 24 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
BSL Team Wars
19:00
Playoff - 4th vs 3rd
Team Bonyth vs Team Sziky
ZZZero.O77
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
JuggernautJason132
Nathanias 32
Lillekanin 5
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 13739
ZZZero.O 77
sSak 27
NaDa 4
Dota 2
NeuroSwarm136
LuMiX1
Counter-Strike
fl0m1431
Stewie2K483
Heroes of the Storm
Liquid`Hasu531
Other Games
Grubby3899
FrodaN2398
ToD438
KnowMe175
Sick142
SortOf111
Organizations
Other Games
BasetradeTV41
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 20 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• musti20045 43
• StrangeGG 31
• RyuSc2 13
• Kozan
• Migwel
• sooper7s
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
StarCraft: Brood War
• Airneanach48
• HerbMon 18
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
• BSLYoutube
Dota 2
• masondota22647
League of Legends
• Doublelift4884
Other Games
• imaqtpie1160
• Scarra864
• Shiphtur196
Upcoming Events
Afreeca Starleague
12h 25m
Snow vs Sharp
Jaedong vs Mini
Wardi Open
13h 25m
OSC
1d 2h
Sparkling Tuna Cup
1d 12h
Afreeca Starleague
1d 12h
Light vs Speed
Larva vs Soma
PiGosaur Monday
2 days
LiuLi Cup
2 days
RSL Revival
3 days
Maru vs Reynor
Cure vs TriGGeR
The PondCast
3 days
RSL Revival
4 days
Zoun vs Classic
[ Show More ]
Korean StarCraft League
5 days
RSL Revival
5 days
[BSL 2025] Weekly
5 days
BSL Team Wars
5 days
RSL Revival
6 days
Online Event
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2025-09-10
SEL Season 2 Championship
HCC Europe

Ongoing

BSL 20 Team Wars
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 3
BSL 21 Points
ASL Season 20
CSL 2025 AUTUMN (S18)
LASL Season 20
RSL Revival: Season 2
Maestros of the Game
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

Upcoming

2025 Chongqing Offline CUP
BSL Polish World Championship 2025
IPSL Winter 2025-26
BSL Season 21
SC4ALL: Brood War
BSL 21 Team A
SC4ALL: StarCraft II
EC S1
SL Budapest Major 2025
BLAST Rivals Fall 2025
IEM Chengdu 2025
PGL Masters Bucharest 2025
Thunderpick World Champ.
MESA Nomadic Masters Fall
CS Asia Championships 2025
ESL Pro League S22
StarSeries Fall 2025
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.