EPT8 gate DT drop
![[image loading]](http://nsa34.casimages.com/img/2014/11/28/141128080908402335.jpg)
Summary :
........Introduction
........About Myself
........About the build
........Build Order
........Scooting
................Very early game
................Mid game to drop zealot
................Drop zealot
................DT drop, and later
........Execution
................Placement
................5 zealots aggression
................DT drop
........Transitions
........Variations
................Archon push
................Sentry drop
........Replays
........FAQ
Introduction :
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Today I am going to introduce a build in PvZ that I have created a few years ago, and which is not common in the metagame. It is really strong against any classic builds that zerg can do, and is relying heavily on micro / multitask.
The goal is to open with forge expand, and early zealot aggression (2 gates, no warpgate). Then you are going to drop DTs off 8 gates, to make harassment. You can follow up this opening with a lot of strategies.
The goal is to open with forge expand, and early zealot aggression (2 gates, no warpgate). Then you are going to drop DTs off 8 gates, to make harassment. You can follow up this opening with a lot of strategies.
About myself :
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I’m NeverDie, a protoss GM (7 times) playing for the team Legends esport. I’m French, so I apologize if I’m making any mistakes, my English is not that good.
I’ve been playing this game for 3-4 years. My style is really aggressive, and predictable, because I like to do the same build over and over again. Most people on GM ladder know what I’m doing but I don’t really care.
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/NeverDieSc2
Twitter : @NeverDieSC
Sc2 ranks : http://www.sc2ranks.com/character/eu/2159141/NeverDie/hots/1v1
My stream : (I stream, sometimes...) http://www.twitch.tv/willneverdie/
My team : https://www.facebook.com/legends.esport.eu
![[image loading]](http://nsa34.casimages.com/img/2014/11/28/141128063019440838.jpg)
(That's me)
I’ve been playing this game for 3-4 years. My style is really aggressive, and predictable, because I like to do the same build over and over again. Most people on GM ladder know what I’m doing but I don’t really care.
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/NeverDieSc2
Twitter : @NeverDieSC
Sc2 ranks : http://www.sc2ranks.com/character/eu/2159141/NeverDie/hots/1v1
My stream : (I stream, sometimes...) http://www.twitch.tv/willneverdie/
My team : https://www.facebook.com/legends.esport.eu
(That's me)
About the build :
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This build is really old. I’m spamming it on European ladder for 3 years or like now. I had made a video tutorial on this build, which was quite successful, but it was only for French speakers.
At first, I inspired myself of a guide I had seen on teamliquid :
http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft2/Noumena's_Dual_Warp_Prism_Harass_(vs._Zerg)
The build has changed a lot by the time, one day I added DTs, the other one I removed a warp prism, etc etc.
There’s no hard counter to this build, the only way to kill it is to make a really solid roach style.
I’m used to winning progamers oftenly thanks to this build.
I’ve worked hard on this build, so please, I’d like everyone to refer to it as NeverDie’s DT drop.
At first, I inspired myself of a guide I had seen on teamliquid :
http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft2/Noumena's_Dual_Warp_Prism_Harass_(vs._Zerg)
The build has changed a lot by the time, one day I added DTs, the other one I removed a warp prism, etc etc.
There’s no hard counter to this build, the only way to kill it is to make a really solid roach style.
I’m used to winning progamers oftenly thanks to this build.
I’ve worked hard on this build, so please, I’d like everyone to refer to it as NeverDie’s DT drop.
Build order :
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The opening is FFE with two gateways. You are going to take gazes before gateways to have as many gaz as possible.
If you’re trying to learn this build, you should look at my replays to see where and when to spend minerals. Everything fits very well.
-9 pylon (at 8/10 rally your probe on your natural)
-13 forge
-16 pylone
-19-20 nexus (depending on scoot timing)
-20-21 photon cannon
-22-23 gaz
-23 gate
-24-25 pylon
-26 gate
As you have mineral : +1 attack upgrade
-zealot
-cyber (between 5:10 and 5:30 depending on your scoot timing)
-double zealot
-42/44 : pylon
-double zealot (chronoboost both)
-@100% core : twilight council => double gaz => pylon => robo
You must leave your base by 7:00 with 5 zealots. They don’t have +1 attack yet, so please don’t push your opponent too early.
-Dark shrine
-@100% +1 attack : +2 attack (facultative, you are going to warp 7 DTs instead of 8, but I like it)
-6 gates
-@100% robo : warpprism
You can be in the base of your opponent at 9:00 if you have good timings.
Scooting :
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Very early game : (0-5 minutes)
First of all, you need to choose when you are going to scoot.
If you are afraid of any early pool, you can scoot after your first pylon. Check pool timing (in classic pool hatch, pools goes down at ~2:00 and hatchery ~2:30, hatch first goes down ~2:05) and try to block the hatchery. You can put a pylon on his second base at ~2:50 (later it will be useless, because you will need to cancel this pylon to make your nexus anyway..)
As you scooted early, you will make your nexus at 20 supply. If your opponent has made his pool before 2:00 and you’re afraid of lings run-bys, you can make your photon at 20 supply.
You can also scoot after your forge, which allows (on 2 spots maps) to photon rush against hatch first, and to block the pool hatch with your probe.
Usually, on ladder, I’m used to greed the scoot and to play in the dark, assuming he will go classic expand into macro. (I win 20 seconds or like on my cyber core)
Early game (5 minutes – Zealot push)
If you are afraid of being cheesed (baneling bust, roach bust, etc), you need to scoot if he takes a 3rd base, and if he’s making drones on his 2nd base. You can do that by hiding your scoot probe on the map, or scooting with a probe as your first zealot comes out.
If your opponent scooted you with a drone and you’re not sure that he has left your base, try scooting it. You don’t wanna lose stupidly on an inbase hatch.
You can adapt to early aggressions really easily thanks to your 2 gateways. (stalkers, sentries)
Zealot push :
Look for :
-Roaches : The most classic thing you can see. Don’t commit too much on your 8 DT drop attack.
-Speelings : Oftenly, people who are going speedling are relying heavily on them to rush an early tech (fast muta, fast hydra, etc.). If you are pushing with your warpprism and seeing mass speedling, enjoy your freewin. Mass DTs kill as many speedlings as you want.
You can also try to make the archon push transition. If you’re making the drop and seeing roaches anyway, continue the build normally.
-Queens : I’m not used to it. Be careful not losing your warp prism. Queens don’t deal with DTs very well.
-Slowlings : He has probably delayed his roach tech. Try to make as much damage as possible, it is the weakest counter to your aggression.
Mid game (After your drop)
Okay. Let’s assume that you have dropped, that he is still alive, and he’s playing a solid roach into tech style.
You want to know which tech your opponent is going to choose. Try to scoot the base of your opponent with your warpprism, he can only deny it with queens and spores. Some maps are great for that thanks to the wide space between the end of the map and zerg’s base. (Catallena ? King Sejong ?)
If you’re doing a transition with a lot of sentries, you can send hallucinations. Avoid observers, as he already have detection.
First of all, you need to choose when you are going to scoot.
If you are afraid of any early pool, you can scoot after your first pylon. Check pool timing (in classic pool hatch, pools goes down at ~2:00 and hatchery ~2:30, hatch first goes down ~2:05) and try to block the hatchery. You can put a pylon on his second base at ~2:50 (later it will be useless, because you will need to cancel this pylon to make your nexus anyway..)
As you scooted early, you will make your nexus at 20 supply. If your opponent has made his pool before 2:00 and you’re afraid of lings run-bys, you can make your photon at 20 supply.
You can also scoot after your forge, which allows (on 2 spots maps) to photon rush against hatch first, and to block the pool hatch with your probe.
Usually, on ladder, I’m used to greed the scoot and to play in the dark, assuming he will go classic expand into macro. (I win 20 seconds or like on my cyber core)
Early game (5 minutes – Zealot push)
If you are afraid of being cheesed (baneling bust, roach bust, etc), you need to scoot if he takes a 3rd base, and if he’s making drones on his 2nd base. You can do that by hiding your scoot probe on the map, or scooting with a probe as your first zealot comes out.
If your opponent scooted you with a drone and you’re not sure that he has left your base, try scooting it. You don’t wanna lose stupidly on an inbase hatch.
You can adapt to early aggressions really easily thanks to your 2 gateways. (stalkers, sentries)
Zealot push :
Look for :
-Roaches : The most classic thing you can see. Don’t commit too much on your 8 DT drop attack.
-Speelings : Oftenly, people who are going speedling are relying heavily on them to rush an early tech (fast muta, fast hydra, etc.). If you are pushing with your warpprism and seeing mass speedling, enjoy your freewin. Mass DTs kill as many speedlings as you want.
You can also try to make the archon push transition. If you’re making the drop and seeing roaches anyway, continue the build normally.
-Queens : I’m not used to it. Be careful not losing your warp prism. Queens don’t deal with DTs very well.
-Slowlings : He has probably delayed his roach tech. Try to make as much damage as possible, it is the weakest counter to your aggression.
Mid game (After your drop)
Okay. Let’s assume that you have dropped, that he is still alive, and he’s playing a solid roach into tech style.
You want to know which tech your opponent is going to choose. Try to scoot the base of your opponent with your warpprism, he can only deny it with queens and spores. Some maps are great for that thanks to the wide space between the end of the map and zerg’s base. (Catallena ? King Sejong ?)
If you’re doing a transition with a lot of sentries, you can send hallucinations. Avoid observers, as he already have detection.
Execution :
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Placement :
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The 5 zealots aggression :
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://nsa33.casimages.com/img/2014/11/28/141128061904608747.jpg)
Sup bitches ?
You are going to push at 7:30-8:00 with 5 zealots. Your goal is to make as much damages as possible, and to scoot his opening. In low leagues, you can even get the third base down.
Tips :
-While you’re going to the zerg’s base, make a move command. Some zergs seeing that you’re following a zergling are just going to make you run in circle with your zealots.
-If you’re attacking an hatchery, make the attack command so your zealots are touching it, and make an hold position. Zergs are used to attack with drones and lings, and then retreat, playing with your focus fire to make you lose time. Don’t fall in this trap.
-If you are seeing roaches : RUN !!!!
- If you are able to snipe a roach warren, just do it. If he has low roach count to deal with your drop, you are going to be like really happy.
The drop :
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://nsa33.casimages.com/img/2014/11/28/141128061920396467.jpg)
Try to drop at 9:00. You are going to look for every weakness in the build of your opponent.
You have a lot of ways to drop. You can send a DT in 2nd and 3rd base while the prism is on the way, and make 6 DTs in the main base. You can drop 8 DTs directly in his base. You can drop 8 DTs on the way, and send them to his third base while fainting dropping the first base. Consider making a 2nd warpprism, for better harassment.
If you’re dropping the main base :
-Tier 2 is not finished : If any, try to snipe spores. Then, snipe the lair ! If he loses it, you have won the game (delayed tech, no roach speed, less units, etc).
-Tier 2 is finished, but no detection : Same as above.
-Mass lings, no roaches on the map : Make as many DTs as possible, and kill his army. Once you have killed speedlings, you are going to warp full stalkers to kill eventual tech units. Consider morphing DTs into archons.
-Roaches, detection : You can’t make a lot of damages, but you are not forced to warp. If you don’t warp, your follow-up is going to be stronger. Consider warping mass sentries in your second base to earn energy.
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You are going to make your first pylon on your natural, and your second pylon in your main base.
You are going to wall with a forge, two gateway and a pylon (the third one).
Then, you are going to place your DT tech buildings (and the 6 gateways you are going to add) in your first base, and robo in your second base. Your bases should look like this :
![[image loading]](http://nsa33.casimages.com/img/2014/11/28/1411280619133376.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://nsa34.casimages.com/img/2014/11/28/141128061918198411.jpg)
You are going to wall with a forge, two gateway and a pylon (the third one).
Then, you are going to place your DT tech buildings (and the 6 gateways you are going to add) in your first base, and robo in your second base. Your bases should look like this :
The 5 zealots aggression :
+ Show Spoiler +
Sup bitches ?
You are going to push at 7:30-8:00 with 5 zealots. Your goal is to make as much damages as possible, and to scoot his opening. In low leagues, you can even get the third base down.
Tips :
-While you’re going to the zerg’s base, make a move command. Some zergs seeing that you’re following a zergling are just going to make you run in circle with your zealots.
-If you’re attacking an hatchery, make the attack command so your zealots are touching it, and make an hold position. Zergs are used to attack with drones and lings, and then retreat, playing with your focus fire to make you lose time. Don’t fall in this trap.
-If you are seeing roaches : RUN !!!!
- If you are able to snipe a roach warren, just do it. If he has low roach count to deal with your drop, you are going to be like really happy.
The drop :
+ Show Spoiler +
Try to drop at 9:00. You are going to look for every weakness in the build of your opponent.
You have a lot of ways to drop. You can send a DT in 2nd and 3rd base while the prism is on the way, and make 6 DTs in the main base. You can drop 8 DTs directly in his base. You can drop 8 DTs on the way, and send them to his third base while fainting dropping the first base. Consider making a 2nd warpprism, for better harassment.
If you’re dropping the main base :
-Tier 2 is not finished : If any, try to snipe spores. Then, snipe the lair ! If he loses it, you have won the game (delayed tech, no roach speed, less units, etc).
-Tier 2 is finished, but no detection : Same as above.
-Mass lings, no roaches on the map : Make as many DTs as possible, and kill his army. Once you have killed speedlings, you are going to warp full stalkers to kill eventual tech units. Consider morphing DTs into archons.
-Roaches, detection : You can’t make a lot of damages, but you are not forced to warp. If you don’t warp, your follow-up is going to be stronger. Consider warping mass sentries in your second base to earn energy.
Follow ups :
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Once you have dropped, you can do what you want, this build allows you to do a lot of things, thanks to your twilight, robo tech, and mass gateways.
Try to harass as much as possible with your warpprism, killing creep tumors (if you have made an observer), gazes, tech buildings…
Here is my favourite follow up : (no joke)
3 robos, mass immortal push :
![[image loading]](http://nsa33.casimages.com/img/2014/11/28/141128061925762423.jpg)
Make the +3 attack upgrade, add 2 robos, and make a lot of immortals. Like… 12 ? 16 ? (Don’t forget having an obs in case of burrow)
Really, I can guarantee you, if your opponent has full ground unit and you have bio + mass immortal, you are going to crush him. Immortal deals with roaches, but also with lings or hydras.
But, if he manages to obtain mutas, or swarmhost, you are probably going to die. Just scoot his base with your warpprism, and if you are seeing any of these tech buildings, attack ASAP.
You can add robo bay against swarmhosts, and make blink against mutas.
Try to make 1-2 sentries to have guardian shield, and go for the kill
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://nsa34.casimages.com/img/2014/11/28/141128061925323437.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://nsa33.casimages.com/img/2014/11/28/14112806191395709.jpg)
Think about :
-Mass stalker blink all in
-Two robo colossi
-Third base, blink, colossi
-Two robo, mass sentries
Try to harass as much as possible with your warpprism, killing creep tumors (if you have made an observer), gazes, tech buildings…
Here is my favourite follow up : (no joke)
3 robos, mass immortal push :
Make the +3 attack upgrade, add 2 robos, and make a lot of immortals. Like… 12 ? 16 ? (Don’t forget having an obs in case of burrow)
Really, I can guarantee you, if your opponent has full ground unit and you have bio + mass immortal, you are going to crush him. Immortal deals with roaches, but also with lings or hydras.
But, if he manages to obtain mutas, or swarmhost, you are probably going to die. Just scoot his base with your warpprism, and if you are seeing any of these tech buildings, attack ASAP.
You can add robo bay against swarmhosts, and make blink against mutas.
Try to make 1-2 sentries to have guardian shield, and go for the kill
+ Show Spoiler +
Think about :
-Mass stalker blink all in
-Two robo colossi
-Third base, blink, colossi
-Two robo, mass sentries
Variations :
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-Drop sentry
This is a REALLY powerful variation (I truly believe that it can work at really high level if unexpected). Just make 4 sentries off your 2 gateways when you have finished your 5 zealots. Send a first warp prism to the zerg third, warp 4 DTs => 2 archons + 4 zealots.
Load the sentries in another warp prism, and send it to the zerg first base.
Push with archons / zealot on his third. He is going to have all his army there, load the 2 archons in the prism, drop the sentries on the ramp of his first base, send the archons in the first base, warp units.
Consider making a MSC to recall your army once you have destroyed everything.
-Archon push
You can rush +2 attack, and make blink ASAP. Then, instead of dropping DTs, you are making 4 archons near his third, adding 8 stalkers, and pushing with blink and +2. If he has not made enough units, you are going to crush him.
This is totally all in. If you don’t kill him, you are really behind.
This is a REALLY powerful variation (I truly believe that it can work at really high level if unexpected). Just make 4 sentries off your 2 gateways when you have finished your 5 zealots. Send a first warp prism to the zerg third, warp 4 DTs => 2 archons + 4 zealots.
Load the sentries in another warp prism, and send it to the zerg first base.
Push with archons / zealot on his third. He is going to have all his army there, load the 2 archons in the prism, drop the sentries on the ramp of his first base, send the archons in the first base, warp units.
Consider making a MSC to recall your army once you have destroyed everything.
-Archon push
You can rush +2 attack, and make blink ASAP. Then, instead of dropping DTs, you are making 4 archons near his third, adding 8 stalkers, and pushing with blink and +2. If he has not made enough units, you are going to crush him.
This is totally all in. If you don’t kill him, you are really behind.
Replays :
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NeverDie vs sYz : http://drop.sc/389554
(Sorry for the chat ingame)
This is a freewin because he’s playing mass speedling without doing roaches.
Vs Bioice : http://drop.sc/389555
This build against fast hydra without roaches
Vs Kitoo : http://drop.sc/389556
He’s opening with an early pool, and luckily I’m scooting at 9. I counter and I go DT drop directly. Then I’m scooting infestation pit, so I’m going 3 robo colossi (on 2 bases, yeah). The game ends in mass bio + colo against roach hydra infestors.
Vs lllllllll : http://drop.sc/389552
This game is hilarious. I’m doing no damages with zealots and drop, struggling to harass him with DTs and warpprism, and winning a fight with 130 supply against 200. He had a bad position
Vs stinky : http://drop.sc/389553
He’s opening hatch first, and I’m not scooting it. I’m doing a lot of damages with my zealot pressures, killing tier 2 with my DT drop, sniping 2nd base with immortal drop. This games ends in 3 robo immortal vs roach hydra
Vs Ret : http://drop.sc/389557
Ret went fast hydra without roaches, and he has won because my position was bad.
Vs llllllllllll (aka Revolver) : http://drop.sc/389558
Fast roach hydra off 2 bases. The build was nicely done on this game, if you’re trying to learn the build order
FAQ :
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How do you avoid scooting ?
I don't :D I've played 16000 games on the ladders, and I'm doing only this build in PvZ. Zergs know that I'm doing it.
Why are you the only one using this build ?
People are used to copy what they are seeing in top level games ! And I'm not alone, there's another GM who has copied my build ! :D (Cripseil)
Why do you open with gases before gates ?
To make DTs, you need a lot of gaz, making your gazes before your gates, you can have 1000/1000 by the time you're dropping
Why don't you play with other builds ?
This build is really "opened", there's a lot of variations. And I'm not used to other openers in PvZ.
Why don't you nexus first ?
Feel free to try, but I'm not comfortable with it. Photon cannon is late, zerg can make runbys, you have your gazes earlier so the mineral/gaz balance is different... I know that everything fits very well at the moment
My english is not perfect, so please tell me my mistakes
, I think almost every zerg I know hates you because of this build ^^
