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[G] Zerg versus Zerg Overview

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
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blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-12-28 20:00:02
December 06 2015 23:56 GMT
#1
Hi everybody, here is my second guide for Legacy of the Void! This one will feature an overview of ZvZ and will go over a build order I do and how to react to certain situations. For the most part the build order is the same regardless of what the opponent is doing. This will feature replays of holding 13/12, 14/14 and various other all ins while going Hatch first. I will showcase the build versus another hatch first and a build versus early pools. If you want to know how to do early pools, the replays below will have plenty of them!

Build Order versus Hatch First
  • 13 – Overlord
  • 14 – Drone scout
  • 18 – Hatch First
  • 18 – Gas
  • 18 – Spawning pool
  • 20 – 2nd overlord
  • Spawning pool finishes – Metabolic Boosts + queens
  • 50 gas – Baneling nest
  • 36 – 3rd hatchery
  • 4:10 – Lair
  • Lair finishes – Spire
  • 10-12 Mutalisks – Hydralisk Den (Roach warren if you prefer)
  • Hydra den finishes – Morph into Lurker den
  • Lurker den finishes – Make Lurkers
  • Get Hydra upgrade and go hydra/ling/lurker



Build Order versus early pool
  • 13 – Overlord
  • 14 – Drone scout
  • 17 – Hatch First
  • 17 – Pool
  • 17 – Gas
  • 18 – overlord, Save larva
  • Pool finishes – Spine crawler + queen + lings
  • 100 minerals – baneling nest
  • 36 – Lair
  • Lair finishes – Spire
  • 300 minerals – Take 3rd
  • 10-12 Mutalisks – Hydra Den (roach warren if you prefer)
  • Hydra den finishes – Morph into Lurker den
  • Lurker den finishes – Make Lurkers
  • Get Hydra upgrade and go hydra/ling/lurker




Further Elaboration on the build
The drone scout is based on how you will react once your pool finishes. If your drone scouts a hatchery first, you should make 4 lings, sending 2 to your opponents base. All other larva should be used towards drones (unless opponent is sending over a lot of slow lings). If your drone scouts an early pool you will be making a spine crawler asap in your main mineral line and pump out lings from both hatcheries.
Now the third base timing can change depending on how the game is going. If the opposing Zerg is doing mass ling off of 2 base, you will delay the third base and opt for a faster Lair timing and do a 2 base mutalisk build. Your lair in this case should start around 3:30 or 36 supply around there. Of course you will be making lings to defend with banelings. You would take a 3rd in this case once you feel you can take it.
Now onto the Mutalisks themselves. As long as your opponent is going Muta’s as well, you will just use them for map control. They will be used for map control and to deny map control from your opponent. Make sure to take out any overlords/overseers near your base while killing scouting lings. It’s better if the other Zerg isn’t aware of Lurkers coming out as you can use this to your advantage (hold position lurkers). From here on you will be going hydra/ling/lurker or if you choose roach/ravager/lurker.


Defending Early Pool
When going Hatch first versus any early pool, you will want to use all larva on Lings, 1 queen, 1 Spine and a baneling nest. Make sure to have your first overlord near the natural area so you can see when he takes his hatchery.
Now you can keep the hatchery alive, assuming he isn’t doing the baneling all in version. At first you will want to try and defend the natural (make sure you have the ling numbers first or some drone support). If you see that the opposing Zerg isn’t making a natural base or you see banelings being morphed, sacrifice the natural.
Once you see the ling/bane coming into the base, spread your workers and lings out as best you can. Have the spine + queen focus fire on the banelings. Once the banelings are gone, take out the opponent lings with your queen + lings (and banelings if you still have them). Retake natural once you can and proceed with mutalisks.

Defending Roach/Queen Nydus
With the new Nydus buff this is a very popular build, especially if the opponent suspects Mutalisks. This is actually not very hard to prevent until you can get lurkers (or roach/ravager if that’s your preference). Make sure to have good overlord spread, in any areas where you don’t have vision, send a ling if you can’t get an overlord in time.
If a Nydus is going up in your base or near it, send your ling/bane over there. As soon as it pops, detonate 3 banelings and the Nydus will die before any units can come out. Make sure to be very aware of another Nydus somewhere close. Once you have Lurkers out, feel free to let his nydus finish while putting out hold position lurkers until his army goes right on top of them.


Roach/ling/bane Push
This can be a game ending push regardless if Mutalisks get out if not properly scouted. You should always be sending zerglings to the opponent’s base to check his unit count. If you see a lot of roaches with lings, making spines immediately. Once the push gets there try to use your own banelings to take out his banelings. Try to engage with your lings at the very last second as they are crucial to stopping the roaches from walking straight up to your main and destroying your economy while Muta are on the way. If defended properly you should be able to take your third (assuming he kills it) and be ahead.


Defending Ling/bane aggression
This one is very common in Legacy of the Void. The best way to defend is to always have at least 2 banelings at your natural and 1 spine crawler. Always sending speedlings across the map is very important because the sooner you scout a ton of lings, the sooner you can adjust by making more banelings while teching. This really comes down to micro and map awareness, if your speedlings don’t see anything the overlord in the middle of the map should. If the Zerg is being that aggressive and doesn’t seem to be teching, feel free to throw down an extra Spine. Eventually you will get Mutalisks and have the game in the bag.

Opponent scouts Lurker Den morphing
I added this piece as this is very important if your opponent scouts this. From my ladder experience, a common response is to bank minerals/gas and go mutalisks themselves. You do not want to be caught off guard and all of a sudden 30 mutalisks are coming out. With your mutalisks, scout every inch of his base. Look for any spire, watch his unit composition (is he making hydra’s or are you only seeing drones/lings and queens being made?). This can giveaway what your opponent is doing.
If you scout a spire, do not make lurkers and focus back on Mutalisks or switch into Hydralisk/lurker. This is dependent on how you want to proceed, I personally would go into mutalisk play and make sure I have an upgrade going. Make sure to keep scouting in case the other Zerg cancels the spire.


The Mid-Game
All right, assuming there has been no game ending damage, you have hydra/ling/lurker and the opposing Zerg doesn’t seem to be aggressive. Once the Hydralisk upgrade is done, start moving out slowly with hydra/ling/lurker. Send a ling forward to see his army composition, make sure to have an overseer in front of your army so you don’t lose to potential hold position lurkers.
Once the fighting beings, try to engage with Lurker support, if the Zerg keeps backing off, leap frog a few lurkers at a time. So let’s say you have 8 Lurkers, grab 4, unburrow, move forward, burrow and repeat until you are sieging a base or the engagement starts. If your opponent has Lurkers then everything is going to be very positional based. Since you will have Hydra and left over Mutalisks, snipe his overseer if possible. Make sure to keep your overseer forward so you can see where the opponent’s lurkers are.
I would recommend keeping 1 Lurker at a base so that a Ling run by can’t really do damage or a small roach counter. This isn’t a must, but I highly recommend it. On this, use your own lings to do counter attacks or deny bases from your opponent when attacking.


Replays
All right here are a bunch of zvz replays facing various styles. From facing early pools to roach/queen/nydus to roach/ravager/lurker vs hydra/lurker, etc. If you want to see how to properly do an early pool these replays will have them.

ZvZ Replays

ZvZ Holding Early Pools

Thanks for Switch for looking over this.

If you want to see how I come up with my builds or test feel free to check out my stream twitch.tv/blade55555

I don't know when I will work on the ZvP guide as I am still messing with builds in that match up. Thanks for reading and if you have any questions let me know!
When I think of something else, something will go here
Fliparoni
Profile Joined February 2012
205 Posts
December 07 2015 05:44 GMT
#2
Awesome. I'm just getting back into the game after a long hiatus so these guides of your are perfect
theunabletable
Profile Joined October 2014
54 Posts
December 07 2015 07:34 GMT
#3
Ahh thank you for this. This matchup so far feels totally random, and even though my winrate is okay, this is exactly what I was looking for: A structure that seems to be safe against very early pools.

What do you do for scouting on 4 player maps? Cross your fingers, or do you have a plan if your drone scout is late?
blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
December 07 2015 07:40 GMT
#4
On December 07 2015 16:34 theunabletable wrote:
Ahh thank you for this. This matchup so far feels totally random, and even though my winrate is okay, this is exactly what I was looking for: A structure that seems to be safe against very early pools.

What do you do for scouting on 4 player maps? Cross your fingers, or do you have a plan if your drone scout is late?


So worst case scenario you already place down your spawning pool, but that won't change anything. You will see the lack of expansion and know it's an early pool. So you will do the same plan, except getting Baneling nest first before speed. You'll still have the same saved larva, although your spawning pool may be at 18 instead of 17 which you can still hold with good control.
When I think of something else, something will go here
Magus.421
Profile Joined November 2011
France159 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-12-07 12:13:39
December 07 2015 12:10 GMT
#5
How do you play lurker against ravager ? Anytime i try to use lurker in ZvZ i jsut can't place them because ravager can just snipe them. And when i play ravager against lurker i feel the same. I just snipe lurker and a+clic when all lurkers are dead. I prefer go T3 and add some viper + infestors.

Is there any tip to know when you play lurker/hydralisk against ravager ?
No whine, just play.
Crushgroove
Profile Joined July 2010
United States793 Posts
December 07 2015 14:30 GMT
#6
Blade, extremely grateful for the time and work you put into sharing your lessons learned with the community. I'm sure this will assist me in future games
[In Korea on Vaca] "Why would I go to the park and climb a mountain? There are video games on f*cking TV!" - Kazuke
blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
December 07 2015 15:24 GMT
#7
On December 07 2015 21:10 Magus.421 wrote:
How do you play lurker against ravager ? Anytime i try to use lurker in ZvZ i jsut can't place them because ravager can just snipe them. And when i play ravager against lurker i feel the same. I just snipe lurker and a+clic when all lurkers are dead. I prefer go T3 and add some viper + infestors.

Is there any tip to know when you play lurker/hydralisk against ravager ?


I believe one of the replays has a hydra/lurker vs roach/ravager, but you need to spread lurkers in this case just enough so that ravager bile shots won't 1 shot multiple lurkers at a time.
When I think of something else, something will go here
AmishRabbi
Profile Joined August 2010
United States11 Posts
December 07 2015 16:35 GMT
#8
If you are facing mass muta, at what point do you consider getting a viper or two? Or would you rather just get hydras?
blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
December 07 2015 18:12 GMT
#9
Hm that is a good question, but you would definitely want to switch to Viper not Hydra. I haven't been in a zvz yet to hive tech in legacy, so I am unsure, but Viper sounds the best since it has a nice parasitic bomb
When I think of something else, something will go here
eSuBuildings
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United States71 Posts
December 09 2015 17:21 GMT
#10
You have a very well written guide here. Kudos.

My only problem here is that I feel "build orders" are too ineffective when it comes to teaching lower league players about ZvZ. You have highlights explaining specific and very common scenarios in ZvZ such as ling bane aggression or early pools, but the way your guide works is that you're teaching players "this build works do it every time" with very little variation. ZvZ is such a mechanical match up that is also very fluid.

For example you have listed under your build order versus early pool that you get lair at 36 supply but in your build order versus hatch first you have it listed to get lair at 4:10 supply. What is the difference? If a player loses x amount of drones, should he just continue the build and go lair at 36 - x supply? What if the ling bane aggression persists as your spire is building and you need to morph in a lot of banelings to defend? Does a player need to wait until he still has 10 - 12 mutas or does he cut mutas down to 6 - 8 because of the gas loss he had earlier?

ZvZ is a very tricky match up to teach and I personally build orders aren't the proper thing to be teaching. In my opinion, a Zerg build order should never go past (im gonna use hatch first as an example):

17 Hatch
18 Gas
17 Pool
@100 Pool 2 - 6 lings, 2 queens, ling speed
@50 Gas baneling nest

And even then, your opponent might be doing something to throw even that off balance. I think ZvZ has too many variables to teach it this way. What do you think?
"In nature, for organisms, winning means life and losing is death. Although the example’s a bit extreme, humans too possess some of those instincts. People who’ve learned the fear of defeat, thirst for victory."
IcemanAsi
Profile Joined March 2011
Israel681 Posts
December 09 2015 17:59 GMT
#11
Thanks for the guide!
Do you not recommend going for 17 pool on smaller maps?
I found 17hatch into 17pool as a tough ( possible, but tough ) hold against 13/12.
blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
December 09 2015 18:17 GMT
#12
On December 10 2015 02:21 eSuBuildings wrote:
You have a very well written guide here. Kudos.

My only problem here is that I feel "build orders" are too ineffective when it comes to teaching lower league players about ZvZ. You have highlights explaining specific and very common scenarios in ZvZ such as ling bane aggression or early pools, but the way your guide works is that you're teaching players "this build works do it every time" with very little variation. ZvZ is such a mechanical match up that is also very fluid.

For example you have listed under your build order versus early pool that you get lair at 36 supply but in your build order versus hatch first you have it listed to get lair at 4:10 supply. What is the difference? If a player loses x amount of drones, should he just continue the build and go lair at 36 - x supply? What if the ling bane aggression persists as your spire is building and you need to morph in a lot of banelings to defend? Does a player need to wait until he still has 10 - 12 mutas or does he cut mutas down to 6 - 8 because of the gas loss he had earlier?

ZvZ is a very tricky match up to teach and I personally build orders aren't the proper thing to be teaching. In my opinion, a Zerg build order should never go past (im gonna use hatch first as an example):

17 Hatch
18 Gas
17 Pool
@100 Pool 2 - 6 lings, 2 queens, ling speed
@50 Gas baneling nest

And even then, your opponent might be doing something to throw even that off balance. I think ZvZ has too many variables to teach it this way. What do you think?


Hm I definitely disagree with you. That kind of logic would apply to all match ups then (hellion runby's for example, adepts). If the game is hectic you need to adjust as needed, but if you are defending ling/bane without taking economic damage then you proceed as normal.

You should always have a game plan and if x happens how will you adjust? You should delay timings or maybe do a faster timing depending on what's going on. In essence I disagree with you on the build order not being good for zvz. I use both build orders to the tee and if I take damage than I adjust as needed.

Also the difference in build order timings is because versus an early pool you won't be droning as much (especially when pool finishes) because of his early pool. When he hatch firsts on the other hand then you can drone and all that. That is why the timings are different.

On December 10 2015 02:59 IcemanAsi wrote:
Thanks for the guide!
Do you not recommend going for 17 pool on smaller maps?
I found 17hatch into 17pool as a tough ( possible, but tough ) hold against 13/12.


Only map I would recommend that maybe is Ulrina. I vetoed that map on day 1 and I imagine 13/12 is insanely hard to hold on that map.


When I think of something else, something will go here
J4CkTwist
Profile Joined September 2011
Germany7 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-12-09 23:47:02
December 09 2015 23:45 GMT
#13
Hey blade,
I just wanted to thank you soo much for this Guide!
I have been struggling since beta with ZvZ and it's nice to have a general guideline.

It's still tough to hold some early pools but I'm working on it. My ZvZ went up from 33% to 43% just from reading this :-D (my other MUs are 60% so this was really holding me back).

Could you please add some more replays of early pools, especially when the opponent is trying to transition. I always end up behind :-/

Greetz J4CK
\ EU Mid Dia Zerg /
PSosa
Profile Joined February 2013
Peru23 Posts
December 09 2015 23:58 GMT
#14
Blade is back!, question about gases, how you take gases in LotV? in HotS was like 2nd gas after lair, and 3rd and 4th after spire, same here?, the other day i was doing a 1-1 roach timing with 5 gases but i ended with like 2k min, i guess i need 6 gases now; i still feel lost in LotV
blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
December 10 2015 00:01 GMT
#15
On December 10 2015 08:45 J4CkTwist wrote:
Hey blade,
I just wanted to thank you soo much for this Guide!
I have been struggling since beta with ZvZ and it's nice to have a general guideline.

It's still tough to hold some early pools but I'm working on it. My ZvZ went up from 33% to 43% just from reading this :-D (my other MUs are 60% so this was really holding me back).

Could you please add some more replays of early pools, especially when the opponent is trying to transition. I always end up behind :-/

Greetz J4CK


Sure! You ask for such easy things to find phew (90% of my zvz's are them early pooling). I'll upload some more when I get home.

On December 10 2015 08:58 PSosa wrote:
Blade is back!, question about gases, how you take gases in LotV? in HotS was like 2nd gas after lair, and 3rd and 4th after spire, same here?, the other day i was doing a 1-1 roach timing with 5 gases but i ended with like 2k min, i guess i need 6 gases now; i still feel lost in LotV


Hm so once I start lair I get 2nd + 3rd gas, once lair is about halfway I get 4th gas. Now this is when I go mutalisks, if I were going roaches I would probably stay on 3-4 gas until I had my 3rd base was saturated before getting 5th and 6th gases.
When I think of something else, something will go here
blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
December 10 2015 06:46 GMT
#16
Slight bump, here are some more replays all showing how I hold them early pools .

http://www.mediafire.com/download/cc37vdlvth82idk/zvz_early_pool.rar
When I think of something else, something will go here
Tachion
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Canada8573 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-12-12 01:31:06
December 12 2015 01:30 GMT
#17
What is the game plan once you spot that your opponent is opening mutas as well? Is it just a muta war until the game ends? Do you ever try to tech to Hive for vipers?
i was driving down the road this november eve and spotted a hitchhiker walking down the street. i pulled over and saw that it was only a tree. i uprooted it and put it in my trunk. do trees like marshmallow peeps? cause that's all i have and will have.
blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
December 12 2015 02:15 GMT
#18
On December 12 2015 10:30 Tachion wrote:
What is the game plan once you spot that your opponent is opening mutas as well? Is it just a muta war until the game ends? Do you ever try to tech to Hive for vipers?


I haven't had enough long muta wars to know. Every zvz I have played, the person that went hive lost the game before Vipers due to falling behind mutalisks while teching.
When I think of something else, something will go here
Tachion
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Canada8573 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-12-12 03:10:11
December 12 2015 03:09 GMT
#19
On December 12 2015 11:15 blade55555 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 12 2015 10:30 Tachion wrote:
What is the game plan once you spot that your opponent is opening mutas as well? Is it just a muta war until the game ends? Do you ever try to tech to Hive for vipers?


I haven't had enough long muta wars to know. Every zvz I have played, the person that went hive lost the game before Vipers due to falling behind mutalisks while teching.

Do you have any general tips or anything for how to play out a muta vs muta ZvZ? That seems to be the majority of my games now and I seem to suck at it :D What do you prefer in regards to static defense and upgrades in that situation?
i was driving down the road this november eve and spotted a hitchhiker walking down the street. i pulled over and saw that it was only a tree. i uprooted it and put it in my trunk. do trees like marshmallow peeps? cause that's all i have and will have.
blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
December 12 2015 07:55 GMT
#20
Hm just go +1 carapace then +1 attack, try to do ling runby's and expand while denying his. If you think he's trying to tech to hive/infestors, attack him before he can get that as you will have a muta lead and have a window to cripple/kill him.
When I think of something else, something will go here
straycat
Profile Blog Joined May 2011
230 Posts
December 26 2015 11:32 GMT
#21
Which is your first guide on lotv? Can't seem to find it.
Aelendis
Profile Joined February 2011
Belgium892 Posts
December 26 2015 16:16 GMT
#22
On December 26 2015 20:32 straycat wrote:
Which is your first guide on lotv? Can't seem to find it.


Here.
crazedrat
Profile Joined July 2015
272 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-12-26 23:20:55
December 26 2015 23:19 GMT
#23
On December 12 2015 16:55 blade55555 wrote:
Hm just go +1 carapace then +1 attack, try to do ling runby's and expand while denying his. If you think he's trying to tech to hive/infestors, attack him before he can get that as you will have a muta lead and have a window to cripple/kill him.

I had a 40 minute game today where I went for this comp, then into Ultras, but never transitioned out of ultra infestor into viper / lurker / hydra / ling / spore / infestor. So short story is I lost that game after having the entire map on ruins while he was on 4 bases. Worst game ever, so bad. But yeah in the ultra late game you have to go into the lurker spore comp, dont have a choice, remember that
IcemanAsi
Profile Joined March 2011
Israel681 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-12-28 14:14:50
December 28 2015 14:13 GMT
#24
Checked out the replays, I think the BO you wrote here is off on an important issue.
Against early pool you take Overlord at 18 and stop drone production which is actually vital as you can produces 6 lings + Queen once the pool completes.
That's actually what was tripping me up.
blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
December 28 2015 19:59 GMT
#25
Hm you know that's a good point. That is pretty critical to know, added!
When I think of something else, something will go here
NotFOXAnonymous
Profile Joined January 2016
9 Posts
January 02 2016 02:32 GMT
#26
Hey guys,

I'm new here and plz excuse my bad english.

I've been struggling on ladder ZvZ, and i was trying to find BO to hold those early pool.

I find the theorical part of your post fantastic and i download the replays to see how in fact you hold those aggression :
- when to engage fights
- when to move spine
- how to split drones
- etc ...

But guy, i was so disapointed !!!

The replay are mostly vs diamond players which are doing non optimised builds (like 13ovi 14gaz 14pool ???) or are miss-microing pretty hardly.

So could you provide some replays vs master/GM who goes for 14/14 or 13/12 ?
blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
January 02 2016 02:41 GMT
#27
NotFoxAnonymous there are replays versus GM's in there. Watch all of them (there are 2 replay packs in there). If that still isn't enough for you:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/qn68s85p8ex3qyg/December Replay Pack.rar
When I think of something else, something will go here
NotFOXAnonymous
Profile Joined January 2016
9 Posts
January 02 2016 02:46 GMT
#28
Ty !!!

Will watch it tomorrow !
IcemanAsi
Profile Joined March 2011
Israel681 Posts
January 03 2016 20:44 GMT
#29
I've been using this build at plat-diamond level and my ZvZ win rate is insane, around 90%.
I've actually had success with going 3 hatch before pool once I scout my opponent going for hatch first.
I then take bane before speed to defend and my increased production can easily hold any attack while leaving me at a distinct advantage for the mid game.
What's your opinion on 3hatch against scouted hatch first?
blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
January 08 2016 07:24 GMT
#30
On January 04 2016 05:44 IcemanAsi wrote:
I've been using this build at plat-diamond level and my ZvZ win rate is insane, around 90%.
I've actually had success with going 3 hatch before pool once I scout my opponent going for hatch first.
I then take bane before speed to defend and my increased production can easily hold any attack while leaving me at a distinct advantage for the mid game.
What's your opinion on 3hatch against scouted hatch first?


It's very good. I actually started trying it out after reading this post and I find you can easily hold ling/bane all ins if you bring your queens to your third + baneling nest first. It's really strong, but of course can only do it when scouting hatch first
When I think of something else, something will go here
IcemanAsi
Profile Joined March 2011
Israel681 Posts
January 08 2016 15:33 GMT
#31
On January 08 2016 16:24 blade55555 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 04 2016 05:44 IcemanAsi wrote:
I've been using this build at plat-diamond level and my ZvZ win rate is insane, around 90%.
I've actually had success with going 3 hatch before pool once I scout my opponent going for hatch first.
I then take bane before speed to defend and my increased production can easily hold any attack while leaving me at a distinct advantage for the mid game.
What's your opinion on 3hatch against scouted hatch first?


It's very good. I actually started trying it out after reading this post and I find you can easily hold ling/bane all ins if you bring your queens to your third + baneling nest first. It's really strong, but of course can only do it when scouting hatch first


Hot Dang! Senpai noticed me! :-D
Can you post a replay?
My biggest concern is when to take the 2nd and third queens and when to take 2nd gas?
TelecoM
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States10669 Posts
January 08 2016 16:13 GMT
#32
So one thing that is not explained here is how exactly do you know how to deviate from 17 to 18 hatch on a 4 player map? What if you don't scout your opponent immediately with Drone and are not sure what is coming? When do you send Drone to scout? Then you would blindly 17Hatch opening / style? 14/14 & 13/12 can still win on certain maps, certain positions, even with proper Hatch first openings. I don't think it is safe at all to open Hatch first in ZvZ blindly.

If you scout a 1 base and the player just pulls his drones off gas and opens speedling expand (Hatch at 21 / 22 Supply), it is impossible to know what your opponent is doing and you will most likely end up over compensating to stop the attack. I believe that Pool first openings are just safer / stronger right now in ZvZ.

Opening 18 / 18 / 18 is a huge risk and very greedy in ZvZ, even 17 / 17 / 17 can be easily punished by proper pool / ling / baneling micro.
AKA: TelecoM[WHITE] Protoss fighting
blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
January 08 2016 18:11 GMT
#33
On January 09 2016 01:13 GGzerG wrote:
So one thing that is not explained here is how exactly do you know how to deviate from 17 to 18 hatch on a 4 player map? What if you don't scout your opponent immediately with Drone and are not sure what is coming? When do you send Drone to scout? Then you would blindly 17Hatch opening / style? 14/14 & 13/12 can still win on certain maps, certain positions, even with proper Hatch first openings. I don't think it is safe at all to open Hatch first in ZvZ blindly.

If you scout a 1 base and the player just pulls his drones off gas and opens speedling expand (Hatch at 21 / 22 Supply), it is impossible to know what your opponent is doing and you will most likely end up over compensating to stop the attack. I believe that Pool first openings are just safer / stronger right now in ZvZ.

Opening 18 / 18 / 18 is a huge risk and very greedy in ZvZ, even 17 / 17 / 17 can be easily punished by proper pool / ling / baneling micro.


I hatch first 100% of my zvz's. You can hold a 13/12 ling/bane on all maps no problem with proper micro.

I send drone on 14 supply and I use it so I know how to react. This doesn't effect when I place my hatchery (unless I scout him first and see he's hatch firsting). The scout is so I know what kind of pool he's doing. If he's doing hatch first I know I don't need to concern myself with early defense. If I scout 14 pool, then I know I need to get a baneling nest first (as his speed will finish well before mine even if I go 17g/17p). Then if I scout 13/12 I know to place a spine asap, baneling nest and make only lings.

I rarely die to 13/12 (and when I do it's 100% my fault). Close positions central protocol and Ulrina are bad for this style (I hate both of those maps so i vetoed them). My winrate for zvz went from 30% to 60+% and I had a 64% in kr last I checked.

On January 09 2016 00:33 IcemanAsi wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 08 2016 16:24 blade55555 wrote:
On January 04 2016 05:44 IcemanAsi wrote:
I've been using this build at plat-diamond level and my ZvZ win rate is insane, around 90%.
I've actually had success with going 3 hatch before pool once I scout my opponent going for hatch first.
I then take bane before speed to defend and my increased production can easily hold any attack while leaving me at a distinct advantage for the mid game.
What's your opinion on 3hatch against scouted hatch first?


It's very good. I actually started trying it out after reading this post and I find you can easily hold ling/bane all ins if you bring your queens to your third + baneling nest first. It's really strong, but of course can only do it when scouting hatch first


Hot Dang! Senpai noticed me! :-D
Can you post a replay?
My biggest concern is when to take the 2nd and third queens and when to take 2nd gas?


So I can add a few replays later. Essentially this is my timings:
14 drone scout
18 hatch
19 hatch
19 gas
19 pool
23 overlord
queens as soon as pool finishes + baneling nest + some lings for scouting. Pull Queens asap to 3rd base and as long as you micro decently you'll hold any 2 base ling/bane all in easily.

Also this only works on maps with easy to take 3rds, maps like central protocol, lokerek (idk name) with hard to take thirds this is a bad idea.
When I think of something else, something will go here
Alstreim
Profile Joined August 2015
16 Posts
January 16 2016 14:48 GMT
#34
Blade,

First, thanks for the amazing guide.

Second, can you upload some of your replays of this month for us?

Best regards,
Alstreim.
blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
January 16 2016 17:36 GMT
#35
Hey Alstreim, here is my December replay pack which features many zvz/zvt/zvp and most of my zvz's will showcase this build.

http://www.mediafire.com/download/qn68s85p8ex3qyg/December Replay Pack.rar
When I think of something else, something will go here
Applesauce13
Profile Joined May 2015
United States6 Posts
June 16 2016 17:20 GMT
#36
IcemanAsi, your 3 hatch before pool is amazing --- my zvz has never felt better!

I even accidentally used it versus a 14/14 once and managed to hold it. I'm not sure if it's because you found a ridiculously robust build or my opponent just didn't do it right, but i figure it's worth posting.

Also thanks to blade for keeping my knowledge of the meta at least kind of up to date :D
who needs build orders when you have style
IcemanAsi
Profile Joined March 2011
Israel681 Posts
September 04 2016 23:17 GMT
#37
I've tried coming back to this build after a while now, and I can't make it work against the higher skill opponents I'm now facing, they seem to see the hydra transition and go into speed banes and just wipe my army if I don't make enough lurkers or kill my hydras straight up with mutas if I do, while they can expand faster and harass better with the mutas then I can with hydra.

Obviously OP is making this build work at much higher levels so the problem is with me and not the build.
Here is a recent example which is off-build but kinda shows what I'm talking about ( I'll add a more precise example tomorrow ) I go muta into hydra, he gets tons of banes and whipes the hydras out, now here I don't even get lurkers, which I guess are what supposed to help against that but from experience this happens even with the lurkers, maybe I'm not making enough lurkers or I'm positioning them wrong. I don't know.

http://ggtracker.com/matches/6788732
blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
September 05 2016 01:12 GMT
#38
Hey Ice,

I watched it (your lucky I am in the mood ). In the game you linked, you shouldn't do a hydra or lurker transition in a muta war. Since the both of you went Muta's, you should be doing standard muta vs muta into hive and vipers, not try to go into hydra/lurker.

As a fun note, you were in a great position in this game, almost always ahead 5+ mutalisks and a better drone economy. If you had kept going Mutalisks and instead got an infestation pit + hive, you win this game easy unless you make a horrible engagement (like muta vs muta under spores/queens).

Just really weird to go from Muta to Hydra then trying to go into roach/hydra. If you had skipped Muta and then gone into roach/hydra from the beginning that's fine, but don't ever go muta into roach/hydra vs another muta player.
When I think of something else, something will go here
IcemanAsi
Profile Joined March 2011
Israel681 Posts
September 05 2016 06:39 GMT
#39
On September 05 2016 10:12 blade55555 wrote:
Hey Ice,

I watched it (your lucky I am in the mood ). In the game you linked, you shouldn't do a hydra or lurker transition in a muta war. Since the both of you went Muta's, you should be doing standard muta vs muta into hive and vipers, not try to go into hydra/lurker.

As a fun note, you were in a great position in this game, almost always ahead 5+ mutalisks and a better drone economy. If you had kept going Mutalisks and instead got an infestation pit + hive, you win this game easy unless you make a horrible engagement (like muta vs muta under spores/queens).

Just really weird to go from Muta to Hydra then trying to go into roach/hydra. If you had skipped Muta and then gone into roach/hydra from the beginning that's fine, but don't ever go muta into roach/hydra vs another muta player.


LOL

Oh man all those poor poor MMR points lost while trying this hydra transition against muta :-D
No hard feeling but maybe the OP could be a bit clearer on the muta reaction.

Which of course leads to the question, when do you drop infestation pit ?
blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
September 05 2016 07:24 GMT
#40
Haha it happens, I could have put something there back in December .

But when you feel ahead is when I would put an infestation pit or when you know your opponent is being turtley or you are ahead a base. Those are the best times. It's always a kind of do you think you can do it and not die? If yes, drop the infestation pit. If no, don't drop the infestation pit until you can say yes.
When I think of something else, something will go here
smile5
Profile Joined January 2017
1 Post
January 13 2017 04:19 GMT
#41
Blade,

Your zvz zvt and zvp guides are amazing.

My question is, is there a place for corruptors in the muta vs muta battle? With gas being the limiting factor, given the choice of building 20 mutalisks rather than build, say, 15 mutas and 5 corruptors? Because I've had some success mixing in a few corrruptors in unranked but I'm wondering how it could be punished
blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
January 13 2017 04:41 GMT
#42
Hey Smile,

Thanks for the comment! Corruptors do not have a place in zvz Muta vs Muta battles. I tried it way back in the day and it just sucked really bad. Corruptors are too slow and you'll never really be able to harass as his mutas are bouncing where your corruptors are not and your mutalisk count will never match his if you are investing in corruptors.
When I think of something else, something will go here
SorrowShine
Profile Joined October 2011
698 Posts
January 25 2017 00:06 GMT
#43
thnx for the guide
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