[G] ZvP Swarmhost Infestor vs all Protoss Styles

I am a Swiss Grandmaster Zerg residing around 6.1k MMR on EU and in the top 50 on NA and I am here to show you all my solution for the ZvP Matchup to deal with any and all Protoss Openers and Strategies. Whether you struggle against Archon Drops, Dts, Carriers, Chargelot Immortal Archon, Colossi or phoenix openers. This Strategy might not be easy to execute for lower league players but it has been quite effective.

Long ago Infestors were OP. All races feared them in the golden age of Zerg also knows as Lings of Liberty. Infested Terrans were too strong. Fungal shut down complete builds and any all army movement. However, come HotS the Infestor largely disappeared. In the latest Patch the Infestor was buffed once again and is now able to cast neural parasite while burrowed.

Since I am a big fan of the Swarmhost Unit I was trying to find a way to make them work. However, Locusts don't shoot up, Colossi burn them alive and Archons kill them with their Splash. Additionally Chargelots seem to do really well against them so I was looking for a way around all this. What I found was the Infestor.

By opening early Infestors I can easily shut down most aggressive Protoss openers. If I am up against a Carrier Protoss I can just spam their base with Infested Terrans watch as their unupgraded Interceptors fall apart against the power of 50 Infested Terrans which also kill their Stargates / Cybercores. Once I have Infestors I can add the Swarmhost on top and use the Infestor's Neural Ability to shutdown Colossi / Archons while the locusts mow through their Army. Their Chargelots will explode against my Banelings and I will win since I have FREE UNITS.

I will try to give you guys as good of a Build Order as I can. It's kind of hard because I am still experimenting and adjusting a lot depending on what I scout.

Standard Build
+ Show Spoiler +

http://lotv.spawningtool.com/build/47540/

13 0:12 Overlord
17 0:53 Hatchery
18 1:09 Extractor
17 1:12 Spawning Pool
19 1:38 Overlord
19 1:59 Queen, Zergling x2
23 2:05 Queen
26 2:14 Metabolic Boost
27 2:22 Zergling x4
29 2:25 Evolution Chamber
28 2:32 Zergling x4
28 2:34 Queen
32 2:44 Queen
36 3:04 Zerg Melee Weapons Level 1
36 3:12 Overlord
36 3:20 Overlord
36 3:21 Extractor
47 3:53 Lair
47 3:56 Extractor
47 3:59 Roach Warren
47 4:07 Zergling x2
52 4:31 Extractor x2
52 4:33 Overlord
50 4:41 Roach
52 4:56 Infestation Pit
52 4:59 Roach x2
60 5:00 Glial Reconstitution
60 5:04 Zergling x4
63 5:12 Zergling x4
63 5:13 Overseer
64 5:19 Hatchery
69 5:29 Zerg Melee Weapons Level 2
73 5:44 Roach
75 6:06 Roach x4
75 6:09 Hatchery
82 6:15 Baneling Nest
82 6:26 Swarm Host x4
90 6:34 Swarm Host x3
96 6:42 Swarm Host
101 6:55 Swarm Host
106 7:12 Baneling x9
117 7:45 Swarm Host
127 8:13 Spine Crawler, Spore Crawler
132 8:21 Overseer
136 9:25 Baneling
135 9:52 Infestor x2

Replay vs Tails http://sc2replaystats.com/replay/activeArmy/4314958
Get a Baneling nest ~3:45 at the latest. Spam a lot of Lings don't drone your 3rd. Just try to hold on. Swarmhosts are going to be more effective than Infestors in these Scenarios but it will be very difficult.

Don't really have a Replay but it's pretty much the same as vs Allins. Just get a Baneling Nest and use your Queens to zone a lot.

sc2replaystats.com Spam their Wall with Infested Terrans and then lings and just kill them.. They automatically lose.
You may also use Swarmhost Runbys ala http://sc2replaystats.com/replay/activeArmy/4325685
or go for a straight mass Neural Push with a lot of Infestors https://sc2replaystats.com/replay/4335486

Alternatively here is a Video Analysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg6WDXYfF7E

Replay can be found in the Description of the Video.

I use a lot of Queens to shut down the Drop. The early Lair means that I don't need any Spores as I can build Overseers. Infestors allow me to Fungal the Prism and kill it

Replay can be found in the Description of the Video.

I use Queens and two early Spores to shutdown the Oracle. Spores around 3:45 I believe

Replay can be found in the Description of the Video.

I delay my Spores a little bit. I use the Queens to zone the Phoenix and eventually try to time Burrow + Infestors at the same time so I can immediatly fungal the Phoenix and kill them.

The Strategy early on is to survive, get your 3 Base Economy going and keeping your Infestors / Swarmhosts alive. Once you have stabalized you want to harrass your Opponent with the Swarmhosts while guarding those with your Ling Bane Infestors composition. You do this until you have enough Swarmhosts to take a straight up fight and enough Infestors with Neural Parasite to Neural his Army.

As an example the final Composition against a Sky Toss might look something like this:


Versus Sky Toss you definitly need either Corruptors or Hydras as Support. I usually prefer Hydras but Corruptors can also work fine as shown here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dgtyCfj0KY

Versus Archon Immortal Chargelot it's important to have a large amount of Banelings on the field: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWJKmXtAN54

Eventually, if you are e.g. playing vs Stalker Colossus and can't quite get it down with Swarmhost Infestor, you can always transition by going Hive (already got the Infestation Pit) or Mutalisks (opponent will struggle to deal with Mutas and Swarmhosts and Fungals...).

As an example I present the following game vs king Tesla: sc2replaystats.com

In this Game I transition from ~30 Swarmhosts to Ultralisks and eventually add Broodlords.

There are a few Key Factors here. First of all, Locusts while in the Air will always automatically target units / buildings that shoot up. This means if you are deadling with mass chargelot they will always fly past them to a cannon / Archon. Try to Avoid that if you want to use them vs the Chargelots and land them manually.

Make use of Cliffs when using Swarmhosts so they can't be retalitated against and always protect them with other Units.

While defending harrassment only use 2-4 Swarmhosts to send their locusts and don't use up all Swarmhosts at once.

While attacking spread out your Swarmhosts and use multiple waves against Storm / AoE heavy compositions so your locusts don't all die at once.

Fungal their Army so they can't run away from the Locusts or Neural their expensive units so they lose them even if they run.

Add Corruptors to deal with Colossi or Neural them.

Burrow the Swarmhosts so they don't block other Units.

Neural is your best friend and most vital asset. The priority when it comes to neuraling is the following:
Mothership > Colossi > Archon > Carrier > Disruptor > Immortal > HT (?).
Always have your Infestors burrowed while neuraling and always try to keep them at the back and make sure they don't get feedbacked.

This Video really Highlights the Strength of Neural vs Protoss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAZM57LRMbs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5rjXNUVPj4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dgtyCfj0KY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAZM57LRMbs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWJKmXtAN54