• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 04:26
CEST 10:26
KST 17:26
  • 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
[ASL21] Ro16 Preview Pt2: All Star9Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - The Finalists14[ASL21] Ro16 Preview Pt1: Fresh Flow9[ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt2: News Flash10[ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt1: New Chaos0
Community News
2026 GSL Season 1 Qualifiers11Maestros of the Game 2 announced52026 GSL Tour plans announced14Weekly Cups (April 6-12): herO doubles, "Villains" prevail1MaNa leaves Team Liquid23
StarCraft 2
General
MaNa leaves Team Liquid Maestros of the Game 2 announced 2026 GSL Tour plans announced Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - The Finalists
Tourneys
GSL CK: More events planned pending crowdfunding RSL Revival: Season 5 - Qualifiers and Main Event Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament 2026 GSL Season 1 Qualifiers Master Swan Open (Global Bronze-Master 2)
Strategy
Custom Maps
[D]RTS in all its shapes and glory <3 [A] Nemrods 1/4 players [M] (2) Frigid Storage
External Content
Mutation # 522 Flip My Base The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 521 Memorable Boss Mutation # 520 Moving Fees
Brood War
General
[ASL21] Ro16 Preview Pt2: All Star Data needed ASL21 Strategy, Pimpest Plays Discussions BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ RepMastered™: replay sharing and analyzer site
Tourneys
[ASL21] Ro16 Group D [ASL21] Ro16 Group C [ASL21] Ro16 Group B [Megathread] Daily Proleagues
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers What's the deal with APM & what's its true value Any training maps people recommend? Fighting Spirit mining rates
Other Games
General Games
Dawn of War IV Starcraft Tabletop Miniature Game Nintendo Switch Thread General RTS Discussion Thread Battle Aces/David Kim RTS Megathread
Dota 2
The Story of Wings Gaming
League of Legends
G2 just beat GenG in First stand
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Vanilla Mini Mafia Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas TL Mafia Community Thread Five o'clock TL Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Russo-Ukrainian War Thread YouTube Thread Canadian Politics Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread [Manga] One Piece [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books Movie Discussion!
Sports
Formula 1 Discussion 2024 - 2026 Football Thread McBoner: A hockey love story Cricket [SPORT]
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
[G] How to Block Livestream Ads
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Sexual Health Of Gamers
TrAiDoS
lurker extra damage testi…
StaticNine
Broowar part 2
qwaykee
Funny Nicknames
LUCKY_NOOB
Iranian anarchists: organize…
XenOsky
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1212 users

[Discussion] Top 5 go-to builds for all 6 matchups

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
Post a Reply
Kiaph
Profile Blog Joined July 2012
112 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-10-21 00:16:05
October 21 2020 00:12 GMT
#1
I would like to discuss this topic, because we now have the knowledge that changes in the meta will depend almost entirely on discovery, and ofcourse talent.

What are your go to builds ( up to 5 ) for any given match up?

Perhaps we can even get a poll going once we have a big enough pool of builds to choose from.

Builds do not have to be exact ,

Things like "Early oracle aggression into macro play" is pleanty of information. My goal with this thread is to find what people like to play , be it for aggression or defensive purposes.

Exact build orders , or short summary of previous/ideal games is totally welcome. Honestly I am really excited to dive head first into the meta knowing that it isn't going to suddenly change.


Then ofcourse use the discussion to better choose my off race play styles , and maybe even tempt me to try something new as a Terran.


Thank you for posting
Sprog
Profile Joined April 2010
New Zealand83 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-10-21 00:40:23
October 21 2020 00:29 GMT
#2
I only play P.

v T

1 Gate Expand. Twilight follow up with blink. Eventually adding robo - immo colossus.
2 Gate Aggro into expand (max pax or at home). Follow up with twilight, charge, stalker blink, dt blink. All round more a gateway centric style.

vZ

1 Gate Expand into mass gates with a sentry centric gateway push. Take a third at move out or before and tech into immortals etc
1 Gate 1 Stargate Expand.
1 Gate Expo. 3-5 gate and 2 robo follow up for a sentry stalker immortal push.

vP
Hold early cannon rush into disruptor
Hold early 2 adepts into skytoss battles.
Kiaph
Profile Blog Joined July 2012
112 Posts
October 21 2020 01:43 GMT
#3

vP
Hold early cannon rush into disruptor
Hold early 2 adepts into skytoss battles


Please tell me that these 2 are not the only varients in the pvp meta right now

Makes me so thankful to be a Terran
yubo56
Profile Joined May 2014
690 Posts
October 21 2020 22:17 GMT
#4
On October 21 2020 10:43 Kiaph wrote:
Show nested quote +

vP
Hold early cannon rush into disruptor
Hold early 2 adepts into skytoss battles


Please tell me that these 2 are not the only varients in the pvp meta right now

Makes me so thankful to be a Terran

PvP is also chock full of proxies (proxy 3-4 gate, proxy immortal, even proxy VR sometimes). Always an adventure.

PvP:
2 gate stalker stalker sentry sentry expand, blink, fast third + a few extra gates -> blink disruptor
2 gate adept adept stargate phoenix -> robo + fast third -> immortal archon chargelot

I'm a bit greedy aren't I

PvT:
blink 3 gate robo fast third -> blink charge 7 gate -> double robo colossus -> disruptor -> lose
2 gate robo fast colossus -> third -> blink (charge if 2 base tank push) -> disruptor -> lose

Been having a bit of trouble here I'm afraid

PvZ:
Zest 4 gate gladept -> blink disruptor
4DT archon drop -> blink disruptor
Oracle fast third -> immortal archon chargelot storm

I'm a P main, but I play a fair bit of off race:

TvP:
mine drop into 3 rax with tanks, second factory for mines + tanks -> lots of multiprong -> lose

TvZ:
2-1-1 into bio mine into lose because not enough multitask
hellion BC into battle mech
the brick (hellions, fast third CC double ebay -> 8rax marine tank allin)

TvT:
2 reaper 2 hellion -> marine tank (2 fact) -> 2 starport viking lib

ZvP:
3 base roach -> hydra lurker viper
4 base hydra ling bane -> hydra lurker viper

ZvT:
queen ling, fast lair -> muta/bane/evos, -> ling bane ultra

ZvZ:
31 hatch bane nest, pump a few lings, mass +1 attack roaches -> 4 base hydra lurker viper
Jung Yoon Jong fighting, even after retirement! Feel better soon.
Kiaph
Profile Blog Joined July 2012
112 Posts
October 22 2020 03:17 GMT
#5
PvP:
2 gate stalker stalker sentry sentry expand, blink, fast third + a few extra gates -> blink disruptor
2 gate adept adept stargate phoenix -> robo + fast third -> immortal archon chargelot


I noticed that these both utilize 2 gateway play, does the build that does 2 adept pressure also use 2 gateways?
yubo56
Profile Joined May 2014
690 Posts
October 22 2020 05:01 GMT
#6
On October 22 2020 12:17 Kiaph wrote:
PvP:
Show nested quote +
2 gate stalker stalker sentry sentry expand, blink, fast third + a few extra gates -> blink disruptor
2 gate adept adept stargate phoenix -> robo + fast third -> immortal archon chargelot


I noticed that these both utilize 2 gateway play, does the build that does 2 adept pressure also use 2 gateways?

Yeah! PvP is super standard in the early game, it's something like 14 pylon, 16 gateway, 17 gas, 18 gas, 19 gate, 21 core, 22 pylon, or so, so you end up with 2 gas + 2 gates, where the second gateway finishes at almost the same time as the core so you start both of your initial units at the same time, and those two initial units are the first major branch point in PvP build orders. 2x stalker gives you a bit more muscle, but 2x adept gives you a bit more map control by threatening to do damage. Stalker/sentry is another common option, giving you a fast hallucination scout, but it's fallen out of favor a bit lately since your unit count is a bit low initially.

The next major decision is when you choose to take the natural expansion, so I tend to favor a faster expansion when building stalkers, since I stay home with them, and I tend to favor tech when going adepts, since I have more chances to do damage. There are a lot of spins on this though, and I don't play enough that I can say my spin is correct.
Jung Yoon Jong fighting, even after retirement! Feel better soon.
Odowan Paleolithic
Profile Blog Joined May 2013
United States232 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-10-22 10:54:37
October 22 2020 10:48 GMT
#7
Haven't off raced enough to call a build. Mostly P. I play very differently.

Opening:

12 pylon 14 gate double probe scout

vs T

(attempt to delay CC/ fac with 2 zealots) core before nexus then stargate into fleet beacon, 1 or 2 carrier and take the 3rd sometimes cannon in mineral line before 1st carrier based on scouting.

The game is usually decided around or before the 1st carrier timing.

vs cyclone rush I can hold with 1st voidray and 2 battery but will be behind

vs any tech push I just have to kite non-stim marine with 1/2 carriers.

vs hard stim timing try get charge on time. I rarely see anyone do this since the current flavor is hellion/mines which delays stim.


vs P

(attempt to kill first pylon with 2 zealot) gate expand or core expand then stargate, switch to twilight dt after 2nd void ray

The game will boil down to 4 scenarios: A. chargelot archon vs mass pheonix/void ray. B. favorable defense and evolve to carrier archon/snipe observer and dt vs whatever. I can count on my fingers the times I lost to disruptors. C. Mass archon on more bases vs turtle skytoss. D. Mostly immortal / void rays + a few archons when playing against mass gateway/CIA.

vs Z

possibly nexus first when 1st probe meet hatch then twilight after stargate > 2 void ray + ~6 chargelot/2dt+4 chargelot whilte to kill 3rd while taking own 3rd and building 1st carrier add storm after 3rd finish.

If muta build cannons and sack void rays/chargelot. 1/2 carrier can usually hold initial wave, more archons and try to look for fight almost immediately after 1st/2nd engagement.

If swarmhost, build a few more air units and just go kill....

If hydra add storm. The first zerg attack usually decides the pace of the game. If it is held efficient enough

If roach corruptor add void ray (snipe overseer and warp dt).

If long game vs lurkers deny bases and add even more air units.

Edit: add details on specific responses.
I need a bigger fridge. I cannot hold all the Cheese that are given to me.
yubo56
Profile Joined May 2014
690 Posts
October 22 2020 14:36 GMT
#8
On October 22 2020 19:48 Odowan Paleolithic wrote:
Haven't off raced enough to call a build. Mostly P. I play very differently.

Opening:

12 pylon 14 gate double probe scout

vs T

(attempt to delay CC/ fac with 2 zealots) core before nexus then stargate into fleet beacon, 1 or 2 carrier and take the 3rd sometimes cannon in mineral line before 1st carrier based on scouting.

The game is usually decided around or before the 1st carrier timing.

vs cyclone rush I can hold with 1st voidray and 2 battery but will be behind

vs any tech push I just have to kite non-stim marine with 1/2 carriers.

vs hard stim timing try get charge on time. I rarely see anyone do this since the current flavor is hellion/mines which delays stim.


vs P

(attempt to kill first pylon with 2 zealot) gate expand or core expand then stargate, switch to twilight dt after 2nd void ray

The game will boil down to 4 scenarios: A. chargelot archon vs mass pheonix/void ray. B. favorable defense and evolve to carrier archon/snipe observer and dt vs whatever. I can count on my fingers the times I lost to disruptors. C. Mass archon on more bases vs turtle skytoss. D. Mostly immortal / void rays + a few archons when playing against mass gateway/CIA.

vs Z

possibly nexus first when 1st probe meet hatch then twilight after stargate > 2 void ray + ~6 chargelot/2dt+4 chargelot whilte to kill 3rd while taking own 3rd and building 1st carrier add storm after 3rd finish.

If muta build cannons and sack void rays/chargelot. 1/2 carrier can usually hold initial wave, more archons and try to look for fight almost immediately after 1st/2nd engagement.

If swarmhost, build a few more air units and just go kill....

If hydra add storm. The first zerg attack usually decides the pace of the game. If it is held efficient enough

If roach corruptor add void ray (snipe overseer and warp dt).

If long game vs lurkers deny bases and add even more air units.

Edit: add details on specific responses.

Wow these sound ridiculously annoying to play against haha. Great example of "honorable" vs "ladder" strategies. I've always favored build-of-the-week playstyles since I want to better understand how to watch pro games, I think finding your own slightly off-meta, aggressive build is much better for actually climbing the ladder.
Jung Yoon Jong fighting, even after retirement! Feel better soon.
virpi
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
Germany3599 Posts
October 22 2020 21:41 GMT
#9
On October 22 2020 23:36 yubo56 wrote:
Wow these sound ridiculously annoying to play against haha. Great example of "honorable" vs "ladder" strategies. I've always favored build-of-the-week playstyles since I want to better understand how to watch pro games, I think finding your own slightly off-meta, aggressive build is much better for actually climbing the ladder.

Yeah, having a crisp "off meta" build helps. It has to be versatile and precise, otherwise you'll become a one trick pony. I play an aggressive style of macro zerg.

ZvZ
Standard 3 base opener, bane nest for safety. Ling pressure on the third, ling / bling allin, if I spot a weakness. Otherwise, I transition into a 1-1 roach/rav pressure while taking the 4th, 2-2 follows. Meanwhile I have always 1 group of lings harassing the perimeter of his bases. Lurker / viper core is the goal for late game, I try to go for a high drone count and never stop trading. My best matchup right now. If I wanna switch it up, I go for a 14 hatch with an earlier pool. The goal is to fake the "standard" expand and go for a quick speedling allin.

ZvT
3 base opener, highly reactive playstyle. I'm best at hydra/ling/bane, so that's my go to comp vs. bio. I go mutas on smaller maps. Vs. battlemech I play mass low tech units. Vs. turtle mech, I try to hit a timing with lurker / viper / stuff (mostly ling, bane, rav). I really suck at those drawn out games vs. skyterran or super turtle mech, because I'm not patient enough at picking engagements. Vs. bio I try to trade as efficiently as possible and go for the kill as soon as I see an opening. Watching Reynor really has opened my eyes when it comes to drone count. I'm far off his speed and execution, but the general idea holds up well. Just sauron the shit out the terran.

ZvP
3 base opener into weird stuff if they go macro, e.g. nydus vs. fast 3rd. I'm decent at "standard" games with a roach heavy army, my go to ground unit in the late game is the lurker. My weakness in drawn out games also shows here, because I'm always missing the attack timing vs. skytoss transitions. Sometimes, I still do really wonky mass muta switches, which certainly won't work in higher MMR, but actually do work in mid masters, if you manage to trick your opponent. My go to "Fuck this, I want to laugh" build is an old roach nydus build by Scarlett. It's completely stupid, but works too well to be ignored.

I'm currently 4,7k, so no pro, but also not terribly bad.
first we make expand, then we defense it.
Kiaph
Profile Blog Joined July 2012
112 Posts
October 23 2020 03:45 GMT
#10
The goal is to fake the "standard" expand and go for a quick speed-ling allin.


I am only diamond, but when I watch others in team leagues or in my clan play this is a very standard go-to strategy.

I see it so often I wonder how it still works, but I guess that is because 3 base is so strong in ZvZ as an opener players just ascend towards it and assume their opponents must be doing the same. I could be wrong, but the amount of games I see ended by this "fake" standard push when observing games, even at low GM, makes me wonder why we don't see this more in pro games.
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
GSL
08:00
2026 Season 1: Qualifiers
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
Nina 154
OGKoka 62
StarCraft: Brood War
Flash 1495
Hyuk 322
Tasteless 262
Aegong 145
Mini 114
910 111
ggaemo 73
soO 70
ToSsGirL 67
Sharp 67
[ Show more ]
Shine 35
NotJumperer 21
Bale 20
Dota 2
XaKoH 360
ODPixel101
NeuroSwarm81
XcaliburYe26
League of Legends
JimRising 606
Counter-Strike
Stewie2K1253
olofmeister1147
allub250
Super Smash Bros
Mew2King184
Other Games
summit1g7554
singsing743
ceh9546
KnowMe141
Trikslyr118
Livibee59
Moletrap7
Organizations
Dota 2
PGL Dota 2 - Main Stream7056
PGL Dota 2 - Secondary Stream3332
Other Games
gamesdonequick596
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 13 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• LUISG 21
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Stunt840
• TFBlade266
Upcoming Events
Afreeca Starleague
1h 34m
Barracks vs Leta
Royal vs Light
WardiTV Map Contest Tou…
2h 34m
herO vs Classic
SHIN vs Cure
Solar vs Percival
RSL Revival
1d 1h
Replay Cast
1d 15h
The PondCast
2 days
KCM Race Survival
2 days
WardiTV Map Contest Tou…
2 days
Gerald vs TBD
Clem vs TBD
ByuN vs TBD
Rogue vs MaxPax
ShoWTimE vs TBD
CranKy Ducklings
2 days
Escore
3 days
RSL Revival
3 days
[ Show More ]
WardiTV Map Contest Tou…
4 days
Universe Titan Cup
4 days
Rogue vs Percival
Ladder Legends
4 days
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
4 days
BSL
4 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
5 days
WardiTV Map Contest Tou…
5 days
Ladder Legends
5 days
BSL
5 days
Replay Cast
5 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Wardi Open
6 days
Monday Night Weeklies
6 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-04-20
RSL Revival: Season 4
NationLESS Cup

Ongoing

BSL Season 22
ASL Season 21
CSL 2026 SPRING (S20)
IPSL Spring 2026
KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 2
StarCraft2 Community Team League 2026 Spring
WardiTV TLMC #16
Nations Cup 2026
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S2: W4
Acropolis #4
BSL 22 Non-Korean Championship
CSLAN 4
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Maestros of the Game 2
2026 GSL S2
RSL Revival: Season 5
2026 GSL S1
XSE Pro League 2026
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
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 © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.