• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 22:03
CEST 04:03
KST 11:03
  • 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 Pt1: Fresh Flow2[ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt2: News Flash10[ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt1: New Chaos0Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - Presented by Monster Energy21ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT30
Community News
$5,000 WardiTV TLMC tournament - Presented by Monster Energy5GSL CK: More events planned pending crowdfunding7Weekly Cups (May 30-Apr 5): herO, Clem, SHIN win0[BSL22] RO32 Group Stage5Weekly Cups (March 23-29): herO takes triple6
StarCraft 2
General
MaNa leaves Team Liquid Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - Presented by Monster Energy Quebec Clan still alive ? BGE Stara Zagora 2026 cancelled Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool
Tourneys
$5,000 WardiTV TLMC tournament - Presented by Monster Energy Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament RSL Revival: Season 5 - Qualifiers and Main Event GSL CK: More events planned pending crowdfunding Sea Duckling Open (Global, Bronze-Diamond)
Strategy
Custom Maps
[D]RTS in all its shapes and glory <3 [A] Nemrods 1/4 players [M] (2) Frigid Storage
External Content
Mutation # 521 Memorable Boss The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 520 Moving Fees Mutation # 519 Inner Power
Brood War
General
[ASL21] Ro16 Preview Pt1: Fresh Flow JD's Ro24 review The Korean Terminology Thread so ive been playing broodwar for a week straight. ASL21 General Discussion
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues Escore Tournament StarCraft Season 2 [ASL21] Ro24 Group F [BSL22] RO32 Group B - Sunday 21:00 CEST
Strategy
Any training maps people recommend? Fighting Spirit mining rates Muta micro map competition What's the deal with APM & what's its true value
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Battle Aces/David Kim RTS Megathread General RTS Discussion Thread Starcraft Tabletop Miniature Game
Dota 2
The Story of Wings Gaming Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
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 European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread The China Politics Thread Trading/Investing Thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books Movie Discussion!
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion Cricket [SPORT] Tokyo Olympics 2021 Thread
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
[G] How to Block Livestream Ads
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
lurker extra damage testi…
StaticNine
How Streamers Inspire Gamers…
TrAiDoS
Broowar part 2
qwaykee
Funny Nicknames
LUCKY_NOOB
Iranian anarchists: organize…
XenOsky
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 2000 users

Death to the Deathball

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 HotS
Post a Reply
Normal
AzraelArchontas
Profile Joined September 2012
United States78 Posts
October 04 2012 14:37 GMT
#1
I would like to hear your opinions on how to stop the deathball

Example:

Terran: Allow more ways to punish mech immobility and benefit spreading army out make mech positioning even better(more important) give mech a new "core unit" (I wouldn't mind an AA or mech but i think they should retain a weakness to air)

Zerg: add more a new mid tear "core" unit so that they don't just press straight to hive and a new fast counter attack unit

Protoss: A new Gateway unit that is tear 2-2.5 if done right it would punish early 4 gate also reavers(while keeping colossus) and a "real" harass unit

I think that more options/core(midgame units) would reduce the deathball by increasing midgame length and punishing immobile or clumped armies

-This is about balance design and concept
-I want better funner games where we have a midgame more aggression, less all-ins , and No more deathballs
Qikz
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
United Kingdom12027 Posts
October 04 2012 15:42 GMT
#2
Not that I disagree with your ideas, but is.

Terran: Allow more ways to punish mech immobility


Really necessary? Everything in the game already punishes mech immobility. :p
FanTaSy's #1 Fan | STPL Caster/Organiser | SKT BEST KT | https://twitch.tv/stpl
rpgalon
Profile Joined April 2011
Brazil1069 Posts
October 04 2012 15:47 GMT
#3
give more AoE options to the races.
badog
MateShade
Profile Joined July 2011
Australia736 Posts
October 04 2012 15:57 GMT
#4
Is this thread a joke?
Tppz!
Profile Joined October 2010
Germany1449 Posts
October 04 2012 15:59 GMT
#5
There is no Terran Deathball.
And we have enough ways to punih Mech right now.

Zerg: Thats why you have the Swarm Host. But you also need some interaction/disadvantage from going to broodlords. Infestors are too good an stilize you for going to fast Hive etc. In my opinioni we need a way to punish going greedy into Hightech. Right now there is only a way in PvZ with the Immortal sentry allin. In TvZ almost never can kill the Zerg. You have to get a huge advantage and press this constantly.

Protoss Deathball is fine right now. Zerg have ways to deal with it and Terrans should be able to mech against it in the expansion.
AzraelArchontas
Profile Joined September 2012
United States78 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-10-04 16:19:10
October 04 2012 16:17 GMT
#6
When I say more ways to punish mech immobility I just mean more options.
With protoss i just hate seeing cheese rush or turtle till deathball every game,
and zerg just seem to take 3 bases fast rush hive and go broodlord infestor

When I play I would like a longer early-midgame with more options counter attacks and conflicts
I want the players to be clashing not oh they have map control so you turtle I want engagements
to be necessary greedy and over aggressive play to be punished
I want to see more builds and options that strengthen the idea that you don't have to hit T3 to
compete I would like to see more anti-siege units and counter attack/raiding units
I want to have more units that play off of each other so that when one unit is massed it has no chance

Also if you disagree tell me your solutions or ideas and what you would like to see
Tppz!
Profile Joined October 2010
Germany1449 Posts
October 04 2012 16:21 GMT
#7
All these things are adressed right now in HotS by different units. Do you play the beta?

And there are more than enough ways to punish mech immobility. Mech is already way weaker than Bio. Why would you "nerf" it even more?
AzraelArchontas
Profile Joined September 2012
United States78 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-10-04 16:45:09
October 04 2012 16:39 GMT
#8
Not a nerf to mech just other options
As well I would like to see (since the warhound was removed) a new core unit for mech
I feel that mech once people start to figure it out more will out preform bio and I am looking for
less deathballs more spread out milti-pronged attacks and I feel bio dose that well I would like
to see mech gain options so that it can "spread out" more and not be to thin to function the
only thing I would like to see are options against deathballs and turtling till T3 NR20 just dosnt
exciting or fun to me same thing with NR10 so I would like units abilities or changes that would
hinder/destroy the deathball

I like the way Hots is going but it doesn't seem to be doing much against the deathball with the
new changes to the MsC I like the concept of the tempest and SH being siege units that operate
far from the rest of your forces but WM don't do this for mech

Though I would focus my changes on Protoss and Zerg because I believe they are the root of the
deathball problem Protoss because of early defense and the strength of its T3 and zerg because
it lacks a proficient midgame and again the strength of its T3

Just to make sure I am not being unclear I know that a lot of these problems are being addressed
But most are still a problem from what I have seen in Hots
So I would like to know your solutions and what problems you see.
Grendel
Profile Joined November 2010
Belgium126 Posts
October 04 2012 17:12 GMT
#9
Well, one way to NOT counter it, is by introducing Swarm Hosts. The opponent needs a deathball to beat the locusts, abd Zerg needs a deathball to protect the Swarm Hosts.

While yes, the Swarm host is quite fine, it only encourages death ball play.
stard1n
Profile Joined September 2012
50 Posts
October 04 2012 18:00 GMT
#10
There is no Terran Deathball.


Are we playing the same game?
Kambing
Profile Joined May 2010
United States1176 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-10-04 18:30:50
October 04 2012 18:04 GMT
#11
On October 05 2012 02:12 Grendel wrote:
Well, one way to NOT counter it, is by introducing Swarm Hosts. The opponent needs a deathball to beat the locusts, abd Zerg needs a deathball to protect the Swarm Hosts.

While yes, the Swarm host is quite fine, it only encourages death ball play.


If zerg overcommits to making hosts, you counter it by going around the hosts with your mobile units, e.g., drops, prism play, blink stalkers. Zerg on the other hand does need an army to protect hosts, but since they are easy to parry given a critical mass of AE damage, that army needs to be mobile enough to exploit the opponent when they are zoned out by the hosts, e.g., speed hydras.

If you have two players that aren't comfortable with multitasking, then yes, hosts encourages deathball play. But you get deathball play in that scenario, regardless.
MyFirstProbe
Profile Joined April 2011
Netherlands294 Posts
October 04 2012 18:12 GMT
#12
On October 05 2012 00:59 Tppz! wrote:
There is no Terran Deathball.
And we have enough ways to punih Mech right now.

Zerg: Thats why you have the Swarm Host. But you also need some interaction/disadvantage from going to broodlords. Infestors are too good an stilize you for going to fast Hive etc. In my opinioni we need a way to punish going greedy into Hightech. Right now there is only a way in PvZ with the Immortal sentry allin. In TvZ almost never can kill the Zerg. You have to get a huge advantage and press this constantly.

Protoss Deathball is fine right now. Zerg have ways to deal with it and Terrans should be able to mech against it in the expansion.


Well yeah, there are ways to deal with the deathballs, but that doesn't make it fun to watch a game where players just don't attack for the first ten minutes and attack when you are at 200/200.
Berceno
Profile Joined May 2012
Spain401 Posts
October 04 2012 18:22 GMT
#13
On October 05 2012 03:00 stard1n wrote:
Show nested quote +
There is no Terran Deathball.


Are we playing the same game?


+1, the bio ball is basicly a deathball
protoss living in da ghetto
CrtBalorda
Profile Joined December 2011
Slovenia704 Posts
October 04 2012 18:32 GMT
#14
Remove unit synergy, unit counters, unit clumping, infinate unit selection and give the licence to the starcraft series to another company (preferably Valve).
4th August 2012...Never forget.....
TheLunatic
Profile Joined February 2011
309 Posts
October 04 2012 18:35 GMT
#15
Terran death ball, lol funny
Phoenix2003
Profile Joined August 2012
126 Posts
October 04 2012 18:49 GMT
#16
On October 05 2012 03:22 Berceno wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 05 2012 03:00 stard1n wrote:
There is no Terran Deathball.


Are we playing the same game?


+1, the bio ball is basicly a deathball


Terran players are just in denial.
TheManInBlack
Profile Blog Joined December 2011
Nigeria266 Posts
October 04 2012 19:21 GMT
#17
How is the Terran bioball a deathball when it doesn't trade nearly as efficiently as Z and P? You also need drops to augment it.
link0
Profile Joined March 2010
United States1071 Posts
October 04 2012 19:48 GMT
#18
Protoss has the army that benefits most from deathballs, mainly because their units have a greater cost/size ratio so they stack better.

The game would need major redesigns to discourage deathballs. There needs to be units that deal massive AOE damage (to prevent enemy army from deathballing), but the AOE damage must not stack (to discourage yourself from deathballing) OR are HIGHLY immobile.

IMO, tanks should have their seige mode damage buffed in exchange for even slower transformation times.
http://www.justin.tv/link0 - Gosu.Linko - http://www.facebook.com/link0
RaZorwire
Profile Joined April 2012
Sweden718 Posts
October 04 2012 20:50 GMT
#19
On October 05 2012 03:22 Berceno wrote:
+1, the bio ball is basicly a deathball


Though the early game and parts of the midgame, yes, but as soon as the other races get enough AoE, a Terran is screwed if he doesn't split up his bioball properly. If you clump up your bio and A-move death ball style into a Zerg or Protoss army, you will ge fungaled and die, or stormed and die.
MasterCynical
Profile Joined September 2012
505 Posts
October 04 2012 20:56 GMT
#20
There seems to be a huge amount of confusion regarding the term 'mech'.

we have the first group of people who have watched pro korean BW and know 'mech' to be just positional leap frogging tank play with vulture harass and map control.

we have the second group who just consider 'mech' as factory units.

please state whether your refering to positional play or just making units from the factory, as it has created much confusion, even for the people at the blizzard. We all know how well this has turned out especially with blizzard comming up with the warhound to help 'mech'

Currently WOL mech is not positional mech play, its just another death ball. you just max out and march your army to the enemy base and kill him.
AzraelArchontas
Profile Joined September 2012
United States78 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-10-05 00:11:06
October 05 2012 00:06 GMT
#21
I consider Mech to be mostly factory based play witch is supposed
to function as advanced positional play but as mech is currently
is just a turtle till 200 deathball I believe the term mech shouldn't have
a confusing definition
Mech = positional factory based play

To address bio it is a deathball just not a t3 deathball
I wish to stop all deathballing not just the T3 P and Z
deathballs as well though terran bio gets eaten up by
Aoe that means a T1-2 comp forced a T3 comp to counter
This just dosen't seem right to me

On another note I would see Siege tank buff either back to BW siege tanks or some compromise
and the viking ground for to recive a minor buff when in assault form I would give it 2 5damage
attacks with a bonus against light and let it recive benifits from ground upgrades in assault form
The reason I like the SH is that it encourages supporting your army from afar counter attacking
I would add in the reaver for its massive Aoe damage and slow pushes with the reaver would be
easily punished by counter attacks
I would add a new "core" unit to terran mech to allow for new compositions and mid-game options
and a new "core" zerg unit to allow for a longer mid-game where they could trade effectivly and not
rely on roaches and a new zerg counter attack unit that could deal a great deal of burst damage
pull out not quite harass more like a raider I would like to see units of this kind for all races
Raiding an enemy base instead of just hitting workers something not effective to mass but good
as a hit and run even against buildings not like mutas or banshee this would hopefully break up
units because you would not want these in a big extended fight but wouldn't just become obsolete

On the note of the other gateway unit my thought is it would require Twilight Council or Robo
You could warp it in and it would be a defensive specialist (something in-between immortal sentry)
It would hopefully make 4 gate obsolete by being more cost effective on the defense and reduce
problems with all-ins that way the MsC could fill some cool new roles for protoss
On the topic of MsC wouldn't it just be easier to say it starts on the nexus when you build it
then you transform it just like into the mothership to make it mobile and then again into the
mothership? this seems like a simpler solution to me then you don't have it getting out before zerg
has 2 queens or terran have enough marines when it comes to recall it supports deathballs a little to
much you have to group them together to get the benefit of coarse the core having to be there thus
denial is cool but what if it made smaller cores that could then recall back to it with a smaller radius
costing its energy these could be used to scout or support your army it would remain at base for
defense and when you wanted to transform it you would need them all with it to transform meaning
the enemy could more easily deny motherships(for a short time) and would have a way to tell it was
occurring by noticing the orbs where not out and about

I think some of these changes would prevent deathballing and help to create a more dynamic battlefield

Thoughts on my ideas concepts?
Alex1Sun
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
494 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-10-05 06:29:03
October 05 2012 00:16 GMT
#22
On October 05 2012 00:57 MateShade wrote:
Is this thread a joke?

I agree. A bad OP is a bad OP.
This is not Warcraft in space!
Zaurus
Profile Joined October 2010
Singapore676 Posts
October 05 2012 00:30 GMT
#23
Haha. I do feel there is no terran death ball. They are forced to fight together cause protoss and Zerg are moving their units together.

Infestors should be changed in my opinion, if not Zerg will continue to build gglords while turtlin behind turret.

Colossus is the main problem for Protoss, but there are enough threads about these, nothing will be changed. The main problem are obvious, but is too much for blizzard to change them apparently.

I really do feel there is no Terran deathball, it will be quite embarrassing for a Zerg to complain about deathball....
Normal
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
BSL
19:00
RO32 Group B
Sterling vs Azhi_Dahaki
Napoleon vs Mazur
Jimin vs Nesh
spx vs Strudel
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
WinterStarcraft280
RuFF_SC2 179
ROOTCatZ 124
UpATreeSC 18
StarCraft: Brood War
GuemChi 5804
Artosis 768
Sexy 24
Dota 2
monkeys_forever489
canceldota312
NeuroSwarm132
Counter-Strike
taco 449
Super Smash Bros
Mew2King53
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor106
Other Games
summit1g19991
tarik_tv6628
ViBE775
JimRising 658
C9.Mang0464
Maynarde124
febbydoto11
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick707
Counter-Strike
PGL362
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 13 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• davetesta31
• RyuSc2 28
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• RayReign 4
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Upcoming Events
Replay Cast
6h 57m
Wardi Open
7h 57m
Afreeca Starleague
7h 57m
Soma vs YSC
Sharp vs sSak
Monday Night Weeklies
13h 57m
OSC
21h 57m
Afreeca Starleague
1d 7h
Snow vs PianO
hero vs Rain
WardiTV Map Contest Tou…
1d 7h
GSL
1d 9h
Replay Cast
2 days
Kung Fu Cup
2 days
[ Show More ]
The PondCast
3 days
WardiTV Map Contest Tou…
3 days
Escore
4 days
WardiTV Map Contest Tou…
4 days
Korean StarCraft League
5 days
CranKy Ducklings
5 days
WardiTV Map Contest Tou…
5 days
IPSL
5 days
WolFix vs nOmaD
dxtr13 vs Razz
BSL
5 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
6 days
WardiTV Map Contest Tou…
6 days
Ladder Legends
6 days
BSL
6 days
IPSL
6 days
JDConan vs TBD
Aegong vs rasowy
Replay Cast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Escore Tournament S2: W2
RSL Revival: Season 4
NationLESS Cup

Ongoing

BSL Season 22
ASL Season 21
CSL 2026 SPRING (S20)
IPSL Spring 2026
StarCraft2 Community Team League 2026 Spring
Nations Cup 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: W3
Acropolis #4
BSL 22 Non-Korean Championship
CSLAN 4
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
RSL Revival: Season 5
WardiTV TLMC #16
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
CCT Season 3 Global Finals
IEM Rio 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.