• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 19:25
CET 00:25
KST 08:25
  • 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
ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT29Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book19Clem wins HomeStory Cup 289HomeStory Cup 28 - Info & Preview13Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info8
Community News
BSL Season 223Vitality ends partnership with ONSYDE20Team Liquid Map Contest - Preparation Notice6Weekly Cups (Feb 23-Mar 1): herO doubles, 2v2 bonanza2Weekly Cups (Feb 16-22): MaxPax doubles0
StarCraft 2
General
GSL CK - new tournament Weekly Cups (Feb 23-Mar 1): herO doubles, 2v2 bonanza Vitality ends partnership with ONSYDE How do you think the 5.0.15 balance patch (Oct 2025) for StarCraft II has affected the game? Team Liquid Map Contest - Preparation Notice
Tourneys
RSL Season 4 announced for March-April Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament PIG STY FESTIVAL 7.0! (19 Feb - 1 Mar) $5,000 WardiTV Winter Championship 2026 Sea Duckling Open (Global, Bronze-Diamond)
Strategy
Custom Maps
Publishing has been re-enabled! [Feb 24th 2026] Map Editor closed ?
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 516 Specter of Death Mutation # 515 Together Forever Mutation # 514 Ulnar New Year
Brood War
General
BSL 22 Map Contest — Submissions OPEN to March 10 BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ battle.net problems ASL21 General Discussion BSL Season 22
Tourneys
ASL Season 21 Qualifiers March 7-8 [Megathread] Daily Proleagues BWCL Season 64 Announcement [BSL22] Open Qualifier #1 - Sunday 21:00 CET
Strategy
Soma's 9 hatch build from ASL Game 2 Fighting Spirit mining rates Simple Questions, Simple Answers Zealot bombing is no longer popular?
Other Games
General Games
Nintendo Switch Thread PC Games Sales Thread Path of Exile No Man's Sky (PS4 and PC) Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion The Story of Wings Gaming
League of Legends
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
Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas Vanilla Mini Mafia TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Mexico's Drug War Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine YouTube Thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books [Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Cricket [SPORT] Formula 1 Discussion TL MMA Pick'em Pool 2013
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Laptop capable of using Photoshop Lightroom?
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
FS++
Kraekkling
Shocked by a laser…
Spydermine0240
Gaming-Related Deaths
TrAiDoS
ONE GREAT AMERICAN MARINE…
XenOsky
Unintentional protectionism…
Uldridge
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 2070 users

PvZ and creep

Forum Index > SC2 General
Post a Reply
Vision_
Profile Joined September 2018
875 Posts
Last Edited: 2022-08-17 17:50:09
August 17 2022 12:54 GMT
#1
Hello, Recently we've seen that Hero has been able to restore the PvZ meta a bit. From what I see on a professional level, 85% of openings are played with the stargate and my first question is the following: does the threat come from the fact that the effectiveness of the roach compared to the stalker is too big? We also know this ‘Queen walk’ build order and the fix which have been done to avoid his abuse., But in fact if 85% of the openings are made by the stargate it is still legit to complain as a Protoss, and since I watched the PvZ although the last patch worked out, I wonder if this isn't just the tree that hides the forest. When we compare the price and the dps of the roach to the stalker, there are reasons to wonder if the stalker is really useful, and stalkers is still used in pro-games but isn t only by default ?

The stalker is the only Protoss ground unit capable of targetting into air units with a decent range. Is the stalker ultimately just this catch-all unit? Also recently, I read that the lack of tools against creep was often involved against PvZ which certainly leads very quickly to the end of the game (sick) where stalkers gets their ass kicked. In addition, it is considered in its design to be "weak" against zerglings which decrease their interest again.

I think only professionals could give their opinion on this, it seems rather clear for them to be impossible of making a build order "blink / stalker into robot" with the potential to slow down the development of creep. However, there must be solutions, could we not just give a spell to the sentry for example, instead of hallucination, which isn t popular anymore, to allow an unit to be temporarily able to detect invisibility? It might be a good idea to add a tool before observers timer and because it allows to open a branch of the protoss development tree without touching roachs or stalkers caracteristics.

Sorry for my spelling mistakes
Vindicare605
Profile Blog Joined August 2011
United States16121 Posts
August 17 2022 13:22 GMT
#2
I've read this 3 times and I still don't understand what you're trying to ask.

I find it hilarious though that you have a comment that only professionals should be replying to you though. Especially since I can't figure out what the question even is.
aka: KTVindicare the Geeky Bartender
Beelzebub1
Profile Joined May 2015
1004 Posts
August 17 2022 13:38 GMT
#3
I'm confused as to what the problem is here, or that you're seeing.

Are you complaining that Protoss seems forced to open SG or something? Because that's been the meta for PvZ brood war for a very long time, sometimes there are just openings that are optimal and become standard.

I think the Ravager itself is fundamentally flawed, Bile killed off the FFE and kind of forced P into this, "build things that Ravagers can't shoot" phase, but lately PvZ has been extremely fun to watch.
tigera6
Profile Joined March 2021
3475 Posts
August 17 2022 15:24 GMT
#4
Okay, let me try to re-phrase the post and the question here. So you think that because the patch was supposed to eliminate the SG opening, but Protoss still does it? So you think SG wasnt the problem, it was the stalker that being too weak as a unit in PvZ in early game that you dont see any Stalker opening in PvZ?

I think what the patched set to do was to take out the double stargate Voidray build, the single stargate opening into Oracles is dominant in current Meta because of its ability to both clear creep and provide good harassments tool. And it give a good transition into any other tech from the Protoss side AFAIK.

As for Stalker opening, I think they are shit against lings even off creep, so its very hard to open with mass Stalker against the units that Zerg build from the very get go. They are good against Roach because of extra range, bonus DPS and mobility.

As for why not having another spell to detect creep, I dont see why you need to do it as the Oracle are quite perfect for it. If you want to get rid of the stargate entirely and let Protoss do a full ground army, then quick Robo into Observer is needed anyway.
Pentarp
Profile Joined August 2015
227 Posts
August 17 2022 18:40 GMT
#5
Keep being you, Vision_.
Plogamer TL.net RedRocket B.net
Vision_
Profile Joined September 2018
875 Posts
August 17 2022 18:43 GMT
#6
On August 17 2022 22:22 Vindicare605 wrote:
I've read this 3 times and I still don't understand what you're trying to ask.

I find it hilarious though that you have a comment that only professionals should be replying to you though. Especially since I can't figure out what the question even is.


you are terran and the question does not concern you since you play neither protoss nor zerg. Even if you play against professionals
AusProbe
Profile Joined July 2012
Australia235 Posts
August 17 2022 19:13 GMT
#7
Bit hard to follow, but I'll just assume we are just talking about interaction with creep.

If they made the creep tumour visible even without detection, I don't you would see more non-sg openers.
Pentarp
Profile Joined August 2015
227 Posts
August 17 2022 19:29 GMT
#8
On August 18 2022 03:43 Vision_ wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 17 2022 22:22 Vindicare605 wrote:
I've read this 3 times and I still don't understand what you're trying to ask.

I find it hilarious though that you have a comment that only professionals should be replying to you though. Especially since I can't figure out what the question even is.


you are terran and the question does not concern you since you play neither protoss nor zerg. Even if you play against professionals


I was a Terran main and I can tell you that (P)HerO's SG opener allowed for stalkers to go deeper into Zerg's side of the map and then retreat into 3 oracles ready to beam down any lings that give chase. This is in addition to the drone harass, revelations, and statis wards with the oracles.
Plogamer TL.net RedRocket B.net
Purressure
Profile Joined July 2021
106 Posts
Last Edited: 2022-08-17 23:05:50
August 17 2022 23:02 GMT
#9
On August 18 2022 03:43 Vision_ wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 17 2022 22:22 Vindicare605 wrote:
I've read this 3 times and I still don't understand what you're trying to ask.

I find it hilarious though that you have a comment that only professionals should be replying to you though. Especially since I can't figure out what the question even is.


you are terran and the question does not concern you since you play neither protoss nor zerg. Even if you play against professionals


Any decent SC player should have an in-depth knowledge of every single race, it’s how you get good at understanding matchups in the first place so tone down just a little bit because you’re making it easy for people to dislike you if that’s the way you’re going to communicate to people trying to understand what you’re asking so in return they could help you answer your question.

Funny thing is though you start with a question but then you proceed laying out an answer to your question.. was this meant as a monologue? I can see why people are confused.
Vision_
Profile Joined September 2018
875 Posts
August 18 2022 07:46 GMT
#10
On August 18 2022 04:13 AusProbe wrote:
Bit hard to follow, but I'll just assume we are just talking about interaction with creep.

If they made the creep tumour visible even without detection, I don't you would see more non-sg openers.


Yes it mainly concerns creep, would you play some none official games with tumors visible against a pro zerg player ? I mean it could be casted by OG or Wardi (I guess...) on a show / stream with the "What If" Theme.


banjo1735
Profile Blog Joined December 2011
19 Posts
August 18 2022 09:04 GMT
#11
On August 18 2022 03:43 Vision_ wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 17 2022 22:22 Vindicare605 wrote:
I've read this 3 times and I still don't understand what you're trying to ask.

I find it hilarious though that you have a comment that only professionals should be replying to you though. Especially since I can't figure out what the question even is.


you are terran and the question does not concern you since you play neither protoss nor zerg. Even if you play against professionals

Believe it or not, if you change a unit to help PvZ, that same unit will remain changed in PvT. You probably shouldn't make a (serious) balance suggestion without trying to think through how it affects other matchups, i.e you'd probably want some Terran players contributing to the conversation.
ejozl
Profile Joined October 2010
Denmark3481 Posts
Last Edited: 2022-08-18 10:30:21
August 18 2022 10:25 GMT
#12
Stalkers are very efficient vs Roaches as they should be, this has been the case since the Stalker damage was changed and the upgrade value followed suit. There is the Ravager though, which is a big factor. But I don't really see it as a case of Ravager/Roach vs Stalker, it's that Stalkers are really weak vs lings, especially in lower numbers. So you always need to have Sentries with your Stalkers, the thing is the Oracle does the job of the Sentry better. So we just use the Oracle as the modern Sentry.
It was long ago when there was mass Oracle meta that Classic actually showed a strong follow up was mass Blink Stalker, since there is a strong synergi between Stasis and Stalkers. With Stalkers being adept at killing small ling squads trying to trigger the Stasis, so the Stasis usually get huge value. Also the Pulsar Beam kills the lings, which would otherwise spell the end of the Stalker kiting.

Oracle got cheaper Relevation not too long ago, so that actually has the benefit of giving sufficient detection, meaning Obs are less important, I don't think Protoss has had a weakness to detect things, ever since Blizz merged Envision and Revelation.
SC2 Archon needs "Terrible, terrible damage" as one of it's quotes.
hiroshOne
Profile Joined October 2015
Poland425 Posts
August 18 2022 16:33 GMT
#13
On August 17 2022 22:38 Beelzebub1 wrote:
I'm confused as to what the problem is here, or that you're seeing.

Are you complaining that Protoss seems forced to open SG or something? Because that's been the meta for PvZ brood war for a very long time, sometimes there are just openings that are optimal and become standard.

I think the Ravager itself is fundamentally flawed, Bile killed off the FFE and kind of forced P into this, "build things that Ravagers can't shoot" phase, but lately PvZ has been extremely fun to watch.


Oh really? Because as I remember, before Roach, every PvZ was Protoss trashing Zerg with mass Stalker/Sentry and guess what. Zerg was defenceless vs that.
Ultima Ratio Regum
Vision_
Profile Joined September 2018
875 Posts
Last Edited: 2022-08-19 09:06:45
August 19 2022 08:43 GMT
#14
On August 18 2022 19:25 ejozl wrote:
Stalkers are very efficient vs Roaches as they should be, this has been the case since the Stalker damage was changed and the upgrade value followed suit. There is the Ravager though, which is a big factor. But I don't really see it as a case of Ravager/Roach vs Stalker, it's that Stalkers are really weak vs lings, especially in lower numbers. So you always need to have Sentries with your Stalkers, the thing is the Oracle does the job of the Sentry better. So we just use the Oracle as the modern Sentry.
It was long ago when there was mass Oracle meta that Classic actually showed a strong follow up was mass Blink Stalker, since there is a strong synergi between Stasis and Stalkers. With Stalkers being adept at killing small ling squads trying to trigger the Stasis, so the Stasis usually get huge value. Also the Pulsar Beam kills the lings, which would otherwise spell the end of the Stalker kiting.

Oracle got cheaper Relevation not too long ago, so that actually has the benefit of giving sufficient detection, meaning Obs are less important, I don't think Protoss has had a weakness to detect things, ever since Blizz merged Envision and Revelation.


It s interessant so my topic is null and unnecessary but,


On August 19 2022 01:33 hiroshOne wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 17 2022 22:38 Beelzebub1 wrote:
I'm confused as to what the problem is here, or that you're seeing.

Are you complaining that Protoss seems forced to open SG or something? Because that's been the meta for PvZ brood war for a very long time, sometimes there are just openings that are optimal and become standard.

I think the Ravager itself is fundamentally flawed, Bile killed off the FFE and kind of forced P into this, "build things that Ravagers can't shoot" phase, but lately PvZ has been extremely fun to watch.


Oh really? Because as I remember, before Roach, every PvZ was Protoss trashing Zerg with mass Stalker/Sentry and guess what. Zerg was defenceless vs that.


Yes so, as Blizzard suggested to help zerg against force fields, it could be reasonnable to think that solution must be proportionnal to the issue. Indeed, force fields cost 50 mana but ravagers can throw biles every 7 s... And these two units cost 100 gas. There s no need to find a perfect solution, but if biles would have cost mana, they would be virtually free.

That s why the ravager solution proposed by Blizzard is a good solution except if we put appart the fact that there are thrown continually. If community consider that meta has shifted too much after this, then a middle solution could be tested in some showmatch i.e biles decreases FF timer by 5 seconds instead of remove them.



Poll: do you think the meta can evolve if biles doesn t remove FF instantly

No (4)
 
80%

Yes (1)
 
20%

5 total votes

Your vote: do you think the meta can evolve if biles doesn t remove FF instantly

(Vote): Yes
(Vote): No

ejozl
Profile Joined October 2010
Denmark3481 Posts
Last Edited: 2022-08-21 09:20:55
August 21 2022 09:20 GMT
#15
I don't like this solution, adds a lot of complexity. Now when a Force Field gets Biled, you have to know how much time is left on it for you to know, whether, the Force Field gets destroyed, or if it's still up. And the Zerg has to know how many Biles they should spent on it.
SC2 Archon needs "Terrible, terrible damage" as one of it's quotes.
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 35m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
elazer 264
SteadfastSC 142
ProTech136
JuggernautJason94
CosmosSc2 25
StarCraft: Brood War
Artosis 535
ggaemo 83
LancerX 16
Dota 2
monkeys_forever401
Counter-Strike
byalli510
Super Smash Bros
AZ_Axe88
PPMD46
Other Games
gofns56674
tarik_tv19100
summit1g9992
Grubby3601
shahzam259
ToD198
C9.Mang0131
Maynarde87
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick2246
BasetradeTV67
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 15 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Hupsaiya 74
• musti20045 40
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• Eskiya23 19
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• TFBlade1399
Other Games
• imaqtpie1460
Upcoming Events
OSC
35m
Wardi Open
12h 35m
PiGosaur Monday
1d
WardiTV Team League
1d 12h
Replay Cast
2 days
The PondCast
2 days
WardiTV Team League
2 days
Replay Cast
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
CranKy Ducklings
4 days
[ Show More ]
WardiTV Team League
4 days
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
4 days
Replay Cast
5 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
5 days
WardiTV Team League
5 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Wardi Open
6 days
Monday Night Weeklies
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

ASL Season 21: Qualifier #2
WardiTV Winter 2026
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Jeongseon Sooper Cup
Spring Cup 2026
BSL Season 22
RSL Revival: Season 4
Nations Cup 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual

Upcoming

ASL Season 21
Acropolis #4 - TS6
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
CSLAN 4
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Bellum Gens Elite Stara Zagora 2026
NationLESS Cup
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
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
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.