• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 14:54
CEST 20:54
KST 03:54
  • 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
Serral wins Maestros of the Game 236ByuL, and the Limitations of Standard Play3Team Liquid Map Contest #22: Results and Winners7Code S Season 2 (2026): RO4 and Finals Preview12TL.net Map Contest #22 - Voting & Ladder Map Selection7
Community News
BSL Season 22 Full Overview & Conclusion5BSL Season 22 Full Overview & Conclusion5Weekly Cups (June 29-July 5): Solar Doubles0MC vs IdrA, Boxer vs Nal_rA to be Legacy Matches @ BlizzCon445.0.16 Hotfix (June 30) - Balance + Bug Fixes40
StarCraft 2
General
Most successful SC2 players of Q2 2026 Serral wins Maestros of the Game 2 MC vs IdrA, Boxer vs Nal_rA to be Legacy Matches @ BlizzCon Is the larve respawn broken? 5.0.16 patch for SC2 goes live (8 worker start)
Tourneys
RSL Revival: Season 6 - Qualifiers and Main Event GSL CK #5 Race War HomeStory Cup 29 Vespene Cup #1 — $300+ USD, July 10 Sea Duckling Open (Global, Bronze-Diamond)
Strategy
[G] Having the right mentality to improve
Custom Maps
New Map Maker - Looking for Advice - Love or Hate Work In Progress Melee Maps [D]RTS in all its shapes and glory <3
External Content
Mutation # 533 Die Together The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 532 Nuclear Family Mutation # 531 Experimental Artillery
Brood War
General
BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ BW General Discussion BSL Season 22 Full Overview & Conclusion ASL 22 Proposed Map Pool Starcraft vs Retro Category on Twitch
Tourneys
CSLAN 4 is Coming! IPSL Spring 2026 Top 4! [ASL22] Wildcard Qualifier [Megathread] Daily Proleagues
Strategy
Fighting Spirit mining rates Simple Questions, Simple Answers Creating a full chart of Zerg builds Relatively freeroll strategies
Other Games
General Games
General RTS Discussion Thread Summer Games Done Quick 2026! Nintendo Switch Thread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Dawn of War IV
Dota 2
Looking for a Dota Mentor Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug
TL Mafia
NeO.D_StephenKing vs This Guy From 1 Million Dance TL Mafia Community Thread TL Mafia Power Rank Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread UK Politics Mega-thread YouTube Thread Canadian Politics Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club The HerO Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread Movie Discussion! Series you have seen recently... [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books [TV/BOOK] *SPOILERS* Game of Thrones Discussion
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread McBoner: A hockey love story Tennis[sport] Formula 1 Discussion TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
FPS when play League Of Legend on laptop How to clean a TTe Thermaltake keyboard? Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Major Shifts in the Gaming I…
TrAiDoS
An Exploration of th…
waywardstrategy
Gauntlet SC2: A Retrospectiv…
Ctone23
ramps on octagon
StaticNine
Funny Nicknames
LUCKY_NOOB
Evil Gacha Games and the…
ffswowsucks
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 5962 users

PvZ and creep

Forum Index > SC2 General
Post a Reply
Vision_
Profile Joined September 2018
876 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 States16124 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
3502 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
876 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
876 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
Denmark3512 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
876 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
Denmark3512 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
Patches Events
16:00
5400 MMR Capped Patch Clash
Liquipedia
PSISTORM Gaming Misc
15:55
FSL TeamLeague s11: POG vs ASH
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
elazer 245
Clem_sc2 167
BRAT_OK 66
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 21592
Calm 3284
Mini 531
ggaemo 96
Soulkey 94
Dewaltoss 86
Dota 2
420jenkins434
LuMiX1
Heroes of the Storm
Grubby2592
Liquid`Hasu332
Other Games
tarik_tv2256
singsing2229
B2W.Neo1025
Beastyqt593
UpATreeSC62
Chillindude18
MindelVK3
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick37201
BasetradeTV215
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
[ Show 17 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• printf 59
• OhrlRock 4
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• sooper7s
• Migwel
StarCraft: Brood War
• Michael_bg 13
• FirePhoenix3
• Pr0nogo 3
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
• BSLYoutube
Other Games
• imaqtpie1140
• Shiphtur208
Upcoming Events
RSL Revival
14h 6m
Solar vs Rogue
Maru vs NightMare
Sparkling Tuna Cup
15h 6m
IPSL
21h 6m
Bonyth vs Hawk
GSL
1d 16h
Replay Cast
2 days
WardiTV Weekly
2 days
The PondCast
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
CrankTV Team League
4 days
Replay Cast
5 days
[ Show More ]
CrankTV Team League
5 days
Replay Cast
6 days
RSL Revival
6 days
Clem vs Lambo
Scarlett vs Cure
CranKy Ducklings
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Escore Tournament S3: W2
HSC XXIX
Eternal Conflict S2 E1

Ongoing

IPSL Spring 2026
Acropolis #4
YSL S3
CSL 2026 Summer (S21)
RSL Revival: Season 6
CranK Gathers Season 4: BW vs SC2 Team League
SCTL 2026 Spring
XSE Pro League 2026
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

Upcoming

CSLAN 4
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
HSC XXX
SC4ALL II: StarCraft II
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
Light Tournament 2026
Eternal Conflict S2 Finale
Eternal Conflict S2 E3
Eternal Conflict S2 E2
Logitech G Connect 2026
StarSeries Fall 2026
FISSURE Playground #5
BLAST Open Fall 2026
Esports World Cup 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3
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.