• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 03:36
CEST 09:36
KST 16:36
  • 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
HomeStory Cup 27 - Info & Preview18Classic wins Code S Season 2 (2025)16Code S RO4 & Finals Preview: herO, Rogue, Classic, GuMiho0TL Team Map Contest #5: Presented by Monster Energy6Code S RO8 Preview: herO, Zoun, Bunny, Classic7
Community News
Flash Announces Retirement From ASL9Weekly Cups (June 23-29): Reynor in world title form?12FEL Cracov 2025 (July 27) - $8000 live event16Esports World Cup 2025 - Final Player Roster14Weekly Cups (June 16-22): Clem strikes back1
StarCraft 2
General
The SCII GOAT: A statistical Evaluation CONSULT ALPHA SPY NEST EXPERTS FOR YOUR LOST BTC Weekly Cups (June 23-29): Reynor in world title form? StarCraft Mass Recall: SC1 campaigns on SC2 thread How does the number of casters affect your enjoyment of esports?
Tourneys
FEL Cracov 2025 (July 27) - $8000 live event HomeStory Cup 27 (June 27-29) WardiTV Mondays SOOPer7s Showmatches 2025 $200 Biweekly - StarCraft Evolution League #1
Strategy
How did i lose this ZvP, whats the proper response Simple Questions Simple Answers [G] Darkgrid Layout
Custom Maps
[UMS] Zillion Zerglings
External Content
Mutation # 480 Moths to the Flame Mutation # 479 Worn Out Welcome Mutation # 478 Instant Karma Mutation # 477 Slow and Steady
Brood War
General
Flash Announces Retirement From ASL ASL20 Preliminary Maps BW General Discussion BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ StarCraft & BroodWar Campaign Speedrun Quest
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues [BSL20] GosuLeague RO16 - Tue & Wed 20:00+CET The Casual Games of the Week Thread [BSL20] ProLeague LB Final - Saturday 20:00 CET
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers I am doing this better than progamers do.
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Path of Exile What do you want from future RTS games? Beyond All Reason
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Trading/Investing Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Stop Killing Games - European Citizens Initiative Russo-Ukrainian War Thread
Fan Clubs
SKT1 Classic Fan Club! Maru Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread [Manga] One Piece [\m/] Heavy Metal Thread Korean Music Discussion
Sports
2024 - 2025 Football Thread NBA General Discussion Formula 1 Discussion TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 NHL Playoffs 2024
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
from making sc maps to makin…
Husyelt
Blog #2
tankgirl
Game Sound vs. Music: The Im…
TrAiDoS
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Heero Yuy & the Tax…
KrillinFromwales
Trip to the Zoo
micronesia
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 555 users

Liquipedia Strategic Q&A - Episode II

Forum Index > News
65 CommentsPost a Reply
1 2 3 4 Next All

Liquipedia Strategic Q&A - Episode II

Text byAesop
November 3rd, 2009 09:02 GMT
[image loading]

Banner by SilverskY

Hopin' for a Revolution
The Making of Modern PvZ


Liquipedia Strategic Q&A
Monday, 9th of November, 3.00 KST
Sunday, 8th of November, 19.00 CET
Sunday, 8th of November, 10.00 PST


Experts
[image loading][image loading][image loading] Oystein, [image loading][image loading] Liquid`NonY, [image loading][image loading] Day[9], [image loading][image loading] iNfeRnaL.


Outline

It's almost getting stale: Complaints about this matchup have been numerous in the weeks passed, and no solid judgement has yet been reached. Protoss are sparse in the OSL Ro16, but even fewer Terrans have made it through.

We won't talk about Imbalance, much. But we will analyse the implications of the 3 Base Spire into 5 hatch Hydra Build Order that is causing Protoss so much mischief and be looking into possible causes and solutions.

Preparation

As customary, we will have a set of games to watch beforehand and which we'll analyse live on stage. These are:
July vs. BeSt, Game 3 on Andromeda
Not the first usage ever, but the moment when the build mentioned inevitably surfaced in all its strength.
+ Show Spoiler [The VOD] +


Bisu vs. Shine, Game 3 on Heartbreak Ridge
Paradigmatic display of Protoss not doing many mistakes, but succumbing to the Templar sniping.
+ Show Spoiler [The VOD] +


BackHo vs. Calm, Game 1 on Eye of the Storm
Who would have thought some hope would come from Backho? But he takes a game off Calm with great DT usage.
+ Show Spoiler [The VOD] +



More Show

But we have more: A showmatch will be played afterwards, to settle the score between Aiur and the Zerg. The protagonists will be:
+ Show Spoiler [Dramatic Spoiler ...] +
[image loading][image loading] Liquid`NonY vs. [image loading][image loading] Oystein
<Andromeda>
<Heartbreak Ridge>
<Eye of the Storm>


We will try to provide 3rd person commentary and two seperate FPview streams from the players involved.

Got Questions?

To cover your needs, we need your questions. Ask them in the strategy forum thread.


Useful Liquipedia Links:
Liquipedia Feedback Thread
Liquipedia Players Page
Liquipedia Teams Page
PM a Liquipedia Staff Member: Aesop, Pholon, Imperator, mikeymoo, GHOSTCLAW, cgrinker
Facebook Twitter Reddit
ModeratorNon veritas sed auctoritas facit legem. | Liquipedia: Don't ask me, I'm retired.
samachking
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
Bahrain4949 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-04 05:25:01
November 03 2009 09:36 GMT
#2
Awesome pick and topic, especially the people discussing it, although I disagree with the games being picked to discuss the topic, Backhos build is terrible and would die to any other build or even cutting some drones to get some hydra, its a timing attack that will only work once vs anyone, + the July/Best game is extremely outdated when discussing 3 hat spire to 5hat hydra, a lot more recent games would do better in presenting the topic/build.

FakeSteve Edit: DustBowl's dick is hard
"And then Earthlings discovered tools. Suddenly agreeing with friends could be a form of suicide or worse. But agreements went on, not for the sake of common sense, or decency, or self preservation, but for friendliness."
KwarK
Profile Blog Joined July 2006
United States42531 Posts
November 03 2009 09:51 GMT
#3
Yeah. BackHo vs Calm was just classic BackHo fail. Calm held off the first dt break the way every competent zerg will and was then like "ok, now he'll transition into ht because he's not an idiot so I'll transition with him". Which of course completely missed the point that BackHo never, ever, changes his build based upon what's actually going on in the game. He rolled his build order dice and it said dt.
It didn't work because the build was good. The build was trying to break the first few hydra and get a dt into the main and it completely failed at that. Overlord speed plus a decent wall rapes it. It worked because Calm was doing 4th level thinking whereas BackHo is incapable of anything beyond 1st.

The mass dt into breaking a part of the zerg defence and then creating more fronts with dts than he can handle is a build I am familiar with. The first attack needs to succeed for the build to work because then the dt that gets into his main can start distracting him and then his hydra start moving around and holes appear in his defence and the dts start ninjaing in through the gaps, both in his actual defences and also his attention. Once the first attack fails to break into his main the build has failed, pure and simple. Calm knew this and knew BackHo 'had' to transition into standard play. BackHo may have known this, it's unclear because being BackHo it wouldn't matter if he knew it or not, he still wouldn't change.
ModeratorThe angels have the phone box
GTR
Profile Blog Joined September 2004
51432 Posts
November 03 2009 09:53 GMT
#4
Holy crap, not only DUAL FPVODS but THE RETURN OF NONY?
Commentator
samachking
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
Bahrain4949 Posts
November 03 2009 09:57 GMT
#5
On November 03 2009 18:51 KwarK wrote:
Yeah. BackHo vs Calm was just classic BackHo fail. Calm held off the first dt break the way every competent zerg will and was then like "ok, now he'll transition into ht because he's not an idiot so I'll transition with him". Which of course completely missed the point that BackHo never, ever, changes his build based upon what's actually going on in the game. He rolled his build order dice and it said dt.
It didn't work because the build was good. The build was trying to break the first few hydra and get a dt into the main and it completely failed at that. Overlord speed plus a decent wall rapes it. It worked because Calm was doing 4th level thinking whereas BackHo is incapable of anything beyond 1st.

The mass dt into breaking a part of the zerg defence and then creating more fronts with dts than he can handle is a build I am familiar with. The first attack needs to succeed for the build to work because then the dt that gets into his main can start distracting him and then his hydra start moving around and holes appear in his defence and the dts start ninjaing in through the gaps, both in his actual defences and also his attention. Once the first attack fails to break into his main the build has failed, pure and simple. Calm knew this and knew BackHo 'had' to transition into standard play. BackHo may have known this, it's unclear because being BackHo it wouldn't matter if he knew it or not, he still wouldn't change.


Another fact that indicated that it was an all in was the wall. Calm saw the wall which only let zealots out so he expected standard reaver/sair(well I thought he was going reaver/sair I dont know about calm) or a speedlot build, but then Backho used that really messed up timing push at a weird timing to counter Calm's drone whoring and then continued rallying stuff all over till he won with the mass drone kills.
"And then Earthlings discovered tools. Suddenly agreeing with friends could be a form of suicide or worse. But agreements went on, not for the sake of common sense, or decency, or self preservation, but for friendliness."
Aesop
Profile Joined October 2007
Hungary11289 Posts
November 03 2009 10:01 GMT
#6
We might be switching the example games according to your suggestions. Stay tuned.
ModeratorNon veritas sed auctoritas facit legem. | Liquipedia: Don't ask me, I'm retired.
s.a.y
Profile Blog Joined October 2007
Croatia3840 Posts
November 03 2009 10:22 GMT
#7
lol.

love "the return of the nony" :D
I am not good with quotes
538
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
Hungary3932 Posts
November 03 2009 12:01 GMT
#8
Awesome experts and showmatch, looking forward to it!
BW fighting!
ReiKo
Profile Blog Joined September 2007
Croatia1023 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-03 13:55:53
November 03 2009 13:55 GMT
#9
This is great, can't wait. Good job!

And of course, I hope there will be FPVOD's, VOD's and mp3's of this chit-chat-playing session.

Thanks!
Inzek
Profile Blog Joined May 2008
Chile802 Posts
November 03 2009 14:16 GMT
#10
Stork's sair/reaver could be tekd into consideration?
Stork FAN!!!
GHOSTCLAW
Profile Blog Joined February 2008
United States17042 Posts
November 03 2009 16:03 GMT
#11
On November 03 2009 23:16 Inzek wrote:
Stork's sair/reaver could be tekd into consideration?


many of stork's sair reaver games happened before 3 hat spire into 5 hat hydra was common. Even worse, most zergs didn't know about the build. However, there are example games of stork where he goes sair reaver against 3 hat spire into 5 hat hydra, although I don't remember any particularly memorable games where stork won against that zerg bo without the zerg making some sort of mistake earlier.
PhotographerLiquipedia. Drop me a pm if you've got questions/need help.
motbob
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
United States12546 Posts
November 03 2009 16:15 GMT
#12
You really need to have (P)GosI[Flying] vs (Z)great as one of the example games. I watched that game and thought, "Oh, that's how you play pro-level PvZ." I don't think Backho vs Calm is a good game to use as an example of the state of the matchup today or in the future, but flying vs great seems to me to be an indicator of things to come.
ModeratorGood content always wins.
Sentient66
Profile Joined July 2009
United States651 Posts
November 03 2009 16:29 GMT
#13
Wow, this looks like it's going to be awesome. Great choice of topic too.
seNsiX.421
Kimaker
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
United States2131 Posts
November 03 2009 16:41 GMT
#14
I think the Best vs. July game should certainly be kept as an example. It provides an overview of the beginnings of the mentality of the 3 hatch muta into 5 hatch hydra and complies what would happen if the build continued on into "ULTRA"- (see what I did there?) late game. This provides some history as to why the MU is where it is now and how we've shifted from an era of such Protoss dominance to the modern meta-game. Conversely, I believe July's style is SO personalized that trying to analyze the vast majority of his builds is a waste when considered from a meta-game analytical standpoint. I mean, the man hidden proxy hatched in a zvz, he's not exactly "sane".
Entusman #54 (-_-) ||"Gold is for the Mistress-Silver for the Maid-Copper for the craftsman cunning in his trade. "Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall, But Iron — Cold Iron — is master of them all|| "Optimism is Cowardice."- Oswald Spengler
nosliw
Profile Blog Joined December 2008
United States2716 Posts
November 03 2009 16:46 GMT
#15
This is awesome! I look forward to this.
SwEEt[TearS]
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
Canada1575 Posts
November 03 2009 17:58 GMT
#16
holy crap this will be good. sounds record the stream and sound :O
#1 arb fan -- Raelcun is Nuclear backwards. Rekrul is Lurker backwards. Grobyc is Cyborg backwards. Eniram is Marine backwards.
NonY
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
8748 Posts
November 03 2009 18:03 GMT
#17
On November 04 2009 01:15 motbob wrote:
You really need to have (P)GosI[Flying] vs (Z)great as one of the example games. I watched that game and thought, "Oh, that's how you play pro-level PvZ." I don't think Backho vs Calm is a good game to use as an example of the state of the matchup today or in the future, but flying vs great seems to me to be an indicator of things to come.

I will check out this game.
"Fucking up is part of it. If you can't fail, you have to always win. And I don't think you can always win." Elliott Smith ---------- Yet no sudden rage darkened his face, and his eyes were calm as they studied her. Then he smiled. 'Witness.'
Knickknack
Profile Joined February 2004
United States1187 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-03 19:49:41
November 03 2009 19:32 GMT
#18
Best lineup that can be expected, so looks good.
Although I don't expect anything particularly revealing. There will be talk about maps and general strategy. But each game in itself is an individual entity and just come down to every little decision aggregated. If a zerg like effort has their build down tight you must have your build down equally optimized to have a chance. And I suspect that is the main problem -- whether DA or sairs or whatever, toss don't have their builds down as tight, at least partly because their builds are more complex than zergs. Zergs build plan is very straight forward as to what you need to do exactly (pverpool => 3hat gas => lair, spire, speed, +lings if needed => add 2hat, scourge, den, evo, +sunk if needed => muta or hydra) while toss try many different things.


Also watching vods is like watching half a game.
Effort vs jaystar from ief is a recent replay. Great display of the build and a one sided zerg win.
| www.ArtofProtoss.vze.com |
0neheart
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
United States92 Posts
November 03 2009 21:53 GMT
#19


We will try to provide 3rd person commentary and two seperate FPview streams from the players involved.


this is especially awesome, imo
DyEnasTy
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
United States3714 Posts
November 03 2009 22:39 GMT
#20
Wow, im totally hyped about this, and I dont play PvZ. Please let there be mp3 downloads available so I can tune in.
Much better to die an awesome Terran than to live as a magic wielding fairy or a mindless sac of biological goop. -Manifesto7
1 2 3 4 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 8h 24m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 24017
NotJumperer 59
Aegong 37
Noble 28
ajuk12(nOOB) 24
Sharp 24
Bale 2
Dota 2
XcaliburYe156
XaKoH 155
BananaSlamJamma13
League of Legends
JimRising 602
Counter-Strike
summit1g6368
Stewie2K303
shoxiejesuss20
Super Smash Bros
Mew2King161
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor109
Other Games
shahzam984
WinterStarcraft423
KnowMe85
SortOf72
Pyrionflax35
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick800
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 12 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• lizZardDota2181
League of Legends
• Stunt504
Upcoming Events
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
8h 24m
OSC
11h 24m
Replay Cast
16h 24m
The PondCast
1d 2h
RSL Revival
1d 2h
ByuN vs Classic
Clem vs Cham
WardiTV European League
1d 8h
Replay Cast
1d 16h
RSL Revival
2 days
herO vs SHIN
Reynor vs Cure
WardiTV European League
2 days
FEL
2 days
[ Show More ]
Korean StarCraft League
2 days
CranKy Ducklings
3 days
RSL Revival
3 days
FEL
3 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
4 days
RSL Revival
4 days
FEL
4 days
BSL: ProLeague
4 days
Dewalt vs Bonyth
Replay Cast
5 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2025-06-28
HSC XXVII
Heroes 10 EU

Ongoing

JPL Season 2
BSL 2v2 Season 3
BSL Season 20
Acropolis #3
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 2
CSL 17: 2025 SUMMER
Copa Latinoamericana 4
Championship of Russia 2025
RSL Revival: Season 1
Murky Cup #2
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 7
IEM Dallas 2025
PGL Astana 2025
Asian Champions League '25
BLAST Rivals Spring 2025
MESA Nomadic Masters
CCT Season 2 Global Finals
IEM Melbourne 2025
YaLLa Compass Qatar 2025

Upcoming

CSLPRO Last Chance 2025
CSLPRO Chat StarLAN 3
K-Championship
uThermal 2v2 Main Event
SEL Season 2 Championship
FEL Cracov 2025
Esports World Cup 2025
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
IEM Cologne 2025
FISSURE Playground #1
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 © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.