• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 16:18
CEST 22:18
KST 05:18
  • 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
[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Holy Diver4[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Rough Waters10[ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Siren's Call8[ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Summer's End9Serral wins HomeStory Cup 2915
Community News
StarCraft open world shooter announced at BlizzCon95Weekly Cups (Aug 30-Sep 7): herO thrives amid growing schism10Official StarCraft website teases new content ahead of BlizzCon?175Stellar Fest TWO the Moon (Dec 16-20)9Weekly Cups (August 24-30): Patches' balance mod takes over3
StarCraft 2
General
StarCraft open world shooter announced at BlizzCon How do you feel about the StarCraft shooter announcement at BlizzCon 2026? Balance hotfix patch 5.0.16b (July 16) Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool Team Liquid Map Contest #22: Results and Winners
Tourneys
RSL goes to London! 2026 Offline Finals Nov 21-22 RSL Revival: Season 6 - Qualifiers and Main Event SC2 AI Tournament 2026 Fall Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament KSL Week #92
Strategy
[G] Having the right mentality to improve
Custom Maps
Nexus Wars 2021 GUIDE [M] (2) Industrial Park
External Content
Mutation # 543 Enhanced Defenses The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 542 The Ascended Mutation # 541 Binary Choice
Brood War
General
New 3v3 BGH Ladder (and more) on ShieldBattery! Official StarCraft website teases new content ahead of BlizzCon? [D] Brainstorming a balance patch for Brood war Making an Online Broodwar Manager Game [ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Holy Diver
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues [ASL22] Ro16 Group C [ASL22] Ro16 Group B [ASL22] Ro16 Group A
Strategy
Replay Review Process - What do you do? Simple Questions, Simple Answers Odyssey Mineral Stack Saturation Game Theory for Starcraft
Other Games
General Games
EVE Corporation Nintendo Switch Thread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Diablo IV [Maplestory Hardcore] Let's Play~!!
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
[TL LoL EUW IHs] Teemo shall perish
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Artificial Intelligence Thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread UK Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine
Fan Clubs
MarineLorD Fan Club The Creator Fan Club The ShoWTimE Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Movie Discussion! Diablo Animated Series on Netflix
Sports
Football (Soccer) Thread TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 MLB/Baseball 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List Northern Ireland Global Starcraft
Blogs
Virtual Romance, Real-Life C…
TrAiDoS
Regacy Esports:Our Goa…
regacyesports
Dreaming of BW patches (mod…
c3rberUs
LOCKPICKING NOOB
LUCKY_NOOB
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 6107 users

[D] The PvZ strat that NesTea fears.

Forum Index > Closed
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
mappiechampion
Profile Joined August 2010
Sweden155 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-01-12 21:17:05
January 12 2011 21:15 GMT
#1
In an interview made after winning his Ro16 group NesTea said the following:

Q. How do you feel about the 1.2.0 patch as a Zerg?
A. It's depressing. There is a strategy I'm worried about, and if the Protoss uses that strategy, it will be a worse pressure than facing a Terran player.


What kind of strategy could he be thinking of? It probably involves either Hallucination or Pheonixes. What do you think? In what way can you use the lowered production time to the fullest?
ChickenLips
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
2912 Posts
January 12 2011 21:29 GMT
#2
nexus first into 2stargate phoenix + chronoes gets a shitton of phoenix out very fast i imagine.

cant really think of anything else that would be so hard to deal with and become 'a new build' with the patch.

Or maybe he wants his opponents to go nexus first 2 stargate so he can out macro them.. who knows
❤Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ✿
KingRajesh
Profile Joined July 2010
United States927 Posts
January 12 2011 21:33 GMT
#3
What about 1stargate Phoenix + Hallucination straight into Colossus?

That way, you see the fleet of phoenix, assume he went 2 gate phoenix and make Hydras, and the Colossus punish your assumptions?

I saw it in a custom game today, it really sucked.
"Zerg are the absolute worst thing that can happen to your day" - Dustin Browder
Skyro
Profile Joined May 2010
United States1823 Posts
January 12 2011 21:35 GMT
#4
It obviously has something to do with phoenixes. You can't have a whole build/strategy based off hallucination. Phoenixes are also a transition unit, not something you mass, so I would imagine it would be some sort of stargate opener.
Galleon.frigate
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Canada721 Posts
January 12 2011 21:43 GMT
#5
On January 13 2011 06:33 KingRajesh wrote:
What about 1stargate Phoenix + Hallucination straight into Colossus?

That way, you see the fleet of phoenix, assume he went 2 gate phoenix and make Hydras, and the Colossus punish your assumptions?

I saw it in a custom game today, it really sucked.


I'm not sure that is sustainable, if there a liar there is a good chance of an overseer. And there is the far more obvious tell of not taking dmg and no harras dispite having shown mass phonix.

I can see getting tricked once, but it's not what someone like nestea is going to be worried about
tuestresfat
Profile Joined December 2010
2555 Posts
January 12 2011 21:46 GMT
#6
possibly pump out 3 phoenixes really fast to snipe off the queens and then make a warpgate timing attack with 2 void rays? complete guess, sounds deadly tho.
Jermstuddog
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
United States2231 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-01-12 21:47:59
January 12 2011 21:47 GMT
#7
On January 13 2011 06:35 Skyro wrote:
It obviously has something to do with phoenixes. You can't have a whole build/strategy based off hallucination. Phoenixes are also a transition unit, not something you mass, so I would imagine it would be some sort of stargate opener.


Phoenixes can totally be massed. I bumped into a game with 8-10 phoenixs harassing my expos while he blocked off his entrance with 4-6 cannons, transitioning into stalker/colossus/phoenix. Even though I hit him straight up with roach/hydra/corruptor, which I thought I should win, the excessive amount of phoenixes specifically targeting my hydras proved devastating.

This game was a bit of an eye-opener for me. Large amounts of Phoenixes are really good against pretty much everything except maybe lings, when they can be produced as quickly as they can now, they're really hard to deal with.
As it turns out, marines don't actually cost any money -Jinro
Arco
Profile Joined September 2009
United States2090 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-01-12 21:55:35
January 12 2011 21:48 GMT
#8
It's gotta be Phoenix into Colossus/Void Ray. It's what I've been doing, and it's pretty damn awesome.

The sheer amount of Phoenixs you can build is pretty deadly. They're forced to get Hydralisks and then they easily die to the ball of Void Ray/Colossus because Roaches get eaten alive by Void Rays and are probably more effective at killing them than a standard ground army, while Hydras get eaten alive by Colossus too.

Voidray/Colossus is a very strong unit composition with little answers for Zerg. The Phoenix buff has made it much, much more viable too.

Once they get to the point of having huge clumps of Corruptors you will definitely want to integrate Stalkers back into your mix, usually after taking your 3rd so you have the gas to do so. The Corruptors eat alive Voidray/Colossus in a critical mass, so you need to quickly mass up Stalkers to support it.
SpoR
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
United States1542 Posts
January 12 2011 21:54 GMT
#9
fast expand with hallucination scouts. Pretty much that in itself is just good as fuck. Make proper counters and win.
A man is what he thinks about all day long.
plagiarisedwords
Profile Joined November 2010
United Kingdom138 Posts
January 12 2011 21:56 GMT
#10
I think its the combination of phoenix buff and infestor nerf. If you were a smart zerg player you didnt go hydras against phoenix player as you know he will transition to collossus. Therefore, you got infestors which are great anti air because of funghal growth and marines. It was also good vs the collosus death ball as you could FG it in the open when it is out of position. Now with FG not working for air, infestor is far less effective as anti-air.
Skyro
Profile Joined May 2010
United States1823 Posts
January 12 2011 21:59 GMT
#11
On January 13 2011 06:47 Jermstuddog wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 13 2011 06:35 Skyro wrote:
It obviously has something to do with phoenixes. You can't have a whole build/strategy based off hallucination. Phoenixes are also a transition unit, not something you mass, so I would imagine it would be some sort of stargate opener.


Phoenixes can totally be massed. I bumped into a game with 8-10 phoenixs harassing my expos while he blocked off his entrance with 4-6 cannons, transitioning into stalker/colossus/phoenix. Even though I hit him straight up with roach/hydra/corruptor, which I thought I should win, the excessive amount of phoenixes specifically targeting my hydras proved devastating.

This game was a bit of an eye-opener for me. Large amounts of Phoenixes are really good against pretty much everything except maybe lings, when they can be produced as quickly as they can now, they're really hard to deal with.


You basically just agreed with me. I said phoenixes is not really a unit that you mass, e.g. eventually you have to transition into something else.

I've been doing a FE into double stargate opener into void/colossi for months in PvZ on Scrap/Jungle/Shakuras and it was already incredibly potent. The phoenix and void ray buff will only make it moreso.
Truffy
Profile Joined May 2010
United States95 Posts
January 12 2011 21:59 GMT
#12
Fungal growth still works on air bro.
1a2a3a-->gg
pppppppppp
Profile Joined October 2010
Singapore236 Posts
January 12 2011 22:02 GMT
#13
what fg not working for air, they reverted that change some time back..
mookku
Profile Joined October 2010
Finland39 Posts
January 12 2011 22:04 GMT
#14
On January 13 2011 06:56 plagiarisedwords wrote:
I think its the combination of phoenix buff and infestor nerf. If you were a smart zerg player you didnt go hydras against phoenix player as you know he will transition to collossus. Therefore, you got infestors which are great anti air because of funghal growth and marines. It was also good vs the collosus death ball as you could FG it in the open when it is out of position. Now with FG not working for air, infestor is far less effective as anti-air.


Fungal growth still works for air, the planned change was reverted early in the test realm already... But NesTea is clearly worried of early game anyway, so this is kind of irrelevant as rushing to infestors is not really a solution to anything. I guess it could be some kind of 2 stargate build utilizing chronoboost for first phoenixes. When you get a few overlords early on in the game, the zerg is basically dead as it's hard to produce anything while constantly supply capped. Maybe followed with some zealot aggression to make it even harder to defend?
ChickenLips
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
2912 Posts
January 12 2011 22:13 GMT
#15
On January 13 2011 06:46 tuestresfat wrote:
possibly pump out 3 phoenixes really fast to snipe off the queens and then make a warpgate timing attack with 2 void rays? complete guess, sounds deadly tho.


thats pretty fucking smart, youd do it off 2 base though and with like 5-6 gates. Zerg dies in an almost comic way to 2 base wg all ins without queens.
❤Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ✿
sKo
Profile Joined November 2010
United States45 Posts
January 12 2011 22:32 GMT
#16
On January 13 2011 07:04 mookku wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 13 2011 06:56 plagiarisedwords wrote:
I think its the combination of phoenix buff and infestor nerf. If you were a smart zerg player you didnt go hydras against phoenix player as you know he will transition to collossus. Therefore, you got infestors which are great anti air because of funghal growth and marines. It was also good vs the collosus death ball as you could FG it in the open when it is out of position. Now with FG not working for air, infestor is far less effective as anti-air.


Fungal growth still works for air, the planned change was reverted early in the test realm already... But NesTea is clearly worried of early game anyway, so this is kind of irrelevant as rushing to infestors is not really a solution to anything. I guess it could be some kind of 2 stargate build utilizing chronoboost for first phoenixes. When you get a few overlords early on in the game, the zerg is basically dead as it's hard to produce anything while constantly supply capped. Maybe followed with some zealot aggression to make it even harder to defend?

I've been doing something similar to this, something like gate core stargate gate gate, getting 3-4 phoenix to kill off ovies and harass queens and ending the game witha handful of zealots and sentries. Pretty effective although I've only attempted it a handful of times.
"My wife for hire!"
aka_star
Profile Blog Joined July 2007
United Kingdom1546 Posts
January 12 2011 22:47 GMT
#17
The pheonix play will really set Z back, limit his options by forcing corrupter's or hydras and attempt to suppress him enough that toss can build up a sick 200/200 army and roll him. Even if Z can get brood lords or Ultras they are now shut down by a small handful of voids... Really doesn't seem like happy days for Z
FlashDave.999 aka Star
KeksX
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Germany3634 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-01-12 22:55:48
January 12 2011 22:54 GMT
#18
I also think it's mass Phoenix.

If 1 or 2 phoenixes could kill some overlords, what about a whole bunch of phoenixes? And even IF zerg can defend the phoenix harrass(you can even call it a push if Protoss kills every singleoverlord that isn't near your base or your sporecrawlers), toss can easily tech up to colossi and rape the *** out of your hydras.
I don't see any reason why you shouldn't go for fast Phoenix in PvZ. It owns. I can't think of a way to defend that properly without getting behind in eco and tech too much...

Like... Phoenix harrass was already pretty effective, now it's like saying "I won this game anyway, please leave."

And since this is the only change that is really changing "how to kill" zerg, it has to be phoenix. (Or do you want to kill the zerg with observers?)
Zokkar
Profile Joined December 2010
Israel128 Posts
January 12 2011 22:55 GMT
#19
There is a really awesome protoss strategy thats going to get amplified after this patch. It was actually quite popular in BW too:

The toss goes: some sort of expand, could be 3gate expand or cannon expand ->Phoenix -> DT (if you don't win after that then -> Colossus)

Basically the phoenix massacres all the stray overlords. You force the zerg to make hydralisks and play ultra defensive, once you get about 8 phoenix or so you can actually run in and snipe queens greatly reducing the zerg's production. Once you transition into Dark Shrine you attack with your gateway units which have DT sprinkled into it, you snipe the overseer if he has any. The DT is there to surprise, even if he does scout it and makes an overseer you easily snipe it with phoenix. Basically he'll need like 3-4 overseer over his army at all times.

This really catches zerg off guards and is extremely potent.
takingbackoj
Profile Joined December 2010
United States684 Posts
January 12 2011 23:05 GMT
#20
The only problem I would see with DT's is that by going with a stargate you might force zerg to build a few spores which are detectors. I would say collosus instead to counter the hydras would be pretty ridiculous.
Get the hell outta here Der Beek, your'e ruining my moment.
1 2 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Monday Night Weeklies
16:00
#63
RotterdaM1212
TaKeTV 402
TKL 401
IndyStarCraft 276
SteadfastSC205
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
RotterdaM 1212
TKL 401
IndyStarCraft 276
SteadfastSC 205
UpATreeSC 112
StarCraft: Brood War
Calm 3076
Mini 237
Soulkey 110
HiyA 57
firebathero 39
910 37
Trap 36
soO 25
Dota 2
monkeys_forever118
League of Legends
JimRising 223
Counter-Strike
fl0m1507
pashabiceps802
Heroes of the Storm
Liquid`Hasu620
Other Games
Liquid`RaSZi2098
FrodaN1239
Beastyqt772
XaKoH 638
mouzStarbuck592
shahzam379
ToD238
Pyrionflax225
KnowMe172
Chillindude21
Railgan9
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick2262
[ Show 17 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• kabyraGe 186
• EnkiAlexander 51
• Kozan
• Migwel
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• IndyKCrew
StarCraft: Brood War
• HerbMon 45
• blackmanpl 7
• Eskiya23 7
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
• BSLYoutube
Dota 2
• masondota21685
League of Legends
• TFBlade1059
Other Games
• imaqtpie926
• Shiphtur165
Upcoming Events
Afreeca Starleague
13h 42m
Snow vs Shinee
Shine vs EffOrt
GSL
14h 42m
PiGosaur Cup
1d 3h
The PondCast
1d 13h
Kung Fu Cup
1d 14h
Replay Cast
2 days
KCM Race Survival
2 days
IntoTheTV X SOOP
2 days
Replay Cast
3 days
IntoTheTV X SOOP
3 days
[ Show More ]
Replay Cast
4 days
GSL
4 days
Replay Cast
5 days
GSL
5 days
Shopify Rebellion Sundays
5 days
Spirit vs Mixu
Replay Cast
6 days
WardiTV Weekly
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
Big Dog Cup 2026 Div 1

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 3
K-JUNGMAN
ASL Season 22
Super Anchor Qualifying S3
CSL 2026 AUTUMN (S22)
Acropolis #5
Calamity Invitational
FISSURE Playground #3
BLAST Open Fall 2026
Esports World Cup 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3
XSE Pro League 2026

Upcoming

Acropolis #5 - GSA
Acropolis #5 - GSB
Acropolis #5 - GSC
SC4ALL II: Brood War
HSC XXX
Stellar Fest 2: Lunar Cup
SC4ALL II: StarCraft II
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
RSL Offline Finals
Copium Cup
PGL Major Singapore 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 6
BLAST Rivals Fall 2026
IEM Beijing 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 5
PGL Masters Bucharest 2026
1win Private Club #2
Thunderpick World Champ. '26
ESL Pro League Season 24
Stake Ranked Episode 4
1win Private Club #1
Logitech G Play Connect 2026
SL StarSeries Fall 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.