EPTBefore I get bashed with people telling me that hydras and lings have been being used forever, I urge you to consider the way I do things (by looking at all the replays---or some) and then comment on the post. I guarantee you that you will be amazed or frightened (whether you are Zerg or Protoss
). Anywho the theory behind the Build came when I noticed 3 main FE builds coming from the protoss...either the 3-gate sentry expand, 2 gate stargate expand or the 15 nexus expand (sometimes these include a forge or not). All of these resist the common zerg pressure of roach/ling/baneling or any combo of those via cannon/sentry/force field/voidray usage. These all in someway prevent the zerg from getting in range and actually harming the protoss......That was the basis for the build and I could go into much more of the technicals except I don't want a TL;DR from everyone so I proudly bring to you Zergs Hydraling 10 min push:+ Show Spoiler +
14 Extractor
14 Pool
---get ling speed with first 100 gas immediately
15 overlord
16 Queen
---get 4 lings and destroy scout/clear natural for expo
---scout for Protoss FE
~20-22 Expand to Natural
---with second 100 gas get Lair IMMEDIATELY
---when lair starts immediately put down 2nd gas and put 3 drones on it when finished
---when your 2nd hatchery finishes transfer half your drones to it from your main
---drone up your 2 bases to about 31-35 drones total
From here on the build is extremely flexible, but you have to make sure you do a few KEY things:
---get hydra den right when lair finishes and get +1 TO HYDRA RANGE (**important**)
---try to keep scouts out as best you can
---you want to pump out about 14-15 hydras and 20-30 lings
At ~10:10 game time, you should start pushing out across the map for the enemies
(Rarely however, the attack time does change-> see replays and comments)
Edit: I've been asked to discuss the tactics when you reach the enemy...First off, you must realize you have hydras with 6 range...That is the range of any protoss unit so FF wont be much of a problem...But what you want to try to do is get your lings in without them being FF'ed away and use your hydras to target the zealots first, then the sentries/stalkers and pylons. In some circumstances, the protoss can have a single colossus out. Fortunately, they will not be able to get range in time so it won't be a problem. But of course, if there is one you must focus fire it down and proceed as usual. Then the pylons powering the warp gates and your golden from there!!!
THIS TIMING IS CRUCIAL....this is the point where the protoss will be the most vulnerable. I guarantee to you this fact has been worked out..
So in summary:
1.) Build Hydra/Ling
2.) Move Out at 10:10
3.) ?????????
4.) Profit!
I swear to you give this a try on a FE protoss ( even works well on non-FE protoss....seriously). It works very well. I will attach a bunch replays of just a few of the times I've performed this build.....its worked on high diamond to very good masters players. If you want more replays and proof of this PM me or friend me on bnet at Zerg.600 If you have a specific request for a replay of this build performing against a certain strategy that is not already in the replays, post in the thread and I bet I can find one.
Replays:
+ Show Spoiler +
1.) Zerg(Diamond) vs FruitJuice(Diamond). He goes 3 gate sentry forge expand and builds a stargate. Pumps out pheonixes and gets his +1 attack for ground units. This is a textbook example of the way the build should be done in this circumstance:
http://www.sc2replayed.com/replays/146491-1v1-protoss-zerg-backwater-gulch
2.) Zerg vs Keo (Masters League). He goes 3 gate sentry forge fast expand and also gets +1 attack. He however transitions into robotics bay instead of Stargate. At ~9 minutes he does a characteristic Sentry/Zealot and a few stalker attack. To answer a asked below it seems like this is a good example to the ability of this build to hold a sentry/zealot attack at around 7-8 minutes as well:
http://www.sc2replayed.com/replays/146701-1v1-protoss-zerg-gutterhulk
3.) Zerg vs Fish (Diamond 200 games with 65% win rate=good). I posted this build because it is an excellent example of how easy it is to transition out of this build and attests to the fact that it is by no means all in. He goes 2 gate into stargate/voidray expand. Gets 2 voids and 1 pheonix and moves to 3 gate/stargate/forge. My hydra/ling build does as it is suppose to and the transition into the mid-game is smooth as I am placed far in the lead:
http://www.sc2replayed.com/replays/146616-1v1-protoss-zerg-gutterhulk
4.) Zerg vs Zero (Rank 4 3100 Diamond). He does 3 gate sentry expand into starport. In this instance I believed that he was hiding a four gate and as you can see I proceeded to prepare some defense (this was done very easily because of the flexibility and the lack of commitment to the build needed ). Soon I notice I was wrong and convert back my build where I proceed to carry it out at a slightly later time. He had gone stargate after the expo and at seeing my hydras with an observer attempted to switch to Collosus...he failed:
http://www.sc2replayed.com/replays/146492-1v1-protoss-zerg-xelnaga-caverns
5.) Zerg vs ChiCaNery (Masters League). I was in a tournament for Z33K.com and I played two games against him. Unfortunately, the first game on Slag Pits creates an error when I try to upload it on sc2replayed therefore I only have the 2nd of the best of 3. The 1st game he went 3-gate into stargate and got 5-6 pheonixes which were unable to hurt me (hydras). He expanded and tech'd to collosus and when my push hit at around 10:30 his mainly gateway army with 6 pheonixes and a collosus was unable to hold. This is game two where I demonstrate the versatility of the build in that it is not only easily transitioned out of (as in Zerg vs Fish) but when you do early game damage to a protoss, this build is a highly reliable path to transition into and almost guarantee's you a win:
http://www.sc2replayed.com/replays/146488-1v1-protoss-zerg-xelnaga-caverns
6.) Zerg vs PlayerOne (3k+ rank one diamond). He went 2 gate stargate and got 1 voidray to expand. He harasses and transitions into 2 more gates (4 gates) and a robo. Key in this is that I went for the attack at around 10:10 and I plainly didn't like what I saw. I didn't like the probability that I would win that fight...So I pulled back and returned 1 minute, 8 hydras and 10 lings later and his gateway, voidray and single collosus couldn't hold:
http://www.sc2replayed.com/replays/146489-1v1-protoss-zerg-gutterhulk
7.) Zerg vs Atlas (Diamond 3000 rank 15). He goes 3 gate sentry forge FE.......again......I thought he was 4-gating for a bit so I layed some defense and eventually realized he wasn't. Thus I moved out slightly later (as the 4 spine crawlers set me behind) and still mowed down his gate/collosus army, of course, by focusing the collosus first (which wont have thermal lance):
http://www.sc2replayed.com/replays/146487-1v1-protoss-zerg-metalopolis
8.) Zerg vs Ahkko (3k rank 8 diamond). Another textbook execution of my build where the protoss techs to collosus by the time I get there. Focus fire collosus=win:
http://www.sc2replayed.com/replays/146490-1v1-protoss-zerg-gutterhulk
9.) Zerg vs DesuBear(New Diamond with 150 games at 67% win). People have criticized this player and said hes bad when in fact he is quite a skilled player that was vastly mistaken. He goes 2 gate robo teching to immortals b/c he thinks that I'm going roach (like ever zerg). He gets collosus when he notices and has thrown down an expo when I hit....focus collosus and I'm home free:
http://www.sc2replayed.com/replays/146493-1v1-protoss-zerg-scrap-station
10.) FINALLY LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST is Zerg vs Spiralface (3k+ rank 6 diamond). What is unique about this game is it is THE ONLY GAME I HAVE LOST TO PROTOSS SINCE I"VE DEVELOPED THIS BUILD.......probably the 1 out the 13 to 14 times. I will say this honestly and you can judge for yourself but I shouldn't have lost this game if I just did what I've been doing. However, I made the fatal error to, instead of sit back and get more units after his attack, engage immediately and forget about the 1000 minerals and 400 gas in my bank. We exchange armies and two base each other at which point I don't expand and my macro slips......bad game on my part but indeed my one and only loss:
http://www.sc2replayed.com/replays/146617-1v1-protoss-zerg-xelnaga-caverns
Honestly, I've used this build about 15 times and I've only lost 1 game for mistakes on my part. There are minor adjustments and changes and possibly different moves in each replay but the concept remains largely the same and identical in most. The changes were only minor, sensible changes to account for my enemies actions. Give it a try...leave your comments....Goodluck and Good Day!!!!!!
