EPTZerg versus Zerg – Hatch first play against 14gas-14pool openings
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/iyMmz.png)
by Blade55555
Zerg vs Zerg hatch first vs 14/14: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=199583
Zerg vs Zerg Muta play: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=282954
Zerg vs Terran guide: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=211960
Zerg vs Protoss guide: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=210354
Zerg vs Protoss Delayed Lair guide: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=259629
Zerg vs Protoss Tier 2 aggression: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=318129
Zerg vs protoss Banelings: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=338403
I decided I was going to showcase how to hatch first and hold a 14/14. For some reason many zerg players seem to think 14/14 beats hatch first no matter what if they all in ling. I have had this debate with some people a lot lately so decided I am going to be uploading some replays and what to do to hold off a 14/14 when you hatch first.
So here is what the build looks like.
--------Build--------
9 - overlord
9- drone scout (this is personal preference , I prefer to 9 drone scout in case they do some early pool builds)
15 - hatchery
15- spawning pool
15 - gas
16 or 17 (your preference) - overlord
Spawning pool finishes - 2 queens and baneling nest if opponent does not expand, otherwise metabolic boost
22-23 – overlord
5:00 - 5:15 - Baneling nest (this is assuming he expands, this is when I would get the baneling nest).
Notes: Now that the game has changed a lot, baneling defense is a lot stronger and more economical then roaches. You can still use roaches at lower levels and win most of the time, but now of days it will put you a bit behind economically. It's a lot harder to feel how many roaches you need and how many lings your opponent is making which is why going roaches instead of banelings is a bit out of date.
The baneling nest is very dependent on what your opponent is doing. Your overlord should see when he takes his expansion (note it should be at 21 supply about for him). If you do not see it you need to get a spine and a baneling nest asap. If you see him expand, ling speed is preferable and then eventually a baneling nest. I would make a spine as well, but that is totally up to you.
--------Hatch first vs Hatch first Build--------
9 - overlord
9- drone scout (this is personal preference ,
I prefer to 9 drone scout in case they do some early pool builds)
15 - hatchery
16-18- spawning pool
17 - gas
16 or 17 (your preference) - overlord
Make 4 lings use 1 to scout
21-22 baneling nest (incase they go all in ling)
Notes: You can delay the baneling nest if you wish till about 5 minutes, or get it earlier if you want to do aggression or something, that is totally up to you. Depending on how you want to approach the game after early game, you can either get a roach warren, ling/infestor, muta, etc.
--------Defending--------
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/5e11Q.png)
Now this style is a very defensive style, you want to make 1-2 banelings and not make more unless you see he is going to do a ling/baneling allin. If you see this (which you should with overlords across the map) make more banelings as needed and micro and if you hold you are going to be ahead.
Now note you need to spread your overlords with this strategy. If you do not spread your overlords he can do something sneaky that could pay off because you weren't spreading. Overlords are very important and zvz and give you "map" control in the sense that you know when he's attacking, when he's taking his third, etc. Also using your overlord to check your opponents drone count is very, very important. If you do not do this, this can cost you the game. If he's all inning and your droning hard you will die to his attack and if he's mass droning but your preparing for an all in your massively behind economically.
On the rare map that does not let you check the back of their mineral line at their natural just sacrifice an overlord and only one at about 30'ish supply. Do it at the natural so that you can see his drone count. This will be 100% worth it because if you see no drones you know to prepare for an all in, and if you see decent amount of drones you know you can keep droning.
A good way to detect this I have found is sending 1 speedling to your opponents base. Just send them a lot and you will be able to see if he's making units or something like that. Also you should have an overlord in the back of your opponents natural (queen can't hit it) and peak at drone count by moving it up to see the drone count at the natural. If you see very little or non, expect an all in. Key things to look for:
1. Drone count
2. Army (if you see it)
If you don't see any army and see very few drones at his natural then prepare for an all in. You should be able to hold any all in with ling/bane and spines as needed.
You can transition however you wish after you hold it off. You can try to kill him if you want, you can take it into a macro game or whatever you prefer. You do have to defend this pretty well as if you take economic damage then attacking might not be the best choice.
----------My transition----------
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All right so after holding off his early aggression and I am positive he's not all inning, I drone up. On a lot of maps you can check his drone count with an overlord at his natural without sacrificing it.
On maps you can't check his drone count with an overlord without it dying, at some point sacrifice an overlord. Yes it sucks but this is 100% worth it. You should be able to see how many drones he has at his natural. If you see a lack of drones, you know he's all inning and can prepare. If you see lots of drones you know you can keep droning and not worry about dying by an attack.
I either get 1/1 melee/carapace if I am going ling/infestor or 1/1 air/carapace or go just +1 carapace or range depending on the strategy.
Make some spines at your other bases and you should have alot of excess minerals. Just mass expand with the extra money and spine crawlers to stop zergling attacks. I do like to get a baneling nest and have some banelings encase i move out and he counter attacks with zerglings but thats just my personal preference. I like to get overlord speed as well to scout him, scout when he takes his third, etc and well have 1 overseer with my roaches encase he gets burrow tech and tries something cute.
I get a hydra den first if I am going roach play before infestors as I feel this is a lot stronger. At about 120 supply is when I start adding them in and I add infestors at about 150-160 supply.
On maps you can't check his drone count with an overlord without it dying, at some point sacrifice an overlord. Yes it sucks but this is 100% worth it. You should be able to see how many drones he has at his natural. If you see a lack of drones, you know he's all inning and can prepare. If you see lots of drones you know you can keep droning and not worry about dying by an attack.
I either get 1/1 melee/carapace if I am going ling/infestor or 1/1 air/carapace or go just +1 carapace or range depending on the strategy.
Make some spines at your other bases and you should have alot of excess minerals. Just mass expand with the extra money and spine crawlers to stop zergling attacks. I do like to get a baneling nest and have some banelings encase i move out and he counter attacks with zerglings but thats just my personal preference. I like to get overlord speed as well to scout him, scout when he takes his third, etc and well have 1 overseer with my roaches encase he gets burrow tech and tries something cute.
I get a hydra den first if I am going roach play before infestors as I feel this is a lot stronger. At about 120 supply is when I start adding them in and I add infestors at about 150-160 supply.
----------If he goes Muta----------
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If he is going Muta's a good response is you should have a third before they pop and do a defensive roach/infestor or roach/hydra or ling/infestor style. If going roach style you want to build a huge roach/hydra/infestor and then attack. If you see a lot of spine crawlers I would get drop tech and with your whole army drop his main (you will be surprised at how effective this is!).
Make sure he didn't take his third to fast (by fast I am meaning getting a third before even getting muta's out). If he does this I would try to force a cancel with lings, add in a couple banelings and see how it goes from there. If you can't cancel it not a big deal.
I would make an overseer as well so that you can see if he does cute burrowed banelings!
Make sure he didn't take his third to fast (by fast I am meaning getting a third before even getting muta's out). If he does this I would try to force a cancel with lings, add in a couple banelings and see how it goes from there. If you can't cancel it not a big deal.
I would make an overseer as well so that you can see if he does cute burrowed banelings!
----------Replays----------
The details of the players rank and all that are shown when you follow the links. So be sure to check them out and see what replay interrests you most.
The replays have me vs players as sixjaxVIBE, Inure, Spanishiwa (before he joined vile), and VTzerker
Replays
http://www.mediafire.com/?4czg0st3z8mkdpf
http://www.mediafire.com/?5opxr53ojoyramu
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![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/v3263.png)
Vs 1base roach/ling agression: 2 replay
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![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/19gag.png)
Vs early ling/baneling agression: 2 replay
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![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/cMnJR.png)
http://www.mediafire.com/?aipawnb51ko2p15 (this will show case 2 hatch first vs another hatch first when other player goes early ling/bane pressure.)
http://www.mediafire.com/?hph80ghbgo48f8i (vs 14/14)
Blade vs Early pool
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http://www.mediafire.com/?xl3sa6t17oqiotp
--------Closing words--------
If you have any questions I well try to answer them and hopefully this helps zergs out that are struggling vs the 14/14 and feel you can't defend it with hatch first.
