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Stephano’s play versus protoss and terran depends greatly on the map, but the important thing is that his ultimate plan for late game is the same. There are various commonalities that can be drawn through his game. These can be anchor points throughout the game so that when one is playing, one can check on their progress with following game plan. Stephano’s general game plan is the same versus protoss and terran: Safely get a strong economy through exploiting timings of helions at 5min, 2base 4 gate at 7:30, 10-11 minute pushes, etc, and getting defendable creep spread then applying pressure early so that the opponent needs to keep up production with you to stay alive. Hopefully, the opponent starves out on two bases, if he is defending well. If the opponent attacks you, you will have the appropriate creep spread between your bases to defend the push with a superior economy. The key to Stephano’s play is crisp timing to gain an early economy lead, and then the rest of the game is in his control!
Format: I wrote down key timings for things that are recommended to get a better economy. I also have explanations for most of his choices in building units/buildings. Also, I wrote down helpful details that I saw in his play through streaming. Hopefully this is helpful.
Stephano Notes vs Toss
Plan:
3 Base then try to delay his third for as long as possible with roaches. When you see that its not possible, get a fourth and tech to infestors with spinecrawlers, camp then tech to broodlords
Build:
• 15 Pool, 16 Hatch, 24 Hatch(Before 2nd Comes out)
• Go down with 2nd queen and lay creep tumor to spread creep to second/third build queen in main( creep spread to third base very important!)
• 44-50 food 2 Ex(about when two bases saturated)
• Get Lair at first 100 gas( want to get upgrades and speed asap after to apply pressure)
• If zealots coming to kill third, build 14 zerglings micro very important. (very common)
• Scout 7min (if his natural is getting gas and has few probes, then teching to blink or voids) Response: Gather overlords, get more queens at each base, spores in each mineral line
• 7 min make roach warren with evo chamber(4 gate timing off two base) Evo helps you to defend against voidray push at 7:30
• 2 More gases half way before Lair Pops( gas for upgrades)
No pressure from Toss- you want to apply pressure because he is probably teching so if he cut any corners then you can kill him.
• 9min Bases Should be Saturated. Start Building Roaches and Lings to pressure his third keep on the pressure if you sense you can persist.
• 10 min macro hatch. You can bring in reinforcements faster.
• Transition 11min If on two base or cant do damage, get infestors, rest of extractors, spines, evolution chamber , macro hatch, Get Fourth, fifth if possible. Infestors should be ble to delay until broodlords come out.
If going ling infestor(expand as well very defendable with this unit composition, can counter with zergling run bys)
• Get rest of 2 gases, 2nd evo, tech to infestor zergling, get spine crawlers at exposed bases
• Tech to broodlords, keep main army to protect from stalker blink
Tips:
Double Spire to get upgrades
Spread creep to cut center in half, so that you can put spines cutting map in half and you can take those bases
Zergling Run By if army is out of position
Enter Army and attack once its blinked
Keep lings in base if getting dropped/ build spine
Spread Creep after first inject, walk 2nd queen to third
Keep on changing rally point of bases to match army
Keep Rally on bases, just transfer drones to prevent over saturation
Chase probe, knowing where pylon is is very helpful
Scout map early with zerglings
If early pressure, delay gas, and get zerglings, start zergling speed, get roaches
After pressure, pressure him and get all extractors(only for infestor zergling)
If Dts, surround with zerglings, do not let it get anywhere
Stephano vs Terran
Plan:
More defensive than playing against toss so more you want to go more tech heavy path on 2 base. Expand third with some troops to protect. Terran has the ability to split you up with drops and attack early so you want to be sure that you have the necessary tech to defend against this.
Get Roach Zerging Infestor, then tech to broodlords very fast. Defend until broodlords come out
Try to stay on two base then expand (Shakuras)
On maps with easier to get thirds, try getting third before hellions come to kill drone. (Defend with roach spread creep).
3 Base Maps
• 15 hatch, Scout 15 Make sure safe, 15-17 pool, 15-17 ex. Try to get as good of an economy as possible early to get an edge on opponent.
• First 100 Gas Zergling Speed
• Get third queen at natural/ spread creep to third
• Get third before extractors(if helion depends on map)
• Keep Drones in Gas to get
• 44-50 food 3 more ex (when bases saturated)
• Roach Warren 5min. When Factory gets ready(If one baracks expand( have a little more time 6:30 hellions)
• 4Roaches then expand to third
• 7min 2 Evo chamber (timed with the extractors) defend against banshes more gas for upgrades.
• 8:00 Build Lair with upgrades(4 extractors should be running by now) +1 armor helps against tanks a lot
• 8:30 macro hatch(or save money for defense
• 9minutes get some units then only drone(to fight off push) PIVOTAL, get roach speed immediately
• Transition to Infestors immediately when lair finishes ling infestor(some roaches left over) This will help you hold off his tank push
• Full map control(creep spread your half of map)
• Infestor 9-10 Minutes to Delay push 5 infestors not to many because you want to save for broodlords
• Get expansions aggressively, its ok if one of them dies because you have a lot of minerals
• Spire to Go down when hive goes down, expand multiples times before broodlords come out
• 15 minutes get broodlords out (Don't build too many, just defend the ones you already have with corruptors/ infestors)
2base- On maps like shattered temple and taldarim, this will help you get early upgrades while building an early defense on two base will help you to kill the rocks to get your third
• 15Hatch, 15 scout(if you know exactly where he is because drone will get there in time to see) 15pool, 17 Ex (keep on getting gas)
• First 100 Speedlings
• Third Queen Spread Creep
• Roach Warren around 6min if 1 Racks Expand
• 2nd Ex 50(Build Early Roaches to kill rocks wherever) Early defense as well so you can drone.
• 7min Evo Chambers, time 3rd and 4th extractors( You need lots of gas to keep up unit production with upgrades) also this helps you defend against banshees.
• Work on Upgrades
• 7min Work towards expanding using built troops that are also used to defend against helions
• 8-8:30min Lair
• Right When Lair Finishes Get Infestor Pit, Roach Speed
• Infestors when upgrade 30seconds in(Five infestors)
• Tech to Broodlords Spire with Hive, 6 Broodlords only then rest corruptors, Infest vikings
Tips in general
Keep infestors on different hotkey and select all if you want to select army
1 overlord scout, 2nd overlord at natural( Do not want to be bunker rushed)
To defend early bunker pull drones to kill marines first
Then build zerglings and queens to defend
perhaps build spine crawler if needed
After you defense, you have to pressure and check out what he has.
When he moves out, you move in to do damage then retreat
Get 4-5 roaches against hellion to expand to spread creep
Spread overlords to top half, bottom half of the map. Only spread certain overlords in key positions, keep rest in base prevent getting killed
Scout to see if attack is coming... If not then drone a lot( Expand Aggressively after third pops and you are safe)
Get upgrade first, at 30 seconds 5 Infestors then straight to hive
Creep spread is to keep half side connected together
Lategame creep spread is not as important
Always scout and keep one base ahead, he cannot be aggressive while expanding
Build building placement to split drones if you need to split! Run the drones through the maze of buildings
Spread overlords early to spot medivac drops
If ever feel like going to loose to big force, counter his base
2base, if under pressure get burrow for burrow micro not many scans
Get macro if under attack and high on minerals
Delay gases if being attacked
Put drones around the bunker at different corners when trying to kill
Get third before helions come, then get roaches to defend
Build infestors when upgrade is 30 seconds in
Focus down units that the medivac isnt healing
Spread Creep tumors evenly, very important for zvt
On Taldarim and shipyard, get zerglings first if you can't scout because you need to be safe from rush
2nd base different mineral rally point
No gas at 15 from terran, should be 1 barracks expand or double racks if low scv count.
If pressured early, make 1 spine to defend the queen
Put spine just in range of bunker
Its ok if your natural dies, just keep on building drones and transfer when you rebuild it, pressure with the defenses that you made
If marines come, just take off drones and save zerglings
Put up 2 spines if you feel an attack is coming
For 2 Base play, get all extractors for double upgrades
Get infestors right when lair finishes
If behind try baneling bust zergling all in.
If getting dropped try spread troops over all bases
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While some of the English here is a little confusing, a good write up nonetheless! I have been watching Stephano stream the past several days, and I have learned a lot, and it is nice to have a post like this to confirm some things I learned from him.
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His ZvP opening is 15 pool, 16 hatch, 15ol not 15 pool 15 hatch.
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I really enjoyed reading the builds, thanks for a good clear post.
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Very nice writeup, simple and to the point. Will be practicing some of his styles tomorrow ^_^
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I feel like while his ZvT is stylistic, his ZvP is pretty much like everyone else's, except he doesn't make much mistakes and always has the correct reads.
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On March 10 2012 11:06 crfty wrote:
While some of the English here is a little confusing, a good write up nonetheless! I have been watching Stephano stream the past several days, and I have learned a lot, and it is nice to have a post like this to confirm some things I learned from him.
Sorry! I didn't have quite enough time to proof read everything, but its good to hear that a majority of it made sense to you guys.
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On March 10 2012 14:50 K3Nyy wrote:
I feel like while his ZvT is stylistic, his ZvP is pretty much like everyone else's, except he doesn't make much mistakes and always has the correct reads.
He's known for taking some interesting late thirds and putting pressure at interesting timings...dunno I feel like his ZvP is stylistic too. Day9 does a great analysis of the way he plays.
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Hi!
I've been lurking on TL for a while, but this is my first post here! 
I had look at Stephanos ZvP by checking the latest replay pack. I think there is an easier way to look at the build. I made little notes myself on it and I'd like to share them;
He opens 14-15 pool and tries to expand into natural if possible (in case of pylon block, just take natural 3rd first). As pool finishes, make queen (2nd queen right after 1st finishes) and few zerglings for scouting purposes. He takes 3rd by around 21-24 food, which is almost always by 4:10-4:15 (I think this is quite important).
First I though he took double-gas always at around 6:00, but after a closer look I think he takes them at the time when 3rd finishes. With first 100 gas he makes the Lair (100 gas is gathered usually a bit after 7mins). Lair, Roach Warren and Evolution Chamber are made at the same time. Second 100 gas are used for the zergling speed.
My notes finish usually after writing down when he takes his 4th base, which is at around 10mins (9:50-10:30) in the most of the replays. I think the game will carry itself on after this time
I like your notes anyway! They are obviously not wrong in any means if compared to mine.
- partycat
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Which map does Stephano veto on the ladder ? He does not play on Lost Temple doesn't he ?
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On March 11 2012 04:36 Gros Bill wrote:
Which map does Stephano veto on the ladder ? He does not play on Lost Temple doesn't he ?
I've seen play on shattered temple. I haven't seen him play on entombed valley. Maybe thats his only veto?? im not sure
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On March 11 2012 04:36 Gros Bill wrote:
Which map does Stephano veto on the ladder ? He does not play on Lost Temple doesn't he ?
Only Entombed Valley.
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On March 10 2012 09:06 Stevom188 wrote:
Stephano’s play versus protoss and terran depends greatly on the map, but the important thing is that his ultimate plan for late game is the same. There are various commonalities that can be drawn through his game. These can be anchor points throughout the game so that when one is playing, one can check on their progress with following game plan. Stephano’s general game plan is the same versus protoss and terran: Safely get a strong economy through exploiting timings of helions at 5min, 2base 4 gate at 7:30, 10-11 minute pushes, etc, and getting defendable creep spread then applying pressure early so that the opponent needs to keep up production with you to stay alive. Hopefully, the opponent starves out on two bases, if he is defending well. If the opponent attacks you, you will have the appropriate creep spread between your bases to defend the push with a superior economy. The key to Stephano’s play is crisp timing to gain an early economy lead, and then the rest of the game is in his control!
Format: I wrote down key timings for things that are recommended to get a better economy. I also have explanations for most of his choices in building units/buildings. Also, I wrote down helpful details that I saw in his play through streaming. Hopefully this is helpful.
Stephano Notes vs Toss
Plan:
3 Base then try to delay his third for as long as possible with roaches. When you see that its not possible, get a fourth and tech to infestors with spinecrawlers, camp then tech to broodlords
Build:
• 15 Pool, 15 Hatch, 24 Hatch(Before 2nd Comes out)
• Go down with 2nd queen and lay creep tumor to spread creep to second/third build queen in main( creep spread to third base very important!)
• 44-50 food 2 Ex(about when two bases saturated)
• Get Lair at first 100 gas( want to get upgrades and speed asap after to apply pressure)
• If zealots coming to kill third, build 14 zerglings micro very important. (very common)
• Scout 7min (if his natural is getting gas and has few probes, then teching to blink or voids) Response: Gather overlords, get more queens at each base, spores in each mineral line
• 7 min make roach warren with evo chamber(4 gate timing off two base) Evo helps you to defend against voidray push at 7:30
• 2 More gases half way before Lair Pops( gas for upgrades)
No pressure from Toss- you want to apply pressure because he is probably teching so if he cut any corners then you can kill him.
• 9min Bases Should be Saturated. Start Building Roaches and Lings to pressure his third keep on the pressure if you sense you can persist.
• 10 min macro hatch. You can bring in reinforcements faster.
• Transition 11min If on two base or cant do damage, get infestors, rest of extractors, spines, evolution chamber , macro hatch, Get Fourth, fifth if possible. Infestors should be ble to delay until broodlords come out.
If going ling infestor(expand as well very defendable with this unit composition, can counter with zergling run bys)
• Get rest of 2 gases, 2nd evo, tech to infestor zergling, get spine crawlers at exposed bases
• Tech to broodlords, keep main army to protect from stalker blink
Tips:
Double Spire to get upgrades
Spread creep to cut center in half, so that you can put spines cutting map in half and you can take those bases
Zergling Run By if army is out of position
Enter Army and attack once its blinked
Keep lings in base if getting dropped/ build spine
Spread Creep after first inject, walk 2nd queen to third
Keep on changing rally point of bases to match army
Keep Rally on bases, just transfer drones to prevent over saturation
Chase probe, knowing where pylon is is very helpful
Scout map early with zerglings
If early pressure, delay gas, and get zerglings, start zergling speed, get roaches
After pressure, pressure him and get all extractors(only for infestor zergling)
If Dts, surround with zerglings, do not let it get anywhere
Stephano vs Terran
Plan:
More defensive than playing against toss so more you want to go more tech heavy path on 2 base. Expand third with some troops to protect. Terran has the ability to split you up with drops and attack early so you want to be sure that you have the necessary tech to defend against this.
Get Roach Zerging Infestor, then tech to broodlords very fast. Defend until broodlords come out
Try to stay on two base then expand (Shakuras)
On maps with easier to get thirds, try getting third before hellions come to kill drone. (Defend with roach spread creep).
3 Base Maps
• 15 hatch, Scout 15 Make sure safe, 15-17 pool, 15-17 ex. Try to get as good of an economy as possible early to get an edge on opponent.
• First 100 Gas Zergling Speed
• Get third queen at natural/ spread creep to third
• Get third before extractors(if helion depends on map)
• Keep Drones in Gas to get
• 44-50 food 3 more ex (when bases saturated)
• Roach Warren 5min. When Factory gets ready(If one baracks expand( have a little more time 6:30 hellions)
• 4Roaches then expand to third
• 7min 2 Evo chamber (timed with the extractors) defend against banshes more gas for upgrades.
• 8:00 Build Lair with upgrades(4 extractors should be running by now) +1 armor helps against tanks a lot
• 8:30 macro hatch(or save money for defense
• 9minutes get some units then only drone(to fight off push) PIVOTAL, get roach speed immediately
• Transition to Infestors immediately when lair finishes ling infestor(some roaches left over) This will help you hold off his tank push
• Full map control(creep spread your half of map)
• Infestor 9-10 Minutes to Delay push 5 infestors not to many because you want to save for broodlords
• Get expansions aggressively, its ok if one of them dies because you have a lot of minerals
• Spire to Go down when hive goes down, expand multiples times before broodlords come out
• 15 minutes get broodlords out (Don't build too many, just defend the ones you already have with corruptors/ infestors)
2base- On maps like shattered temple and taldarim, this will help you get early upgrades while building an early defense on two base will help you to kill the rocks to get your third
• 15Hatch, 15 scout(if you know exactly where he is because drone will get there in time to see) 15pool, 17 Ex (keep on getting gas)
• First 100 Speedlings
• Third Queen Spread Creep
• Roach Warren around 6min if 1 Racks Expand
• 2nd Ex 50(Build Early Roaches to kill rocks wherever) Early defense as well so you can drone.
• 7min Evo Chambers, time 3rd and 4th extractors( You need lots of gas to keep up unit production with upgrades) also this helps you defend against banshees.
• Work on Upgrades
• 7min Work towards expanding using built troops that are also used to defend against helions
• 8-8:30min Lair
• Right When Lair Finishes Get Infestor Pit, Roach Speed
• Infestors when upgrade 30seconds in(Five infestors)
• Tech to Broodlords Spire with Hive, 6 Broodlords only then rest corruptors, Infest vikings
Tips in general
Keep infestors on different hotkey and select all if you want to select army
1 overlord scout, 2nd overlord at natural( Do not want to be bunker rushed)
To defend early bunker pull drones to kill marines first
Then build zerglings and queens to defend
perhaps build spine crawler if needed
After you defense, you have to pressure and check out what he has.
When he moves out, you move in to do damage then retreat
Get 4-5 roaches against hellion to expand to spread creep
Spread overlords to top half, bottom half of the map. Only spread certain overlords in key positions, keep rest in base prevent getting killed
Scout to see if attack is coming... If not then drone a lot( Expand Aggressively after third pops and you are safe)
Get upgrade first, at 30 seconds 5 Infestors then straight to hive
Creep spread is to keep half side connected together
Lategame creep spread is not as important
Always scout and keep one base ahead, he cannot be aggressive while expanding
Build building placement to split drones if you need to split! Run the drones through the maze of buildings
Spread overlords early to spot medivac drops
If ever feel like going to loose to big force, counter his base
2base, if under pressure get burrow for burrow micro not many scans
Get macro if under attack and high on minerals
Delay gases if being attacked
Put drones around the bunker at different corners when trying to kill
Get third before helions come, then get roaches to defend
Build infestors when upgrade is 30 seconds in
Focus down units that the medivac isnt healing
Spread Creep tumors evenly, very important for zvt
On Taldarim and shipyard, get zerglings first if you can't scout because you need to be safe from rush
2nd base different mineral rally point
No gas at 15 from terran, should be 1 barracks expand or double racks if low scv count.
If pressured early, make 1 spine to defend the queen
Put spine just in range of bunker
Its ok if your natural dies, just keep on building drones and transfer when you rebuild it, pressure with the defenses that you made
If marines come, just take off drones and save zerglings
Put up 2 spines if you feel an attack is coming
For 2 Base play, get all extractors for double upgrades
Get infestors right when lair finishes
If behind try baneling bust zergling all in.
If getting dropped try spread troops over all bases
Do you mean taking a quick before the 2nd queen comes out?
User was warned for this post
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This is really fun to read.
Worth my time !!!!!
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Does anyone have his build order on the game he played against whitera yesterday in the IPL series?
It was a 2 spire build on tal'darim, and i'm interested in it :D
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Hi,
really well done, I study these BO all afternoon lol. Do you have any replay of him doing so? This could be very helpful.
Thanks.
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[/QUOTE]
Do you mean taking a quick before the 2nd queen comes out?
[/QUOTE]
Yes, against protoss you want to take your natural at 15-16, then before your 2nd queen at around 23-24 supply get your third. Doing this build, however, takes a lot of scouting and skill to repel early aggression to kill the third.
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On March 12 2012 13:34 Jabu wrote:
Hi,
really well done, I study these BO all afternoon lol. Do you have any replay of him doing so? This could be very helpful.
Thanks.
I basically watched a bunch of games off of his twitch.tv account. You can see all of the games under his video section. http://www.twitch.tv/mstephano
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EPT
