EPT![[image loading]](http://dl.dropbox.com/u/77921413/01.png)
![[image loading]](http://dl.dropbox.com/u/77921413/01a%20Preamble.png)
Less than a week ago I finally got around to forwarding my ports after over ten years of lat tricking to create games. It was due to my inability to host that I came to consider myself a series player, since to play a lot of games I had to play the same person—usually a friendly rival or something. It's a very different kind of StarCraft, and one that I still consider StarCraft in its purest form, but that isn't to say there isn't a value to the kind of StarCraft played vs new opponents every game on the ladder.
I have wondered for a long time how well I would actually do on ladder, especially given how different a game it is. I became highly motivated to give it my best shot and develop skills that have gone untested by the nature of series play. This meant analysing the nature of ladder to determine the skills most critical to its own nature. Those are:
I A comprehensive understanding of one's strategy.
(because at a minimum, everyone else on the ladder will be getting their initial timings with extreme efficiency)
II A high amount of stability vs various strategies.
(because there is not a lot of metagame and you don't want to be guessing)
III A devotion to a single strategy.
(because you are playing against strangers you probably won't rematch, so you only need to be good at one to maximize success)
In my mind these are the bare minimum. It is difficult to just screw around and do whatever on the ladder because your opponent's are practicing a single strategy which is not easily predicted. Series play punishes players who practice a single strategy and the games become more freestyle vs low level players, but on iCCup even D+ players have at least their first timings down to some extent. Another thing one could do is play only one match up, but I think that is lame and bad manner considering how few people actually make pubbies for people to join. If you've ever been on the side of the fence where you can't make, you know how hard it is to find a game, so I have at least that much compassion.
With this in mind I had to choose three strategies, one for each matchup. I threw standard play out the window for two reasons: It is difficult to master, and even more difficult to master vs players who are used to it and are using builds designed to work against it. I don't need to give my opponents any unnecessary advantages, so I chose some styles I liked and copied those
I could have and have before created my own, but whatever I knew is long lost now and I was excited to ladder, not for the frustration of starting from scratch. The strategy I chose for ZvT was MaeJang's proxy hatch / lurker-drop based play, for ZvP Satanik's 4hat 2base before gas, and for ZvZ Satanik's hydra-build of course. This is why:![[image loading]](http://dl.dropbox.com/u/77921413/02a.png)
Unmotivated, zero-multitask and muta micro from 1999 (that means if there's any stacking it's done my clicking on a friendly or neutral unit, no overlord switching). You know what that sounds like to me? Easy and fun. MaeJang's replay pack description was not all-together different. A bm player with awesome style but not the highest rank. Old school style suits me since I played a lot in the days when 1base Protoss was normal, and it appealed to me to use old school responses to Protoss and Terran who expo aggressively and beyond their ability.
You might be noticing that I haven't said shit about Hydra ZvZ specifically yet, and already you've been reading for nearly 5 minutes. The reason is because I want to describe my method of learning perfectly so that you can emulate it when choosing from styles YOU like besides Hydra ZvZ, and because I want to show you what humble beginnings you can start from when learning this game if you are frustrated and losing at the low ranks. Teach a man to fish, so to speak. Well this was my method:
I i Given limited replays to study from (Satanik only uploaded a few), I used the BWAPI plugin for Chaos Launcher to generate the build order files. They produced the following: + Show Spoiler [bos] +
+ Show Spoiler [zvz1] +
+ Show Spoiler [zvz2] +
+ Show Spoiler [zvz3] +
Build order for Star.sataNik:
9 - Overlord (0:55)
9 - Pool (1:18)
11 - Expand (2:05)
11 - Hatchery (2:05)
10 - Zergling (2:10)
11 - Zergling (2:11)
12 - Zergling (2:16)
13 - Zergling (2:25)
14 - Zergling (2:40)
15 - Hatchery (2:59)
14 - Zergling (3:00)
15 - Zergling (3:08)
18 - Overlord (3:35)
18 - Colony (3:40)
19 - Colony (3:54)
22 - Colony (4:14)
22 - Zergling (4:19)
25 - Colony (4:30)
24 - Zergling (4:30)
26 - Colony (4:39)
27 - Overlord (4:52)
28 - Colony (5:00)
27 - Chamber (5:04)
27 - Colony (5:10)
26 - Colony (5:19)
26 - Colony (5:26)
29 - Colony (5:35)
29 - Colony (5:37)
29 - Colony (5:40)
28 - Colony (5:51)
28 - Colony (5:52)
28 - Colony (5:59)
27 - Colony (6:00)
29 - Colony (6:05)
32 - Colony (6:15)
31 - Overlord (6:21)
31 - Colony (6:28)
31 - Colony (6:42)
35 - Extractor (6:51)
35 - Extractor (6:56)
35 - Overlord (7:12)
35 - Hatchery (7:15)
35 - Lair tech (7:37)
38 - Colony (7:44)
43 - Missile Attacks (7:51)
43 - Colony (8:03)
43 - Colony (8:05)
42 - Den (8:08)
42 - Colony (8:16)
41 - Overlord (8:19)
41 - Overlord (8:20)
43 - Colony (8:33)
42 - Grooved Spines (8:35)
42 - Hydralisk (8:38)
43 - Hydralisk (8:39)
44 - Overlord (8:41)
44 - Overlord (8:43)
45 - Colony (8:48)
44 - Hydralisk (8:57)
47 - Hydralisk (8:58)
47 - Hydralisk (8:58)
47 - Hydralisk (8:58)
48 - Hydralisk (9:01)
49 - Hydralisk (9:03)
54 - Carapace (9:21)
59 - Muscular Augments (9:41)
77 - Ventral Sacs (12:19)
Build order for LISBETSALANDER:
9 - Overlord (0:54)
12 - Hatchery (1:42)
11 - Pool (1:59)
10 - Extractor (2:05)
13 - Zergling (2:51)
13 - Zergling (2:51)
14 - Zergling (2:52)
15 - Zergling (2:58)
16 - Lair tech (3:04)
16 - Overlord (3:10)
16 - Zergling (3:12)
17 - Metabolic Boost (3:26)
17 - Zergling (3:27)
18 - Zergling (3:37)
19 - Zergling (3:38)
20 - Zergling (3:47)
21 - Zergling (3:49)
22 - Zergling (4:03)
23 - Zergling (4:04)
24 - Spire (4:14)
23 - Zergling (4:22)
24 - Zergling (4:23)
25 - Zergling (4:34)
26 - Overlord (4:49)
26 - Overlord (5:11)
28 - Mutalisk (5:30)
28 - Mutalisk (5:30)
30 - Expand (5:54)
30 - Hatchery (5:54)
30 - Flyer Carapace (6:14)
34 - Mutalisk (6:48)
36 - Overlord (6:57)
40 - Overlord (7:23)
43 - Den (7:45)
46 - Scourge (7:58)
48 - Mutalisk (8:07)
50 - Extractor (8:07)
59 - Lurker Aspect (9:01)
74 - Lurker (10:21)
77 - Expand (10:34)
94 - Muscular Augments (11:50)
48 - Zergling (12:46)
48 - Zergling (12:46)
48 - Lurker (12:58)
48 - Lurker (12:58)
48 - Lurker (12:58)
48 - Zergling (13:07)
48 - Zergling (13:08)
9 - Overlord (0:55)
9 - Pool (1:18)
11 - Expand (2:05)
11 - Hatchery (2:05)
10 - Zergling (2:10)
11 - Zergling (2:11)
12 - Zergling (2:16)
13 - Zergling (2:25)
14 - Zergling (2:40)
15 - Hatchery (2:59)
14 - Zergling (3:00)
15 - Zergling (3:08)
18 - Overlord (3:35)
18 - Colony (3:40)
19 - Colony (3:54)
22 - Colony (4:14)
22 - Zergling (4:19)
25 - Colony (4:30)
24 - Zergling (4:30)
26 - Colony (4:39)
27 - Overlord (4:52)
28 - Colony (5:00)
27 - Chamber (5:04)
27 - Colony (5:10)
26 - Colony (5:19)
26 - Colony (5:26)
29 - Colony (5:35)
29 - Colony (5:37)
29 - Colony (5:40)
28 - Colony (5:51)
28 - Colony (5:52)
28 - Colony (5:59)
27 - Colony (6:00)
29 - Colony (6:05)
32 - Colony (6:15)
31 - Overlord (6:21)
31 - Colony (6:28)
31 - Colony (6:42)
35 - Extractor (6:51)
35 - Extractor (6:56)
35 - Overlord (7:12)
35 - Hatchery (7:15)
35 - Lair tech (7:37)
38 - Colony (7:44)
43 - Missile Attacks (7:51)
43 - Colony (8:03)
43 - Colony (8:05)
42 - Den (8:08)
42 - Colony (8:16)
41 - Overlord (8:19)
41 - Overlord (8:20)
43 - Colony (8:33)
42 - Grooved Spines (8:35)
42 - Hydralisk (8:38)
43 - Hydralisk (8:39)
44 - Overlord (8:41)
44 - Overlord (8:43)
45 - Colony (8:48)
44 - Hydralisk (8:57)
47 - Hydralisk (8:58)
47 - Hydralisk (8:58)
47 - Hydralisk (8:58)
48 - Hydralisk (9:01)
49 - Hydralisk (9:03)
54 - Carapace (9:21)
59 - Muscular Augments (9:41)
77 - Ventral Sacs (12:19)
Build order for LISBETSALANDER:
9 - Overlord (0:54)
12 - Hatchery (1:42)
11 - Pool (1:59)
10 - Extractor (2:05)
13 - Zergling (2:51)
13 - Zergling (2:51)
14 - Zergling (2:52)
15 - Zergling (2:58)
16 - Lair tech (3:04)
16 - Overlord (3:10)
16 - Zergling (3:12)
17 - Metabolic Boost (3:26)
17 - Zergling (3:27)
18 - Zergling (3:37)
19 - Zergling (3:38)
20 - Zergling (3:47)
21 - Zergling (3:49)
22 - Zergling (4:03)
23 - Zergling (4:04)
24 - Spire (4:14)
23 - Zergling (4:22)
24 - Zergling (4:23)
25 - Zergling (4:34)
26 - Overlord (4:49)
26 - Overlord (5:11)
28 - Mutalisk (5:30)
28 - Mutalisk (5:30)
30 - Expand (5:54)
30 - Hatchery (5:54)
30 - Flyer Carapace (6:14)
34 - Mutalisk (6:48)
36 - Overlord (6:57)
40 - Overlord (7:23)
43 - Den (7:45)
46 - Scourge (7:58)
48 - Mutalisk (8:07)
50 - Extractor (8:07)
59 - Lurker Aspect (9:01)
74 - Lurker (10:21)
77 - Expand (10:34)
94 - Muscular Augments (11:50)
48 - Zergling (12:46)
48 - Zergling (12:46)
48 - Lurker (12:58)
48 - Lurker (12:58)
48 - Lurker (12:58)
48 - Zergling (13:07)
48 - Zergling (13:08)
+ Show Spoiler [zvz2] +
Build order for Star.Dark:
9 - Overlord (0:58)
12 - Pool (1:36)
11 - Extractor (1:42)
11 - Expand (2:25)
11 - Hatchery (2:25)
11 - Zergling (2:27)
11 - Zergling (2:27)
12 - Zergling (2:29)
13 - Metabolic Boost (2:42)
13 - Zergling (2:50)
14 - Zergling (2:55)
15 - Zergling (3:13)
16 - Lair tech (3:19)
16 - Zergling (3:25)
17 - Overlord (3:40)
17 - Zergling (3:42)
21 - Spire (4:26)
22 - Zergling (4:43)
23 - Zergling (4:45)
24 - Zergling (4:50)
25 - Overlord (5:00)
25 - Colony (5:19)
24 - Colony (5:26)
25 - Zergling (5:28)
25 - Zergling (5:28)
25 - Zergling (5:28)
29 - Mutalisk (5:43)
29 - Mutalisk (5:43)
31 - Mutalisk (5:49)
35 - Colony (6:03)
34 - Overlord (6:13)
34 - Overlord (6:29)
39 - Flyer Carapace (6:50)
45 - Hatchery (7:51)
42 - Hatchery (7:52)
42 - Chamber (7:59)
41 - Extractor (7:59)
44 - Overlord (8:22)
44 - Zerg Melee Attacks (8:27)
44 - Mutalisk (8:30)
46 - Mutalisk (8:35)
48 - Mutalisk (8:39)
83 - Zerg Carapace (10:44)
46 - Mutalisk (13:11)
48 - Zergling (13:18)
49 - Colony (13:21)
48 - Zergling (13:32)
48 - Zergling (13:32)
49 - Zergling (13:32)
49 - Zergling (13:39)
46 - Colony (13:42)
45 - Scourge (13:42)
40 - Zergling (13:50)
34 - Zergling (13:55)
34 - Zergling (13:55)
34 - Zergling (13:55)
34 - Zergling (13:57)
36 - Colony (13:58)
33 - Colony (14:03)
Build order for Star.sataNik:
9 - Overlord (0:55)
11 - Pool (1:29)
12 - Expand (2:09)
12 - Hatchery (2:09)
12 - Zergling (2:20)
12 - Zergling (2:20)
13 - Zergling (2:24)
14 - Zergling (2:38)
15 - Hatchery (2:55)
14 - Zergling (2:57)
15 - Zergling (3:10)
16 - Zergling (3:26)
17 - Zergling (3:31)
18 - Colony (3:32)
17 - Overlord (3:41)
19 - Colony (3:45)
22 - Zergling (4:14)
24 - Colony (4:22)
27 - Overlord (4:44)
34 - Chamber (5:17)
34 - Colony (5:21)
33 - Colony (5:27)
33 - Colony (5:30)
33 - Colony (5:43)
33 - Colony (5:44)
33 - Colony (5:45)
33 - Colony (5:47)
32 - Colony (5:53)
31 - Colony (6:00)
31 - Colony (6:00)
35 - Colony (6:10)
35 - Colony (6:13)
35 - Overlord (6:19)
35 - Overlord (6:27)
35 - Colony (6:34)
34 - Overlord (6:35)
34 - Colony (6:40)
33 - Overlord (6:43)
34 - Colony (6:49)
33 - Colony (6:50)
35 - Extractor (6:56)
36 - Colony (7:01)
36 - Colony (7:05)
45 - Colony (7:33)
47 - Den (7:46)
47 - Extractor (7:52)
49 - Colony (8:10)
48 - Zerg Carapace (8:13)
51 - Grooved Spines (8:32)
51 - Hatchery (8:38)
50 - Hatchery (8:42)
53 - Hydralisk (8:58)
55 - Lair tech (9:03)
62 - Muscular Augments (9:39)
70 - Carapace (10:14)
71 - Missile Attacks (11:02)
88 - Ventral Sacs (11:41)
71 - Lurker Aspect (13:22)
9 - Overlord (0:58)
12 - Pool (1:36)
11 - Extractor (1:42)
11 - Expand (2:25)
11 - Hatchery (2:25)
11 - Zergling (2:27)
11 - Zergling (2:27)
12 - Zergling (2:29)
13 - Metabolic Boost (2:42)
13 - Zergling (2:50)
14 - Zergling (2:55)
15 - Zergling (3:13)
16 - Lair tech (3:19)
16 - Zergling (3:25)
17 - Overlord (3:40)
17 - Zergling (3:42)
21 - Spire (4:26)
22 - Zergling (4:43)
23 - Zergling (4:45)
24 - Zergling (4:50)
25 - Overlord (5:00)
25 - Colony (5:19)
24 - Colony (5:26)
25 - Zergling (5:28)
25 - Zergling (5:28)
25 - Zergling (5:28)
29 - Mutalisk (5:43)
29 - Mutalisk (5:43)
31 - Mutalisk (5:49)
35 - Colony (6:03)
34 - Overlord (6:13)
34 - Overlord (6:29)
39 - Flyer Carapace (6:50)
45 - Hatchery (7:51)
42 - Hatchery (7:52)
42 - Chamber (7:59)
41 - Extractor (7:59)
44 - Overlord (8:22)
44 - Zerg Melee Attacks (8:27)
44 - Mutalisk (8:30)
46 - Mutalisk (8:35)
48 - Mutalisk (8:39)
83 - Zerg Carapace (10:44)
46 - Mutalisk (13:11)
48 - Zergling (13:18)
49 - Colony (13:21)
48 - Zergling (13:32)
48 - Zergling (13:32)
49 - Zergling (13:32)
49 - Zergling (13:39)
46 - Colony (13:42)
45 - Scourge (13:42)
40 - Zergling (13:50)
34 - Zergling (13:55)
34 - Zergling (13:55)
34 - Zergling (13:55)
34 - Zergling (13:57)
36 - Colony (13:58)
33 - Colony (14:03)
Build order for Star.sataNik:
9 - Overlord (0:55)
11 - Pool (1:29)
12 - Expand (2:09)
12 - Hatchery (2:09)
12 - Zergling (2:20)
12 - Zergling (2:20)
13 - Zergling (2:24)
14 - Zergling (2:38)
15 - Hatchery (2:55)
14 - Zergling (2:57)
15 - Zergling (3:10)
16 - Zergling (3:26)
17 - Zergling (3:31)
18 - Colony (3:32)
17 - Overlord (3:41)
19 - Colony (3:45)
22 - Zergling (4:14)
24 - Colony (4:22)
27 - Overlord (4:44)
34 - Chamber (5:17)
34 - Colony (5:21)
33 - Colony (5:27)
33 - Colony (5:30)
33 - Colony (5:43)
33 - Colony (5:44)
33 - Colony (5:45)
33 - Colony (5:47)
32 - Colony (5:53)
31 - Colony (6:00)
31 - Colony (6:00)
35 - Colony (6:10)
35 - Colony (6:13)
35 - Overlord (6:19)
35 - Overlord (6:27)
35 - Colony (6:34)
34 - Overlord (6:35)
34 - Colony (6:40)
33 - Overlord (6:43)
34 - Colony (6:49)
33 - Colony (6:50)
35 - Extractor (6:56)
36 - Colony (7:01)
36 - Colony (7:05)
45 - Colony (7:33)
47 - Den (7:46)
47 - Extractor (7:52)
49 - Colony (8:10)
48 - Zerg Carapace (8:13)
51 - Grooved Spines (8:32)
51 - Hatchery (8:38)
50 - Hatchery (8:42)
53 - Hydralisk (8:58)
55 - Lair tech (9:03)
62 - Muscular Augments (9:39)
70 - Carapace (10:14)
71 - Missile Attacks (11:02)
88 - Ventral Sacs (11:41)
71 - Lurker Aspect (13:22)
+ Show Spoiler [zvz3] +
Build order for star.not0:
9 - Expand (1:19)
9 - Hatchery (1:19)
9 - Overlord (1:35)
9 - Pool (1:56)
9 - Extractor (2:09)
13 - Zergling (2:48)
13 - Zergling (2:48)
13 - Zergling (2:48)
14 - Zergling (2:49)
15 - Metabolic Boost (3:04)
15 - Zergling (3:08)
16 - Zergling (3:14)
17 - Lair tech (3:26)
17 - Overlord (3:40)
23 - Zergling (4:22)
25 - Zergling (4:24)
25 - Zergling (4:24)
26 - Spire (4:41)
26 - Overlord (4:48)
24 - Zergling (5:26)
24 - Zergling (5:26)
24 - Zergling (5:26)
28 - Expand (5:38)
28 - Hatchery (5:38)
27 - Hatchery (5:51)
28 - Scourge (5:57)
29 - Scourge (5:59)
31 - Overlord (6:25)
30 - Chamber (6:33)
29 - Overlord (6:34)
29 - Expand (6:42)
29 - Hatchery (6:42)
28 - Overlord (6:44)
31 - Flyer Carapace (7:01)
34 - Extractor (7:12)
33 - Zerg Melee Attacks (7:15)
34 - Overlord (7:25)
35 - Hatchery (7:48)
37 - Overlord (8:06)
37 - Overlord (8:06)
37 - Overlord (8:06)
42 - Mutalisk (8:26)
42 - Mutalisk (8:26)
42 - Mutalisk (8:26)
46 - Mutalisk (8:33)
46 - Mutalisk (8:33)
48 - Mutalisk (8:34)
97 - Expand (11:34)
128 - Hive tech (12:49)
143 - Adrenal Glands (14:43)
142 - Zerg Carapace (14:58)
140 - Guardian (15:26)
140 - Cavern (15:46)
143 - Zerg Flyer Attacks (16:09)
75 - None (18:47)
72 - Expand (19:06)
71 - Expand (19:07)
42 - Colony (21:38)
41 - Colony (21:42)
40 - Colony (21:44)
39 - Colony (21:46)
38 - Chamber (21:47)
38 - Colony (21:53)
40 - Colony (21:57)
40 - Colony (22:02)
36 - Colony (22:06)
35 - Colony (22:12)
36 - Colony (22:26)
36 - Zergling (22:28)
36 - Zergling (22:28)
Build order for Star.sataNik:
9 - Overlord (0:58)
11 - Pool (1:31)
12 - Expand (2:14)
12 - Hatchery (2:14)
12 - Zergling (2:23)
12 - Zergling (2:23)
13 - Zergling (2:26)
14 - Zergling (2:39)
15 - Zergling (2:55)
16 - Hatchery (2:55)
15 - Zergling (3:10)
16 - Overlord (3:27)
16 - Colony (3:32)
18 - Colony (3:47)
20 - Overlord (4:07)
21 - Extractor (4:13)
30 - Overlord (5:03)
27 - Zergling (5:24)
27 - Zergling (5:24)
30 - Lair tech (5:32)
30 - Chamber (5:33)
29 - Colony (5:35)
29 - Zergling (5:43)
30 - Colony (5:47)
30 - Colony (5:52)
30 - Colony (5:56)
32 - Colony (5:58)
32 - Colony (6:03)
31 - Colony (6:04)
31 - Colony (6:10)
30 - Colony (6:17)
30 - Colony (6:19)
31 - Colony (6:28)
30 - Overlord (6:32)
31 - Colony (6:34)
31 - Colony (6:39)
31 - Colony (6:42)
30 - Extractor (6:52)
29 - Spire (6:57)
34 - Overlord (7:19)
34 - Overlord (7:27)
34 - Colony (7:33)
37 - Overlord (7:49)
40 - Colony (7:53)
39 - Overlord (8:01)
39 - Flyer Carapace (8:15)
41 - Mutalisk (8:16)
41 - Mutalisk (8:16)
45 - Mutalisk (8:17)
45 - Mutalisk (8:17)
47 - Mutalisk (8:19)
72 - Zerg Carapace (10:17)
75 - Nest (10:26)
74 - Den (10:46)
73 - Hive tech (11:06)
72 - Hydralisk (11:12)
73 - Grooved Spines (11:13)
92 - Muscular Augments (12:25)
97 - Devourer (13:41)
99 - Lurker Aspect (13:52)
124 - Lurker (15:09)
100 - Expand (20:26)
9 - Expand (1:19)
9 - Hatchery (1:19)
9 - Overlord (1:35)
9 - Pool (1:56)
9 - Extractor (2:09)
13 - Zergling (2:48)
13 - Zergling (2:48)
13 - Zergling (2:48)
14 - Zergling (2:49)
15 - Metabolic Boost (3:04)
15 - Zergling (3:08)
16 - Zergling (3:14)
17 - Lair tech (3:26)
17 - Overlord (3:40)
23 - Zergling (4:22)
25 - Zergling (4:24)
25 - Zergling (4:24)
26 - Spire (4:41)
26 - Overlord (4:48)
24 - Zergling (5:26)
24 - Zergling (5:26)
24 - Zergling (5:26)
28 - Expand (5:38)
28 - Hatchery (5:38)
27 - Hatchery (5:51)
28 - Scourge (5:57)
29 - Scourge (5:59)
31 - Overlord (6:25)
30 - Chamber (6:33)
29 - Overlord (6:34)
29 - Expand (6:42)
29 - Hatchery (6:42)
28 - Overlord (6:44)
31 - Flyer Carapace (7:01)
34 - Extractor (7:12)
33 - Zerg Melee Attacks (7:15)
34 - Overlord (7:25)
35 - Hatchery (7:48)
37 - Overlord (8:06)
37 - Overlord (8:06)
37 - Overlord (8:06)
42 - Mutalisk (8:26)
42 - Mutalisk (8:26)
42 - Mutalisk (8:26)
46 - Mutalisk (8:33)
46 - Mutalisk (8:33)
48 - Mutalisk (8:34)
97 - Expand (11:34)
128 - Hive tech (12:49)
143 - Adrenal Glands (14:43)
142 - Zerg Carapace (14:58)
140 - Guardian (15:26)
140 - Cavern (15:46)
143 - Zerg Flyer Attacks (16:09)
75 - None (18:47)
72 - Expand (19:06)
71 - Expand (19:07)
42 - Colony (21:38)
41 - Colony (21:42)
40 - Colony (21:44)
39 - Colony (21:46)
38 - Chamber (21:47)
38 - Colony (21:53)
40 - Colony (21:57)
40 - Colony (22:02)
36 - Colony (22:06)
35 - Colony (22:12)
36 - Colony (22:26)
36 - Zergling (22:28)
36 - Zergling (22:28)
Build order for Star.sataNik:
9 - Overlord (0:58)
11 - Pool (1:31)
12 - Expand (2:14)
12 - Hatchery (2:14)
12 - Zergling (2:23)
12 - Zergling (2:23)
13 - Zergling (2:26)
14 - Zergling (2:39)
15 - Zergling (2:55)
16 - Hatchery (2:55)
15 - Zergling (3:10)
16 - Overlord (3:27)
16 - Colony (3:32)
18 - Colony (3:47)
20 - Overlord (4:07)
21 - Extractor (4:13)
30 - Overlord (5:03)
27 - Zergling (5:24)
27 - Zergling (5:24)
30 - Lair tech (5:32)
30 - Chamber (5:33)
29 - Colony (5:35)
29 - Zergling (5:43)
30 - Colony (5:47)
30 - Colony (5:52)
30 - Colony (5:56)
32 - Colony (5:58)
32 - Colony (6:03)
31 - Colony (6:04)
31 - Colony (6:10)
30 - Colony (6:17)
30 - Colony (6:19)
31 - Colony (6:28)
30 - Overlord (6:32)
31 - Colony (6:34)
31 - Colony (6:39)
31 - Colony (6:42)
30 - Extractor (6:52)
29 - Spire (6:57)
34 - Overlord (7:19)
34 - Overlord (7:27)
34 - Colony (7:33)
37 - Overlord (7:49)
40 - Colony (7:53)
39 - Overlord (8:01)
39 - Flyer Carapace (8:15)
41 - Mutalisk (8:16)
41 - Mutalisk (8:16)
45 - Mutalisk (8:17)
45 - Mutalisk (8:17)
47 - Mutalisk (8:19)
72 - Zerg Carapace (10:17)
75 - Nest (10:26)
74 - Den (10:46)
73 - Hive tech (11:06)
72 - Hydralisk (11:12)
73 - Grooved Spines (11:13)
92 - Muscular Augments (12:25)
97 - Devourer (13:41)
99 - Lurker Aspect (13:52)
124 - Lurker (15:09)
100 - Expand (20:26)
ii I put the three text files side by side and looked for similarities and wrote them down: + Show Spoiler [a note] +
![[image loading]](http://dl.dropbox.com/u/77921413/03%20note.png)
II Given a lot of replay files (as in the case of MaeJang's ZvT) I used Lord Martin Replay Browser to keep track of what I had already watched and organize them a little, and simply went through each one with my fingers on the u (speed up) and d (speed down) keys to absorb how he dealt with every situation. First I took note of his build order and what he seemed to get every game, and when I became intimately familiar with it, I looked to other parts of his play with those assumed. The above method would also be very useful, but since I was winning games just off what I had absorbed watching 20 or so of his ZvTs, I never got around to it (initially I had watched them for fun, since I didn't even have plans to deal with my router yet).
I hope you're noticing something. I studied before I played. There's a misconception with a lot of players that you can just mass game and eventually get good no matter what. If you are not thinking and don't know what you're doing and aren't learning, you will just repeat the same strategic mistakes with maybe a little higher apm and better macro. This is basically what I'd call brute forcing your way to C-. You can do it with very little strategy, but you will be a boring player and react badly to unusual play. You will also sound stupid when you talk about the game, because your rank will not be a reflection of your understanding, only your mechanics. Chess and Go players study their game a lot in between games, and it's very necessary to advancing as a StarCraft player. Believe me though, it is rewarding and its own kind of fun. It's also what makes Brood War a game of intelligence and not the keyboard bashing that some outsiders see it as.
What I experienced was incredible success, and I hope you will too. This guide will only cover the basics, because that is all I really know. For advanced tactics and clever responses, you will have to play it by ear and learn from experience, although I will try to offer a few suggestions (I haven't had enough experience to speak confidently on the stranger situations).
![[image loading]](http://dl.dropbox.com/u/77921413/04%20the%20build.png)
Here's my piece of paper transcribed to digital text. I kept the paper beside my computer so I could look at it if I was hesitant about a detail. Ideally you eventually memorise it just by repetition ;p
11 pool
12 expo
15 hatch
16-18 colonies (2)
24 colony
30ish chamber
[14] or so colonies, keep 30 drones
35 [2] extractors
40 or so den
80ish hydras attack, rally
edit: I would like to note that in retrospect, I think BWAPI was counting failed actions or maybe morph spore as a build colony action. I never build 14 colonies in my own games and I don't think satanik did either... Generally it is moe like 4 per base for spores, and then an extra sunk or two if necessary at your nat. Sorry for the confusion
What does that mean to you right now? Probably not a lot. It doesn't list what units I'm building or anything. That aren't a lot of Zerg guides out there and the excuse you often hear for that is that Zerg is a very fluid race that is difficult to pin down. It relies on sense, reaction, etc. Well, don't fear, because this one isn't like that. Hydra ZvZ is one of the most straight forward builds I have every tried, and I'm gonna teach you the magic right now.
11pool is safe. It's the best way to start this build. I've seen Satanik open a lot of ways, from 9hatch to 9pool, but if you're gonna be laddering this is the best one to use. Going 9pool or 9hatch is for series play against players who know you're a hydra zvz user. It keeps you fresh and from getting blind countered. We don't need that for ladder and this is an introduction, so don't worry your pretty little head about it.
12 hatch at expo is very important. Don't 12 hatch in main and 15 hatch at expo. The timing is such that this hatchery starts spreading creep in time for aggressive zergling rushes, and you are planting a creep colony immediately as it finishes. More on that in a minute.
After 12 expo, don't make drones till 15. Make exactly 8 lings. Don't get clever and skimp to 6 lings. Don't get aggressive and make more 10+ lings. You want 8 lings (that's 4 pairs from 4 eggs, in case I'm not clear), and then drones. You can use these lings to move out of your base a tiny bit, but don't actually attack with them. You desperately need these lings at home as they are what's going to prevent ling runbys and allow you to drone really hard. If you waste them now you will have to rebuild them, which means less drones which means your build will be weak and your timing slow. You are not winning with these lings. Nothing you see progamers do with lings will be of any use, so get it out of your head.
15 hatch is not THAT important whether you put it in main or at your natural, but I like to build it at my natural to make a simcity for my sunkens so that it's more difficult for Zerglings to surround and I have a smaller choke to block with my lings. On some naturals it doesn't work as well since you can't always build sunkens in a nice little nook, so you can otherwise put it in your main beside your first hatchery in a way that makes mining better.
16 and 18 sunken are important. Don't skip them ever. 16 sunk should be planted exactly when your hatchery finishes... have the drone waiting there. From the left and right of the hatchery, there is immediately enough creep to place it. top and bottom need a second to spread, I believe. You can overlord after your 18 sunk since it will bring your drone count down to 17, so do that...
24 colony... Get this too. Most Zergs build a lot of lings even when rushing to mutas, and you don't wanna be caught with your pants down.
Some Notes You'll notice we're not getting our gas or starting upgrades or teching hydras at all. Your focus of the early game is the survive with an expo and be in a position where you can power drones hard. If you see your opponent getting a lot of lings, like 3 hatch lings with speed or something, don't be afraid to add a lot more sunkens. Don't bother adding a lot more lings and beating him 3 hatch vs 3 hatch lings... You're learning hydra zvz after all
When his attack inevitably comes, if you have 5-6 sunkens and lings blocking a runby, you should be able to hold. Pull drones to your ramp and make sure you don't let him run thru... Obviously your 8 lings will not hold forever, but drones glitching him out will really mess him up and he will be in a losing position after his attack. Make enough lings to clog your ramp again and continue as normal after his attack.The other thing you have to make sure of when placing your spores, hatches, and spawning pool, is that you're thinking about where you're gonna put your spores so that you can cover everything. You will end up with 4 per base, you want them to at least kinda cover each other, and you definitely need them covering your tech buildings. Later you will be adding another hatchery or two, as well as a hydra den and evo, so keep in mind how much creep you need at a place to build a spore and don't manner yourself.
30ish chamber is the usual time when you need to think about getting an evo chamer to counter his muta. Don't worry about getting it as soon as his spire has started. You can basically get it when his spire is 2/3rds done and be super safe, because you can build creep colonies at the same time and morph them to spores after the evo chamber finishes. Build the evo chamber where it can help reduce surface area of a creep colony and sim city. This timing can vary a bit, so don't stick to 30 at all costs. get it earlier if his spire is fast, later if his spire is late.
[14] or so creep colonies. 14 of them sounds like a lot, but it's really not. You'll notice in the bo txts I posted above that the all happen around the same supply. Satanik constantly replenishes drones while he is getting spores and you should too. It's not necessary that you always build them at the same supply, but make sure you're replacing the drones you're using. You are still in your power droning phases. Get 2-3 spore colonies for each base initially as a matter of urgency vs the first 3-6 mute he will have, and then add them till you have 4 per base that very comprehensively cover your stuff. If your mineral line is exposed and there's no creep behind it, don't worry about building a creepy colony in the centre of it to really discourage muta harass. Better to be there, than only just in range of the drone allowing muta to dart in and take half the hits with good micro. The other 6 colonies are either gonna be a few more sunkens to protect against a growing number of lings your opponent will have, or a 5th spore somewhere to protect an area that is weak. Your opponent will be able to kill a spore if he really wants to, so you should replace it as it is taking damage if he does so. It's totally ok to get this many spores since you are basically making all drones otherwise.
35 extractors. Both expos. Late, huh? Good drone saturation is key to satanik's play. When you get enough gas, start hydralisk attack.
40 or so supply, hydralisk den. Stop making drones here. Get hydra range first, then hydra speed. get lair and overlord speed. constantly make hydralisks and add another hatchery in a place that is protected by spore colonies (or a good zerg can pick it off and delay you severely). Don't bother getting ling speed. Start attack up two when attack up 1 finishes, which may be during your big attack.
80ish supply, you should have around 4-5 control groups of hydra, grouped with a few overlords. You need overlord speed because it would really suck if lurkers stopped your big push and players will do that sometimes. Ideally, you get a dumb player who is still building muta and ling and doesn't realise that a hydra ball which is big enough just melts muta. This is when you attack, rally all your hatches to support the attack, and basically concludes the introduction.
some notes If he counter attacks with muta mobility, keep your rallied hatches to your base, continue your attack, and build a lot of spores. You should be able to destroy him pretty easy. He will likely have expanded to take advantage of your turtling, but that's usually not that important cause he won't have powered as much as you.
![[image loading]](http://dl.dropbox.com/u/77921413/05%20conclusions.png)
Hydra ZvZ is a great build that not a lot of people know how to deal with. It's also not a hard build to use. Satanik is amazingly good, but he is a very strategic player. He uses this build at an extremely high level, and knows how to adapt it in ways that could not possibly be covered by this guide. You will encounter great success vs mutaling players, but you will face some questions when playing against people who adapt to the strategy. I have seen players grab an extra base and go hydra themselves with equal or greater upgrades. It seems to be a pretty strong response, but because you get such a large army, they have a very specific and hard to predict (if they haven't read this guide or seen the build before) engagement. How long do they power drones? When is it time to get hydra? They face a difficult timing. On a map like Circuit Breaker they have good bridges to defend at and hurt your timing, so make sure you take the wide route and reinforce well.
In replay chats I've read that satanik gets defilers. I would guess this in response to a player who doesn't pure mutaling. It might be the route to go in games that are against clever zergs, but again this won't be covered in the scope of this guide.
In some replays Satanik will open muta and then switch to hydra and get devourers. This seems to be a very good response to player who tech to guardians. Satanik knows hydra zvz really well, and doesn't seem to be simply countered by a correct unit choice. Is hydra zvz the strongest choice? I don't know. But if players are not prepared for it, and you have a vast knowledge of its contingencies, you will win very safely and eliminate coinflipping.
![[image loading]](http://dl.dropbox.com/u/77921413/06%20Resources.png)
Chaos Launcher
BWAPI
Satanik ZvZ Replays
Chef Replays
