Hi guys! I'm writing this guide in order to provide a great new popular opening strategy versus Zerg. In addition it uses a very nice transition aswell.
I first saw this played by ThorZaIN pretty recent after his return from Korea in DH Valencia vs DRG in the final (I believe Day9 analyzed this game on daily #348), so this has probably been seen more on the Korean scene I can imagine. Later on I recognized the opening when for example MMA played his TvZ vs LosirA in the MLG Global Invitational so this makes me feel it is really such a strong strategy.
Next section is gonna be seperated in parts for easier viewing:
General idea:
First thing in this opening is pointing towards the first attack/pressure against the zerg with the use of double reactors. You will have1 at a barrack and 1 on the factory allowing 4-6 hellions and a nice amount of marines to be out in time for a medivac elevator play in the mainbase. Meanwhile you get a fairly fast expand with huge production, great for a timing attack with loads of marines and 4-6 tanks while rallying to your troops setup.
Opening BO
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Attack
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Now you're moving out with medivac, hellions and marines. Time to get some harassment done!
Find a good ledge in the mainbase of your opponent, try to spot an overlord for your marines to kill if possible while you unload hellions up to the cliff.
This part is greatly micro intensive if you want to deal alot of damage, hellions kill the lings/drones/banes while healed marines generaly focus queen/overlord while deal additional damage and sometimes act as tanking unit for the hellions to stay behind.
Use the medivac for fancy escape mecanism if banelings or roaches try to focus your marines or hellions.
Charge!
Find a good ledge in the mainbase of your opponent, try to spot an overlord for your marines to kill if possible while you unload hellions up to the cliff.
This part is greatly micro intensive if you want to deal alot of damage, hellions kill the lings/drones/banes while healed marines generaly focus queen/overlord while deal additional damage and sometimes act as tanking unit for the hellions to stay behind.
Use the medivac for fancy escape mecanism if banelings or roaches try to focus your marines or hellions.
Charge!
Transition
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Alright! First attack is on the way, time to gear up for the next one and take advantage of your nice economy.
Techlab after your first medivac and build 1 Banshee
Lift Factory and build Techlab
Build Barrack on the Reactor
Lift Starport after Banshee
Build Barrack on the Techlab
Add Barrack+Techlab
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Build Ebay
Siege tank and start 3rd Refinery
Get Siege tech, Stimpack, Combat shield, +1 Attack Infantry
Marines, Tanks, Medivacs are gonna come out in huge numbers :-)
Techlab after your first medivac and build 1 Banshee
Lift Factory and build Techlab
Build Barrack on the Reactor
Lift Starport after Banshee
Build Barrack on the Techlab
Add Barrack+Techlab
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Build Ebay
Siege tank and start 3rd Refinery
Get Siege tech, Stimpack, Combat shield, +1 Attack Infantry
Marines, Tanks, Medivacs are gonna come out in huge numbers :-)
Execution
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As any other guide this requires general game knowledge like reacting to a scouted early spire and everything SC II has to offer in gameplay, this is a guide, for a specific strategy, not your overall play.
While you attack with your second huge push if you choiced to do so, planting a 3rd command center and adding more factorys+barracks while also more upgrades from ebay and armory is a great idea!
While you attack with your second huge push if you choiced to do so, planting a 3rd command center and adding more factorys+barracks while also more upgrades from ebay and armory is a great idea!
Map choice
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Preferely used on smaller maps but can have great success on even the largest map, Tal'darim. Every game is gonna be different, so just try to make the best out of the situation.
Replays
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Here I will provide replays of myself playing the european ladder
http://drop.sc/40850
http://drop.sc/40851
http://drop.sc/40852
http://drop.sc/40853
http://www.dreamhack.se/DHS11/2011/09/21/the-replays/
This is for the Thorzain replay, you are looking for Game #2 Tal'darim of the Grand Final
I can't really find many replays of high level korea players at all, have some? Share!
http://drop.sc/40850
http://drop.sc/40851
http://drop.sc/40852
http://drop.sc/40853
http://www.dreamhack.se/DHS11/2011/09/21/the-replays/
This is for the Thorzain replay, you are looking for Game #2 Tal'darim of the Grand Final
I can't really find many replays of high level korea players at all, have some? Share!
VOD
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MLG Global Invitational
http://tv.majorleaguegaming.com/events/3-mlg-starcraft-2-global-invitational-2011
Make sure its Game #3
Mr. Day[9]:
http://blip.tv/day9tv/day-9-daily-348-p1-thorzain-vs-drg-tvz-5576448
And if you want to watch me play the strat, I use it alot:http://www.justin.tv/s00pr
http://www.justin.tv/s00pr/b/296672143 It's the VOD of my replay matches, however I think there was a TvP before all the TvZ madness actually started.
I myself am not taking any credit for this strategy, I only try to contribute. I didn't find any post nor guide about this specific strategy so I decided to take a few hours and write it. If someone with greater knowledge then me can contribute or wish me to edit something out, tell me so. I'm only a diamond terran on the EU server.
Thanks for reading, feel free to give feedback or just discuss the strategy in this thread.
Peace!
Infinity gaming's thThechronic
EDIT *4
It seems like some high end user figured he would edit my whole liquipedia post, so it looks nothing like this post.. I hope its still usefull to someone, as I wont be updating that liquipost anymore..
*EDIT 3*
Been cleaning up the Liquipedia page, how do you guys like it?
*EDIT 2*
It's been officially added under matchup TvZ - Double reactor
*EDIT 1*
I started to add this to the Liquipedia duo request. How does it look so far?
http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft2/Double_reactor_(vs._Zerg)
OH and... Terran love!
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