Starcraft 2 Guide | Zerg vs Zerg | How to win

[BSOS]

A detailed guide on how to best defeat Zerg opponents in Starcraft 2, along with information on to how to counter various Zerg builds.


Having trouble as Zerg facing other Zergs?

I know the feeling, that is why I'm putting this little guide out to help you crush your Zerg opponents.

Currently Zerg is locked in a circular mirror battle between roaches, "hydras" (Hydralisks), and "mutas" (Mutalisk) [roach>hydra>muta>roach]. Its key to understand this so as not to get hydras vs the opponents roaches.

A typical ZvZ progression goes like this :

A fast pool comes out (10 pool normally)
get 1 gas and start on roach warren.
get a few Zerglings or a spine crawler to help with defence against a possible ling attack.
Then mass Roaches until you have anywhere from 8 to 12 Roaches.
With the Lair finished, decide NOW whether or not to get mutas or hydras.

The logic here is that if the enemy has too many Roaches, get Mutalisks seeing as Roaches can't attack air and are good for harrassing. Or if you sense the enemy going muta, you have to get hydras to fend them off.

Then it turns into a big cat and mouse game.


My solution to this problem: ALWAYS GET MUTALISKS

• Yes, they're a bit gas heavy and hydras counter them easily, that's why you get some Roaches.

The Roaches are there to take down any enemy Hydralisk/ling army. You have your own Mutalisks to fend off the other mutas (provided they even get any.)

In this case, where the enemy gets mutas to fight against your mutas, superior micro is required. If possible make a couple spore colonies at your base to help fend them off.

Note: There is the option the enemy will get corruptors to fight your mutas. At this moment a mutalisk (125 hp and 9 attack glaive) vs a corruptor (200 hp and 12+8(massive) attack) is a pretty fair matchup, but because of its better health, the corruptor will probably win. And a good player once dealt with your mutas will go kill some overlords, if hes lucky.

That is when you switch to hydralisk, only if the enemy gets corruptors. but just enough to save overlords (don't mass them).


In conclusion:

A Roach / Mutalisk build works very well against enemy Zerg players in ZvZ matchup.

Get hydras only if you can't handle your enemy's air army with your own air army.


Sidenote: Banelings are not needed in ZvZ (you have Roaches.)



Please leave any comments you might have

[cone0]

Very very good strat I recommend it

[Diius]

Very very good strat I recommend it

Question to either of you:

I've just restarted playing 1v1 after doing soso in 2v2 with a friend who has played like 2 games of SC1 (I dont know how we're even in Silver League haha). Anyways, what should I do as TvZ?

I've usually just gone and M,M,&M, but i've had minimal success.

I know that alot of zerg go Banlings to break down the front wall, what should I do to counter if I can scout it out?

Anythings helps

[BSOS]

Tank is devastating verses zerg/baneling

but be prepared for an air counter if you stop his baneling/zergling push

[Diius]

Tank is devastating verses zerg/baneling

but be prepared for an air counter if you stop his baneling/zergling push

So I guess tech siege into Vikings probably?

[BSOS]

yes, siege mode tanks, vikings, and M+M should do the trick
the rest is up to micro

[cone0]

I agree with BSOS mix a tank or two into your MMM and you should be fine Vikings shouldnt be necessary a good number of marines+stim easily counter mutas

[Smoov]

I agree with BSOS mix a tank or two into your MMM and you should be fine Vikings shouldnt be necessary a good number of marines+stim easily counter mutas

Agree with both BSOS and CONE. A few siege tanks should do the trick. No need for Vikings in the lineup. Marines + stim go a long way. I've put in about 100hrs as Terran and its hard to beat a MMM. Though I have to admit, I like using hellions to harrass Zerg. Proper MICRO will get you far with hellions. I'm just now switching to Zerg. Want to get the feel of all race before release date.

[BSOS]

i wanted to edit this post... because its outdated

but only because i wanted to talk about the evolution of this matchup... its quite difficult to explain but i'll try.

I normally try to rush for mutas. what this means is I have to play more defensively since I'll go 1 base double gas, fast lair... etc
The problem is that an enemy zerg player can easily overrun you with speedlings. Well... then I'd respond by making more lings and he'd respond by getting banelings. This is problematic for me, because he has upwards of 20 lings
and banelings RIP through lings and drones, and kill spine crawlers fairly easily... letting in all the lings to kill off your spire or leftover drones.... basically ending the game for you.
the problem with getting roaches is: it delays your spire, and unless you rush for roaches you won't have enough to defend against a strong ling push, or you'd be too slow to go and nullify his expansion, and with said expansion he can always outproduce you.

so i'm thinking... since 1 base play doesn't work any more... and you can never get enough roaches out in time...
...that fast expanding like... 14 pool / 16 hatch, would be good enough to get out enough lings to defend, basically put up a hatchery the second your pool finishes.
It worked against me, so now I'll try it and report my results here.