ZvP: Seems like Z pros are ignoring a specific build which is very, very strong

The build goes like this:

12 pool
13 Drone
14 Drone
14 Hatchery
13 Extractor
12 Extractor
11 6 Zerglings - rallied to the Protoss base. Unless there is cheese going on, ignore scouting probe and run to the opponent’s base.

Cancel both extractors, placing you at 16/14 supply

16 Hatchery

Micro lings to snipe pylons, surround a zealot and force probe pulls.

While this happens you macro at home, doing any build you want while the Protoss is stuck defending a 12 pool, leap frogging you forward economically.

Best case scenario, you flat out win because the Protoss loses their Zealot to kill 1 ling and their pylon powering the gateway, if you think this situation is happening, screw macro, just make slow lings and parade push the map.

Worst case scenario, the Protoss low ground walled before expanding and you can’t do anything but poke a Gateway. In this case you threaten with the 6 lings and take your 4th, then drone up and start queen production with 1 spore at every base. Don’t forget Overlord speed and to sacrifice an Overlord for scouting.

Any scenario in between is still auto win for you as the Z player, the Protoss player just hasn’t realized it yet since they can’t see your 3-4 bases behind the 12 pool.

Works until mid masters with zero issues (99% win rate for the last 3 seasons I played), might work higher than that but I don’t vs high masters too often, let alone in ZvP.

Now, you’re going to ask “what do I sacrifice for this opener?”
You sacrifice early queen and overlord production, instead opting for more hatcheries except for 1 Overlord you typically have to make during the early game while you’re rushing which enables smooth production of either more drones or lings. As such your creep spread will suck…which you can make up for with aggressive Overlord placement on the map in conjunction with pooping out creep at Lair tech.

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12 pools are used consistently on maps like Thunderbird and world of sleepers. The point is to kill the only pylon powering a gateway when it’s a natural wall off. Delaying it for extra hatcheries is counter productive especially because you’re on such a low drone count you can’t use the extra larvae. Delaying queen production is just asking to be killed by oracles which was classics response to Serrals 12 pool.

https://youtu.be/DGWtHPTsgVo?t=341

Imagine thinking that Zerg professionals don’t know the most basic Zerg cheese in existence.

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I don’t think that would work in most situations on Thunderbird. Drogo did a super delayed probe scout and went for the full wall to block the 3rd. I think a normal probe scout would see it early enough for it to be and easy defense.

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Protoss delays his B2 a bit to deal with the lings, build a faster core, then stargate, oracle, and you never recover from your worker deficit (as you need to invest into queen/spores and never rentabilize your fast B3).

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I’ll have to try this, though I think I agree with the comments that early 4th hatch seems too greedy for low econ

You know what I’ve learned in my decade of StarCraft 2? SC2 players are elitists who think their poop doesn’t stink.

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Enjoy the replays.

Doesn’t work that way unless you as the zerg screw up. See the replays I just posted. There’s 16 of them across 3 leagues and against a variety of strategies.

Ok nice to have provided replays I will check them later

Right, you know better than everyone.

This is a lot different because it hits like a 12 pool but has the macro capacity of a hatch 1st.

Sure, pros will do 12 pools and expand behind it but they rarely if ever go for a fast 3rd and use the lings to mess up the Protoss without making additional ones, let alone use an extractor trick to get out the 1st 6 lings.

It’s a strategy that requires fantastic game sense.

Not once in this video is the build I described used. Not once…

Don’t judge my sloppy execution lol. The goal is to look at the build, not how badly a drunk sc2 player can botch it.

this is a very good point, i don’t know why it was met with a ton of backlash

the response to that in the post was to build a 4th hatchery under 20 supply lol

Very interesting build Dank, thx for posting.