How to play Zerg

Zile's guide to Zerg

Before we get into that, lets go over some of the basic strengths and weaknesses of the Zerg race. Not to be a Debby-Downer, but we'll do weaknesses first.

1) WEAKNESSES:

-We have low HP! :(

-We sacrifice workers to build things :(

-We get harassed super-duper easily :(

-We has no cliff walk (resulting in above) :(



PHEW. I feel depressed. How about you? At least that's out of the way. Now to the good stuff!



2) STRENGTHS:

-We have high damage :)

-Our stuff is CHEAP :)

-We are ADAPTABLE :)

-We can harass SUPER DUPER EASILY :)

-We have obscene army mobility :)


As you can clearly see, we have one more strengths than weaknesses; so we're doing okay. Wouldn't you agree? I thought so.


Now the basics rules of Zerg:


1) Economy!:



ALWAYS ALWAYSSSSSSSSSS pay attention to your economy! We sacrifice drones to build stuff that kills things and in a given game you will sac something between 20-40 drones. That's TWO MINERAL LINES worth! So PAY ATTENTION. If your mineral line looks low, fill it up!


2) The Larvae is life!:


As the game progresses you are going to go through units like Paris Hilton goes through boyfriends. If you are actively expanding willy-nilly, larvae will be your major unit-creating bottleneck. I would suggest 2.5 hatcheries per harvesting mineral line AT THE LEAST. Also...


3) The Queen!:


These chicks ROCK. Do not be bereft of a queen. Not only will a queen pretty much give you an extra hatchery for half the price, she is an INVALUABLE (that means very valuable, for all you English newbs) defensive unit that can keep you swimming in larvae, creep and serve as a valuable asset for healing your more expensive units (i.e. mutas/broods/ultras should you get that far) should you have enough. I suggest about 1 per hatchery not to exceed 4 or 5.



4) MAKE CREEP.



Zerg are the ONLY race that shouldn't be saying "Hey I didn't see that coming." You know why? Creep gives you vision. ISN'T THAT NEAT? MAKE SOME. If you made queens like I told you, you can easily spawn larvae and then spawn creep tumors on your downtime. Tumors are neat little buggers. Each tumor can create another tumor, on and on into infinity. I've had games where I've literally covered the map in creep before killing my opponent. Not because I can, (I really can) but because it's just so EASY. and FUN. and USEFUL. Have you ever got caught by a surprise unit drop/warp in? NOW YOU WON'T. Neat, huh? It's like having Xel'Naga towers for free. All you have to do is remember where your active tumors are so you can spawn more tumors (each tumor can only spawn once)



IF YOU DECIDE TO GET REALLY CRAZY AND PUT OVERLORDS IN THE AIR SPACES WHERE YOU CANT SPAWN CREEP, YOU WILL PROBABLY ALWAYS KNOW WHAT YOUR OPPONENT IS DOING AT ALL TIMES.


5) Have a varied army.


I've read way too many posts on here about "oh noe my muta mass got killed by thor mass." Duh? If you didn't waste all your money on mutas and bought some hydras/infestors/lings/ whatever to go with that mess you'd be a-alright. Also consider the hydralisk. He's a high damage EXPENSIVE unit (by Zerg standards) that really needs a tank to be effective. If you're running with hydras you need about 3 to 4x as many zerglings/infested terrans/trash mobs/whatever to keep them happily shooting spines and also not dying.


6) Always advance your tech!


EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO USE IT. Always keep your options open. Advancing tech costs practically nothing in this game and if you see your opponent with something that requires broodlords to crack, well aren't you glad you planned ahead with that greater spire?