Railgan ZvT - 3 Roach Opener 2020 Version (ZvT Economic)

Description

People keep on losing faith in my 3 Roach Opener. I came back winning 20 Games with it against Terran in a row. Here is the 2020 Version of the 3 Roach Opener.

Who am I

At the Time of writing this I am a around 6000 MMR Grandmaster Zerg on the EU Server. I play almost only 2 Base Macro Openers (4:30 3rd or later). The focus of my play lies on quick Tech to take control of the game early.

Goal of the Build

The 3 Roach Openers aims to take control from the start without ever giving your Opponent a chance to punch you back. The early Pool allows easy defense against Reaper / Proxy Rax at the same Time as early Harassment with 2 Lings and 3 Roaches. The follow up is a quick 2 Base Spire into 3 Base Roach Ravager Muta and 4 Ling Bane Ravager Corruptor into Hive.

The nice part is that you almost get a free win versus all Terrans foolish enough to teleport a Battlecruiser into your Base.

General Build Order

This will be a general overview. For detailed Infos check Analysis / the Video.

OPENER

• 17 Pool
• 18 Hatch
• 17 Gas
• Build 2 Drones (18 Supply) and rally them to the Gas
• 1 Pair of Lings + Queen when Pool is done. Attack the Terran Natural with the 2 Lings.
• Next 150 Minerals Roach Warren - Use one Drone from the Gas.
• Drone to 22 Supply (3 Drones in Gas)
• @100% Queen build another Queen in Main
• @100% Roach Warren 2 Roaches in Main 1 Roach in Natural
• @150 Minerals 3rd Queen in Natural (use one for Creep Spreading)
• now Harass with Roaches and Drone at home

LAIR TIME

• @100 Gas build Lair
• @3:45 3 additional Gasses --> Keep some defensive Roaches for Hellion Attacks
• @Lair Start Spire --> Overseer (scout for BC / 3rd Base) --> Roach Speed
• @4:30 build 2 Spores (for Libs / Banshees)
• @5:00 (or so) build a 3rd Base
• @Spire build 4-6 Mutas or Corruptors against BC

Roach Ravager Corruptor Transition

• Build 2 Evos after your 6 Mutas are done
• Prepare some Roaches at home for defense against Hellions / Marines
• Get +1 Missile and +1 Carapace (maybe Air Attack?)
• Saturate your 3rd
• Get a 4th as soon as your 3rd Mineral Line is saturated
• Get Corruptors to deal with Medivacs / Liberators :)

LING BANE HIVE TRANSITION

• After your 4th is done Ling Speed + Bane Nest as soon as you can
• Start an Infestation as you start +1 Melee and +2 Carapace
• @Infestation Pit start Hive
• @Hive go for Ultralisks (or whatever Hive Tech u like)

Unit Composition

In general this is the Units I want to have:

Early

• 3 Roaches at least against Hellion Runbys

Mid Game

• 6 Mutalisks and ~8 Roaches for defense

Late Mid Game

• 4-6 Corruptors
• 3-10 Ravagers and a lot of Roaches

Late Game

• 4-6 Ultralisks
• Some Vipers / Infestors
• 40 Lings
• 20 Banelings
• 4-6 Corruptors

VOD

Replay - 2020-03-07 - (T)Hopt VS (Z)RemZero

Build Order

Get SALT Encoding   

Analysis

What to do with the 3 Roaches

• Try to kill as many as Scv's as you can. 3 Roaches oneshot SCV's and Marines
• Turn home before the Cyclone pops out. He will kill your Roaches (Techlab on Factory)
• If your Opponent has a Bunker Turn around.

What to do with the Mutalisks

• First Shutdown any Liberators / Medivacs / Hellions / Banshees
• Then Harrass your Opponent and try to take map Control
• Build your Mutalisk Count as you see fit

What to do vs BC?

• Stay defensive until you get enough Corruptors (4-5 per BC) to really kill him
• Stay on Roach Ravager for a little while. Bile works wonders versus BC

What to do against Mech Against Mech I play the same Style. I usually add a lot of Roaches and Ravagers though and go for a Hive Transition. E.G. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJeIFMXEPfo

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Go to:

• Description
• VOD
• Build Order
• Analysis

Details

• Created by: railgan      
• Published on: Mar 10, 2020
• Patch: 4.11.0

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