Protoss Defense of Roach Rushes - By Battle
Overview
After just a week of roach rushes, protoss players have found a proper counter to fend it off, so it is time to use a more economical build that can stop anything that P players throw to you and make the game more macro oriented.
Build Order
This build order dependes on the 2 current trends of P openings, one is the classic 2 gate push, and the other one the 1 Gate Tech as it was in SC1, but now with the diference that Z player lack of any anti-air at Tier 1 (except of queen) so you must tech almost as fast as your opponent.
Opening
9 - ovie
15 - pool
16 - hatch (Note #1)
17 - Extractor (put 3 drones in it asap)
16 - Queen
18 - Overlord
Branch 1: vs 1 Gate:
18 - 4 Zerglings (2 Eggs Note #2)
20 - Drone
21 - Queen (Note #3)
Start making a lot of drones
@100 gas - Lair (at expo as you are making a queen in your main)
26 - Overlord
26 - Extractor (put 3 drones in it asap)
33 - Overlord
34 - Zergling Speed
@ 100% Lair or 34/36 - Hydra Den (Note #4)
Build Check #1
36 - Roach Warren
39 - Overlord
100 % Hydra den - Start Making tons of HydraLing
48 - Extractor (put 3 drones in it asap)
Build Check #2
50 - Hydra Range(Note #5)
Branch 2: vs 2 Gate:
18 - Roach Warren
17 - 6 Zerglings (3 Eggs Note #2)
20 - Queen (Note #3)
22 - Drone
24 - 4 Roaches
27 - Overlord
27 - Roach(Total of 5)
28 - Lair
Start ONLY Drone production
Build Check #3
34 - Over
34 - Extractor(put 3 drones in it asap)
39 - Hydra Den
41 - Roach Speed
41 - Over
100% Hydra Den - Start making hydras
52 - Extractor
Build Check #4
Build Order Clarification
Early Game Defense
If he went 1 gate you wont need it. your 4 lings + 2 queens would be enough.
If he goes 2 gate you will have 5 roaches and 6 lings, that and your queen should provide enough defense for you to survive, if he is making a lot of zeals you will need to delay the lair a bit in exchange of 2 more roaches and a few lings.
Build Check #1
At 6 minute mark you should have 28 drones, 4 lings, 2 queens and 2 extractors
Build Check #2
At 7:15 you should have 10 lings,3 hydras and 30 drones, your goal is to make 44, so try to squeeze some more when you can
Build Check #3
At 6 min you should have 5 roaches, 6 lings, 2 queens and 19 drones (in case you didnt have to make more army to stop an all in of zealots)
Build Check #4
At 8:15 you should have your firsts hydras finished and 34 drones or so, you goal is 44 drones, so make them when you can.
General Notes
Note #1:
Place your hatch at your natural, also send a drone to scout 1 gate or 2 gate, you NEED this information BEFORE the end of the opening so you can choose one branch or the other, if the map is a 4 player map maybe you should send this drone when you are making your pool.
Note #2:
Use wisely your lings, first go to his base and force him to make a zeal, take some crucial naga towers and the most important, keep one ling at his front in case he comes out to attack, and also SCOUT FOR HIDDEN PYLONS, if he manages to make some proxy pylon and you are whoring drone you are a dead man
Note #3:
Right when your queen pops out use spawn larvae on your hatchery and send it to your natural.
Note #4:
There is a timing attack now, if when your hydra den is half way done see him come out of his base (remember to place your ling there) with 3 zeals, and some sentry/stalker you will need to stop your drone production and make only lings plus a couple of spine crawlers in order to survive, if you manage to delay his attack enough to have hydras out you are in great shape.
Note #5:
There is another timming attack now with immortals, sentry and zeals. You should have hydras out and enough lings to fend it off, if you see that you cant defend it make a spine crawler but you normally wont need it
Transition
You should transition to the classic hydra roach ling army and with 4 gases you will be able to get upgrades, i recommend spines and carpace. Also dont forget to expand again when you see the oportunity.
Mentality
Once you reach lair, start using your overs creep drop to make a path between your bases and the middle of the map, that way hydras will be a lot faster, also try to nydus your 3rd base and your natural to have insta defense. The goal is to have a bigger army than your oponent in the mid game and crush him with it while expanding again. Dont forget that infestors can control colossi, that will make a big diference in the late game.
Well this it, hope you give it a try.
Overview
After just a week of roach rushes, protoss players have found a proper counter to fend it off, so it is time to use a more economical build that can stop anything that P players throw to you and make the game more macro oriented.
Build Order
This build order dependes on the 2 current trends of P openings, one is the classic 2 gate push, and the other one the 1 Gate Tech as it was in SC1, but now with the diference that Z player lack of any anti-air at Tier 1 (except of queen) so you must tech almost as fast as your opponent.
Opening
9 - ovie
15 - pool
16 - hatch (Note #1)
17 - Extractor (put 3 drones in it asap)
16 - Queen
18 - Overlord
Branch 1: vs 1 Gate:
18 - 4 Zerglings (2 Eggs Note #2)
20 - Drone
21 - Queen (Note #3)
Start making a lot of drones
@100 gas - Lair (at expo as you are making a queen in your main)
26 - Overlord
26 - Extractor (put 3 drones in it asap)
33 - Overlord
34 - Zergling Speed
@ 100% Lair or 34/36 - Hydra Den (Note #4)
Build Check #1
36 - Roach Warren
39 - Overlord
100 % Hydra den - Start Making tons of HydraLing
48 - Extractor (put 3 drones in it asap)
Build Check #2
50 - Hydra Range(Note #5)
Branch 2: vs 2 Gate:
18 - Roach Warren
17 - 6 Zerglings (3 Eggs Note #2)
20 - Queen (Note #3)
22 - Drone
24 - 4 Roaches
27 - Overlord
27 - Roach(Total of 5)
28 - Lair
Start ONLY Drone production
Build Check #3
34 - Over
34 - Extractor(put 3 drones in it asap)
39 - Hydra Den
41 - Roach Speed
41 - Over
100% Hydra Den - Start making hydras
52 - Extractor
Build Check #4
Build Order Clarification
Early Game Defense
If he went 1 gate you wont need it. your 4 lings + 2 queens would be enough.
If he goes 2 gate you will have 5 roaches and 6 lings, that and your queen should provide enough defense for you to survive, if he is making a lot of zeals you will need to delay the lair a bit in exchange of 2 more roaches and a few lings.
Build Check #1
At 6 minute mark you should have 28 drones, 4 lings, 2 queens and 2 extractors
Build Check #2
At 7:15 you should have 10 lings,3 hydras and 30 drones, your goal is to make 44, so try to squeeze some more when you can
Build Check #3
At 6 min you should have 5 roaches, 6 lings, 2 queens and 19 drones (in case you didnt have to make more army to stop an all in of zealots)
Build Check #4
At 8:15 you should have your firsts hydras finished and 34 drones or so, you goal is 44 drones, so make them when you can.
General Notes
Note #1:
Place your hatch at your natural, also send a drone to scout 1 gate or 2 gate, you NEED this information BEFORE the end of the opening so you can choose one branch or the other, if the map is a 4 player map maybe you should send this drone when you are making your pool.
Note #2:
Use wisely your lings, first go to his base and force him to make a zeal, take some crucial naga towers and the most important, keep one ling at his front in case he comes out to attack, and also SCOUT FOR HIDDEN PYLONS, if he manages to make some proxy pylon and you are whoring drone you are a dead man
Note #3:
Right when your queen pops out use spawn larvae on your hatchery and send it to your natural.
Note #4:
There is a timing attack now, if when your hydra den is half way done see him come out of his base (remember to place your ling there) with 3 zeals, and some sentry/stalker you will need to stop your drone production and make only lings plus a couple of spine crawlers in order to survive, if you manage to delay his attack enough to have hydras out you are in great shape.
Note #5:
There is another timming attack now with immortals, sentry and zeals. You should have hydras out and enough lings to fend it off, if you see that you cant defend it make a spine crawler but you normally wont need it
Transition
You should transition to the classic hydra roach ling army and with 4 gases you will be able to get upgrades, i recommend spines and carpace. Also dont forget to expand again when you see the oportunity.
Mentality
Once you reach lair, start using your overs creep drop to make a path between your bases and the middle of the map, that way hydras will be a lot faster, also try to nydus your 3rd base and your natural to have insta defense. The goal is to have a bigger army than your oponent in the mid game and crush him with it while expanding again. Dont forget that infestors can control colossi, that will make a big diference in the late game.
Well this it, hope you give it a try.
