Starcraft 2 Zerg vs Protoss Strategy

As usual, the key Starcraft 2 Zerg vs Protoss Strategy is map control.

Protoss units lack the mobility that Zerg has (Speedlings and Mutalisks) and as a result, they are unable to control the map nearly as well as Zerg players.

With that said, here are the basic ways to win Starcraft 2 Zerg vs Protoss games.

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Countering the Protoss Fast Expand as Zerg

Expand Early

I explained this in detail in the Starcraft 2 Zerg Guide article. Be sure to scout the enemy (preferably at a supply count of 9) to make sure the enemy isn't proxying or rushing Zealots.

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Once you have confirmation that the enemy Protoss player is pursuing an early expansion, grab your first expansion quickly.

Countering the Zealot Rush

A key part of all Starcraft 2 Zerg vs Protoss matches is stopping the Zealot rush. You will inevitably face one during your battles.

If you discover that your opponent is rushing Zealots, you will need to pick up an early Spawning Pool. Your Spawning Pool should finish by the time his first Gateway is done; this is why you scout at 9/10 supply count and not later.

Make two Queens to defend the base, a Spine Crawler, and pump out Zerglings. Keep increasing your Drone count as well and tech to a Lair. Your opponent simply will not be able to get in if you get a quick Queen and Spine Crawler.

Due to Zealots status as a melee unit and their slow movement speed, they have trouble navigating around two strategically placed Spine Crawlers (as long as you keep your buildings close to the Hatchery / Lair).

Also, make sure you don't let your Queen die. Good players will focus this, so make sure you run it around the base when it gets low on hp, allowing the Zerglings to wear down the Zealots and buy you more time. 

A key Queen ability is "Transfusion". This is a healing spell used by Queens. With two Queens, you will be able to have the Queens heal each other. Additionally, you can use Transfusion to heal Spine Crawlers. This is a very underrated Starcraft 2 Zerg vs Protoss strategy.

Use your Queens to expand the Creep out until you can build a Hatchery at your natural expansion and simply walk your Spine Crawlers down to your base. Use your Queens and Zerglings to push the Zealot mass back. This is only necessary when fighting against a Proxying or serious Zealot rusher.

In most Zealot rushes, you will still be able to pick up an early expansion, and creative usage of two Queens (Transfusions, kiting), and a small pack of Zerglings is enough to stop Zealots (or even Roaches). Get a Spine Crawler by the time the opponent gets Sentries.

A great way to punish a Zealot rusher is to sneak a pack of Zerglings (8-12) past the Zealots, leaving your base to your Queens and Spine Crawlers. At this point, rush it into the enemy's minerals. This is game-over for the opponent if he is busy trying to get past your defense!

Sneaking Zerglings into the enemy's base is a core Starcraft 2 Zerg vs Zerg strategy.

Speedlings to Nexus

You must prevent the Protoss player from expanding. Do not allow him to take his natural expansion. If the player does, use this great Starcraft 2 Zerg vs Protoss Strategy:

As mentioned earlier, Protoss players do not have many fast units. If your opponent takes his natural expansion, punish it with Zerglings.

As soon as he comes out to defend it, rush your Zerglings past the Protoss' players units, completely ignoring them. Head for the main Nexus. With a big pack of Zerglings (24) you can usually completely knock out the main Nexus before those slow, clumsy Zealots / Stalkers / Sentries can get back in!

Additionally, if the units are in the main base instead of the expansion, you can often kill the expansion-Nexus before the enemy moves his units over.

I have used this strategy to kill the main Nexus so many times, and it is still always fun. The Protoss player inevitably throws a fit and rage-quits. Good times! Your success in Starcraft 2 Zerg vs Protoss matches depends on your ability to execute this strategy.

As a side note, don't let a few Void Rays scare you off. Void Rays are slow early game (no speed upgrade yet) and can't charge up versus low HP units, making them very slow to kill Zerglings.

Mid-Game

Your main goal after countering an initial Zealot rush (most Protoss players will use this against you) and stopping their expansions (use this against most Protoss) is to beef up your natural expansion and mass Hydralisks, Roaches (if they go ground) and Corruptors (if they have air or Colossi).

You should be able to pick up a big army of Hydralisks faster than the Protoss player can build units due to your two-expansion status.

Corruptors are useful for two reasons: They do great damage versus the Colossus, which tears up Hydralisks. They also can use Corruption, which increases the damage the Colossus takes.

They are also useful because they are great versus Void Rays, which give Zerg Players tons of trouble as well.

Mass Infantry

Late game, Zerg players can run into trouble versus big quantities of Protoss ground units (Charging Zealots, Sentries, and Stalkers). For this type of attacker, I recommend getting your own mixed ground army consisting of Ultralisks, Roaches, Hydralisks, and Infestors.

Ultralisks are great because 1) they soak up tons of damage and 2) break the Sentry's Force field 3) own Zealots with splash damage and high armor.

The real purpose though is to allow your Roaches and Hydralisks to get close enough to attack, and allow the Infestor to cast Fungal Growth on unit masses and Mind Control any Immortals that may be present.

In any ground battle between the SC2 Zerg and Protoss match, you will need something to stop the Force Fields. Just beware of Immortals! Mind Control or a token Broodlord can effectively take out immortals (Broodlings rip through their shield).

Mass Air

One common Starcraft 2 Zerg vs Protoss strategy question I am asked is how can Zerg players stop mass Void Rays, especially when combined with the Mothership?

Well, the easiest answer is to not let Protoss players mass Void Rays. As mentioned earlier, you should have ruined their economy with Zerglings and then crushed them with Hydralisks.

If the game does run that long, you have no option but to mass Corruptors. All units can be Corruptors. Then, engage in conflict with their air units away from your base. Do not let Void Rays gain a charge by attacking one of your buildings.

Your odds are not good if you engage completely charged Void Rays, but if you go in with a mass of Corruptors against uncharged Void Rays, you will win handily.

Conclusion

Starcraft 2 Zerg vs Protoss matches are as simple as described. In SC2, the Zerg is all about map control and fast units. Use your Speedlings to wreck the enemy's harvesting, run laps around his units, and bounce between their expansions and the main Nexus. 

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