Starcraft 2 Zerg vs Terran Strategy

Most players around the world agree on one thing: it is hard to play against Terran as a Zerg player.

I thought so too, until I figured out a few key tricks to beating Terran players. Due to popular demand, I have hurried to get this excellent Starcraft 2 Zerg vs Terran Strategy online for everyone to see.

First off, when it comes to this match-up, what you do will really depend on what the enemy is up to (as always).

Regardless, I like to start off the same way every time, using the early build order popularized by the professional Starcraft 2 player, IdrA. I won't go into specific details but here is the brief breakdown:

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1. Get 15 Drones.
2. Build a Spawning Pool.
3. Build 2 more Drones.
4. Build an expansion.
4. Build a second Overlord.
5. Build a Queen and a pair of Zerglings.

At any rate, this is a great start. I usually scout the opponent with my 9th Drone to double-check to make sure they aren't pulling off anything funny (proxy barracks or Reapers).

As soon as my expansion lands, I build 2 extractors. As soon as possible after that, I get a Lair.

If they are massing Marines (extremely common in 2v2), I build a Roach Warren. Roaches simply own Marines.

Most players seem to struggle early versus Marauders though. If I scout and see Tech Labs, I will prepare for Mauraders or a late attack.

Early to Mid-Game Infantry Attack

If I scout and determine they are massing infantry for an attack, I will build Spine Crawlers, a small amount (maybe 8) roaches and a dozen Zerglings and horde gas.

Most people consider automated defensive structures like Spine Crawlers to be a big waste of money, but Zerg tends to have way too many minerals anyway, so it's not a big deal. Roaches and Spine Crawlers are enough to hold off any early attack.

Now here is the key thing: get an Evolution Chamber and an Infestation Pit. While you are turtling and hoarding gas, upgrade Carapace Armor and build Infestors (4 should be fine). Research Peristalsis and Burrow (so your Infestors can stay underground).

When you Infantry comes in, slam them with Fungal Growth (Infestor ability). It deals them 36 damage over 8 seconds (most of a Marine's health!) and keeps them rooted.

The rooting is the key thing - Mauraders cannot kite your units around if they are frozen in place! Zerglings and Roaches make quick work of poisoned and rooted units. Keep Fungal Growth up.

Hellion Push

A very common strategy that Terran players will use against Zerg players is to rush with Hellions. Hellions are strong versus Zerglings and are very fast, allowing the Hellions to run circles around your Zerglings and Queens.

The key to defeating Hellions is via the "Sim City" technique. Build all your buildings incredibly tight and close to your Hatchery. Then, place 2 Spine Crawlers on each side of your Hatchery. Keep your Queen in the back.

Hellions do almost no damage against buildings. It is of no consequence if a few Hellions are chipping away at your Hatchery health. You will be able to upgrade to a Lair and produce a few Mutalisks before they can do any damage.

Make sure you put 2 Spine Crawlers directly against your Hatchery on opposite sides at your expansion as well.

Machinery

What it seems that the biggest problems Zerg players will face is a mid-late game Terran army that is nothing but Mech: Thors, Siege Tanks, and Hellions.

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Siege Tanks will eat up your Hydralisks, Thors will chew up tons of Mutalisks, and Hellions melt Zerglings. What to do?

I have actually come up with an unusual solution that is very effective even in the Diamond league. Using Infestors to keep Infantry at bay, tech to a Hive and build an Ultralisk Den. This can be done even on a 2-base build if you keep your opponent's expansions limited to 2 and prevent him from taking his natural too early.

At your Ultralisk Den, get the speed upgrade. Keep upgrading the Zerg Carapace at the Evolution Chamber as mentioned earlier.

Your Ultralisk can get an armor rating of "6". This makes him practically immune to Marines, and with his high HP total and speed, a pack of Ultralisks will tear through tanks so fast it will make your head spin.

Ultralisks also do splash damage and are immune to slows and stuns, so they can handle Marauders even though they do bonus damage to armored units. Just remember to use Fungal Growth to root them in place so they cannot run.

Meanwhile, while you are building Ultralisks, you can produce speed-upgraded Zerglings and use them to control the map. Send in packs of 12 to enemy expansions constantly. Limit him to his natural expansion as you pick up expansions around the map.

Remember that you will have more minerals than you can spend. Keep expanding constantly even if the opponent is able to kill them off. While he is chasing down your expansions, you are preventing him from getting anything done.

Infestors are key to using Ultralisks successfully. The Frenzy ability increases Ultralisk damage by 25% and makes them immune to stun (the Thor has a stunning ability).

Thors

The Infestor once again shines if the opponent gets a lot of Thors. Infestors can Mind Control Thors with the "Neural Parasite" ability. Use 3 Infestors to mind control 3 Thors and watch all hell break loose!

Ultralisks on the front line make this possible. Once they go in and start soaking up damage, unburrow your Infestors and Mind Control the enemy.

The Neural Parasite to control Thors might just be the best Starcraft 2 Zerg vs Terran Strategy. You need a distraction though; if a great player sees Ultralisks coming in on the offensive, he will be quickly trying to use his 250mm Strike Cannon on the Ultralisks.

He will not be used to Frenzy (makes Ultralisk immune to the Strike Cannon stun) and it is incredibly surprising to the opponent. Unburrow your Infestors and MC in the confusion. I have never had a Terran player EMP an Infestor that was freshly unburrowed if I send in Frenzied Ultralisks first.

Battlecruisers

If the enemy has Battlecruisers, get Corruptors. They do bonus damage to massive air units and supply for supply, the match-up isn't even close. Corruptors will chew them up fast.

So many people miss this easy Starcraft 2 Zerg vs Terran Strategy, it is honestly amazing. Do not use Hydralisks versus Battlecruisers. This is not a viable strategy as Battlecruisers do great damage to light units, and Hydralisks have way too low of an hp total to be competitive here.

Vikings

Honestly, Vikings are not that good versus the Zerg. Mutalisks do very well versus them in group combat and can attack ground units. The more dangerous combo would be Vikings/Thors/Tanks, at which point you would mind control the Thors and use Ultralisks on the tanks.

Just remember, Vikings can't attack Ultralisks unless they land, and it won't be pretty if they do (for them of course). I can't emphasize enough the strength of the Ultralisk / Infestor / Zergling combo when it comes to Starcraft 2 Zerg vs Terran Strategy.

The Terran Turtle

The last thing you will have to deal with is Terran players who wall themselves inside their base or their natural expansion. Even Ultralisks will have trouble against Siege Tanks if the tanks have a wall in front of them.

This is actually not so bad, but it takes some time. Make sure any expansion the Terran has outside his wall is dead. Expand the map at your leisure and get air units. A few Brood Lords and Mutalisks should be fine.

Use these air units to snipe tanks. It doesn't matter if Vikings or Thors kill them, just kill the tanks. The rest of your units can come in and clean up afterwards. If you control the map it doesn't matter if this gets a little sloppy and you incur some unit losses - just build more!

Common Mistakes

Not expanding early - Zerg need the resources. Every good Starcraft 2 Zerg vs Terran Strategy relies on expanding.

Hydralisks - I hate these vs Terran players. I will almost never use them. I hate to produce them because any good Terran knows that a handful of Siege Tanks can stop a swarm of Hydralisks. They just don't have enough health to fight Terran players at the moment.

Not controlling the map. Terran are encumbered by slow movement. Use Zergling packs to kill harvesters at expansions.

Not using automated defense. Zerg just have way too many minerals not to protect your expansions until you can get your units to the expansion.

Not using the Infestor. The Infestor is KEY to beating Terran players. You can use practically whatever other units you want, just make sure you have an Infestor to use Fungal Plague on Infantry balls and Neural Parasite on Thors.

Conclusion

Here is the basic gist of the Starcraft 2 Zerg vs Terran Strategy. You will see the Terran unit on the left and the Zerg unit on the right:

Marines are countered by Roaches early, Infestors and Ultralisks late

Marauders are countered by Spine Crawlers early, Infestors and Ultralisks

Thors are Infestor to Mind Control, Zerglings or Ultralisks to kill

Tanks are countered by Ultralisks in the open field, Air behind a wall

Hellions are countered by Spine Crawlers

Vikings are countered by Ultralisks (they have to land to attack!), and automated
defensive structures

Battlecruisers are countered by Corruptors

This information should help you immensely when playing against Terran players as Zerg. If you find yourself still not winning enough games, I would strongly recommend that you check out the Shokz Guide, which you can get by clicking here. 

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This routinely updated advanced guide contains strategies for ALL the races, an advanced 1v1 guide, a 2v2 guide with powerful strategies for Terran, Zerg, and Protoss players that will have your opponents begging for mercy. Click here to get it now!