Zerg Build Orders for Starcraft 2
Arranging the correct Zerg Build Orders will have a huge impact on the outcome of the game. Winning or losing in battle will be determined by small but important changes in your Zerg build order. Below are 2 of my favorite build orders and a general guide for all your builds. You should determine your build order plan based on the layout of the map, the species you are fighting, and your opponent’s tactics. Do not forget to spy on your opponent as you progress on your build. Based on what your scouts discover, it is wise to adjust your build order.
Be certain to focus on your macro game as a Zerg. The Zerg’s production capabilities need to be watched carefully, because unlike the other races they produce both workers and combat units from the same resource. The Zerg can decide to completely focus on creating either workers or soldiers, while the Protoss and Terran races generate both simultaneously. The most significant factor for your build order will be the quantity of Hatcheries you’ve created and the Larva that come from them.
Zerg Build – Early Battle|Zerg Build Order Strategy – Early to Mid Game
The set of build orders below can be utilized against every enemy of any race, and will get you to mid-game in excellent position.
At the beginning, you should focus on your economy and resource generation, so don’t play around with Extractor tricks. Begin with 9 Overlord – it is significantly more efficient than 10 Overlord.
At twelve, deploy your first scouting Drone.
Go with 13 Spawning Pool. This will help against six pools or Proxy Gates, and should save you around five seconds vs. 14 Spawning Pool.
This will eventually also save you 5 seconds on Baneling Nest or Zergling Speed.
14 Overlord Save larva
Six Zerglings. It’s vital to spawn these early to defend yourself against minor attacks the enemy may go after you with, and you can also win early if they can penetrate the enemy headquarters.
Once you get to 100 gas, start your Drones mining minerals Over Vespine gas.
When you accumulate 20 food, start to generate your first Hatchery and Overlord.
When your first larva injection is ready, start mining Vespine gas again with your drones.
With the exception of small maps against a Terran, you almost always want to develop a second base quickly so you can make more Larva. A single Hatchery cannot produce enough Larva. When you create another Hatchery, your resource gathering will really flourish.
Zerg Build Orders – Early Drones
One more Zerg build I have had success with is to focus on getting 10 Drones as early as you can.
After you spawn the Drones, spawn an Overlord, and then 3 more Drones, and wait until you hit the max with 200 minerals.
Make the Spawning Pool as soon as you get to 200 Minerals. The Spawning Pool is a major target your enemy will go for, so make sure to put it in a place that’s hard to get to. Put three Drones in your Extractor while waiting for the Spawning Pool to finish. Keep making more Drones until the Spawning Pool is complete. Get your Queen out as soon as the Spawning Pool is done. Then create some additional Drones along with some Zerglings.
Save up 100 Vespine gas and then upgrade your Spawning Pool with the Speed Boost.
To protect your base, generate a Baneling Nest as well as several Banelings. Banelings are supreme defensive units that can protect you against attackers while protecting your headquarters and Spawning Pool.
Eric has been practicing SC2 since the beta release in Feb 2010. He is a top ranked Diamond League player thanks to playing with the Diamond Gamer review and Starcraft 2 Shokz Guide Review.
