Starcraft 2 Protoss vs Zerg Strategies
One of the funnest match-ups in Starcraft 2 is the Protoss vs Zerg match up. In this part of our Starcraft 2 Protoss guide, I will be revealing my top Starcraft 2 Protoss vs Zerg strategies and top Starcraft 2 tips for winning this match-up.
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Starcraft 2 Protoss vs Zerg Strategies – Overview
Before we get started with specific strategies, I wanted to cover a brief overview of the PvZ match-up and how it works for Protoss players. As a Protoss player, your only real objectives in this match are to not let the Zerg player get too far ahead of you from an economic standpoint and to survive until you get out Colossus tech.
On number of bases, the “Protoss Death Ball” will beat any sort of Zerg composition, unless the Zerg player has better army upgrades or has far superior micro. When you keep this in mind, the way this match plays out is pretty simple.
SC2 PvZ Strategy – Keeping It Close
Since Protoss players fair so well in Protoss vs Zerg on even bases, the most popular and most effective build for Protoss players to go is for some sort of fast expansion.
On large maps, you can go Forge first, where you throw down a Pylon and Forge at the entrance to your natural base, and then throw up a Cannon or 2 behind the Forge. You can then Safely take your Nexus (perhaps sealing off the wall completely until you get some units and saturation).
On small maps, where the Zerg spawns closer to you, you may not have time to set up a Forge fast expand, so instead another popular build is to get 3 Gateways, double gas, and pump out Sentries. Once you have about 5 Sentries, you can get your Nexus. This allows you to safely wall off your ramp with Force Fields while buying you time to warp in back-up reinforcements from your Warp Gates if it comes to that.
The only thing you have to do once you’ve secured your natural is to keep things even by not letting the Zerg take a third base. The first thing you need to do is scout thoroughly to check for a third base (an aggressive third would happen in between 7:00 and 9:00 on the game clock).
You can do this easily either by building a single Stargate (preferable if you went for the forge fast expand) or researching Hallucination and hallucinating Phoenix (preferable if you went for the 3-Gate fast expand). This way, you can use a Phoenix to scout the map quickly and easily.
If the opponent was extremely aggressive on getting a third base, you can move out with 1-2 Void Rays and 1-2 Phoenix or Gateway units, depending on your buildings. Hit the third base if you are using air or the natural if you are using Gateway units.
You might not even take out any units or fully commit to an attack – the idea here is to put the Zerg on the defensive so you can grab your third base and make him start producing units (which means less Drones) so you can catch up in economy. This helps you stay in the game if the Zerg player has an extra base.
Just remember that one of the best Starcraft 2 Protoss vs Zerg strategies is to move out as a Protoss player to make the Zerg produce units. You can always retreat once the Zerg player scouts you – you do not even have to attack! Just the threat of attacking is enough to hurt his or her economy.
Teching Up
If you are still in the game at this point, all that you really have to do is tech up to Colossus, focus on getting good ground upgrades, and perhaps Blink. You want to build a nice mixed ground army backed up by Colossi versus nearly all Zerg make-ups.
If you are running into a lot of Hydras, you can go heavy on Zealots, Sentries, and Colossi. If you are running into a lot of Roaches, you can go for Stalkers, Sentries, and Colossi. If you are running into a lot of Banelings or “Bane Rain” strategies, you can make Stalkers, Archons, and Colossi. If you are running into a lot of Zerglings, you can go for Zealots, Sentries, Stalkers, and Colossi.
The only thing you need to watch out for in the battle is how many Corruptors are on the field. You will need 1 Colossi for every 2 Corruptors that is out on the field if you want to win in a big engagement. Alternatively, you could add in 1 Void Ray and 1 Colossus for every 3 Corruptors, which also works well.
If the Zerg player completely goes overboard on Corruptors, you can cut Colossi production and tech switch, making the Corruptors worthless. High Templar (for Psionic Storm) are great for handling Mutalisks, Hydralisks, and Zerglings. Feedback is also good for Infestors. If there is nothing but Roaches and Corruptors on the field, a good mix of Immortals, Stalkers, and a few Sentries seems to work well.
Starcraft 2 Protoss vs Zerg Strategies Conclusion
You should now have a good understanding of the Starcraft 2 Protoss vs Zerg match-up. Really your job as a Protoss player is just to not let the Zerg player expand the map while you tech up to tier 3 units. One you are in the late-game with similar economies, it is quite hard for the Protoss player to lose.
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