Starcraft – What’s the Zerg answer for Protoss Canons + Phoenixes

starcraft-2starcraft-protossstarcraft-zerg

When I play a 1v1 match against Zerg as Protoss, I'm happy. So far (in about 5 matches), I found the following strategy undefeatable:

  1. Quickly build a Forge (before Gateway), then 2-3 cannons at your doorstep. If you have a Natural Expansions that is defendable, build the cannons there instead of the main base, and secure your natural.
  2. Gas up, build more cannons, expand to natural if it's defendable
  3. By this time, the Zerg player will have given hope on ground assault. 5 cannons are pretty much impassable… the Zerg will go for Mutalisks/Corruptors
  4. Mass up on Phoenixes – build 2-3 Stargates and pump Phoenixes using Chrono boost. You will encounter some Muta resistance, but you can build Phoenixes faster than he can build Mutas.
  5. By the time you have control of the skies, build Voidrays and gg

What is its weak point? How can I defend against it playing Zerg? Nydus/Overlord transport ?

Best Answer

This is actually the best possible thing to happen for you as a zerg player. He's running just Phoenixes and he has given you map control FOR FREE.

Your Strategy is going to be as follows:

  • Build a couple spore to stop early Phoenix harass.
  • Expand to 3 or 4 bases
  • Spread your creep
  • Build pretty much any unit, you're going to run over him

He's giving up the Macro advantage as you now have map control. You can build Hydras as a direct counter to Phoenix and they have the nice benefit of being strong against 4 gate.

Now if he pushes out a more standard 4 Warpgate play, you just FE and play normal vs a 2 Base Protoss. By the time you make a serious push, the Photon Cannons will be a small factor.


Btw, what do people feel about the plural of Phoenix? In Roman mythology there was only one Phoenix in the entire world so the word had no plural. I've been using it as both plural and singular (like fish) as a result.