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| adam35413 August 11 2012 02:48. Posts 2 | Profile # |
I was a mid-level Diamond league player back when SC2 first came out in 2010. I enjoyed the game a lot, but eventually moved on to other games. I have reinstalled SC2, and I was curious how things have changed in the game from a macro perspective over the last couple of years. After watching some replays, the biggest thing I am noticing is the prevalence of immediate expos rather than early pressure. As a point of reference, I stopped playing shortly after the computer-generated Roach rush build hit the scene.
Can anyone think of some trends or shifts that have occurred as a result of balance patches or just community changes? |
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| Sianos August 11 2012 03:22. Posts 528 | Profile # |
As you have already noticed the metagame is much more economy focussed. Most players go for a fast expand sometimes even followed up with a greedy 3rd. The reason for this is that there were a couple of patches which either weakened units in timing attacks or strengthen units to defend those timing attacks. This basically leads to much less varity in the early game.
The current matchups:
TvZ:
Because of the queen range buff (from 3 to 5) and the improvement of the overlord speed without the upgrade made early aggresion nearly impossible. That´s why almost all terrans go for a fast 3 OC build with hellions, banshees and fast double upgrades on which the zerg responds with a pretty fast 3rd on their own. That results in difficulties for terran to deny the creep and to do any damage in the early game, so that zerg get´s really strong into the lategame starting mostly with ling/infestor/ultra. It´s pretty though for terrans at the moment but they begin to adapt and create more lategame focussed builds and playstyles.
TvP:
This matchup hasn´t changed much at all. It´s still the same 1 engagement matchup it was from the start. Terrans tend to be more active on the map with their units without engaging at all to just keep the Protoss busy until the Terran can set up a good amount of bases and production to keep up with the warpgate mechanic of the Protoss. Some players started to use tanks after the 1 rax fe for fast 3rd bases and double upgrades or 2 base timing pushes.
PvZ:
PvZ is the typical forge expand vs fast 3 base from the zerg. Then the Protoss either tries to do a 2 base timing push or they try to take a 3rd base, which get´s heavily attacked by a shit ton of roaches. I´m a terran player so i can´t say much about that matchup but from spectating i woulde say that Protoss players have a pretty hard time to get their 3rd up without heavy losses afterwards which is imo the deciding point in the matchup. But maybe some Zerg or Protoss players can say more to this.
ZvZ:
Roach/Infestor vs Roach/Infestor. Their haven´t been any changes at all from my point of view.
PvP:
Likewise. It´s still the 1 base vs 1 base play, but because of some patch changes you see 2 base play more often.
TvT:
Also the same. It has a lot of varity from playing bio, marine-tank or full mech. Mech get´s to be more popular in the matchup but marine-tank is still the way to go. In case of oppenings the 1 rax fe is much more done in the ladder, but at pro level the 1-1-1 variants are still be used more. |
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| TheGGparadox United States. August 11 2012 03:42. Posts 31 | Profile # |
| I think its worth noting that ZvZ ling infestor into ultra has become more and more popular in the past few months since the MLG Spring Championships where players like leenock and Stephano used it quite heavily. |
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| TrippSC2 United States. August 11 2012 03:46. Posts 175 | Profile Blog # |
Most of the committed 1 and 2 base plays have been figured out by the opponent race, so the game advances much more quickly to multiple bases.
I can only give an overview on the matchups that I play as a Zerg player.
TvZ: I don't have much to add from what the above poster said. I do want to note that this matchup has been in flux since the latest patch and I don't think that the majority of pros have settled on their solutions to the problems caused by buffing queens. I expect more changes in the meta game for this matchup.
PvZ: Most 1 and 2 base plays from both races have been figured out. Protoss has a really strong 2 base Sentry/Immortal allin that gives Zerg problems. Other than that the game turns into Zerg either attempting to deny the Protoss third base or taking a fourth base and turtling to Broodlords. Protoss will in turn either defend like mad, try to hit a timing just before broodlords or transition into Mothership + Archon. Alternative late game composition that Zergs have been experimenting with is Ultralisk + Speedbane, which deals with Mothership + Archon better, but is weaker against the traditional Robo ball.
ZvZ: The early game baneling vs baneling play is much less common due to being able to cost efficiently defend due to the queen change. There are several ways that the mid game can be approached now, as well. Most common is roach-based play, like the above poster stated, but muta play and infestor into ultra play is perfectly viable and may soon get some traction in the pro meta game. |
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| Dirichlet August 11 2012 03:48. Posts 19 | Profile # |
| PvP has changed drastically since 2010. Four gate is no longer that strong of a build and is much more just a build that punishes someone who doesn't scout correctly or plays too greedy. Many builds are now expansion focused. Phoenix play has also picked up a lot. In short, it's actually become a very diverse match up with a lot of options |
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| Yokoblue Canada. August 11 2012 04:05. Posts 594 | Profile # |
PvP Got really diverses.
Most games go 2 bases and sometimes more.
3 stalkers rush expend and 1 gate FE build start rising a lot in the matchup.
Robo/Blink, Immortal expends and Phoenix play are the most common strat with FE.
PvZ: The matchup evolved quite a lot, now the protoss try to defend early third against zerg max out roach, or they try to kill them before broodlord infestor. Warpprism get a lot of uses, Mutas play is almost non-existant even if its still strong.
PvT: Nothing as changed really...
ZvZ. Roach infestor or some timing push with Roach-Hydras or Roach lings. Some muta play but not a lot. |
| | Master League playing Protoss and Zerg |
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| Oboeman Canada. August 11 2012 04:28. Posts 3407 | Profile # |
ZvZ:
Roach/Infestor vs Roach/Infestor. Their haven´t been any changes at all from my point of view.
zvz has evolved a lot.
Remember when it started with only one base builds? baneling, roach etc?
Then for a while it was rock paper scissors of 15 hatch vs 14/14 vs 9pool
and now pool first expansion builds (15p/15h) are finally getting into the game while 14/14 slowly dies out.
That's not even getting into unit compositions. roach has always been the midgame staple, but there's been lots of variations of muta, infestor, and hydra builds. Many more ZvZs get to hive tech now, and nydus and drops also make regular appearances (and I don't mean cheesy 1 base nydus). |
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| ArcticRaven France. August 11 2012 05:03. Posts 1165 | Profile # |
All 3rd bases are much much quicker than before in every matchup. (edit : and you actually see some in PvP)
Something that strikes me is the prevalence of spines in every matchup. In TvZ, drops are necessary for Terran to keep up, and spores and spines at all expos have become a reflex for many players ; in PvZ, huge spine lines help hold the colossus/stalker death ball until brood lords are out ; and in ZvZ, the new ling/festor builds revolve heavily around holding your bases with them until infestors, then ultralisks (which now see play in all matchups as a T2.5 unit that allows to survive until brood lords).Last edit: 2012-08-11 05:05:08 |
| | [EatThePath] I call assassins as my faction. Please tell me we can all agree that in the version of history, Steppes of War will be Jerusalem. |
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| monk United States. August 11 2012 05:43. Posts 6811 | Profile Blog # |
| Welcome to TL! Please read the strategy forum guidelines before posting in the strategy forums. This topic isn't really thread worthy and contains no real content in the OP. |
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