[H] Dealing with 3/4 gate pylon spam in PvP

Hi Guys, I've been hitting this one build and losing against it almost all of the time when I face it.

I typically open with a 3 stalker rush and transition into a 2 gate DT expand with mid-game chargelot archon aggression.

Now normally I'm okay with most openings in PvP when playing defense and I feel my overall micro is good enough to hold most early game pressure, but this push normally just kills me.

A replay: http://drop.sc/240721

I open exactly as I mentioned above, with the 3 stalker opening and I like to get the twilight council up quick after the 2 chrono'd stalkers for a quick expansion and also quick Dark Shrine with it whilst not really sacrificing much in the way of economy. I know and am aware that I am weak against any severe attack in the early game (4 gate) as I'm cutting some units to get this quicker Dark Shrine and expansion.

This timing always seems to get me, as they usually plant the pylon either before my 2 chrono'd stalkers are done, or just after, and by which time, it's too late to stop the pylons from going up. Once the pylons are up, it seems to me that it's pretty much a forgone conclusion that I'll probably be losing this game.

My question as this thread is this:

Is my three stalker rush variant BO countered by this pylon spam variant of the 3/4 gate pressure in PvP?

Sorry about no other replays, I cleaned my folder out recently and this is the only replay recently of this happening.

Thanks.

EDIT: I am a mid/high diamond player on the EU server.

Last edit: 2012-08-20 15:08:36

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Psychonian United States. August 20 2012 07:27. Posts 494

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Hmm. Being a zerg I can't say that much about PvP but a) if the 3 stalker opening includes a zealot (Yes I know that little about protoss) then you should always have it patrolling unless you are doing some kind of 3gate pressure or something. If you can keep probes well away from your base then the proxy pylon won't end up mattering that much. If nothing else you should always have a probe out there from the 4 to 7 minute mark or so looking for proxy pylons. Again as a mid-level zerg I cant say that much, especially about protoss, but missing a pylon can cost you a game. 1 probe wouldn't mess you up that much.

b) Before I can really help you any more than this though I need to know what league you're in so I can have a general idea of how well the 3gate/4gate is being executed.

Last edit: 2012-08-20 07:29:38

BronzeKnee United States. May 07 2013 09:48. If this Oracle walks into the Widow Mine... BronzeKnee United States. May 07 2013 09:49. Sigh. -Heart vs. HelloKitty

KingLumps August 20 2012 08:10. Posts 71

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Ummmm unless it's a Korean 4 gate there is no way that he should be able to get his probe anywhere near your ramp, it's kinda the whole point of 3 stalker builds... If he does plant pylons before your stalkers are done then he's pretty dumb cuz his warp gate research is nowhere close to done so he basically gave you the game.

If it is Korean 4 gate he can only warp in zealots so you still win since you have stalkers

iSuck

Banchan United States. August 20 2012 08:29. Posts 149

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On August 20 2012 07:27 Psychonian wrote:
b) Before I can really help you any more than this though I need to know what league you're in so I can have a general idea of how well the 3gate/4gate is being executed.

Would it hurt THAT much to watch the replay?

what I saw was a scouting deficiency that cost you the game. You scouted at the normal time, but left before the other guy even started his zealot. You should be staying until the stalker nears completion. Had you stayed, you would have noticed he only used 2 chronoboosts on probes, meaning you would have been able to expect the gateway timing and make a sentry instead of a stalker while going for a safer 3gate before twilight build.

Mirosuu England. August 20 2012 15:08. Posts 279

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On August 20 2012 08:29 Banchan wrote:

Show nested quote +

Ahh, I felt that most of the loss was down to this, and frankly I agree with what you have said here.
My reasoning for keeping the stalker at the top of the ramp is that I see the zealot, stalker and probe coming up the map but I only have a stalker, so it'd be foolish to just push out and engage.

But what I maybe should have done is to engage it, but only enough to focus the probe down and then go back to defend the attack with the two extra stalkers I was getting.

Thanks!

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

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