Swarm Host - a new toy in the Zerg arsenal, can be called "Siege Mushrooms" because they are similar to mushrooms. I want to discuss them more intensively, how to better kill them, how to better use them. Here you will see some tips how to use Swarm Hosts and great games with Swarm Host (SH) usage, epic moments with some Zerg unit compositions, including SH.
Reminder. I can't guarantee that some of these tips/strategies may be effective or work well. It's all about experimenting with it and trying to vary your gameplay.
• ZERG vs TERRAN / PROTOSS. On G-Star Invitational one of the most famous korean players - Leenock did a nice demonstration of SH strengh in combination with some other Zerg units. Highly recommend you to view these videos below, just clock on picture and select which set you want to see. On picture you can see what set showcases what units.
• ZERG vs ALL. When relocating SH, you can use Hold-mode to avoid stucking SH in Locusts. Use Hold mode when you spawned Locusts and at same time unburrowing them to relocate after spawn. on video you can see why you can lose some of them, if not use Hold mode in some situations.
• ZERG vs ALL. Try to manage Locust spawns from many SH via unburrowing half of them and waiting or turning off auto-spawn, when all SH, new and old ones, will be ready to spawn Locusts at same time.
You can unburrow Swarm Hosts that are already reloading Locusts and wait a bit, when all SH will be ready. Another way to synchronize Locust spawn from different Swarm Host is to turn off autocast. Even if it's turned off, Locusts will still recharge.
Also here is a tip. Clicking ALT+Locust hotkey is exactly same, as right-clicking on Locust icon. It works for all auto-cast abilities, just hold ALT and press hotkey of that ability, so auto-cast can be toggled via hotkeys too. Third way is burrow new SH 2-3 seconds before old ones will spawn Locusts.
Sometimes some of your Swarm Hosts will want to be a Locust, walking with their minions and trying to do something. But on serious note, it can be a problem for you, because you can lose that single Swarm Host. Solution is simply - just use Set Rally Point more often. Also if you don't have Grid hotkey scheme, highly recommend you to rebind "Set Rally Point" hotkey to something which is easier and more comfort to reach for your fingers..
• ZERG vs ALL. Sometimes due to attack priority Locusts will attack wrong targets. For example on enemy base, after first shot from Stalker or Siege Tank, located on other side of building or base, Locusts will try to attack in response, and because they have low range, they will need to walk around buildings to reach their target, meaning that they will waste their time.
When you will use Hold-mode, Locusts will attack closest buildings and units without reacting to units that are far away from them. You can manually target specific building, but after it's destroyed, locusts will again react to attackers, like other units, that can take damage and make Locusts them follow instead attacking base.
• ZERG vs ALL. Try to use Nydus and Overlord drops with Swarm Hosts. It requires some good control and sometimes good multitask, but in my humble opinion, Locusts attacking your base in different places can be very nervous and strong, if not react quickly. It can be similar to sending some Dark Templars to each of enemy base, and if enemy don't have detectors on one of these bases, he can lose a lot workers against DTs.
You can also use Nydus Worm as reinforce outpost somewhere in the center of map or near enemy base. Nydus can allow to spread a lot of creep for Locusts and Queens. All reinforcments going through Nydus is another deadly advatange of this play style. For example spawn Nydus somewhere near enemy Xel'Naga tower at Daybreak or Akilon Wastes, where you can send Locusts to natural or 3rd base.
Why Queens are good here? They have more range than Hydralisks to shut down Observers, they can heal themselfs and Swarm Hosts, and they can make a lot creep from Nydus creep. Queens also don't cost gas, meaning that you can spend it on Swarm Hosts, Hydralisks or Infestors or Vipers.
Overseers with changelings can allow you to see where enemy forces are going next, so you can send Locusts at other place.
Highly recommend you to see this nice game with TLO against WhiteRA. Zerg lost a game here, because he's not built better units against Protoss air, but still, look at how nicely and epic he killed Protoss bases with Nyduses, and then retreated from main Protoss base to unload all Swarm Hosts at other place and try to attack other Protoss base. Better to watch from the 8th minute.
You also should try to drop your other units like Hydralisks or Roaches at other places of enemy base. Enemy probably will react first to Swarm Hosts, because they can continiously attack his base, when drop is more one-time.
Something like overlord drops with hydralisks with Swarm Host attacking in other place you can see at this video on 0:45:00.
In this game at 3:15:30 you can see, how Swarm Hosts attacking enemy base at same time with Overlord drops with other zerg units.
• ZERG vs ALL. Try to start with Mutalisks, do some harass and then switch to Swarm Hosts. Why it can be effective? It can force enemy into some scenarios, that can be effective for you:
- First, enemy will know that you started make Mutalisks, and he will waste a lot minerals on placing anti-air turrets on every base. But you will not play Mutalisks heavily, just 5-10 of them. - Second, it can force Protoss opponent to make Stargate and Phoenixes, when you're switching into heavy ground forces, like Queens-SH, or Hydra-SH.
• ZERG vs TERRAN. Because Terran can slowly move half of his Siege Tanks under defence of other deployed tanks, Terrans can slowly come closer to Swarm Hosts. Try to make 2 waves of Locusts spawn or make a constant Locust spawn without big time rooms for Terran, allowing him to relocate his Siege Tanks. It can make every Locust wave weaker, but at same time Terran have more risk to lose undeployed Siege Tanks.
• ZERG vs ZERG. In official game help it says, that Swarm Hosts are weak against Hellions, Archons and Banelings. Well, it's understandable why they're weak versus Archons with anti-bio splash and Hellions, who can kite Locusts or in hellbat-form tank some damage and be healed/repaired then. But what about Banelings? Is that really true?
Banelings can allow you to quickly clear current Locust wave and give you some time for other units to reach Swarm Hosts and kill them. Locusts are light and have small range, so not need too many Banelings. 2-4 Banelings can clear a lot of Locusts.
• ZERG vs ALL. In addiction to Overlord-drops I can say that you can use them to save Swarm Hosts in some good places on map, or save Swarm Hosts with Overlords, moving them to a safe zone, like space or unpassable terrain.
Also Overlord drops with Swarm Hosts between different ground levels can make Locust spawns more deadlier, maybe more, than drops fro Nydus. Why? Because you always need 20 seconds to create another Nydus, and it can be easily killed, when some Overlords have more HP and you will force enemy to use blink or split army or use air, because there is no pathing limitations for air.
Spawn locusts, load SH to Overlords and unload them in other place, when enemy fighting with Locusts. If he will not fight, Locusts will kill something, like workers or HQ (Nexus/CC/hatchery). Remember, that Locusts from 4 Swarm Hosts can kill CC/hatchery during their 25 second life time. So be careful. Overlord drops sometimes can be deadlier than Nydus drops, because there is not much time when Swarm Hosts are coming from Overlords, and that time is less than Nydus worm creating and unloading units from it.
• ZERG vs ALL. When Overlords have speed upgrade, try to make them follow your Swarm Hosts. It will provide some creep around Swarm Hosts, allowing them to leave faster their place, where they was burrowed second ago. It also allows to Locusts leave Swarm Host fields faster too. In other word, attached Overlord with creep will allow you to faster retreat and faster send your Locusts to the enemy, because you will always have some creep around Swarm Hosts.
• TERRAN vs ZERG. Lets compare Swarm Hosts and Siege Tanks. I did some experiments with different placement of Swarm Hosts and Siege Tanks.
First test. Group of 12 Swarm Hosts spawning Locusts with rally point at 12 clumped Siege Tanks. Siege Tanks are able to kill all locusts without any damage from Locusts.
Second test. Spread Siege Mushrooms around Siege Tanks, so Locusts will spawn more spreaded and splitted. It gives better result, because Locusts taking less splash damage and this time they can reach Siege Tanks and do some damage and sometimes kill one of Tanks.
Third test. This time Siege Tanks are spreaded too. It gives better result for Swarm Hosts, but not that better for Siege Tanks. Many of Siege Tanks starting fire at Locusts a bit later, meaning that Locusts can reach Siege Tanks with less damage taken.
• TERRAN vs ZERG. Widow Mines are very good against Locusts, especially if they're placed in Siege Tank radius. Tw shots from Mines can kill big group of Locusts. The problem can occur, if Locusts are splitted or Zerg-player splitted them, so only 2-3 locusts will take damage and then all other Locusts will go to Terran. The solution is to place Widow Mines inside of Siege Tank attack range. 2-3 Locusts will not be able to drain Widow Mine charges, because Siege Tanks will kill them faster.
• ZERG vs TERRAN. Swarm Hosts & Infestors can be stronger than Broodlord & Infestors, in some cases. First, Swarm Hosts are not that weak against Vikings. Second, Broodlords are Hive-tech and require Hive and Greater Spire upgrades, when SH are tier2 and can be built at same stage as Infestors.
• ZERG vs PROTOSS. Against Protoss there can be some advatanges and disadvatanges. Infestors can be good at holding Colossies and Stalkers and preventing them from kiting and Blinking away from Swarm Hosts or closer to them through Locusts. Also Fungals can be good against Observers. But this build is weak against airtoss.
• ZERG vs TERRAN. As alternative to Swarm Host & Infestor combination, Ling-Bane-Host combination can be good too. It has some weakness and strengh too.
It's better against drops and heavy-bio play, because Zerglings are fast. And it can allow to better defend Swarm Hosts in some situations. It can be stronger against Siege Tank lines, because Zerglings, Baneling and Locusts - all of them can be a good meatshield to their "swarm brothers". You can tank with Locusts and then run with Zergling-Baneling, or vice-versa. So it's just alternative to SH-Infestor playstyle, that has it own advatanges and weak sides, like no Fungals or anti-air, but better meatshield for Locusts or faster ground army.
Maybe you will find this unit composition easier for you or harder than Infestors, but you can try to experiment with it.
• ZERG vs ZERG. Speedlings and Overseer with speed upgrade can be good against Swarm Hosts. Check when Locusts went too far from SH, and run into field of burrowed Swarm Hosts. Sometimes Swarm Hosts can be with support, like Roaches or Infestors, so try to tech to Ultralisks or Broodlords. Ultralisks can quickly deal with Locusts, and Broodlords can deal with Swarm Hosts with Broodling strike attack.
• ZERG vs ZERG. Burrowed Roaches with Tunneling Claws upgrade can do their job too. If you can snipe Overseer, you can burrow-move under Locusts and reach defenceless Swarm Hosts. Roaches can be very good with Corruptors/Mutalisks, who can snipe enemy Overseers. In lategame you can try Abduct enemy Overseers away or closer to your anti-air units.
• ZERG vs ZERG. Viper's Abduct spell can unburrow burrowed units, if you see them with detection. Use Abduct and unburrow enemy Swarm hosts by pulling them closer to your units. You can combine it with Speedlings. Also Blinding Cloud is very good against Locusts off-creep, because Locusts aren't that fast and half of them will move away from your units, because Blinding Cloud automatically forces non-stunned units to leave that Cloud. But Locusts have small attack range, meaning that half of them will not attack your units even if left Cloud.
• ZERG vs PROTOSS. Queens, Vipers and Swarm Hosts - this deadly unit combination can be a nightmare for Protoss. You don't spend gas on Hydralisks, spending it on more Swarm Hosts and Vipers.
Queens can heal Vipers, other Queens and Swarm Hosts, and tank some damage when attacking enemy air or ground units. Queens alse provide you mass-creep around, speeding up Locusts by 40% (up to 2.65 speed on creep) and allowing to relocate Swarm Hosts quicker at 2.95 speed. Queens also have 1 more range against air, than Hydralisks, meaning that they can snipe Observers from ground a bit more effective than Hydralisks.
Vipers can Abduct enemy air into Queens, they can also Abduct enemy Observer. Vipers can also cast Blinding cloud on Stalkers, who blinked into your Swarm Host field, forcing them to blink away or walk around, giving you some more seconds untill another wave of Locusts will spawn. Abducting colossies can be effective too. And why it's better than Hydralisk-Vipers? First, as I said, you don't waste gas on Hydralisks, meaning that you will have more Vipers. Second, Locusts are slow, and Abducting enemy units closer to Locusts and flying away at 2.95 speed, so this unit composition can be good too like Hydra-Vipers.
Mass-Queens also can "energy transfuse" Vipers via healing Evolution Chambers.
In this video at 1:32:20 Zerg blinds entire Protoss deathball, forcing it to move... closer to Locusts! he can't retreat, because there is Hydroach from one side and mass-Locusts from other side. Nice trap.
And this video at 1:30:00 is just another nice demonstration, how Swarm Host can be a good support for other your units, like Hydroaches with some Queens and Vipers later.
• ZERG vs TERRAN. In this video at 2:32:00 you can see some usage of Queens, Vipers and Hydralisks, but mostly Swarm Hosts and Vipers were in action. The main idea is going around Abducts, relocating Swarm Hosts, and good anti-air support with mass-creep and healing only for minerals.
In lategame with good income and better eco you can add Hydralisks to your Swarm Hosts. Rekatan, top-master league Zerg player, trying to show us in some of his streams, how Swarm Hosts are good and why they don't suck... sometimes.
• ZERG vs PROTOSS. In this video at 15th minute Rekatan forced Protoss deathball to attack his defenceless Swarm Hosts, at same time he started attack that deathball with Queen-Hydroaches from other side, and then at 17th minute we can see similar move from Rekatan. Protoss deathball went to follow and attack weak Hydroach, when there were Locsts from other side. Protoss needed to retreat again.
You can see, how Swarm Hosts can be good. One time they're supporting a "defenceless" army, other time they're attacking enemy base, and another time they're again forcing Protoss to react.
In this game below you can see another nice game from TLO vs WhiteRA, where Queens, Hydralisks and Swarm Hosts with some Vipers are fighting against Protoss air fleet.
You think, Tempest & Colossus deathball is unstopable without Corruptors? I think you are wrong. On this video at 2:19:00 Rekatan killed Protoss player with Colossies and Tempests, using Hydralisks, Swarm Hosts and Vipers. He also survived some Warp Prizm drops. Abduct can help very well, even against mass Tempests, that can snipe every Viper every 3.3 seconds.
• PROTOSS vs ZERG. As Blizzard said, Archons are good against Locusts. Also nicely placed Force Fields can temporary stop all Locusts, and with good splash damage from Archons and Colossies, Protoss can always recall with Mothership Core, if ambushed with many Locusts or slow down Locusts to kill them quickly with all units and Colossies/Archons/Storms. Special Oracle's pulsar beam can be good too, it can kill quickly some Locusts with 29DPS or give you detection against Swarm Hosts, if you're playing Stargate tech.
• ZERG vs PROTOSS. Corruptors + Overseers + Swarm Hosts - one of the most dangerous unit combinations for Protoss. Corruptors can clear all air units, except Void Rays, or Colossies with Observers, when Locusts can support them on ground against Stalkers. Add Abducts, and Protoss will have a lot more problems. Pull enemy Colossies closer to you, and oneshot them with your Locusts and Corruptors. Also you should know, that Locusts can attack enemy units during Abduct process!
• PROTOSS vs ZERG. Void Ray can snipe Swarm Hosts very effectively, Phoenixes can unburrow them too and stop from creating Locusts. Here is a nice thing, that if you know when next Locusts wave will spawn, lift-up all Swarm Hosts and attack them with other forces. The goal of this move is that there will be no Locusts at the battlefield, because previous were dead, and new can't be spawned due to Phoenix lift-off ability. In other word, you can shut down Swarm hosts effectively and not be attacked by Locusts, if lift-off Swarm Hosts before they can spawn another wave of locusts. Tempests can be good too, but less effective, like on Battle Reports. They still have good range, they can snipe Vipers/Infestors/some Swarm Hosts. But Carriers can be better at killing Hosts and other units due to higher DPS.
• ZERG vs ZERG. Burroaches can be good against Swarm Hosts, if you can shutdown Overseers with Mutalisks or Corruptors. Burrow-move under Locusts and then unburrow near Swarm Hosts and kill them. If there is another wave of Locusts, just kill Overseer and when he will send Locusts at far distance from Swarm hosts, you can unburrow roaches again and try to kill them.
• ZERG vs ALL. Try to shutdown Locust auto-spawn, so enemy will not be warned, that you have Locusts. And try to snipe Observer, if it's a ZvP matchup, so Protoss will not be able to scout Swarm Hosts.
• ZERG vs PROTOSS. Swarm Host and Infestors can be more strong if you will add Queens. They can support your Infestors with creep, shutdown Fungaled observers and heal Infestors, if someone of them is very close to death. But the main power of that combo is stun effect of Fungal Growth. Enemies can't kite your Locusts or leave them, also Blink Stalkers can't blink away or blink closer, if your reaction will be good. • ZERG vs TERRAN. Swarmfestors is a similar combo to Broodfestor one. It's weaker against SIege Tanks, but immune to Vikings. Fungal stuns enemies, so Locusts can reach them, Fungal also can prevent Siege Tanks from deploying.
• ZERG vs TERRAN. Swarm Hosts are very bad at dealing with Siege Tanks, but Blinding Cloud reverts this scenario completely. When you blind siege tanks, Locusts can reach them and kill quickly or clear Siege Tank support, like Marines and Marauders or Hellbats.
Spore Crawlers have very small rooting time - just 6 seconds, and they have biggest anti-air DPS (17.4) at biggest range - 7. So they can be a small-range anti-air siege unit, because Spore Crawlers has 400 health and costing only minerals, plus they are detectors. Crawlers can move at 2.5 speed on creep.
Here are nice or just good replays with good demonstration of Swarm Host usage in different matchups. Also I will add some basic tips, based at every replay.
Blade (Grandmaster League) trying to use Swarm Hosts in different matchups, also here are some tips around his replays: • You should be active, don't stay at one place for a long time. • Don't leave them in one spot unless you know you can safely. If you see him moving up throw down a wave of Locusts and run back with Swarn Hosts. • Don't use only Swarm Hosts. Get a good support for them so they will support you too. Add Zerglings and Corruptors against Stalkers and Colossies. Use Vipers to fight better against Terran mech. • Try to make transitions with Swarm Hosts. With using Infestation Pit you're one step away from Hive technologies which are Vipers, Ultralisks and Brood Lords. • Use mass Changeling drops to block enemy movement temporary. Sometimes it can help your Locusts.
You can download Blade's replays with Swarm Host usage in this thread
If you will find nice replays with Swarm Host usage, post here and I will add them too to first post.
I've seen a queen/ sh containment done vs theoretically "safe" toss openings relying on forcefields and air to defend. Done against IM seed to great effect. Zerg just wasted whole sentries energy while spewin creep/amassin spores and queens to snipe obs. Toss wasnt able to deny containment and just starved
Being surrounded means more directions to attack...
LOLItsRyann England. January 20 2013 06:20. Posts 492
On January 20 2013 07:16 sagefreke wrote: I think it's kinda funny that the video you show of TLO using nydus and swarm hosts, he ends up losing.
Maybe because he invested too much into Swarm Host nydus and didnt built better anti-air? Maybe because he didn't switched to Hydra--Corruptor-Vipers? What if Protoss not went into heavy airtoss playstyle? TLO shown how quickly he can kill entire base. But it also shows that not everything is imba and uncounterable, and some Protoss compositions works very well against it.
Maybe a game where the game is won because of swarm hosts? It just looks all innish.
Look at Rekatan games. They're nice too. This thread is not about "How SH are good", you can discuss here about countering it. One of the ways - heavy air from Protoss.
Last edit: 2013-01-20 07:23:26
awesomoecalypse United States. January 20 2013 07:22. Posts 1629
On January 20 2013 07:16 sagefreke wrote: I think it's kinda funny that the video you show of TLO using nydus and swarm hosts, he ends up losing.
Maybe because he invested too much into Swarm Host nydus and didnt built better anti-air? Maybe because he didn't switched to Hydra--Corruptor-Vipers? What if Protoss not went into heavy airtoss playstyle? TLO shown how quickly he can kill entire base. But it also shows that not everything is imba and uncounterable, and some Protoss compositions works very well against it.
Maybe a game where the game is won because of swarm hosts? It just looks all innish.
Look at Rekatan games. They're nice too. This thread is not about "How SH are good", you can discuss here about countering it. One of the ways - heavy air from Protoss.
What HotS Protoss isn't going air nowadays? If TLO didn't invest heavily into Swarm Host he wouldn't have done any damage in the mid game to begin with. How can you switch to Hydra Corruptor Viper when all your supply is tied up in Swarm Hosts?
yo yo yo
Existor Russian Federation. January 20 2013 07:38. Posts 3122
How can you switch to Hydra Corruptor Viper when all your supply is tied up in Swarm Hosts?
How can you make so many Swarm Hosts if there is nothing to attack and Protoss doing only air units? He shown how effecive can be Nydus drop against deathballs. And it can be effective with less amount of Swarm Hosts and Queens. Remember, that 8 Locusts (4 Swarm Hosts, not 30, like it was on video) can kill a Nexus during their 25 seconds of life.
TLO invested too much into ground only army, yes, he killed a lot of bases, but he allowed to Protoss to create air-deathball, that can't be attacked by Swarm Hosts.
Protoss whining that Swarm Hosts are extremely OP against them, but they have more strong tool - buffed Stargate tech path, which can be allin too, if Zerg makes Hydra-Corruptors-Vipers.
On January 20 2013 07:16 sagefreke wrote: I think it's kinda funny that the video you show of TLO using nydus and swarm hosts, he ends up losing.
Maybe because he invested too much into Swarm Host nydus and didnt built better anti-air? Maybe because he didn't switched to Hydra--Corruptor-Vipers? What if Protoss not went into heavy airtoss playstyle? TLO shown how quickly he can kill entire base. But it also shows that not everything is imba and uncounterable, and some Protoss compositions works very well against it.
Maybe a game where the game is won because of swarm hosts? It just looks all innish.
Look at Rekatan games. They're nice too. This thread is not about "How SH are good", you can discuss here about countering it. One of the ways - heavy air from Protoss.
What HotS Protoss isn't going air nowadays? If TLO didn't invest heavily into Swarm Host he wouldn't have done any damage in the mid game to begin with. How can you switch to Hydra Corruptor Viper when all your supply is tied up in Swarm Hosts?
I've watched the game yesterday, and Existor is right, TLO invested way too much into Swarm Hosts. But playing against Carriers and Void Rays is another problem, no matter what he did, he wouldn't be able to beat that, even if he switched to Hydras and Corruptors immediately, since Void Rays are way too strong right now.
And btw Existor, great guide, and great banners. Also like the videos that you've linked in the guide. Great use, can't wait to see what Koreans can do with them. ^^
Last edit: 2013-01-20 08:53:46
"Living for the Swarm..."
rEalGuapo Germany. January 20 2013 08:55. Posts 761
This is an amazing thread. I can't wait to finish work so I can watch the videos. I've seen TLO put on some pretty amazing pressure with Mushrooms + Nydus, but at the time it was only his 15th HoST match on ladder. I hope he manages to develop some crazy builds like in his WoL beta days.
"Poor guy. I really did not deserve that win. So this is what it's like to play Protoss..." - IdrA
I watched tlo match yesterday and tried to do that build today in zvp and zvz it was very successful. I don't think going air is instant win for protoss. Maybe when players get experienced with it they would know how to deal with air effectively. Also Getting attack upgrades benfit both hydras and sh so transitioning mayn't be as hard as it seems.
nice Thread. Lots of good advice =) I like taht there seem to be compositions that are good with a few SH because as is i´ve only found them usefull when i had 20+ of them TT.
All of this information is amazing for zergs who want to try and learn how to use swarm hosts effectively in their army.
Highly recommend this for any zerg out there wanting to get used to the beta. :D
I'd even request a spotlight for a guide like this, purely for the attention to detail and banners and just sheer amount of tactics the unit can be used for.
It's awesome. Great job!
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Rekatan United States. January 20 2013 16:02. Posts 172