PVZBuilds

The following article lists all relevant build oders and techniques for the Protoss vs. Zerg Match Up.

To read more about Protoss strategies in general, see also Protoss Strategy

the symbol marks beginner friendly and important articles.

[e][h]Protoss vs. Zerg Build Order Overview

Corsair and Reaver vs. Zerg

Strategy Information

Matchups:

PvZ

Type:

Protoss vs. Zerg Overview

General Information

The Protoss vs. Zerg Match Up offers a greater variety of possible strategies. The standard Build Orders changed over time, mainly being influenced by each period's most popular map designs. The style of Protoss strategies can range from aggressive and risky to passive and macro oriented. In modern Protoss vs. Zerg most Build Orders are designed to counter aggressive openings, while allowing Protoss to constantly adapt his play style. Each transition Protoss does is a reaction to a Zerg's decision. In the context of the Protoss strategies reactive does not mean passive, rather than trying to exploit the current weaknesses of a Zerg build.

Build Orders

The Protoss vs. Zerg Match Up offers a variety of Build Orders.

One Base Play

One Base Play describes every opening off one Nexus for a longer period of time. They can be furthermore distinguished between rush and tech oriented Builds. To rush means to attack the Zerg as fast as possible, usually by building two Gateways first, while tech refers to a prioritized focus on high tech buildings.

Fast Expansion Builds

Fast Expansion Builds are very popular in the modern competitive scene. To expand faster in comparison to One Base Play, a Protoss will build his first Pylon at the Natural Expansion. Protoss will now either sacrifice his ability to control the map with Zealots by opening with a Forge and Photon Cannons to boost his economy, or opening with a Gateway first to delay the Nexus a little, in order to train Zealots earlier.

Since both choices only describe possible openings for the early game, the following table lists special Build Orders. The three categories Standard, Reactive and Other Builds help to understand the underlying idea of the more complex Fast Expansion strategies. In this context "standard" means that the opening offers a solid transition into the mid game, which is relatively safe from most Zerg responses. Reactive Builds describe Build Orders, which seem to be outdated on first glimpse, as they are soft countered by modern Zerg openings. However, most of them still help to understand how Protoss can adapt against Zerg strategy transitions in the mid game and are therefore still worth reading. Other Build Orders describe strategies, which are harder to perform (mechanically) or strategies, which are considered to be riskier than others.

"Fast Expansion Build Tree"
Forge Fast Expand Overview Gateway First Fast Expand Overview Standard Builds Corsair / Dark Templar (late game) Corsair / Carrier (late game) Reactionary Builds +1 Corsair/Speezealot (Neo Bisu Build) Bisu Build +1 Speedzealot Timing Attack Other Builds 4 Gate 2 Archon Corsair Dragoon Corsair/Reaver 5 Gateway Ranged Dragoons
How To: Read Build Orders

Techniques

The following techniques describe special situations in the Protoss vs. Zerg Match Up.

"Techniques"
Countering All-Ins Article describes how to deal with All-Ins and aggressive openings Protoss Fast Expand Forge Walling A list of pictures, helping to wall-in the Natural Expansion when going for Forge Fast Expands
How To: Read Build Orders

External links

ZvP Guide by NinaZerg

• Content: Match Up from a Zerg's perspective. General knowledge can be extrapolated, in order to understand the context fully.

PvZ Guide by BluzMan

• Content: Basics of PvZ, slightly outdated

PvZ Guide by BlueIris

• Content: Basics of PvZ, slightly outdated

PvZ Guide by RiSE

• Content: Basics of PvZ, slightly outdated

FrozenArbiter PvZ explanations

• Content: Basics on unit mixes for PvZ

BigBalls PvZ explanations

• Content: Basics for one base play