+1 4 Gate Stargate Third (vs. Zerg)

[e][h]+1 4 Gate Stargate Third

Aggressive Capabilities

Strategy Information

Creator(s):

WarSame

Matchups:

PvZ

Type:

Midgame Strategy

Overview

The goal of this build is to hit a Gateway/Stargate timing-attack that aims to kill the Zerg player's third base while you are taking your own. The build attempts to prevent the Zerg player from droning too heavily in the early-game whilst also attempting to slow down their Tech (or to force them down non-threatening Tech paths). Ultimately, the aim is to keep the Zerg player on the defensive while building a strong economy.

This build allows for any transition heading into the mid and late-game phases. The most common transition is into a Blink Stalker/Colossus(and eventually Mothership) composition, but anything from mass Blink Stalker to "Sky Toss" is possible.

Goal

Pro-wall-in: Building Placement on Shakuras Plateau (top left)

The goal of the +1 4 Gate Stargate is to allow for a strong economy while forcing the Zerg player to waste some of their early Larva on units to defend their bases, thereby slowing down their economy. The Tech obtained in this build is reached at a timing that will prevent the Zerg player from being able to accomplish damage that will justify their production. For example, flooding Roaches from 2/3 bases will be met by Void Rays and Cannons, whereas 2 base Mutalisk aggression will be met by Blink Stalkers and Cannons.

Build Order

This build opens with a YufFE. Depending on scouting, the player will choose between Variants A, B and C.

Variant A - Fast Third

If you see your opponent is going for a fast third base then you instantly know several key things. Firstly, the opponent's gas (required for Metabolic Boost, Roaches and Lair) will be delayed. Secondly, they will be droning as hard as they can in order to take full advantage of their quick third base. This means that, due to the delayed Roach timing, your 4 gate +1 Zealot push will be able to hit before the opponent has enough Roaches and Speedlings to properly defend, giving you a strong timing window in which to deal damage.

Pro-wall-in: Building Placement on Tal'Darim Altar (top left)

The plan is to first clear out your third base (he will not have burrow yet) of any enemy Zerglings with a Zealot whilst sending the rest of your Zealots to attack the opponent's third base. Place down a Nexus at your third base, and fortify it with cannons if necessary. Help wall off your third base with extra Gateways. While doing this, place a proxy Pylon as close to their third base as you safely can. Warp-in your first round of 4 Zealots and then take the Assimilators at your natural expansion. Place down a Twilight Council. As soon as it finishes, send your first Void Ray to join in the attack. Once the attack ends use it to hunt Overlords around the map.

If they continue to make pure Zergling then continue warping-in Zealots. If they start Roach production then warp-in Stalkers. Once you feel you have enough units to snipe the Hatchery, focus fire the Hatchery and then head home. If they have enough units to safely defend head home without attacking.

Here is a step-by-step build order for executing this timing-attack after opening with a standard YufFE:

"+1 4 Gate Stargate vs. Fast Third"
@100% Cybernetics Core: Warpgate Research @100 Gas: +1 Weapons Upgrade @150 Gas: Stargate @100% Stargate: Void Ray @100% Warpgate Research: Convert All 4 Gateways Attack! Take Your Third Nexus Take Natural Gasses Twilight Council

If the attack does manage to kill off the third base the Protoss player will be far in the lead. A careful defence of a likely all-in is required. In general, 7 to 9 Gateways with Blink and +2 Ground Weapons will be enough to handle more basic/low-Tech allins with good micro. After these have been started, a Robotics Bay followed by a Colossus Den is advised to avoid losing to a 2 base build-up of Roach or Roach Hydralisk and to detect Tunneling Claw Roaches.

If the attack does not manage to kill off the third base the game is up in the air depending on how much Larva was wasted and which units were killed. In general, a cannon defence coupled with Blink Stalker and +2 Zealots will be enough to stall for Colossi, at which point Protoss can continue to push and head into the late game on strong economy and Tech.

Variant B - Fast Mutalisks

If your opponent is going for fast Mutalisks then the key indicators will be:

• No third expansion.
• A lot of Spine Crawlers defending their natural expansion.

When you see this happening, you should immediately abandon any plans to pressure the opponent. Instead, immediately take your third base and put down a Twilight Council. While doing this, start placing cannons in your mineral lines. Due to your delayed Stalkers you may need to get up to 3 cannons per mineral line in order to be safe.

"+1 4 Gate Stargate vs. Fast Mutalisks"
@100% Cybernetics Core: Warpgate Research @100 Gas: +1 Weapons Upgrade @150 Gas: Stargate @100% Stargate: Void Ray @100% Warpgate: Convert All 4 Gateways Take Your Third Nexus Twilight Council Take Natural Gases @100% Twilight Council: Blink 3 Gateways Warp-In Stalkers Primarily, Zealots Secondarily, No Sentries Add up to 3 Cannons To Each Mineral Line Proceed With Normal Mutalisk Defence

Barring any major mishaps(i.e. Forgetting to cannon mineral lines, allowing ling runbys), this build performs very well vs 2 base Mutalisks. The main struggle in normal PvMutalisks is getting a 3rd base, but that is already taken care of.

It is important to warp in a mix of Stalkers and Zealots while Teching to Templar Archives. As suggested by the PvMutalisk guide, Sentries should be avoided in favour of using the gas for Tech and High Templar.

Variant C - 2 Base Roach Hydralisk All-in

Outcome of biding your time.

The 2 base Roach Hydralisk attack is an all-in vs. this build. If they fail to kill or do serious damage the economic situation will be unsalvageable. Additionally, the longer the attack goes on the better the situation becomes for the Protoss player(due to continuously higher income, increasing Tech and increasing production). As such, the main threat from the Zerg player will come in the initial attack wave. There is not enough time for the Protoss player to Tech up to Colossi and get 2 out onto the field with range in time to defend this attack. As such, alternative defences are required. A chronoboosted Blink upgrade and constant warp-ins from your Gateways will provide you with the means to defend this attack. This defence will require good positioning, micro and sharp macro.

In particular, it is highly advised to put a Pylon as close to the place where the attack will happen as possible. For example, on Antiga Shipyard a Pylon near the abyss in the area connecting the Third and Natural will allow reinforcements without being exposed. Without these immediate reinforcements the attack could easily tip the other way.

Here is a step-by-step build order for this defence after opening with a standard YufFE:

"+1 4 Gate Stargate vs. 2 Base Roach Hydralisk All-in"
@100% Cybernetics Core: Warpgate Research @100 Gas: +1 Weapons Upgrade @150 Gas: Stargate @100% Stargate: Void Ray @100% Warpgate Research: Convert All 4 Gateways Poke the Natural to Delay the Attack Take Your Third Nexus Twilight Council Take Natural Gasses @100% Twilight Council - Blink 3 Gateways

This is the hardest of all attacks to hold and is generally a close battle either way. After using most of your minerals for the Gateways and defences at your third your excess gas is ideal for Sentries. Splitting up the opposing army to be cut down by Zealots and sectioned off to avoid facing the whole army at once is a good idea. Alternatively, force fielding a ramp may allow a delay to bolster the defences in the area.

Summary

An easy way to remember the general build order is this:

"+1 4 Gate Stargate Summary"
Open with YufFE(with +1 Weapons) Get a Stargate and VR from it Attack when WG, +1 and the VR finish Take a third Make a Twilight Council Get Blink and more Gateways Get a Robotics Facility, followed by Colossi

Notes

Forcing extra lings with 2 Zealots harassing

• Sending a Zealot with the Probe that builds your third Nexus is 100% necessary.
• When using Variant A, sending a Zealot with the Probe that will build your proxy Pylon is not necessary as slow Zerglings should not be able to catch it. However, it may make getting a proxy Pylon down easier.
• Focus Roaches with your Void Rays and Stalkers whenever possible. Try not to waste their attacks on Zerglings. Zealots can kill Zerglings much faster.
• Warpgate Research should finish around the 7:20 mark. It is a good idea to move out on to the map before then in order to get the proxy Pylon down as quickly as possible. If facing speedlings it may be better to wait for your first warp-in to move out of your base.

Scouting

This build does not depend heavily upon scouting as the aggression utilised within this build should force the Zerg player into certain Tech and timing avenues (analogous to MarineKing's Aggro-Style in TvZ). However, as with any build, unscouted all-ins(particularly 1 base allins) can still pose a threat.

The most important pieces of scouting information are finding/verifying expansions and discerning the choice of Lair Tech from the Zerg player.

As described by the opening, a probe should be sent to scout for the Zerg's location after the Nexus is placed down. 10 Pool Speedling All-in is particularly scary, and requires immediate reaction(either walling the natural with a cannon or retreating to the main). A 1 Base Baneling All-in is even scarier, and requires a complete probe cut, hastily constructed wall with 2 cannons, fully chronoboosted Zealot production and a probe pull.

Also important is the gas timing. If the Zerg has no gas they are going for 3 Hatch Before Gas. If the Zerg mines only 100 gas(which can be determined by clicking on the gas and seeing how much remains) they are planning to defend 3 bases with relatively early speedlings.

If the Zerg mines over 100 gas there are many options available, depending on whether they have a third or not. If they do have a third they will likely be doing Ling/Baneling to defend the midgame timing attack, planning to control the map with midgame Roaches, or they will be trying to Tech up relatively quickly. The Roaches will be shooed away by the Void Ray. The Tech will be too late to be helpful for the timing attack, but could prove to be a problem further on in the game, particularly when trying to establish the third. If they do not have a third they will likely be doing either 2 Base Mutalisks or 2 Base Hydralisk All-in, both of which are covered in the Variant section.

For more detailed information on scouting with the opening, see: Gate_Nexus_YufFE#Scouting.

Execution

• If the opponent's Lair is delayed in favour of a fast third, do Variant A.
• If you suspect that they are going for Mutalisks, do Variant B.
• If you see Roach Hydralisk(generally while harassing with the Void Ray, or poking with your initial Stalkers), do Variants C or D.
• It is possible to Chronoboost out a quick second Zealot(directly after the second Forge/Cyber Core is placed down) and use these 2 Zealots to harass/deny the potential third base for the Zerg. This also serves the purpose of the overall build, which is being aggressive in order to force the Zerg to make fighting units and slow their economy.

For more detailed information on the execution of the opening, see: Gate_Nexus_YufFE#Execution.

Maps

Pro features

This build is strong on almost every map that a YufFE is viable on. However, medium-length rush distances are favourable and an easily defended third is a large bonus.

• Cloud Kingdom
• Entombed Valley
• Antiga Shipyard
• Condemned Ridge

Con features

Only maps where the YufFE is hard to execute.

• Metalopolis (9 o'clock)
• Xel'Naga Caverns

Replays

YufFE Replays

The following are replays from Yuffie's PvZ ladder games. Each opponent is High Masters/GrandMasters EU.

• Shattered Temple - Safa vs Yuffie: Hatch First, Pool at 2:35, Speed ready at 6:11, 18 Speedlings attacking at 6:37
• Shakuras Plateau - Safa vs Yuffie: 2Base, Roach Warren at 4:02, 6 Roaches attacking at 6:31
• ESL Metalopolis - Safa vs Yuffie: 3Base (2:12, 3:49), Harass with 6 Zerglings at 6:53, Speed ready at 7:00
• Metalopolis - Revolver vs Yuffie: Hatch First, Speed ready at 6:05, Baneling Nest at 5:53, big attack at 8:02 (8 Banies, 30 Speedlings)
• ESL Shakuras Plateau - Gera vs Yuffie: 10 Pool at 1:24, Hatch at 3:14, 3 Zerglings attacking at 3:51
• ESL Tal'darim Altar LE - Yuffie vs DaNa: Macro-Game, 15-Pool-14-Hatch (2:41), Yuffie attacks at 6:01 (2 Zealots vs 3 Zerglings)
• ESL-Shakuras Plateau - Yuffie vs syriuszonito: Macro-Game, 15-Pool-15-Hatch (2:46), Third at 6:02, Roach Warren at 6:37, Speed ready at 6:48
• Entombed Valley - Yuffie vs prOpJonas: Speedling Expand, Pool at 1:58, Speed ready at 3:48, Hatch at 4:08, 4 Zerglings attacking at 4:26
• Metalopolis - Yuffie vs fedme: Macro-Game, early third (4:24) at Rich Mineral Field expansion, Speed started at 4:01
• Daybreak - Yuffie vs uPǂHyDrA: 15-Pool-16-Hatch (2:50), Harass with 12 (later on 20) Mutalisks

+1 4 Gate Stargate Third Replays

The following are replays from my(WarSame) ladder games. Each opponent is in Low Masters. Alternative replays are very welcome.

• Antiga Shipyard - WarSame vs PreLudE: Roach Hydralisk Delayed 2 Base Allin

References

YufFE

• Discussion at eu.battle.net about the YufFE
• German: Guide: YufFE in lower leagues
• German: YufFE 2.0
• German: YufFE 1.0
• Day[9] Commentates a Replay on Metalopolis between Ret and MC in his "Daily #231: Ret vs oGsMC PvZ". MC builds his Forge on the high ground and the building placement at the natural expansion is similar to Yuffie's opening. MC builds three Cannons before the 7 minute mark and then protects his mineral line using Pylons and Gateways.