One Base Mutalisk

[e][h]1 Base Muta

Strategy Information

Matchups:

ZvT

Type:

Opening

Popularized by:

Sen

Overview

This build centers around getting very fast Mutalisks and expanding only after the Spire has been put down.

Goal

Fast Mutalisks allow you to potentially do significant damage to the Terran's economy, especially if the Spire does not get scouted and no air defense is set up in time. Mutalisks also grant easy map control and usually let you take a 3rd base without much trouble while denying your opponent more than 2 bases. If you fail to do any damage to the Terran's economy you should still have map control and use that to catch up or get ahead in terms of economy.

Basic Build Order

Basic Build
9 Overlord 14 Gas 14 Spawning Pool 16 Overlord 16 Queen 18 Metabolic Boost 18 2 pairs of Zerglings 22 Lair (as soon as Queen finishes) 22 Gas 22 Overlord 26 2 pairs Zerglings 29 Spire (as soon as Lair finishes) 32 Overlord 32 Hatchery (Expand) 31 Queen 33 Overlord @Spire 100%: As many Mutalisks as possible

Notes

• You should vary the number of Drones and Zerglings created depending on how the game evolves. However, it is risky to get fewer Zerglings than suggested here.
• Remember to make Overlords beforehand in preparation for the Mutalisks, to prevent getting supply blocked.
• Build the Spire right in the middle (distance wise) of your main Hatchery and your Natural Expansion. Use a previously placed Overlord to drop some creep as soon as you reach Lair to build the Spire hidden and optimally protected from scans.
• By the time your Mutalisks hatch you should have scouted the base of your opponent and immediately fly them there to deal damage to your opponent's economy and to contain his forces.
• Do not be overeager with your Mutalisks. While your goal is to do damage to the Terran, do not do it at the cost of a majority of your Mutalisks. Try to keep them alive as long as possible, even if it means pulling back.

Scouting

The first real scouting of your opponent's base will be done by your Mutas. Watch out for Thors (it is possible to have them at this point) as well as Missile Turrets and deal damage where you can.

Execution

When you move out with your Mutalisk you may want to throw down 1 or 2 Spine Crawlers to deal with a counter push. Use an Overlord to drop creep near your expansion to raise them there as the expansion will not be up yet. As you harass make sure to constantly build more Mutalisk in your bases.

Take your 3rd base when you have around 50 Drones (usually around 100 total population).

Adaptation

With this build it is fairly easy to hold off most early rushes or timing attacks the Terrans can do due to the extremely fast Metabolic Boost. Make sure you see the Terran move out and start producing more Zerglings and Spine Crawlers as you see fit.

The Terran will most likely react with Thors and maybe Vikings (as well as Missile Turrets). This means you want to eventually Transition into Roaches. Build a Roach Warren reasonably early and start getting some upgrades for them. Mostly Speed and if you see tanks also get Burrow. If the game goes on longer, mix in some Infestors and eventually Ultralisks or Broodlords. Should the Terran decide to go mass Marines to counter your Mutalisk, build a Baneling Nest.

Counter

While Thors are not a Hard Counter to Mutalisk they do fairly well in defending from Mutalisk harass. Once the Terran gets around 2-3 Thors out, this can shut down your harass. But do note that Mutalisks can kill small numbers of Thors without backup relatively easy if you spread them out just a bit. This strategy is known as the "magic box". Also try to make use of the fact that Thors are very immobile. Vikings can also be used to counter the Mutalisks, but note that they are significantly slower than Mutalisk (2.75 vs 3.75). Especially in larger numbers or backed up by Thors their enormous attack range can be dangerous.

Marines in large numbers can also fight off Mutalisks quite well. But it can be an advantage for the Mutalisks as well as the Terran should be careful of the Mutalisks' bouncing glaive attacks especially if the Marines are close to each other (in a ball formation for example), as Mutalisks can tear through the Marines like no other. However, you should avoid a direct Mutalisk vs Marine fight unless your Mutalisk count is much higher than your opponents Marine count.

Maps

Pro features

• Room to expand, preferably away from your opponent (like 12 and 3 on Lost Temple).
• Short air rush distance (e.g. Scrap Station), possibly combined with long ground rush distance (e.g. Desert Oasis)
• Generally favors larger maps

Con features

• Hard-to-defend Expansions
• Short ground rush distance (although this is not a big problem)

Notes

• Two Replays of Sen vs. DeMusliM in the PLU.CN Kaspersky Cup: [1] [2] (replays not playing in current release)
• Day9 Daily #125 covering this build while analyzing those two replays by Sen: [3]
• In the Eu vs Asia Showmatch: HayprO vs Maka Game 1 HayprO demonstrated the power of 1 base Muta. [4]