[Makra]

I've been curious about this for a while, and have only seen fairly poor explanations of why Zerg is the reactionary race on TeamLiquid forums. Most of these explanations have been along the lines of, "if the zerg sees lots of marines, then he makes banelings. Or if he see's lots of stalkers, he makes hydras, therefore playing a reactionary style". To me that doesn't make zerg exclusively reactionary, that's just building counters, like every race has to do.

In my thoughts, I've come to this explanation. Zerg is reactionary, particularly in the early game, because he has to choose between producing drones, and producing units. Ideally he only wants to make drones at the beginning, however if he scouts an incoming attack, he is forced to react and produce units instead.

Now, before I move onto the next section, I put it to high level players, is this explanation correct?

Ok, assuming that's correct, let's move onto another question. Is the zerg race only 'reactionary' when the zerg is trying to macro and gain an economic advantage? If the zerg is early pooling, roach rushing, or 1 base bane busting, he isn't really playing a reactionary style is he? However, this is fairly uncommon play at high level though.

So, is Zerg only reactionary when a standard play style is followed (15 hatch, 14 pool14hatch etc)? Does this mean that zerg in team games (where the players are following a very aggressive playstyle) is not a reactionary race?

[PiG]

Quote: So, is Zerg only reactionary when a standard play style is followed (15 hatch, 14 pool14hatch etc)? Does this mean that zerg in team games (where the players are following a very aggressive playstyle) is not a reactionary race?

Good point dude. I would say tht yes they aren't reactionary in team games unless they go for those early expo type of builds... and even then they usually follow a set path of mass roach/muta.

Tho I dont play team games much tht seems 2 b how it goes

Um yeah and ur right, in early econ game zerg is reactionary cos hes building drones... but recently zergs are finding there are ways to force your opponent into a certain thing, or even use bane=drops/muta harass or even huge roach bane attacks (julyzerg) to take the initiative. Once the zerg can scout and has mobile aggression up, if played right, he isnt really reactionary anymore.

[Xeen]

The Zerg is 'reactionary' in standard play because of how their macro mechanics and units work. Banelings offer a way to cost-effectively trade armies, Mutalisks harass and delay the enemy - it's all designed to allow Z to buy time to build up into unstoppable macro mode where they have colossal unit production. This means they have to, more than any other race, focus on reacting to the aggression of the other player. Then there's the whole thing about larvae management, etc.

BW was pretty much the same - while Z have many aggressive options, they tend to be more about delaying than outright killing, so that they can bring the power of their endgame to bear.

I hesitate to use teamgames as a reference because most of the aggressive openers that are meant to just win outright have no tactical depth to discuss. You can't call Zerg proactive because of blind rushes, after all - and a lot of the less all-in attacks use the mobility of their units to buy time more that just kill.

[nirvAnA]

their ability to expand easily, making most of their builds revolve around having more drones and just enough to defend their expansions rather then investing resources in tech/timing attacks

[nGenWild]

Meh, if u dnt like reactionary, just make 100banelings and roll over everything

[Makra]

So, you could almost say that reactionary is more of a playstyle, rather than being an intrinsic aspect of the race? That's what I've been thinking anyway. But most people seem to say that zerg is reactionary and there's nothing you can do about it lol.

[nirvAnA]

i dont think july is reactionary at all lol

[Xeen]

Originally Posted by nirvAnA

i dont think july is reactionary at all lol

That's also because half the games he wins, he all-ins.

[Stroggos]

zerg can be very reactionary. its not always the best way to go though. In zvp i see a lot of zergs reacting far too much which is a losing playstyle in that matchup atm.

[Harmonik]

I think players like July are showing that Zerg doesnt have to play reactionary, tho of course there has alwasy been aggressive zerg build like bane bust etc. I think it will become more and more popular now.

The reason Zerg is normally reactionary comes down to this. I have to stay one base ahead of you in order to beat you. That makes macro my priority. I will have to sacrifice getting a standby army to do this. And instead only react or switch to building army units when my opponent forces me to. A part of that reaction is building counters so that i spend minimal resources, so that I have maximum left over to go back into macro.

All this requires good map control and scouting so that i know how to react.

[TAEdgE]

Zerg uses units and time to defend, because they dont have units that have for example, + vs armored or + vs light (except baneling). There are no defensive units like the siege tank (or thor vs mutas) or forcefield/9 range collosus that can punch above it's weight in tight areas.

It's about reacting and swarming, that's one generic term. Everyone else is basically right.

[ZergGirl]

Originally Posted by EdgE

Zerg uses units and time to defend, because they dont have units that have for example, + vs armored or + vs light (except baneling). There are no defensive units like the siege tank (or thor vs mutas) or forcefield/9 range collosus that can punch above it's weight in tight areas.

It's about reacting and swarming, that's one generic term. Everyone else is basically right.

+1
And creep (especially early game) is a rather defensive tool so it all just adds up to a big passive, reactionary race.

You can do what july is doing but it has a lot of vulnerabilities, it's just like the kyrix play; new build, people don't react to it properly themselves so they lose. It (imo) wont last long. Terran can just turtle, slowpush to 200/200 and then steamroll. MC will squash it :P

[Makra]

Interesting you say that about no defensive units or abilities Edge, also about the no bonus damage units. Never really thought about that.

[PapaBigBelly]

Since zerg is quite reactionary, they should be given buffs for scouting.

e.g. Increased Speed of the overlord speed upgrade.
More vision for overlords and Overseers.
A choice of different types of units the changeling can change into.
5 Minerals to be harvested by a drone ! ( yeah i know its not related to scouting but drones only give backk 4 minerals and 4 gas its so frustrating honestly )

[cruxis]

I don't know what game you're playing, but drones mine at 5 minerals per trip.

[nGenYoda]

What Edge said.
In simple terms Larva -> produces both army and workers, unlike other races which can simultaneously produce workers and units. Managing larva (ie droning / army production) is a reaction to the stimuli ( scouting a push coming, etc).

[TAhackdZ]

Originally Posted by nGenYoda

What Edge said.
In simple terms Larva -> produces both army and workers, unlike other races which can simultaneously produce workers and units. Managing larva (ie droning / army production) is a reaction to the stimuli ( scouting a push coming, etc).

Bingo +1

It all comes down to the simple matter that Zerg need to choose to turn each individual larvae into either a drone, or a combat unit.

[PapaBigBelly]

cruxiz, drones bring back 4. I see games and replays and they do bring back 4. Yeah maybe some mineral patches bring back 5 but i remembered watching a day 9 video and he was going crazy about how perfect the timing of the hatchery was that the player had only 4 minerals when the hatchery was build. thats 4 minerals left over. i also watch my drones as they bring back minerals, i see the number 4

[fur]

I've barely played Zerg in SC2, but I think most have covered it well. Zerg early expand which tends to put them on the back foot, they want to mass drones and only make offensive units when their opponents force them too.

However, I'm an old BW player. As Nirvana mentioned, July isn't reactionary. Julyzerg (I'm assuming it's the same as the old BW legend) totally changed the way zerg had to played in BW as well.

Prior to him most top zerg had tried to out macro their opponents, playing a 'reactionary' style. This had proven unsuccessful at the top level. Yellow was the best Zerg in the world and was a perennial runner up. JulyZerg turned this approach on it's head, mixing in lightning timing attacks as well as being able to play a standard macro/reactionary style. His Golden Mouse is a testament to the success of this approach.

So in short, I don't really think Zerg HAS to be a reactionary race, although there is a big incentive to be. That being said, morons will call you a cheeser and an "all in" n00b if you dare do something that involves risk.

[Makra]

I thought blue minerals harvest at 5 per trip, and gold at 7 per trip....