[FaDeKerrigan]

I've noticed that Zergs on the SEA ladder have been adopting this play style more frequently. Just wanted to share some pointers i've collated from various sources. Mad props to 'Oboeman' on Teamliquid.

To distill this MU,

Think of the infestor as the zerg siege tank, and give it the same respect when planning an attack.

Ling infestor provides a completely different dynamic than muta ling.

Most importantly, it's a cost efficient unit composition for zerg. Most small battles end up with zerg trading away all of his zerglings and infestor energy, but keeping the infestors alive. Because they aren't relying heavily on banelings, they can fight and tech at the same time.

Against muta/ling/baneling, terran benefits from constant trading because you are trading mostly minerals for a lot of gas, and as time goes on, terran hits 3/3, zerg is still 2/1, and his units just disappear. Ling infestor can keep up with upgrades and get a very fast hive, so your army trades aren't pulling you slowly ahead, like they would against banelings.

The fast 3 tank push which works so well against a fast spire is almost always a disaster against ling infestor, because as you've seen, they are perfectly happy having 60 lings waiting when you show up. Seeing a late lair is a sign that you should probably not try a small push, but drops are going to be very nice against him for the next few minutes.

Because zerg can play somewhat cost-efficiently with ling infestor, it's less important for zerg to be a base ahead. Being on even bases isn't exactly comfortable, but it's survivable. Being ahead by a base feels like a huge lead for an infestor zerg.

Playing against ling infestor is not really about constant army trading, it's about constantly expanding and harassing. Instead of churning your minerals out into mass marines who will die killing zerglings, your minerals go into extra CCs and production facilities. You don't need a lot of turrets in your main - good, you can build another CC. You pressure the zerg with drops, but you have to drop multiple places simultaneously or he'll just have lings run in and clean it up.

It's hard for zerg to be aggressive as long as you keep your army well positioned and simcity with buildings, so you can defend all of these new expansions you are taking. Bunkers, barracks, depots etc to prevent ling runbys go a long way against ling/infestor.
Every time you expand, zerg is going to try to expand - so make the Zerg cancel that hatchery once or twice with a drop. Make him build 10 spine crawlers at each base, because that makes it harder for his expansions to keep up with yours. Without mutas, he can't protect his overlords, so fly a viking around to kill them all, keeping him in the dark against drops.

Ultralisks do really poorly against bio, as long as the bio is positioned well and can kite. Fill the map with buildings, spread units out, leave a few guys to die to the ultralisks. EMP the infestors and then kite the ultralisks while they try to weave through your maze of barracks and bunkers.

If you're ever in any doubt about his expansions or his army positioning or his tech - build a pair of barracks and float them around the map. The Zerg has minimal anti-air, and if he wants to burn infested terrans killing a barracks, that's his energy he is using.

Here's an informative video link on how to deal with this playstyle.

MKP vs Stephano in HSC 4 game on Antiga Shipyard

You Tube

You Tube

GL to all my companions on the SEA ladder. For the Dominion!

[ETL.Branno]

yea i dont like stephano's build and i guess you just said every reason why lol

i have been doing the same ZvT build for over a year now that gets 3/3 around the same time as the build in the video but has mutas to prevent drops and allows me to harass, also means he cant build that many tanks.

[iM tgun]

Please stop calling it Stephano-esque T_T

Quick Comments

TAEdgE:

saw this coming haha :D

[deL]

Dealing with Stephano is easy, just invite him to a $3,000 tournament at night time. Easy walkover.

Quick Comments

	Maynarde:	lol
	Stallion:	hahahahaha the obvious solution ^_^
	mGGDaedalus:
	simon:	he was le tired!
	Honeybadger:

[FaDeBadger]

Originally Posted by tgun

Please stop calling it Stephano-esque T_T

I saw Tgun doing it way before I'd even heard of Stephano :O

[TASlowHands]

Keep dropping. Stephano may be able to shut down your drops with ling patrols and well placed infestors, but I promise you the average ladder master wont. If you dont succeed straight away just keep dropping, you will eventually hit the jackpot and kill like 20 drones.

Also be really careful taking a third, as some variations of this style involves cutting some drones and getting like 70 upgraded ling on the field to completely annihilate terran when he moves out to push/take third, keep a close eye on that ling/drone count

Quick Comments

FaDeKerrigan:

[mGGDaedalus]

Originally Posted by FaDeBadger

I saw Tgun doing it way before I'd even heard of Stephano :O

I saw dimaga doing it before infestors even got patched

[iM yang]

I love that stephano innovated this great play style! He's truly a great, great player!

Quick Comments

	ETL.Branno:	lol?
	FaDeBadger:	Silly yang :D
	FaDeKerrigan:	=)

[Volition]

Originally Posted by SlowHands

Keep dropping. Stephano may be able to shut down your drops with ling patrols and well placed infestors, but I promise you the average ladder master wont. If you dont succeed straight away just keep dropping, you will eventually hit the jackpot and kill like 20 drones.

Also be really careful taking a third, as some variations of this style involves cutting some drones and getting like 70 upgraded ling on the field to completely annihilate terran when he moves out to push/take third, keep a close eye on that ling/drone count

I have been struggling against what looks a little like this type of play lately. While i am not anywhere near the top of sc2 competition, i seem to be playing many games where i go reactor hellion, dont suicide them but see a HEAP (50+ at least) of lings eventually come to get the few hellions that are there for map control. it is at that time i know this will be nasty.

NOrmally, it is this exact time i get punished - when taking a third. i will move half my tanks and a good chunk of marines to the expo - then a stream of lings come and i just lose the army, and really never catch up.

can any terrans give me a hand with the way to take your third against this type of play?

Quick Comments

spaZzNx:

So true, more and more do i get rolled over by tons of lings when I try and move out.

[AxSGRiM]

I would suggest out-upgrading them and getting marauder tank and marine w/ medivac. ThorZaIN showed us that upgrades are all that matters in these kind of engagements.

[TASlowHands]

Originally Posted by nRvGRiM

I would suggest out-upgrading them and getting marauder tank and marine w/ medivac. ThorZaIN showed us that upgrades are all that matters in these kind of engagements.

As a zerg player I fart in the general direction of conscientious double e-bay Terrans

[ricecake]

Thanks for the advice. This will definitely help me, I seem to be struggling against Zerg as of late.

Points I found particularly insightful:

• Treating infestors with the same respect as seige tanks
• Late lair implies infestor
  • Be careful with early pushes - infestor ling will tear up your small force
  • Mutas will be delayed. Use this knowledge to your advantage, and drop aggressively

Quick Comments

FaDeKerrigan:

Glad to share =)

[|Erasmus|]

Originally Posted by SQLTt.yang

I love that stephano popularised this great play style! He's truly a great, great player!

Fixed it for you :P