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Matchup guide - ZvP

Zerg vs Protoss: counters and game plan

Every common Protoss plan in ZvP, the Zerg answer, and one current opening. Open the live tool to tag scouted units and tighten the read mid-game.

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Drone with answers ready

Opening: Queen/ling scout into roach safety

Hatch, gas, pool, third, speed, safety roach warren or lair once Protoss tech is identified.

Goal: Track Stargate, Twilight, and Robo commitments before choosing drones, Roaches, or Hydras.

First five minutes

  • First overlord confirms natural and tech direction.
  • Ling checks third timing.
  • Spores by mineral lines if Stargate is confirmed.

Scout for

  • No third Nexus
  • Mass gateway before third
  • Dark Shrine or hidden Robo

Transition: Roach/Ravager stabilizes; Hydras, Lurkers, Vipers, or Corruptors answer the Protoss tech path.

More current ZvP builds on Spawning Tool (Current ZvP economic filters)

Protoss plan: Adept, Stalker, Zealot

Gateway pressure

Early tempo, warp-in reinforcement, and fast third denial.

Roach Ravager with creep-side surrounds

Core:

RoachRavagerQueenZergling

Tech switches:

BanelingHydraliskLurkerInfestor

Upgrades: Roach Speed, Missile attacks, Baneling Speed

Fight it right

  • Bile force fields and batteries before fighting the army.
  • Queens should transfuse Roaches, not chase Adepts across the map.

Do not drift into this

  • Do not drone blindly after missing Warp Gate pressure.
  • Do not fight in a choke where force fields choose the battle.
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Protoss plan: Colossus, Disruptor, Immortal

Robo splash

High-value splash that wins if you clump or attack late.

Hydra Lurker with Viper punishment

Core:

RoachHydraliskLurkerOverseer

Tech switches:

ViperInfestorCorruptorBrood Lord

Upgrades: Hydra range, Lurker range, Missile attacks

Fight it right

  • Abduct Colossus, Disruptors, and Immortals into Lurker fire.
  • Spread before Purification Novas and only re-collapse after they detonate.

Do not drift into this

  • Do not max on Roach Hydra without spellcasters into late Robo.
  • Do not take the first fight off creep unless you are surrounding.
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Protoss plan: Carrier, Void Ray, Tempest

Skytoss

Air armor scaling, static defense, Storm, and late-game range.

Corruptor Viper Infestor, never pure Hydra

Core:

QueenCorruptorSpore CrawlerOverseer

Tech switches:

ViperInfestorHydraliskBrood Lord

Upgrades: Flyer carapace, Flyer attacks, Neural Parasite

Fight it right

  • Abduct Carriers and Tempests into Spores instead of crossing the map.
  • Fungal locks the air ball so Corruptors can fight on your terms.

Do not drift into this

  • Do not max on Hydras into Carrier Storm.
  • Do not dive over Shield Batteries without first pulling units apart.
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Protoss plan: Oracle, DT, hidden tech

Oracle or DT tech

Invisible or flying worker damage into a normal Protoss economy.

Spores on time, Queens in pairs

Core:

QueenSpore CrawlerZerglingOverseer

Tech switches:

HydraliskInfestorMutaliskLurker

Upgrades: Zergling Speed, Overlord Speed, Hydra range

Fight it right

  • Spores should finish before Oracle or DT damage begins.
  • Pair Queens so an Oracle cannot pick off one and escape.

Do not drift into this

  • Do not skip lair detection against a hidden Twilight Council.
  • Do not send every Queen to one base and expose the third.
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Counter any Protoss unit

Deep-dive pages for each Protoss unit you might scout in ZvP.

ZealotAdeptStalkerSentryImmortalObserverWarp PrismColossusDisruptorHigh TemplarArchonDark TemplarPhoenixOracleVoid RayTempestCarrierMothership

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