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Matchup guide - ZvZ

Zerg vs Zerg: counters and game plan

Every common Zerg plan in ZvZ, 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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Survive the volatility

Opening: Speedling/Baneling into roach anchor

Hatch, gas, pool, speed, Baneling Nest when needed, then Roach Warren before the mirror snowballs.

Goal: Avoid worker losses, deny surprise Banes, and reach a Roach count that cannot be overrun.

First five minutes

  • Overlord and ling watch both attack paths.
  • Keep queens tucked until Baneling count is known.
  • Drone only after you know the opponent is not flooding.

Scout for

  • No third hatch
  • Early Baneling Nest
  • Gas-heavy lair before Roach Warren

Transition: Roach/Ravager is the stable spine; Mutas punish low anti-air, while Lurkers end long ground wars.

More current ZvZ builds on Spawning Tool (Lambo 8 worker ZvZ opening)

Zerg plan: Zergling, Baneling, Mutalisk

Ling bane muta

Surrounds, counterattacks, and mineral-line air control.

Cleaner Ling Bane into faster anti-air

Core:

ZerglingBanelingQueenSpore Crawler

Tech switches:

MutaliskHydraliskInfestorLurker

Upgrades: Melee weapons, Baneling Speed, Flyer attacks

Fight it right

  • Keep Banes split so one connection does not decide everything.
  • Spores and Queens stop Mutas from turning the mirror into chaos.

Do not drift into this

  • Do not fight off creep without a surround or upgrade lead.
  • Do not overmake Drones while their Ling count is hidden.
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Zerg plan: Roach, Ravager, Queen

Roach ravager

A durable mid-game shove that breaks static defenses with bile.

Mirror with faster tech or sharper surround

Core:

RoachRavagerQueenZergling

Tech switches:

LurkerInfestorHydraliskMutalisk

Upgrades: Roach Speed, Missile attacks, Burrow

Fight it right

  • Dodge Biles first, fire yours second.
  • Use Lings for surrounds once Roaches commit through a choke.

Do not drift into this

  • Do not trade Roaches down upgrades.
  • Do not tech switch without enough Roaches to survive the next wave.
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Zerg plan: Hydralisk, Lurker, Viper

Hydra lurker

Range control, burrowed zones, and spellcaster picks.

Viper mirror with Brood or superior Lurker count

Core:

HydraliskLurkerOverseerQueen

Tech switches:

ViperInfestorBrood LordCorruptor

Upgrades: Lurker range, Missile attacks, Burrow speed

Fight it right

  • Abduct exposed Lurkers and Vipers before the ground army fights.
  • Brood Lords break static Lurker fields if Corruptor count is managed.

Do not drift into this

  • Do not run Hydras over buried Lurkers without detection.
  • Do not spend all gas on Lurkers and forget Vipers.
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Zerg plan: Brood Lord, Corruptor, Infestor

Brood corruptor

Slow late-game air that crushes ground armies without anti-air control.

Corruptor Viper Infestor with patience

Core:

CorruptorViperOverseerSpore Crawler

Tech switches:

InfestorBrood LordHydraliskUltralisk

Upgrades: Flyer attacks, Flyer carapace, Neural Parasite

Fight it right

  • Abduct Broods into Corruptors and Spores instead of diving the forest.
  • Fungal enemy Corruptors before your own air commits.

Do not drift into this

  • Do not chase through Spores without spellcaster value first.
  • Do not morph Broods if you cannot protect them from Corruptors.
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Counter any Zerg unit

Deep-dive pages for each Zerg unit you might scout in ZvZ.

ZerglingBanelingRoachRavagerQueenHydraliskLurkerMutaliskCorruptorOverlordOverseerViperInfestorSwarm HostUltraliskBrood Lord

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