Part 3: Zerg Build Order and Defensive Tactics

Follow the usual build up guidelines. After your seventh drone get another Overlord. Get Spawning Pool around tenth or twelfth drone. If you fear a rush, make some Zerglings. If not, get second hatchery around fifteenth drone, and then your Hydra Den. Go for hard Hydras for a while till you see what they have. You can build your gas extractor early if you want to go for Queens soon, or right around the tenth drone otherwise.

Some of these strats break the normal rules of building up. Follow the build up rules when applicable though.

On defensive maps, try to get Guardians early. Back them up with Scourge.

Use Zerglings to block chokepoints. Have Hydras behind them for best results.

For most general maps, go for huge amounts of Hydras. If you scout well, they will be very potent. Go for Hydra transport drops in their weak points of their town.

It's sometimes good to burrow to hide your men. Many players enjoy performing this because it looks fun. However, it is very bad to have your men pop up at the last second during an enemy's attack because it will allow the enemy to penetrate deeper into your town and allow the enemy to gain a few free hits as your men unburrow. Have a scout of some sort ahead of burrowed men in your town and be alert!

Use tons of Zerglings early and tons of Hydras later to defend. Avoid using sunken colonies which tax your resources. If you do use sunkens, place buildings or Zerglings in front of them to slow down other Zerglings or Zealot attackers. Make sure the Sunkens protect your drones.

Against Terrans: Be wary of Siege Tanks and spider mines. You need speed on Overlords and one Hydra to get around and disarm the mines. You need Broodling and several Queens to kill the Tanks. If time allows, Guardians are an even better way to beat tanks. Watch for what the Terrans are going for. If they go for air later in the game, get Scourge. Use Ensnare and Plague every chance you get. Be sure to burrow Defilers who are out in the open.

Always try to expand to islands with the Zerg. They have the best air defense with Scourge and Spore Colonies for support.

Beware of Reavers. Always parasite them and their counterpart, the Shuttle. Always try to parasite Transports, Wraiths, and a few peons. Always parasite Archons. These guys die easily if you have enough Hydras or Ultras, and especially if you Ensnare the Archons first. Always parasite all of Protoss and Terran air units. Scourge them when they are vulnerable.

Use Broodling to kill Templars. These guys are your worst enemy in many games. Use ensnare or plague to spot halluciantions.

Use Broodlings to set off spider mines, or if you need to disarm the mines quickly use Zerglings.