Hatch First Macro (ZvZ)
IntermediateZvZEconomic
Play Style
Greedy hatch-first opener in ZvZ that prioritizes economy over early aggression. Relies on good Queen and Spine Crawler defense to hold off early pressure while building a strong economy.
Strategic Goals
- → Expand quickly for economy
- → Defend with Queens and Spines
- → Get Roach Warren for defense
- → Outmacro opponent
- → Transition to Roach/Hydra or Mutalisk
Counters
- • Greedy Zerg play
- • Slow Roach builds
Weaknesses
- • 12 Pool all-ins
- • Early Roach pressure
Build Order Steps
| Supply | Time | Action | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 0:00 |  Drone 50  Harvests resources and spawns structures. Is sacrificed when creating new structures. | 100 | — |
| 14 | 0:14 |  Extractor 25 Allows drones to extract vespene gas. | 25 | — |
| 14 | 0:15 | Drone 50 Harvests resources and spawns structures. Is sacrificed when creating new structures. | 50 | — |
| 15 | 0:23 |  Overlord 100 Produces control and is no longer a detector like the StarCraft I version. | 100 | — |
| 15 | 0:42 | Drone 50 Harvests resources and spawns structures. Is sacrificed when creating new structures. | 50 | — |
| 16 | 0:46 |  Hatchery 300 Spawns larvae to be morphed into other zerg strains, generates creep and digests minerals and gas into a usable form. The queen is spawned directly from the hatchery. | 300 | — |
| 16 | 0:49 | Drone 50 Harvests resources and spawns structures. Is sacrificed when creating new structures. | 100 | — |
| 17 | 0:58 | Drone 50 Harvests resources and spawns structures. Is sacrificed when creating new structures. | 50 | — |
| 18 | 1:08 | Extractor 25 Allows drones to extract vespene gas. | 25 | — |
| 17 | 1:12 |  Spawning Pool 200 Required for production of zerglings and queens and researches zergling upgrades. | 200 | — |
| 17 | 1:14 | Drone 50 Harvests resources and spawns structures. Is sacrificed when creating new structures. | 100 | — |
| 18 | 1:27 | Drone 50 Harvests resources and spawns structures. Is sacrificed when creating new structures. | 50 | — |
| 21 | 1:59 |  Queen 150 The new queen is very different than its StarCraft I counterpart, being a powerful attacking ground dwelling support unit ideal for zerg defense. | 300 | — |
| 25 | 2:03 |  Zergling 50 Fast but weak melee attacker ideal for swarming attacks in large numbers. | 100 | — |
| 25 | 2:05 | Overlord 100 Produces control and is no longer a detector like the StarCraft I version. | 100 | — |
| 30 | 2:35 | Queen 150 The new queen is very different than its StarCraft I counterpart, being a powerful attacking ground dwelling support unit ideal for zerg defense. | 150 | — |
| 34 | 2:40 |  Lair 150  Upgrade of the hatchery giving access to more advanced buildings and providing upgrades for overlords and overseers. | 150 | — |
| 34 | 2:44 | Overlord 100 Produces control and is no longer a detector like the StarCraft I version. | 100 | — |
| 35 | 2:57 |  Roach 75 Exceptionally tough short ranged unit able to quickly regenerate and move while burrowed. | 300 | — |
| 41 | 3:33 | Zerg Missile Weapons Level 1 | 100 | — |
| 44 | 3:37 | Glial Reconstitution | 100 | — |
| 44 | 3:44 | Overlord 100 Produces control and is no longer a detector like the StarCraft I version. | 150 | — |
| 42 | 3:49 | Roach 75 Exceptionally tough short ranged unit able to quickly regenerate and move while burrowed. | 75 | — |
| 42 | 3:51 | Overlord 100 Produces control and is no longer a detector like the StarCraft I version. | 100 | — |
| 44 | 4:04 | Roach 75 Exceptionally tough short ranged unit able to quickly regenerate and move while burrowed. | 225 | — |
| 50 | 4:13 | Roach 75 Exceptionally tough short ranged unit able to quickly regenerate and move while burrowed. | 75 | — |
| 52 | 4:18 | Roach 75 Exceptionally tough short ranged unit able to quickly regenerate and move while burrowed. | 150 | — |
| 56 | 4:27 | Roach 75 Exceptionally tough short ranged unit able to quickly regenerate and move while burrowed. | 225 | — |
| 108 | 6:26 | Hatchery 300 Spawns larvae to be morphed into other zerg strains, generates creep and digests minerals and gas into a usable form. The queen is spawned directly from the hatchery. | 300 | — |
Transitions
Roach/Hydra for ground armies, Mutalisk for air control, or Lurkers for positional play