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

Transition Plan

Roach/Hydra for ground armies, Mutalisk for air control, or Lurkers for positional play

Build Order Steps

Supply	Time	Action	Cost	Notes
12	0:00	50 12s Harvests resources and spawns structures. Is sacrificed when creating new structures. Dronex2	100 12s	—
14	0:14	25 21s Allows drones to extract vespene gas. Extractor	25 21s	—
14	0:15	50 12s Harvests resources and spawns structures. Is sacrificed when creating new structures. Drone	50 12s	—
15	0:23	100 18s Produces control and is no longer a detector like the StarCraft I version. Overlord	100 18s	—
15	0:42	50 12s Harvests resources and spawns structures. Is sacrificed when creating new structures. Drone	50 12s	—
16	0:46	275 71s 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. Hatchery	275 71s	—
16	0:49	50 12s Harvests resources and spawns structures. Is sacrificed when creating new structures. Dronex3	150 12s	—
18	1:08	25 21s Allows drones to extract vespene gas. Extractor	25 21s	—
17	1:12	200 46s Required for production of zerglings and queens and researches zergling upgrades. Spawning Pool	200 46s	—
17	1:14	50 12s Harvests resources and spawns structures. Is sacrificed when creating new structures. Dronex3	150 12s	—
21	1:59	175 36s The new queen is very different than its StarCraft I counterpart, being a powerful attacking ground dwelling support unit ideal for zerg defense. Queenx2	350 36s	—
25	2:03	50 17s Fast but weak melee attacker ideal for swarming attacks in large numbers. Zerglingx2	100 17s	—
25	2:05	100 18s Produces control and is no longer a detector like the StarCraft I version. Overlord	100 18s	—
30	2:35	175 36s The new queen is very different than its StarCraft I counterpart, being a powerful attacking ground dwelling support unit ideal for zerg defense. Queen	175 36s	—
34	2:40	150 100 57s Upgrade of the hatchery giving access to more advanced buildings and providing upgrades for overlords and overseers. Lair	150 100 57s	—
34	2:44	100 18s Produces control and is no longer a detector like the StarCraft I version. Overlord	100 18s	—
35	2:57	75 25 19s Exceptionally tough short ranged unit able to quickly regenerate and move while burrowed. Roach Warren, Evolution Chamberx2	450 39s	—
41	3:33	Zerg Missile Weapons Level 1	100 100 114s	—
44	3:37	Glial Reconstitution	100 100 79s	—
44	3:44	100 18s Produces control and is no longer a detector like the StarCraft I version. Extractor x2, Overlord	150 21s	—
42	3:49	75 25 19s Exceptionally tough short ranged unit able to quickly regenerate and move while burrowed. Roach	75 25 19s	—
42	3:51	100 18s Produces control and is no longer a detector like the StarCraft I version. Overlord	100 18s	—
44	4:04	75 25 19s Exceptionally tough short ranged unit able to quickly regenerate and move while burrowed. Roachx9	675 225 19s	—
108	6:26	275 71s 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. Hatchery	275 71s	—

Transition Plan

Roach/Hydra for ground armies, Mutalisk for air control, or Lurkers for positional play