Description

"The Swarmhost is an useless Unit", "After the Nerf why even build Swarmhosts", "2 Base Zerg isn't viable" ... these are all things I have been told and I am here to correct the World by showcasing my 2 Base Nydus Swarmhost Style.

Introduction:

The Build works identically against both Terran and Protoss. Of course you need to adjust to different timings in the economic first 5 Minutes. Terrans can't attack you with Mass Adepts and Protoss can't attack you with Liberators etc... these are all just minor details and not that Important.

Now how does the Build itself work? We use Queens and Lings to defend on 2 Bases while droning up completly. A quick Lair and Infestation Pit allows us to get the first Swarmhosts out fairly early around the 5:30 mark. Once the economy is flowing we use our Queens and Swarmhosts offensively by building a Nydus Network (usually around the 5:30 Mark).

We build a 3rd base while this is going on to secure our economic future. The Next Step is to find holes in our opponents defense... for the exact process check the VOD but in short we search for blindspots with overlords, overseers and lings and keep attacking him with multiple Nydus Worms.

Concerns

We are able to defend against any and all early pressure with 2 Base Mass Queen and a Spore or Spine here and there if necessairy. So based on that I am not going to go in detail on every single reaction. A rough Guideline can be found in the Analysis Section though.

Basic Strategy

An example would be the following: Nydus Main -> Send out Queens and transfuse / spread creep -> Send out Swarmhosts drop locusts -> Nydus 3rd -> Send out Swarmhosts and drop locusts to kill 3rd --> Nydus natural ... etc

I personally like to go for a Mutalisk follow up and build the Spire as soon as I can while also droning my 3rd ever so slightly. Most Terrans / Protoss do not have enough anti air to deal with Mutalisks while trying to fend off Swarmhosts.

VOD

Build Order

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12 0:01 Drone 13 0:12 Overlord 13 0:17 Drone 14 0:31 Drone x3 17 0:46 Spawning Pool 17 0:49 Drone 17 0:56 Drone 18 1:12 Hatchery 18 1:13 Extractor 18 1:16 Drone x2 18 1:32 Queen 18 1:33 Zergling x2 21 1:40 Drone 22 1:50 Overlord 22 2:08 Queen 26 2:18 Metabolic Boost 27 2:22 Zergling x2 27 2:24 Queen 34 2:49 Overlord 36 2:58 Lair 36 3:03 Overlord 41 3:21 Extractor x2 41 3:29 Zergling x2 47 3:53 Queen x2 47 3:54 Extractor , Overlord 50 4:00 Infestation Pit 51 4:04 Zergling x2 52 4:15 Overseer 53 4:17 Zergling x4 59 4:43 Hatchery 58 4:51 Swarm Host x3 67 4:54 Nydus Network 67 4:57 Zergling x6 65 5:17 Zergling x2 65 5:20 Queen x2 66 5:32 Nydus Canal 66 5:48 Nydus Canal 66 5:49 Swarm Host x5 81 5:57 Spire 81 5:59 Queen 81 6:05 Overseer 81 6:12 Swarm Host x2 87 6:24 Nydus Canal 91 6:53 Overseer 92 7:01 Queen x2 100 7:10 Nydus Canal 102 7:37 Mutalisk x2 105 8:04 Nydus Canal 104 8:10 Mutalisk x6 112 8:18 Nydus Canal 114 8:37 Mutalisk x2 121 8:47 Nydus Canal

Analysis

Rough Build Order:

Hatch Gas Pool / Pool Gas Hatch

always keep 4-8 lings at home vs hellions / adepts

Constant Queen Production

@100 Gas Ling Speed

@100 Gas Lair

@3:45 take 3 more Gas

@Lair Infestation Pit

@Infestation Pit Nydus Network and 3rd Base

@ 4 Swarmhosts being Nydusing

Versus Terran

This Build only works versus Terrans who go for a Factory Opener. You will most likely not succeed against 2-1-1 Mass Marine Openers unless you get really "lucky". Against those try to defend with Queens at home while nydus harrassing... and rush out upgrades or die.

In general keep 4-8 lings at home past the 3:30 mark and 8-16 past the 4:30 Mark otherwise hellions will kill you. If you see no medivac / viking by 4:45 build a Spore at each Base and prepare for Banshees / Liberators.

Try to kill their Army / Economy with your Nydus Worms

Vs Protoss

The Build works best versus Stargate openers. You can easily shutdown the Oracle / Phoenix with your Queens while preparing your Nydus. Infestors can be really useful (1-3) with your Swarmhosts to plop down a couple Infested Terrans to sway away sky toss units.

Follow up You might need Upgrades... especially carapace versus Bio terran and Damage versus both Races for your Locusts. Building Hydras / Corruptors and Lings with the Swarmhosts work really well, as do Banelings.

You can always tech to a Hive if you think it is a good Option :)