Random Meta Thoughts

Random thoughts on the current HotS Meta Game

Zerg >

Zerg openings are, by and large, the most similar to WoL. The only difference is early roach rushes, which I consider inferior to more standard macro play. If there is a difference, it is that zerg players can more easily place spore crawlers, which is necessary especially against toss, due to cheap DTs and Oracles.

PvT >

This is the most different of all matchups. The culprit is the Mother Ship Core. Since reapers are all the rage, many terran would be tempted to open with reapers vs Toss. However, the MSC completely shuts down reapers. I would go so far as to say that a MSC after Cybernetics is the only way to go. It’s always a good move to immediately send the Core over to the Terran base. You’re almost guaranteed to be able to get a SCV kill or two. Along with a marine kill at that. Best case, he didn’t make any marines, or not enough marines, and you can inflict heavy damage. You’ll have enough energy for a time warp on the mineral line as well. Even if he’s running reapers into your base at the same time your MSC hits his base, you can always recall back.

For this reason, Terran openings v Toss are now less flexible. Terrans now need to get out early marines, for fear of the MSC.

TvT >

Although reaper rushes are all the rage nowadays, I find that good old fashioned banshees to be far superior. They’re good for the same reason the MSC is good. Reapers can’t hit them, and if you overinvest in reapers, you’ll be vulnerable to them. Early siege tech means TvT is still largely a race to turtle, or be the first to out siege your opponent.

PvP >

Traditional five gate attacks are less viable now that the MSC can turn your nexus into a cannon. Since tempests are so good against colossus, PvP is no longer a war of who gets the most colossus. Now there is much more balancing of units involved. You’ll need just the right number of colossi with tempest support.

TvZ >

If a terran player goes for reapers, the zerg player is at a much greater disadvantage than in WoL. Reapers regen means that even a small number of them can, with micro, take out a queen. To deal with them, zerg needs roaches or ling speed. It means that zerg can no longer feel safe delaying their gas. Bye bye Spanishiwa gasless builds. Zerg now needs early gas for the threat of reapers.

Despite some devastating terran losses to mutalisks, I feel that muta play is more crippled in this matchup. Widow mines can make quick work of the flock, leaving zerg players to make more use of their defilers or nydus attacks. The best bet for terran players seems to be bio into bio-mech into mech play. With hellbats to tank with medivacs, and perhaps a few marines mixed in, I feel the terran army that can hold three bases is largely unstoppable.

PvZ >

Mutas seem most powerful in this matchup. Toss is just as immobile as ever, but the mutas are faster. A large muta ball can take out most toss army compositions. For this reason, many games become a race to defend the muta ball. If the zerg player goes for a more traditional army comp., the matchup is largely the same as WoL.