Zerg’s Hard Roach Opener

Jul 23, 2010

As you probably know Roaches  absolutely kill lower tier units.  Zealots? No problem. Marines? Ain’t nothing but a peanut.  With the right timing attack you can destroy your opponent. That only difficult thing is that in order to get a good amount of roaches you need some time and money. Two things that are essential in starcraft 2. Today I’ll be showing you a great build that allows you to defend yourself in the early stages of the game and grab you a great amount of roaches.

Hard Roach Opener

• First off, build drones until you reach 10 supply. Then build your first overlord. By the time the overlord finishes you should have enough minerals to spawn 3 more drones. When to drones pop mine until you have enough to build a spawning pool.

• Build the spawning pool and continue to make drones until you reach 15 or 16 supply. Once you reach that number spawn a overlord and make a extractor.

• After the gas is finished put 3 drones in it. Now by the time your spawning pool is done you should have enough for a queen and 4 zerglings. Around half of their completion you should be able to afford a roach warren (17-18 supply).

• If your overlord hasn’t already found your opponent use your zerglings to scout him out. Now when your queen finished make sure to inject larvae as quickly as you can so you will have enough to build a good amount of roaches. As the roach warren finishes your injected larvae should be finished or about to be finished. When they are build 5 roaches.

• The first thing you should build after the roaches is a overlord, but still continue to macro out roaches. Keep injecting larvae and prepare for your attack. At 26 supply move out to attack your opponent. If you keep building roaches you should have some backup by the time you reach your foes base.

• After that I usually like to add another extractor and build a few more drones to pump up my economy, but really from that point what you do should be determined on well your first push does. If it does good you might think of adding another expansion. If it does really good you will have won the game .

Build Order

10 Overlord and extractor trick for the 11th drone. (You can use it to scout or mine minerals.)

15 Spawning Pool

15 Gas

16 Queen

16 6 lings

18 Roach Warren

25 Timed attack

Build Tips

1. Like you’ll see in the video below, it’s a good idea to scout with your overlord in the beginning and if you are keeping a good eye on it you can actually see where your opponent is and pull it back so he doesnt know where you are.

2. Make sure to block of your ramp with your first roaches.

3. If you see your opponent is going for immortals don’t try and stick with the roaches. Try to transition into a better counter.

For better understanding of the build watch the video below from Husky Starcraft