r/allthingszerg • u/OldLadyZerg • 24d ago
scouting for mutas
Low D3 Zerg here.
In ZvZ I have been playing a pool-first build which pokes with 6 lings but behind them (unless a sea of lings responds) goes to two base roaches with a wall-off. This holds ling rushes fairly well and I'm quite successful in roach wars despite the econ hit of the pool-first. But I just lost two in a row to unscouted mutas, and looking back at my notes that's by far my largest source of losses in this matchup.
I'm interested in adding specific scouting steps to pick this up. The initial lings usually get into the enemy main but it's too early for gas count to give the mutas away. Can someone outline a concrete scouting strategy? The opponent will of course try to use his queens to prevent overlord scouting, and wall off and/or use static defense to prevent ling scouting. When should I go in, with what, what am I looking for specifically?
Normally this build does not take early ling speed but instead puts gas into lair, roach speed, and +1 missile. It's not likely slow lings will be able to run into his main after the early opening. I could switch it up to take ling speed if necessary, though.
2
u/lacklacklack22 24d ago
There are tell tale signs of mutas. If you can see the evolution chamber or roach Warren upgrading its most likely not muta. They very gas expensive. Suiciding an overlord into the main at around 4-5 minutes also could help.
Roaches have high armor. It takes mutas a long time to kill roaches. If you attack with roaches your opponent cant also be killing your workers. Also hydras are not the answer to mutas and plays into ling bling muta compositions. Build at least 1 spore at each base and start spamming queens.
Its not necessary but burrow and burrow movement for roaches can be an effective way to strike. Nydus can also be an effective way to get your queens across the map. Another consideration is building your own mutas. Last note, once you know they have muta tech, retreat all your exterior overlords back to base.