14 Pool 15 FE Idra Build Build Order

This is a build order that allows for early defense while still enabling the Zerg player to expand quickly. The 14 pool allows for reasonably timed Zerglings and the 15 FE allows for a quick change to a Macro game or having double production facilities. This strategy can easily be transitioned into Baneling Bust, Mass Roach, Roach/Hydra, Muta or any other tech routes as well and enables a strong mid game economy.

[Zerg Build Order]

Overlord on 9
Spawning Pool on 14
Expansion on 15
Extractor on 15/16
Overlord on 15
Queen (can be built before Overlord on 15)
See what your opponent is doing (should have been scouting) and go from there.

Scouting Needs:

Optimal Map Conditions:

You will want to scout your opponents base in a normal fashion. Send a drone out on 9 to scout his buildings and see if your opponent is going with an early rush. If they are going with early units build some early spine crawlers and focus on getting more Roaches, Banelings or Zerglings (whatever counters their units best) and if they are slow playing the game focus on expanding your economy and teching up to your desired strategy.

This is best if not used on a tiny map (like Steppes of war it can be hard to defend) or a map that has your expansion far from your main - as defending split bases is very difficult.


Vs Terran:	Vs Protoss:	Vs Zerg:
For terrans look out for an early Marine Marauder push on your base. Get extra spine crawlers and Zerglings or Roaches if this is the case. If they are slow playing (teching up, not attacking soon) then rush to Mutalisk or Infestor to have a tech advantage while revving up your economy.	For Protoss watch out for an early chrono boosted Zealot. If they are doing this get very fast lings and a Queen and a Spine Crawler and mass lings to push out on the Zealots at your expansion. If the Zealot is too early then you can cancel the expansion and work off one base with only losing a minimal amount of minerals. If the Protoss is not rushing quickly establish your base and build several spine crawlers at your expo as they often like to timed push. Continue to scout their base for their strategy while teching and macroing up your economy. If you can contain them to one base while you are on two base you are in a great position.	This strategy will put you ahead of your Zerg opponent if you can pull it off. You will have to scout early to see if they are 10 pooling or other cheese rush strats. If they are not 10 pooling or earlier you will be able to get Zerglings and defense at your hatchery prior to their arriving at your base with troops and should be able to hold your advantage through the rest of the game. It's all about containing and out macro'ing at that point.

What to Watch out For:

Watch out for early rush and cheese strats. Proxy Reaper, Proxy Gateway, Photon Cannon Rush, 6-10 pools. In those cases you may have to forego your expansion and go back to one base. However, typically you can get defense up just in time to hold your expansion (maybe having it take some damage) and then establish a solid 2 base economy and defense.

Tips for Pulling off the Attack:

Scout them early and find be ready to switch to mass army production mode or mass economy mode. If you can see what they are doing you can tell if it's safe to continue to build more drones and tech or if you need to devote your resources to army and static defense creation. Also, look out for early air cheese. If you spot it build an extra Queen and build 2-3 spore colonies at each base. If you do that you should prevent most early air cheese long enough to get your own air or Hydralisks.

Transitioning out of this Strategy:

This strategy is so great because it allows you to transition seemlessly into anything as it's a standard Zerg opener. You can go for a baneling bust, a mass Roach, Hydra, Mutalisk or Infestor/ling combo. Whatever you want after you have established your second base, Queens at both bases and have consistent scouting of your opponent you can bend like bamboo in the wind to flex your strategy to counter your opponents.

Starcraft 2 Zerg Build Order

Hey Everyone, this is OneManZerg with another build order for you. This build is one of my personal favorites and it is the Idra build, AKA the 14 pool 15 FE (Fast Expand). I like to use this one larger maps where my Expansion and Base are closer together and it is easier to defend both of them.

This build allows for so much flexibility as it can transition into a 2 base army build (don't build Drones at your expo, just build troops) or a 2 base fast tech build or a great mid game strong economy and containment build and allows for you to use any of the Zerg units as your choice. I typically go two base macro economy and semi-fast tech into Mutalisks (with Zerglings and Spine Crawlers early game) and force my opponent into submission via very effective harassment and containment.

Hope this works out well for all of you Zerg players out there. For all of you non-Zerg players, the best way to counter this is to consistently apply early pressure - not allowing the Zerg comfortability enough to control and macro up their economy with that expansion. Your other option is to try to mirror their expansion, that is build your expansion soon after you see theirs going down while the Zerg player isn't able to push out on you. Either way, it's a tough strategy to counter as it is very flexible so just play your best game possible.

Good hunting folks. =)