The Snute Build: Gasless Zerg Versus Zerg

Because of the changes to the Spore Crawler, the Zerg versus Zerg match up has started moving away from MutaWars and back into the Roach Hydra play that has been so dominant during the later periods of WoL. A popular build on the Korean ladder right now is the gasless Roach opening where the Zerg skips Zergling speed and Banelings in order to put out Roaches and upgrades as soon as possible.

Team Liquid player Snute has included his own spin on the build affectively known as the Snute build. Instead of an upgrade lead, Snute’s build focuses on a +1 Attack Roach timing attack that’s designed to deal damage at the very least deny his third. Snute also skips the Carapace upgrade in favor of more Roaches.

The Build

Standard Opening (pool to hatch, hatch pool)
Queen
21 supply (3:45) 1st Gas
2 more Queens (After first inject, move first queen to natural for tumor)
@128 gas – Evolution Chamber, +1 Ranged Attack when finished
@158 gas – Lair
When Lair is at 25/80 seconds - Roach Warren
When Main and Natural is saturated, 2nd and 3rd gas
When Roach Warren and Lair completes, Roach speed

PROS

- Earlier upgrades will give you more windows for timing attacks

- You will have better economy than your opponent

CONS

- Vulnerable to a Speedling-Baneling all-in

- Can be vulnerable to early Speedling attacks

- Skips Carapace upgrades so a longer game can be very difficult to play

 

Playing the Build

Your third base is dependent on what your opponent is doing. Normally, you start your third as you move out for your +1 timing attack. Scouting will be extremely important at this stage. If he is doing a standard double Evochamber gasless build and you see that he is not researching Zergling speed, you can take your 3rd after you start your Lair. Alternatively, you can research Zergling speed before the +1 Attack and Lair if you see your opponent taking his third early. If you’ve managed to get your third down, try and put 10 drones in your third so that you can have more mining time than your opponent.

After putting about 10 drones in your third, start massing Roaches. Snute doesn’t get Carapace upgrades in favor of more Roaches and an earlier +2 Ranged Attack and prefers to delay the upgrade after you are done with +2 Ranged Attack.

A later third from your opponent will mean that he’s been making Roaches as well. Make sure to just pressure or at least cancel his third and back off. Try to hit a +2 timing since your +2 will be earlier than his.

Versus a Speedling Baneling all-in, you should abandon your third and wall of your front. Start producing roaches as soon as possible. If you hold the attack with minimal losses, you will be ahead because your +1 should finish soon. If you did not scout the all-in up until it’s knocking at your door, you will probably lose the game so scouting will be key. Having a Spine will help as well.

Against a Mutalisk build, always hit the +1 Roach timing. At the very least, you are going to have your third and he will not. If he stays committed to Mutalisks, you need to add Hydras as well as Infestors. Put down Spore Crawlers to safe guard your base.