In Starcraft 2 the first thing you should know is what kind of strategy you are going to use depending on the matchup you are in. So for a Zerg player, you'll need strategies that will be effective in the Zerg vs Zerg matchup, Zerg vs Protoss matchup, and Zerg vs Terran matchup. These strategies will all likely be different because each race brings a different set of abilities to the table.
After you have you basic strategy figured out, then you need to figure out the best Zerg build order to lead into that strategy. Here are 3 basic strategies that you can use to get your early game timing down next time you play. Pick the one you like best and practice with it until you have it memorized, then move on to the next build order if you'd like to.
When reading Zerg build orders, you'll see a number at the front, this number is what your supply looks like in the upper right corner. So if a section of the build order looks like this: 9/10 Overlord, then you know that you should build and Overlord when your supply hits 9/10. It's pretty easy!
These Zerg build orders will get you started, but you must figure out where to go from there. It's impossible to put a whole game down on paper since they are so dynamic. Build orders like those below are meant as a guide for the beginning of the game only.
Zerg Build Order #1 – The All-in Zergling Rush
This is an all-in type of strategy that works mostly just in the lower ladder brackets. Your goal is to get 6 Zerglings as soon as possible to run into your opponents base and take him out before he can get an army up. The only problem is that you'll be sacrificing your economy so if your rush fails, you'll be doomed unless you did some serious damage to his base.
The Zergling Rush build order is one of the easiest to implement because it's so simple. It doesn't take a lot of skill to do, which is one of the reasons it doesn't work at the higher levels of play. It can be fun to do once in awhile though to grab a quick win or to harass one of your friends in a 1v1 game.
It works best on very small maps that have a short running distance between bases. It works best against Terran players, but it can also work against Zerg and Protoss depending on the skill of the player. If you're up against Terran your goal is to get into his base before he finishes walling off his ramp. If you do get into his base you'll be able to tear up his economy pretty quickly. Just don't let your Zerglings get surrounded by his workers.
To execute this build, all you have to do is send your 6 Drones to mine minerals and wait until you have 200. Then throw down a Spawning Pool. While the pool is building, make 2 Drones and rally them so they mine minerals when they come out.
Right when the Spawning Pool is complete you should have 3 Larvae ready and 150 minerals. Immediately turn all 3 Larvae into Zerglings and rally them to your opponent's base. As soon as more Larvae come out of your Hatchery turn them into Zerglings too and make sure they're rallied into the opposing base, this way they will reinforce immediately.
Remember, if you don't kill your opponent (or at least cripple him badly) you will lose, so give it your all!
Zerg Build Order #2 – Standard 13 Pool
As the name implies, this is the standard Zerg build order that will set you up with a nice economy and Zerglings early enough to do a little harassing and/or defending. If you follow it closely, by the time your Spawning Pool comes up you should have enough gas to immediately buy the Metabolic Boost upgrade at your Spawning Pool.
This will make your Zerglings extremely fast right off the bat, allowing them to run past your opponents army into his mineral line, or defend against fast units like Reapers and Hellions more effectively. Be sure you put 3 Drones in the Extractor as soon as it is done building.
Here's the build order:
6/10 Drone
7/10 Drone
8/10 Drone
9/10 Overlord
10/10 Drone
11/18 Drone
12/18 Drone
13/18 Extractor
13/18 Spawning Pool
13/18 Queen
After that the choice is up to you. Create some Zerglings so you can defend or harass as you please, then tech up to whatever you want next. This build order gets your first Queen up pretty fast which you should always use to Spawn Larvae on your Hatchery.
Zerg Build Order #3 – Fast Expand
This build order takes advantage of the Zerg's ability to expand quickly due to the Hatchery costing 100 minerals less than it's Protoss or Terran counterparts. If done right you should be able to expand very fast while still being able to defend your base while you get your economy up.
This will put you in the lead as you transition into mid game since you will have had 2 bases for so long compared to your opponents one base. It's a good idea to get 3 Queens up with this build so you can have 2 always infusing your Hatcheries to produce more Larvae, and one can be used to spread Creep between your bases and out onto the battlefield. Queens are also excellent defenders against the air and fairly good against ground.
You'll basically want to make Drones the whole time to get your economy up and get enough minerals to put down your early expansion. This guide also will require you to put your Spawning Pool up before you place your Hatchery, which is a much safer option than putting down a defenseless Hatchery. Keep in mind that Drones are consumed when you make a building.
Here's the build order (minus the Drones):
9/10 Overlord
15/18 Spawning Pool
16/18 Hatchery at natural expansion
15/18 Extractor
15/18 Queen
17/18 Zergling
18/18 Overlord
After you've expanded, be sure to transfer half your workers to your new base (as long as it's not being attacked) to keep your economy high. Then build up your Queen count and scout your opponent again to see what you need to be prepared for.
Final Thoughts
Like I said before, these will get you started in the early game. It is a good idea to practice one at a time and figure out which one you like. I don't recommend relying on the 6 Pool Zergling rush as your main strategy. It can be fun once in awhile, but as you get higher in rank it won't be very effective anymore.
Starcraft 2 is a dynamic game where things change all the time. The one thing that is constant is how you get started, which is why build orders are so important. To figure out how to execute build orders better and increase your economy and army size, check out my Macro Mastery Guide. It's free and you can read it right now.
