StarCraft II – PvZ 2-Base Immortal-Sentry All-in [Guide]

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• Build Order
• Strategy and Execution
• Demo Videos

As patch 1.5 rolled in, Zerg players started to discover the power that they held in the late game. Soon, they started to get third bases earlier and going for Brood Lords and Infestors, and that unit composition became their trump card. The Zerg in the competitive scene started to see more success during the latter parts of 2012, just like how the Terrans dominated the end of 2011. The Protoss needed an answer, and they found it in the form of a 2-base all-in strategy.

The goal of this 2-base all-in is to take out the Zerg’s third base before they have the chance to tech up to Spire and Infestors. The unit composition is around 2-3 Immortals for killing Roaches, and a lot of Sentries to cut the Zerg armies into manageable pieces with Force Fields. Warp Prisms are also recommended for warping in reinforcements, as well as picking up dying units to preserve them if the Protoss player is skilled enough.

Build Order

9 Pylon
17 Nexus (natural expansion)
17 Forge
17 Pylon
18 Gateway
18 Photon Cannon
20 Assimilator x2 (# 1, 2)

@100% Gateway: Cybernetics Core, Zealot

@100% Assimilator: +1 Ground Weapons

@100% Cybernetics Core: Warpgate Research, Stalker
(After the Stalker finishes, make only Sentries until Warpgate Research finishes)

38 Robotics Facility
@100% Robotics Facility: Constant chronoboost Immortal production (until 3)
(Make a Warp Prism after getting 3 Immortals)

Assimilator x2 (at natural expansion)

@~7:30: 3 Gateways (# 2, 3, 4)

@100% Warpgate Research: Gateway x3 (# 5, 6, 7)

Final warp in, then attack. Build proxy pylons if possible.

Strategy and Execution

You can stop probe production once you get around 45 of them, which is 16 probes in each mineral line and 3 in all four Assimilators, adding up to 44 or so.

When you’re about to attack and building a proxy pylon, warp in units as soon as the pylon finishes. The pylon is preferable so that you can use your Warp Prism to pick and drop Immortals to keep them alive, if you can manage to execute the micro. That micro is accomplished by picking an Immortal that has lost its shields up, then dropping it at the back of your army to keep it away from enemy fire.
An optimal army consists of around 3 Immortals, 1 Zealot, 1 Stalker, and 7 Sentries, as well as a Warp Prism. Once you get your Warp Prism, you might as well make an Observer as well just in case the Zerg has researched Burrow.

Scouting

The thing to look for is an indication that the Zerg is going for a 2-base all-in. If he is doing just that, it’s most likely that your Gateways won’t finish in time to defend against this if you go ahead with this build. If you do read your opponent going for this route, then just wall off, build around 2-3 Photon Cannons, keep making Sentries, and prepare yourself to defend against the worst he can dish out at you.

The most tell-tale sign of a Zerg 2-base strategy is obviously the lack of a third base, so scout his potential third base regularly at around 6-10 minutes. If you don’t see anything, then brace yourself for some shenanigans. Always have vision over your entire base and check the minimap for signs of suspicious enemy activity like proxy hatcheries, drops, mutalisks, or something else.

Demo Videos

This video features a match between Protoss player Squirtle playing against Zerg player BBoongBBoong in the 2012 Battle.net World Championship Series Korean Nationals. At the 6:50 mark of the video, Squirtle demonstrates this very build in brilliant fashion. Not only does he go in with force and precision with Force Fields at the right time, but he also uses his Warp Prism to micro his Immortals from dying, then warping in Zealots to tank and protect the rest of the army.

Here is another video featuring Squirtle’s former teammate PartinG in action during the 2012 Battle.net World Championship, which he won. The first half of this video highlight shows his “Soul Train” against Zerg, using the same build.

This build has become PartinG’s signature as he gained tremendous success during the latter half of 2012, mainly against Zerg opponents that had been dominating most of the tournaments during this time. In an interview, he has stated that what makes his 2-base Immortal-Sentry all-in different from the others is how he “puts his soul” into it, micromanaging every unit to maximize them. His confidence in his skills and the success he attained with it has made fans nickname his brand of the build as “The Soul Train”.