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Forums \ Strategic forum \ Flanking with Zerg
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1 year ago

EsX_Raptor

 (Replay management - SC)
Flanking with Zerg (1214 reads, 26 replies)
I've been hearing the term "Flanking" a lot lately, specially when reffering to the Zerg and since I recently started playing with them, I consider this lack of knowledge from my part, critical.
I'd like someone to explain me what exactly is that, how can I pull it off effectively, and what race and units is it best used against.
My Regards.
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1 year ago
#1

O)rion

   2
Flanking is just attacking from several sides at the same time.

Check this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flanking

Flanking is used mostly by zerg, since they got weak units and want to surround their enemy. P should also use flanking against terran, and not just attack in a straight line.
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1 year ago
#2

blane625

   3
Flanking is attacking the weaker part of his forces with the stronger part of yours.
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1 year ago
#3

psyCrowe

   7
no its not

flanking is just attacking from multiple directions

in effect all his units arent focusing all their firepower in 1 direction, but alot less weaker ineffective firepower in multiple directions.

example of flanking early could be like, if u got a group of lings outside ur base hidden somewhere, and a terran trys to contain u with tanks and marines, just attack from your base with lings, and run in the hidden lings from behind too. its great :D
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1 year ago
#4

EsX_Raptor

 (Replay management - SC)   5
UuUuUu #3... that sounds great xD I'll have to try that sometime =]

Is it really that effective? o.O
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1 year ago
#5

soann

   1
#4 have you ever watched a game with sAviOr?
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1 year ago
#6

dOnT-pAniC

   2
#4

Yep it is, a verry good flanking makes storm almost useless.
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1 year ago
#7

smurfaka

   3
2007-08-21 04:43:20, EsX_Raptor wrote:
Is it really that effective? o.O


yeah well, if you think of it, it's really effective and is a must for z.

Easiest way to flank is in the open, the middle of luna is an ideal spot to attack from all different directions.
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1 year ago
#8

Lord_of_Chaos

   17
Flanking is nothing what you described...

If an army is standing like this:

x||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||x

the "x"s are the flanks. Ie, the sides. Flanking is attacking these sides. If every | is a unit and L an enemy unit you can see why it becomes effective here:

L...................................................................L
L |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| L
L...................................................................L

While the Ls have three units at each side in range of one of the |s, the |s only have a single unit at every side in range and thus attacking. This allows the Ls to kill of the targeted |s with mininal losses, making them fall like domino bricks.
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1 year ago
#9

jimbob615

   1
flanking reduces tank splash damage.

Just imagine this, attacking from a choke:

Z = Zealot
T = Tank

ZZZZZZZ TTTT
ZZZZZZZ TTTT
ZZZZZZZ TTTT
ZZZZZZZ TTTT
ZZZZZZZ TTTT

Tanks do heaps of splash to everyone.

Now:

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

ZZZZZZZ TTTT ZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZ TTTT ZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZ TTTT ZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZ TTTT ZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZ TTTT ZZZZZZZZZZ

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ


Now the tanks do much less ^_^
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1 year ago
#10

HelloWorld

   2
#9, your diagram suggests you just got three times more zealots.

Z = Zealot
T = Tank

ZZZZZZZ TTTT
ZZZZZZZ TTTT
ZZZZZZZ TTTT
ZZZZZZZ TTTT
ZZZZZZZ TTTT

Tanks do heaps of splash to everyone.

Now:

ZZZZZ

ZZZ TTTT ZZZ
ZZZ TTTT ZZZ
ZZZ TTTT ZZZ
ZZZ TTTT ZZZ
ZZZ TTTT ZZZ

ZZZZZ

There, same about of zealots now.

Well, overall, flanking can reduce splash (from units such as tanks and reavers, and spells such as maelstrom, psionic storm) and it can also reduce the amount of units firing at each unit (essentially, the exact opposite of focus firing)
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1 year ago
#11

lolmaestro

   2
In military tactics, a flanking maneuver, also called a flank attack, is an attack on the sides (flanks) of an opposing force. If a flanking maneuver succeeds, the defending force is attacked from two or more directions, which significantly reduces its ability to defend itself. A flank attack thus gives the attacker a psychological advantage, and also permits it to employ enfilade fire on the defending force.


As quoted from wikipedia
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1 year ago
#12

smurfaka

   3
Well, yeah, but dont trust wiki too much ^^ attacking from more then 2 directions is great in starcraft, but in real life it meens 2 of your groups are in eachothers line of fire. ;)
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1 year ago
#13

Lord_of_Chaos

   17
#12, depends on the terrain, weapons used, size of armies, deployment etc.
Also, a flanking does not have to be from serveral directions. Attacking one flank is still flanking..
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1 year ago
#14

EsX_Raptor

 (Replay management - SC)   5
Is flanking the same thing as an ambush?

#12: What if the two sides flanking are on top of buildings shooting down? ;)

I frequently see sAviOr moving his Zerglings past the attacking force and then attacking them like this:

L = Zergling
Z = Zealot

ZZZ <---- LLLLLLLLLLLL (Moving them)



<---LLLLL
ZZZ <--- LLLLLLL (Through the Zealots)


......LLLL
LLLLZZZLLLL (Attack!)



I don't know if it's for the same purpose of making it as effective as a flank, but it surely works!

Finally -___- an answer for those pesky storms.
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1 year ago
#15

Izraphel

   7
well, that what you described is more like micro. but it can also be called flanking i guess.

dont think about what words mean, just try to spread your forces so they all start attacking at the same time and always try to make a circle around the enemy instead of making clumps of units going at him. if you can attack him from behind - even better.
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1 year ago
#16

iLLusioN.ReW

   10
The purpose of flanking is to maximize your damage output (by allowing more units to attack at the same time) and to minimize your vulerbility to splash damage (by spreading out your troops). The flank is best used when fighting with weak untis vs strong units or with melee units vs ranged units. It is also very efficient vs units which deals splash damage over huge areas, such as stormers.

Succefully controling two armies at the same time and coordinate them to attack at the same time is quite a hard task, especially if we throw in other elements, such as a macroing, exping or harrasing.
The easiest way to succefully flank is probably to set up an ambush.

The micro described in post #14 is a flank-attack, though a worse one, as you are actually taking damage while you set up the flank.
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1 year ago
#17

psyCrowe

   7
not flanking :






flanking :
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1 year ago
#18

psyCrowe

   7
and the more the units for you, the better!

vs terran, lurker really kick ass when u flank them

late game flanks are good with dark swarm, and maybe some plague too if really needed
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1 year ago
#19

EsX_Raptor

 (Replay management - SC)   5
lol #17: That's badass man xD

Hehe, I just tried flanking a defenseless base too, and it is GG! =D
But have problems doing the same thing to a turtler it's impossible!
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1 year ago
#20

SeeNoGlory

   2
When they turtle try dropping a couple units in the base and then attacking from two sides.
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