If Hydralisks are used to back a Zergling attack, the Zealots fall much more quickly. Be sure to evolve the Grooved Spines (increased attack range) upgrade. The additional range will allow more Hydralisks to engage the enemy. Keep in mind that to keep the edge over Zealots, you'll need superior numbers in both Zerglings and Hydralisks. Use multiple Hatcheries to maintain those numbers.

When defending against Zealots at your home colony, have Sunken Colonies built to aid in the defense. Tie up the invading Zealots with Zerglings and let the Sunken Colonies hit the Protoss from range.

In the mid to late game, use Mutalisks and Guardians to make short work of the Zealots (which are unable to retaliate against air units). Lurkers can also help tip the odds in your favor. Should the Zealots lack the support of a nearby Observer or Photon Cannon, they are easy prey for the Lurker's Subterranean Spines.

[ Click to Enlarge - 88 KB ] Sunken Colonies and Zerglings defend the Hive against a Zealot attack.

In the later stages of a game, use Guardians and the Queen's Spawn Broodling to destroy Dragoons from long range. Lurkers also make a great weapon against Dragoons. With their long range splash attacks, the Lurkers can quickly shred a group of Dragoons before they can realize what is happening.

[ Click to Enlarge - 98 KB ] Mutalisks and Zerglings team up against a group of Dragoons.

If you suspect your opponent will use these warriors, build a few Spore Colonies at each of your bases to provide an additional layer of detection. Keep them surrounded by Sunken Colonies to help repel attacks. To further bolster base defenses, keep a few Lurkers burrowed around your important base structures and mining operation..

[ Click to Enlarge - 81 KB ] Dark Templars can prevent an entire assault by themselves. Be sure to bring an Overlord with you before attacking.

One of the quickest and safest methods of exterminating High Templar is the Queen's Spawn Broodling ability. Spawn Broodling has a long range, and one Queen can instantly kill a single Templar. Before you attack is usually the best time to use this ability. With the Templar safely eliminated, your ground and air forces can quickly take advantage of the situation to mount an effective attack.

Since Zerglings are so cheap and easy to produce, they also make a good tool for targeting and destroying enemy High Templar. Even if hit by a Psionic Storm, the Zerglings can easily be replaced. If even one Zergling can reach a defenseless Templar, then the sacrifice will be well worth it.

Ultralisks also serve as an excellent countermeasure for High Templar. The immense vitality of an Ultralisk will keep them alive through multiple Psionic Storms. Any High Templar is as good as dead once an Ultralisk reaches him.

Avoid using Mutalisks or Guardians to attack High Templar unless you're sure the Templar have run out of energy. Psionic Storms will ravage stacked groups of Mutalisks with great efficiency, and Guardians are too slow to move out of the Psionic Storm before taking extreme damage.

[ Click to Enlarge - 82 KB ] Grouped Zerg units make perfect targets for a Psionic Storm.

The key to destroying a Reaver is taking advantage of its slow firing rate and the Reaver's tendency to attack the first unit to enter its acquisition range . Use Zerglings one at a time and place them in front of the rest of the attack group. These Zerglings will act as bait to draw the fire of the enemy Reavers. As soon as the Reaver fires and destroys the decoy, rush in immediately with the rest of the Zerglings and Hydralisks to destroy the Reaver during its cooldown cycle. Try to arrange the Zerglings so they completely surround the Reaver and don't let your Zerglings cluster at the front of the Reaver. If the Reaver does manage to fire another Scarab, that one shot could kill every attacking Zergling.

If you don't have any Zerglings around to deal with the Reaver, use the same decoy strategy with your Hydralisks. Send one in front of the rest of the group as cannon fodder, then quickly follow up the decoy with the rest of the group. Between Reaver cooldown cycles, spread your Hydralisks apart and attempt to surround the Reaver. If your Hydralisks do take fire from the Reaver, at least they'll only die one at a time rather than in entire groups.

[ Click to Enlarge - 92 KB ] Reavers can be very damaging to groups of Zerglings and Hydralisks. Surround and separate for the best chances of defeating a Reaver.	[ Click to Enlarge - 87 KB ] Mutalisks should be used when Reavers have no anti-air support.

Scouts
The Protoss Scout is one of the deadliest air to air combat units found in the game. Once upgraded with Gravitic Thrusters (faster movement) they can challenge any air force for control of the skies. They can also hit ground targets, making Scouts a very well rounded unit able to serve many purposes. To counter this threat you'll need to significantly outnumber the Scouts with Mutalisks, Scourge and Devourers, or use smaller groups of those units in combination with some of the Zerg special abilites.

If you have Queens available, use Ensnare to slow down the Scouts then hit them hard with your air units and any ground forces in range. Defilers can both Plague the Scouts or provide Hydralisks with the cover of a Dark Swarm.

Remember to not allow the Scouts to escape. If they can retreat back to a Shield Battery or two, the Scouts can quickly rejoin the battle at full strength.

Corsairs
Like the Scout, the Corsair is also an air-to-air superiority fighter. Groups of Corsairs can make very quick work of large groups of Mutalisks, and they also make extremely efficient Overlord hunters. The Corsair's strength lies in their fast firing splash damage attack and their fast movement. Use the Queen's Ensnare to take away their speed advantage. Then use Hydralisks to destroy the Corsairs. If you have any Devourers available, use them to attack the Corsairs and increase their cooldown. Once their firing rate is crippled, use Mutalisks and Scourge to finish them off one by one.

If you have neither Ensnare or Devourers to counter the Corsair, be prepared to flee. Mutalisks stand no chance against Corsairs unless in grossly superior numbers. The only chance for survival is to spread apart and surround the Corsairs, limiting the splash damage done by the Corsair's attack.

Keep Overlords within Spore Colony protection and if you notice any Corsairs about, bring all of your Overlords into the safe haven of Spore Colonies. Be sure to bolster the Spore Colonies with Hydralisks since Spore Colonies alone cannot hope to fend off a sizeable force of Corsairs, especially if the Corsairs have Disruption Web available.

[ Click to Enlarge - 76 KB ] A Zerg player sets a trap for an enemy Corsair.

Archons
Archons are the physical manifestations of Protoss psionic might and are deadly to tightly packed groups of units, particularly Mutalisks. Lone Archons do not present too much of a problem, but in groups Archons become a definite threat to the Zerg.

Use Guardians to attack from afar, but don't make the mistake of approaching them over open ground. If the Guardians come within Archon attack range, they can be ravaged as easily as the Mutalisk. If you have no Guardians available, use Hydralisks and Zerglings in sheer numbers to overwhelm them.

Archons are immune to the effects of Spawn Broodling and are nearly immune to the effects of Plague and Dark Swarm. Ensnare can be used to slow the Archons down, and their slowed approach can allow your Guardians and Hydralisks more firing opportunites before the Archons finally close to their own firing range.

Dark Archons
The enigmatic Dark Archons are not seen too often, but when they are, be very wary. The Dark Archon possesses an arsenal of abilities that can wreak havoc on the Zerg ranging from the immobilizing Maelstrom, the Queen and Defiler killing Feedback, and the all powerful Mind Control. Maelstrom can stop any Zerg unit in its tracks for a few moments, allowing nearby enemy Protoss units to hammer your forces. Feedback can, depending on the target unit's energy stores and vitality, instantly destroy a Queen or Defiler by turning the unit's energy against itself and creating a fatal backlash. The most feared ability of the Dark Archon is Mind Control. The Dark Archon can instantly remove a Zerg force's detection support if an escorting Overlord is Mind Controlled. Even worse, should a Dark Archon capture and whisk away a Zerg Drone, the Protoss can build an entire Zerg brood under their control.

All these threats make the Dark Archon a unit to be feared. However, the Dark Archon has no means of physically protecting itself. Should its energy stores be depleted, the Dark Archon becomes a very vulnerable target. Use Zerglings, Hydralisks, Mutalisks or Guardians to quickly dispatch a Dark Archon whenever possible.

Carriers
Carriers are always a threat when they come into play, but the Zerg have the means to take care of them. Hydralisks beneath a Dark Swarm can do wonders against Carriers, but be sure to target the Carriers and not the interceptors. If the Interceptors can be distracted, Scourge can make excellent Carrier killers. Only 5 Scourge will take out one Carrier.

Countering Shield Battery Tactics
The Protoss have no means of repairing or health regeneration. However, they can quickly recharge their Plasma Shields with the aid of a Shield Battery. Many Protoss lives are saved with the use of these Shield Batteries and the Zerg should be wary of their use. When invading a Protoss establishment, keep a watchful eye out for Shield Batteries. Should you decide to invade, make sure you have enough units to overwhelm the Protoss even if they recharge their Shields during the battle.

Scouts are notorious for being avidly used in conjunction with Shield Batteries. They can quickly strike a Zerg base, retreat to recharge, then return to the frontlines for more combat. To prevent this type of tactic, attack the Scouts with Mutalisks, Devourers or Hydralisks at an angle that blocks their escape route to a Shield Battery. Hopefully you can destroy the Scouts before they can retreat back to safety.