I would actually recommend that you produce Lurkers from 12. After you have aquired 5-6 Mutas, and you're harassing your opponent, build a Hydra Den and research Lurker Aspect. Save enough Vespene/Minerals to morph 5-6 Lurkers when the Upgrade is complete. Once they have finished morphing, take them to your opponents base and plant them below his ramp. Not exactly RIGHT at the bottom of his ramp. You'll want them spaced in a circle about 2 inches away from the bottom of the ramp. After you have him contained, you can proceed to expand as long as you keep a close eye on your Lurkers, and assist with your Mutalisks when required. If he breaks that offensive stance, you're in trouble. After those Lurkers you will want to continue with full on Mutalisk production and expand. That is what I would do if I were at 12. I will now switch back and continue to explain the former situation, where I spawn at 3, and my opponent spawns at 12. With my Hatchery up and Sunkens in place, I scout and see my opponent exiting his base with a few Lurkers mixed with his Hydras. It is advisable that you try and attack any of the Lurkers as they exit his base or any units that aren't left in the main swarm, as well as any stray units. The Lurkers nullify your Ling useage. Reducing his Lurker count will be to your advantage. If you're fast enough, you could choose to ignore the units as they are exiting his base, and go for his Drone line killing the majority of his workers. He has one of two options at this point.

• He can ignore what you are doing to his main, and proceed to attack your bases, because Lurker/Hydra destroy buildings much faster than Mutalisks do.
• He can choose to hurry back to his base and repel your Mutalisks. The Lurker/Hydra player would be required to rebuild some of his base, and spawn more Drones. It would provide the Muta/Ling player with a great advantage, and he would eventually overwhelm the Hydra/Lurker player with units.

Option 1.) is the only plan of action the Hydra/Lurker player should act on, but most don't - which is really funny. If you see that he still appears to be progressing towards your base as you attack his Drone line, fly back to your natural with your Mutas and prepare for an attack as illustrated below.

Prepared for battle!

If the opponent attacks you, he will lose horribly, and you'll have the upper hand. He now has two options.

• He can attack, which would result in him losing his entire force, and you'd still be left with a sizeable force as well as the game.
• He can decide to back off and expand 2 times to make up for your expansion.

In this case he attacks.

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