StarCraft 2: Serral ZERG RUSHES herO!

Easily the most painful game of StarCraft 2 I've seen in a long time. This game between Serral and herO features the biggest throw in a pro game of 2024 so far.
Reynor's Protoss vs Serral: • StarCraft 2: Reynor's ...
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StarCraft 2 is a military science fiction real-time strategy video game developed and released by Blizzard Entertainment.
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Kijkwijzer (Dutch viewer guide): 6, violence, fear
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[@burdy1990]

I think even Serral felt hero’s pain at some point in the late game.

[@inhacho3391]

A little bit of a late comment on this video, and it's going to be a bit long, but I wanted to type it out anyway. I'm just gonna build off what Lowko talked about and the chart around 13:43 and it is so accurate that it is actually scary. I remember when I finally saved up enough money to buy a copy of Legacy of the Void when it first came out, after starting to play the game near the end of Heart of the Swarm. It was my childhood dream to play this game and I was so thrilled to play the Ladder. I am also Korean so I had a lot of weird national pride on the game as well. Regardless though, I grinded my heart out and hit Diamond on my first season of Ladder. It was my dream to hit Diamond, but when I hit it on my FIRST season of Ladder, I, being extremely cocky and young in my mid teens, decided to grind and hit Masters. Maybe even hit Grandmaster. I felt on top of the world when I hit Plat/Diamond just like the graph showed, so naturally I thought Masters would come naturally... Then I felt the enormous skill wall for the very first time. I was unbelievably, unbelievably bad compared to the real players playing the game. It was so disheartening. That's when I began to watch Lowko all those years ago, and pro players in general. And right when I was finally improving and understanding stuff, I began to realize just how how HOW HOW much better these players were. There were so many skirmishes or attacks that would have completely ended the game for me, but these players held them so easily it was like just insane. There were so many moments where I would have completely blundered, even if the attack had come like 2 minutes later and it was just amazing to see. It was captivating really. I finally hit Masters 2 years later around 2018. Afterwards I began to feel the skill ceiling become even higher and knew this was the end for my journey as a player. I just knew I wasn't motivated, nor good enough, which isn't inherently a bad thing. Just a cold reality check to my younger self for sure. I'm sure more talented players would hit Masters much quicker, or not even feel the wall like I did, but for me, I truly first realized that absolutely titanic gap in skill right before hitting Masters. It truly is humbling. It's also what keeps me coming back to watching these videos. Even it being years since I actively played, I still see the moments, the absolute pinnacle of what is possible. Every time I see Serral or another skilled Zerg player just effortlessly hold attacks or just dance around their opponent when I know how hard it is from a first person perspective, it is truly awe-inspiring. Thanks to anyone who read this. TLDR, Lowko is absolutely right. When you hit a decently High Rank, only then do you truly how monstrous these guys are, and how great it is that we get to watch them :)

[@Big5ocks]

19:00 I remember waaaay back in 2010, and people on the forums saying "making 3 observers for map vision/control is absurd/stupid/imba/waste of supply" and hero has four of them following his main army 'just in case' 1 gets sniped... 😂

[@polca4love]

Only 1 supply cost and invisible. 3 would be the lower number one builds. Been like this since vanilla Starcraft.

[@kmurphy0620]

I thought Lowko wouldn't upload it to avoid Hero's embarrassment. Thanks for changing your mind, Lowko. It was very entertaining

[@evelic]

20:19 the good old Lowko squeal.

[@yamsandpotatoes4243]

he became morty for a second hahaha i thought he was gonna say "all the ultralisks are going in, rick!"

[@andrewpan5014]

Serral? Rush? Count me in!

[@user-ll2ct3ds4z]

I am not even a couple minutes and when Lowko says that someone makes a big mistake... all I can think is Hero leaves the door open..

[@andrewdarley5394]

“Nah I think the blunder was referring to the failed Zerg Rush in the beginning” He said it, but he didn’t mean it. You could hear it in his voice

[@Owlr4ider]

Give Serral an inch and he'll take a mile. Even against the best of the best. That's what makes him the GOAT. Reminds me of the old saying about Maru: When you're ahead you're even, when you're even you're behind and when you're behind than Maru has already beat you.

[@victorhong3466]

lmao that was the best/worst/most hilarious spoiler ever: "Someone is going to make a GINORMOUS mistake"

[@user-iu6yg6sw9o]

Serral's understanding of SC2 is on another level...surely the GOAT of SC2

[@matrion15]

The player that lost this game was probably really mad at himself when he watched the replay back xd

[@buzzlightyearpfp7641]

thank you for not spoiling

[@polca4love]

Yeah, this is nice.

[@danielbob6900]

Hero must feel bad for trying so hard to lose.

[@gojosatoru7868]

Its so true what he said about the rank system. I peaked at master several times, and I cant even imagine how these guys are doing what theyre doing...

[@whisk5724]

Lowko, he couldn’t blink because he didn’t research it until 22 mins 😢

[@wilsonlow2718]

Apparently he thinks Templar blink is more important 😂, this hurt my soul so bad

[@nanoflower1]

I remember watching this game and thinking Hero is ultra respectful of Serral's ability to surprise him

[@michaelbooser2316]

I didn’t see any lowko video on my lunch break, I was getting scared. Nearly scrambled the navy.

[@Rorimac67]

It wasn't only the gameplay that made Serral win this game. It was the in this case to big of respect / fear hero had to just attack when he had the first carriers out. He missed the spot wanted to play super safe and messed it up that way. If you have an image of being "unbeatable" it somewhat like a self fulfilling prophecy until some fearless pilot in a Sopwith Camel comes around ...

[@terrymurphy6342]

You hit the nail on the head. Hero should have won if it wasn't for doubting his own ability to beat Serral. Serral stilled played awesome though to come back.

[@Cat_Zeppelin]

My god, Serral, chill. Lost couple of games and like anime hero, powered up

[@musiclore]

Nice commentating at Katowice

[@troelsdc]

There was a brief moment where Serral hadn't gotten Spire yet where he could have been dealt with my Hero's 6 carriers! But again, that's easy for us to say with perfect vision x-) The fact that Serral managed to claw his way back with those engagements was awesome though.

[@chaywarburton3488]

Just watched Serral vs Maru in the Final, BO7 and man Serral was something else. Besides game 2, Maru didn't stand a chance.

[@Daniel-rd6st]

Last game was pretty close too i think. If Marus first group (i think, would need to rewatch it) of Cyclones hadnt get caught by the zerglings i think he would have won that. Even so it was close for quite some time.

[@robert-asdf]

Hero: "this is the last time I'm taking that caster's advice. 'stop constantly trying to kill and look at ur advantages' he says.."😠

[@buzzlightyearpfp7641]

lowko throwing shade for the players overcomplicating things is always hilarious

[@kittyflier8338]

21:00 herO had been doing way better than I've ever done. He feedbacked nearly all spellcasters.

[@leonardol8158]

I started to watch StarCraft videos some months ago and 28:48 was the first time I ever saw this upgrade.

[@wrythe9146]

As a protoss fanboy, this hurts, sooo bad!!

[@drazw5705]

yet another Game of the year for lowko!

[@marionicolais3024]

By the end of that game I was just seeing Serral as the priest in Temple of Doom, reaching into Hero's heart and pulling it out and showing it, still beating, to Hero before he died.

[@helmutalexanderrubiowilson6835]

it looks Serral is motivated again to play the game at his peak again. Maybe he is planning to move to the new RTS games aswell

[@N0noy1989]

Isn't he going away because of Finnish mandatory military service at some point?

[@2nerC9]

@@N0noy1989 Yep but you bet he's still gonna play while he is in there. He seems to be on a mission.

[@Travinobabino]

I remember a video not too long ago where Harstem, Serral, Reynor, and maybe a few other pro players humbled you when you asked if Protoss late game was imbalanced or if you suck.

[@jawnsea4432]

What a crazy game...

[@zathrasyes1287]

Another best game... awesome!

[@foolwise4703]

I fully recommend going to 0.25x speed, start from 20:12 and just enjoy (audio is hilarious and you get a good fight in slowmo) :D

[@arvinjancruz5175]

great game!

[@BluMarine22]

I was just watching a lowko video... And then I got the notification😊

[@peterwoitinas7130]

❤Hey Lowko, love your shoutcasts! ONLY: please don't give away the outcome of the game too often (in this and other cases already the headline did) : spoiler alarm, no thrill left!

[@anthonyzarakikira1712]

Oh man I am so here for serral cheese! 🧀

[@user-dq3hc3iu3w]

He must have ran out of coffee before he had a chance to get to the store

[@buzzhonky]

"If you're a Protoss fan, you should probably close your eyes," bro, you read my mind. 😂😂 Edit2: I thought this was a random match, not Game 3 in finals. Scrap everything below. Oof, her0. T_T Edit: okay, now having watched it all, here's my analysis: he was gathering intel. Clearly, he knew he was ahead. Clearly, he knew he could have finished. But her0 has nothing to prove with this match, and a quick counter victory doesn't actually give him any insight into Serral's brain. "Okay, I'm light-years ahead now, let me stall and see how he decides to catch up, which army composition he goes, where he chooses to expand, his timing decisions, and etc." may have been the purpose of this from the point of defeating Serral's rush outright. That information could prove to be much more valuable down the line than a quick victory. Because it's like you said, her0 was being uncharacteristically cautious. I think it's similar to how in poker you sometimes have to "pay an opponent off" and call a hand you know you'll lose just to ensure your thinking about that player was correct. It's information gathering for the next time, when it may matter a lot more.

[@JQ888]

I can see your point, but are you saying this seriously or jokingly? Hahah

[@KidNamedPak]

^^seconded, like, is this a game he was ok with losing so that, in a later tournament, he would be more prepared? Or, maybe he bit off more than he could chew and thought he could gather intel + still win the game?

[@phihoangle6642]

This is game 3 in the grand final of master collisium and serral already had 2-0 lead so no i don't think hero would risk losing this game just to study serral mind set

[@comparology1014]

I am a protoss fan

[@JesseShort-or5cp]

This guy has way too much time in his hands. You are way over analyzing this. The simplest answer is the answer.

[@bjarkov12]

Hey Lowko! I assume these games are prerecorded to cover for your visit to Katowice. Will you be uploading some of the IEM games?

[@aaronimp4966]

"Mom, I can't watch Starcraft II Anymore. Lowko swore and didn't ask me to smile, alright."

[@pandawid4068]

13:45 fun fact this curve have nothing to do with donner kruger effect, its a missconception that was repeted over and over again and now everyone belives in it. The real "curve" that donner and kruger put in ther thesis is just a straght line at an angle so the "mount stupid" (first hill) does not exist

[@quasar2834]

Just FYI it's dunning kruger, not donner kruger. But that curve is related to what they were showing, their research had two curves, one which is the person's actual performance, the other being the perceived performance. If you plot the difference (without differentiating positive and negative difference) between those two curves you get something very close to the curve at 13:45.

[@wispfire2545]

Ah, one of the more amusing games today I see. XD

[@Madosatoshist]

Game of the year !

[@michaelhellwig421]

It felt like an old game!

[@mahmuthamdullah3646]

Never been a fan of herO and this is just one of the examples why. How can you throw a game like that? Its beyond crazy to me.

[@gianfrancovolpe6202]

Now that I heard other casters during Katowice, I get why I love lowko. When nothing happens, he just stays silent. No need to scream and talk all the time, just talk when you can add value with your commentary.

[@halqthedarktemplar]

you should watch Harambo's casting of this game as well. It was too funny

[@nominatorchris5591]

What channel was it on?

[@rodrigosinastre7203]

Hero estava com a faca e o queijo na mão, uma pena, sem desmerecer o brilhante Serral é claro

[@MoonFrogman]

Lowko I heard you mention it already... what's the next rts going to be?

[@NoName-kf1cy]

I bet serral gonna try and base race, going for hydrads ya know

[@jacebolt2718]

From Hero to Zero!

[@flrn84791]

and yet Radhuset station was Serral's map pick in Katowice grand finals against maru :D and all the casters were saying how great a map it was for whatever reason

[@marcelbenner993]

I am no expert but could it be a Protoss favored map when playing against Zerg, but a Zerg favored map when playing against Terran?

[@cyberkekosis]

@@marcelbenner993 totally possible. balance is asymmetric so favouring P in PvZ and simultaneously favouring Z in ZvT is not absurd.

[@MrGrusome]

That was like 3rd of bo7 map and Serral just wanted to have some fun after easy 2:0.

[@AdiGeorgescu22]

you truly are the greatest but something gives you away. You know the results of a game and whenever there is a zerg and your voice is "smiling" at the beginning, it's clear the zerg will win. Your bias towards zerg is almost so great that it makes watching any of the rest of the 90% of the video worthless. Thnaks a lot! Good to know for your future videos!

[@EsotericOwlie]

what did I just witness ...

[@JonSherrill]

Good morning!

[@xxstuffxx3396]

looks like Hero had a bet runnig

[@pmonette1]

Maybe. But only few Zerg could have come back from that start and perform that well to obtain that victory.

[@Jimmyni-kk4em]

When I see toss. I knew toss will lose

[@stur448]

13:46 I feel attacked by that graph. Silver 2 was my peak ranking😢

[@ab-rw9jk]

Well this is what you often get when you can win the game here and now, but decide against: you lose.

[@AronKoch30]

does someone know if he cover the katowic tournement?

[@elementsar9668]

Serral used to early GG, people are very confused about that-

[@zeno6554]

please have more viever matches on youtube they were so fun to watch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@cesardarksider]

suscrito 💪💪💪

[@wpb5876]

Wow, just wow.. This has got to be up there with one of the best SCII games of all time. So strategic, and back and forth from beginning to end

[@Daniel-rd6st]

Really? Maybe if you only watch Serral, but Hero just commited blunder after blunder, not literally just A-moving the first half of the game and kill Serral, sitting back, but not taking all the bases on his side and for some reason always trying to go for the contested base in the lower right. Constantly misrallying units, taking the worst engagements he possibly could take, not researching blink before 22 minutes into the game... honestly in Heroes shoes, i would have taken a day or two off from Starcraft after that series, especially considering that there was a lot of money on the line...

[@henkhenkste6076]

lol no

[@grigorsamsa6564]

A little bit of a video glitch at 24:10. Still enjoyed it, just FYI!

[@Big5ocks]

As a diamond player, I took that personally!! 😜

[@pascalnguyen8931]

are you going to cast IEM Katowice 2024?

[@alexmaioo1]

please buff protoss for gods sakes

[@bigstreetguns6619]

Never seen Lowko cast a game where the protoss wins.

[@Biomechan]

Only Serral could save this! Hope Zerg doesn't get nerfed again because of this game😅

[@Xdominik2940X]

I feel like this match was bribed

[@benjamineidam]

Serral!!!!!!

[@flo2140]

Why do the pro players rarely knock down the debris at the 3.base? Would be a good move, but even Serral did not do it vs Maru

[@PrimalRockSlapper]

Im offended, theres no way a Diamond player could win that vs a pro

[@bluex610]

I dont feel as bad now when i choke.

[@ObeliskM]

Ridiculous loss.

[@itsQuilow]

15:20 why 2 spires?

[@quasar2834]

Probably to do flyer research. Either that or he forgot about the first spire

[@dppsupporter5622]

Ironic that in a video lowko talks about the huge difference in skill as you move up ladder (and hes right, even at 4.5k its extremely difficult to improve 100-200 mmr) the best protoss in the world decided to play like a gold leaguer😂 Like 95% of the ppl watching this video could”ve beaten serrall just by f2ing in the mid game 😂😂😂

[@hiddentruth1982]

I'm convinced Lowko only casts 2 people. Serral and Maru. Everyone else just happens to be in a match with those 2.

[@aliveinside9613]

Eh, every now and then he gets casts some other games to give background on the skill levels of their next victims

[@xwawtaxlokxdx]

Dark! dont forget Dark, i think he has more Dark matches than those two combined

[@spencerj6557]

@@xwawtaxlokxdxwell ya. It’s dark vs Maru or dark vs. serral plus a couple more opp

[@kilvesx7924]

The passivity from herO here really does make it look like a plat game... I feel like he misread a LOT. Maybe he thought "I lost some stuff and zerg only lost a few lings and queens" and ignored the opportunity cost of zerg. Big mistake

[@user-kr9dq2un8r]

classic herO pattern : tries defensive sky toss and loses all his army and gg next game goes classic blink stalker and wins the game ez pz.

[@leenverkade]

I really dont understand why Hero didnt try to take any of the bases on the left. I dont think there was much Serral could have done besides send lings.

[@Daniel-rd6st]

Even for that he didnt have the ressources for quite some time. Year, Heroes expansionstrategy in that game was very strange. I think that he was to 100% sure he would win the game with one push and didnt plan for the game to continue afterward. Which is not a good way to play vs Serral.

[@briankim1466]

aNUTer😂 and UTTER😂 always crack me up. Love the accent (I speak multiple languages) but you’re literally saying words that have other meanings. Or should I say UTTER meanings😂

[@Cheshire9k]

So years of when ahead get more ahead was a lie.

[@illiakuznietsov4162]

Bly vs Harstem, but Bly is cheese God

[@jeremyduke4938]

Sleepin in today i see...

[@ManDuderGuy]

I'm diamond and have no problem admitting that the pros are waaaaaaaaaaaay beyond me.

[@roncho]

Im a zerg player and i also think this is painful to watch hero had huge advantage and then serral went into AI mode and demolished him

[@ThomasLuna1989]

Attack as Zerg; Defend as Terran; Lose as Protoss (We need a Buff)

[@dppsupporter5622]

If u blame heros play in this game on balance, ur probably in platinum 😢

[@ThomasLuna1989]

@@dppsupporter5622 jaja gold

[@steveconner794]

can you and serall do a best of 7private? then show us?

[@ggtt2547]

Forget diamond league players playing 100 games against pros. Harstem is beating grandmasters (let alone diamond league players) with stupid stuff regularly for years! And when i say stupid stuff, i mean very stupid stuff, not just being afk for 20 seconds!

[@markfrantz4612]

I'm Gm. I am nowhere near as good as any pro player. They are on a different level.

[@Gamer3172]

Best of 69 huh? Nice

[@Daniel-rd6st]

Spoiler That game was a huge Hero fail and for a Hero fan painful to watch (luckily i am a fan of both players). I dont even know how he could lose from that position after the failed cheese attempt from Serral. Allowing Serral 15 minutes to build back up was pretty much the only way he could recover. Just build 8 gates go over the map with blink stalkers or even zealots and a prism and kill him. But this game shows again, the problem with Protoss is not that its underpowered, the race simply lacks top of the line players (with the exeption of Max Pax who sadly dosent play offline).

[@niepojete]

Hero was AFK after 8:04 Painful to watch.

[@lucasaurelio2806]

Well, as a plat league hero I'd not say calling diamond players bad is offensive, but I also think it is unfair. I don't know the percentages, but surely a diamond player is like top 10%. He might not be as good as serral, but it is like comparing Messi with a player from your neighborhood team. Both can be good, but there is good and there is the best. It is not because you're not in the top 100 in the world that you're bad