Ranked matches in Overwatch often mean a certain amount of pressure. This is of course even more significant in major tournaments. How to stay calm despite this is revealed by the pros.
The first season of Overwatch Contenders ended last weekend. Team Gigantti and EnVyUs claimed victory. During the tournament, all teams were under considerable tension – after all, a lot depended on the victory.
The fact that the two winners were able to prevail is partly due to their better teamwork. The colleagues from Invenglobal learned in an interview how the pros stay relaxed despite stress.
We can do it!
Tim “Manneten” Bylund from Team Misfits explains that one should focus on the goal. “It is important to remind your teammates of the strategy. Don’t overreact, stay calm. Remind everyone of their tactic. When the team has been wiped out, it’s important to tell the team: ‘We can do it!’”
Take a step back and analyze
A much more self-critical approach is taken by the European winners from Team Gigantti. They reflect on their mistakes, look at the situation in the “big picture,” and rely on their experience.
The team’s tank, Jonna “Fragi” Laine, emphasizes this point especially: “When you train and establish a routine, you have a system. In a high-pressure situation, you can fall back into this system. When we lose, we think, ‘What is our plan for next time?’ We take a step back and so allow ourselves to assess the situation.”
DPS/Flex player Jiri “LiNkzr” Masalin adds that this very step allows for adapting to the situation and thus achieving victory. Support player Jonas “Shaz” Suovaara adds: “We generally have no problem with nerves. […] Even a 6-man wipe doesn’t affect us. That’s our mentality. […] I think the most important thing is to *play your* game.”
Ignore the audience, rely on experience
The American winning team, EnVyUs, follows a strategy of indifference. They do not pay attention to the audience at major tournaments. Tank player Christian “cocco” Jonsson summarizes this: “Normally, we ignore the audience when we play. Focus on the screen. If you do that, it always feels the same, no matter where you play.”
The team agrees that they have played so much that excitement is simply no longer present. This can also be transferred to ranked play: once enough rounds have been played, there’s no reason to put pressure on yourself. Almost no chance is unique.
The complete interviews can be found in our sources.
What does this mean for the “average Joe”?
The comments from the pros primarily concern tournament situations and games in front of large audiences. However, they are also very useful as tips for everyday play in ranked mode. The essence of all pro players is:
- always look ahead and stay positive
- evaluate mistakes objectively and make it better next time
- don’t get flustered – find your calm again when you get upset
- gain experience, it gives you opportunities. No one is born a master
Many games are lost because one or more players simply switch off in frustration (“tilting” in gamer jargon and from poker). This can be prevented by the above tips and not only improves your own gaming experience but that of all teammates!
What is your experience with ranked matches? Have these or similar tips helped you? Do you perhaps have some advice for fellow gamers? Let us know in the comments!
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