How Do I Become a Pro Gamer? 12 Tips for your Way to Becoming a Pro Gamer!

Last Updated on April 21, 2023

Professional sports have also arrived in the digital realm. eSports is an industry that is growing rapidly. Many want to become professional gamers. But what do you need to do it? We have 12 tips for you to become a better gamer.

eSport describes the digital competition between two or more players. The opponents compete against each other in a multiplayer mode of a video game. The industry has developed steadily in recent years and now shares more and more characteristics with classic professional sports such as soccer and tennis. Players are contracted by eSports teams, train daily, and participate in leagues and tournaments. Some of these eSports teams are also sponsored by already established sports clubs.

Tournaments exist in various disciplines or for various games. Depending on the mode and game, this is further narrowed down into individual disciplines and team games. In general, team modes are in the majority in eSports. Good eSports players are characterized by their high reaction time, good hand-eye coordination, analytical and strategic thinking, and a good overview such as an excellent understanding of the game.

Why people are passionate about eSports

Since gaming is the hobby of many people, eSports provides an opportunity for them to deepen their hobby. This is because eSports is more than “just gambling”. It combines the fun of gaming with competition. Playing for certain rankings and measuring your skills against other players means pure thrill for many. Especially when you reach certain goals together with your team, it’s very satisfying.

Competing in eSports also promotes qualities such as strategic thinking and responsiveness. Since an eSports player trains a lot, these qualities are constantly improved. In addition, eSports players are generally very disciplined. They put a lot of energy into training and want to constantly improve to perform better. They don’t give up. These are traits that will help you outside of eSports as well.

How to become a better gamer?

The road from beginner to pro is a long one and a hard one. As with other sports, only the best of the best become professionals in eSports. You have to be aware of the time investment. Getting better at one game is just like wanting to get better at other hobbies. Gaming is no different. But you’ll pick up a lot along the way – every game will take you further. And like other hobbies, eSports has become a kind of apprenticeship. You can learn with gaming coaches to become better at a particular game. They usually support you by playing with you or watching you play. They are analytical and can show you what you need to do better.

This does not mean that you have to pay a gaming coach. Getting better at eSports can be done wonderfully on your own. Most professional eSports players have become so good because they started playing the game at a young age and improved by playing regularly. To help you on your way to becoming a pro, we have 12 tips for you.

1. Find your game

If a young soccer player decides to become a goalkeeper and learns the position for years, he will probably stay a goalkeeper. It is the same with the other positions. A skilled striker is unlikely to switch to defense in the middle of his career. It works similarly in eSports, although not quite as drastically. Theoretically, you can be a pro in several games at once, but the effort would be immense and not sustainable at the highest level. Many eSports players like to play games other than their own, but not at a professional level.

If you want to become a good eSports player, you should focus on one game at the beginning. Many games are drastically different and switching back and forth too much is counterproductive. For example, if you like to play League of Legends and Overwatch and you decide to become a really good eSports player, you have to choose one of them. The two games are very different and sometimes require different skills.

If you already play a competitive game as a hobby, this is even more suitable. There you already have experience and probably know the basics. If it motivates you to get better at it, all the better. Many professionals have become interested in eSports because they enjoyed the game so much.

It’s very important to develop a certain familiarity with the game and platform and adapt accordingly. You can only get really good at a game and its equipment if you know it well.

2. Practice patience and motivation

Patience and motivation are often the key to success

If you want to get really good, your attitude has to be right. You need to put a lot of time into your training. Improving can be a lengthy process. No one is a pro at a new game right away. If you have a lot of passion for your hobby, are patient and have the necessary dedication, you already have the essential mental foundation. And even if it looks like other players are just more talented and that’s why they are so good, it doesn’t mean anything. With enough diligence, you can reach any level.

Above all, patience is important. Over time, you will have to keep adjusting to new things. The game can change, new things can be added. This sometimes means that certain mechanics have to be relearned. New situations arise that need to be analyzed so you can react well to them. Strategies have to be developed and adapted if necessary. Then there is the actual training and gaining of experience. Professional eSports players who participate in tournaments have years of experience. Such professionals have also turned their hobby into a profession, pursue an active career, and have adjusted their lifestyle accordingly.

3. Control frustration

In any sport, frustration can arise. Because you lost, because you didn’t play well enough, because the opponent was better. This is perfectly normal and everyone has to learn to deal with it. In gaming, these moments of frustration also happen, but there are others as well. In general, frustration is a problem that many gamers have to deal with. Many professional gamers have their own motivational coaches who support them.

Depending on your personality and mood, there can be a lot of frustration in gaming. Sometimes you’ll have games that feel unfair. Maybe because the game is unbalanced and many players feel compelled to use certain mechanics. For example, a new champion in League of Legends can be way too strong. The new champion can turn the balance of the game upside down with its abilities, or can be overpowered and still need to be adjusted accordingly by the developers. Sometimes these new champions also have abilities that are easy to perform and yet very effective, while the abilities of other champions are harder to use. Some players then feel disadvantaged.

Learning to deal with this frustration is an important step for many players. After all, you’re likely to play worse when you’re frustrated. As a result, motivation drops and frustration builds up. That’s why it’s so important to learn composure while playing. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself when practicing, it won’t necessarily make you play better. Sometimes there are moments when you probably think to yourself that you’re not getting anywhere. That you’re not improving. Every player has to go through such phases at some point. Then it’s a matter of gritting your teeth. Take a break and don’t get sucked into a slump. Approach the problems neutrally and remember that everyone has bad luck sometimes. Over time, you’ll become more and more frustrated, both in the game and in general.

Also important in the setting is fairness. Don’t get toxic during or after a game. Stay calm and neutral. Players who insult their opponents or team members after a loss have a lot to learn. Don’t take it personally and learn from your mistakes. Ambition is good and constructive criticism can be appropriate. But players who get upset about every little thing and get angry quickly are not welcome.

4. Train regularly

It may sound trite, but as with any other sport and as with any other hobby, regularity is the most important point. If you don’t practice a lot, you won’t get good. Professional gamers who play in leagues and participate in tournaments with their teams often practice eight hours a day, some even up to 16 hours.

In the beginning, you should start simple. Play regularly, try different things, improve through continuity. In many ways, you’re already improving. For example, your fingers will remember certain key combinations through muscle memory, and they’ll become easier to do over time.

Don’t play around too much with your mouse settings. Find the right speed and sensitivity, and then stick with it. Otherwise, you’ll eventually have to get used to it, which can be bad for your progress.

However, “just playing” is not enough after a certain point. To really get better, you need to improve at specific things. For example, you may already know the strategies and have an overview of the map in a tactical shooter like Counter-Strike. But your aiming is not as good as the others. Then you should work on that specifically.

Discipline is also important. Professional gamers train a lot and regularly, even if they don’t feel like it. You have to stay on the ball and constantly measure your skills against those of others. Competitions such as tournaments are a good way to do this. If you have the opportunity, you can participate in them. For the game Hearthstone, for example, there are small tournaments in different cities every now and then. Such a tournament helps you to better assess your skills. Even if you don’t get far, the experience can be well worth it. You don’t have to be nervous, everyone starts small and once you’re in the game, you can forget about everything else.

One of the basics for a pro is to know the game perfectly. For example, if you play League of Legends, you should know what abilities each champion has. Otherwise, you won’t be able to effectively counter your opponent. Besides, you need to know the maps on which you move. Know about any nooks and crannies, be able to recognize certain situations early.

This includes making sure you’re constantly up to date. Competitive multiplayer games like League of Legends, Call of Duty, Overwatch or Hearthstone are constantly updated. In the process, the game gets new features and old ones can be changed. If you don’t keep up to date, you can be surprised by updates, which can cost you the game. Therefore, always check the patch notes and read the guides.

Knowing all facets of the game also means that you should try things out. Different mechanics interact with each other in different ways. For example, in League of Legends you can combine many spells to quickly and effectively overpower your opponents.

5. Customize your equipment

No professional plays with a typical computer mouse or keyboard from the office. The gaming industry has expanded to the point where there are now thousands of different ways you can customize your PC or console setup. This is important because the right equipment can boost your performance by opening up new options. For example, a gaming mouse always has a few more buttons on the side that a regular office mouse doesn’t.

Therefore, besides a stable internet connection (preferably with a LAN cable) and a smoothly running PC, laptop or console, there are other important things you should pay attention to.

In the end, personal preference is the deciding factor when choosing the right accessories. Make sure that it meets your needs and try it out. Since gaming equipment is usually quite expensive, you should also try it out extensively and see if you get along well with it.

It’s best to get PC accessories that are connected to the computer with a cable. Wireless or Bluetooth mice or keyboards are convenient to use, but the connection can be disturbed by external frequencies. If you can’t move in the middle of a game or can’t hear your teammates, that’s a problem.

Mouse

The mouse is one of the two most important pieces of equipment for many PC gamers. A good gaming mouse feels comfortable on your hand and prevents your hand from cramping after hours of playing. Most gaming mice also offer additional features like multiple buttons on the side that can be pressed with your thumb. This gives you additional hotkeys for your gameplay. For some games, like World of Warcraft, you need a lot of hotkeys. Additional buttons on the mouse are a good choice, especially because they are easy to press.

Finding a suitable gaming mouse shouldn’t be a big problem. There is a large selection of mice from many different brands. It’s best to test out the mouse for a while and see if it fits you. It should feel really good, because you will probably use it for a very long time.

The mouse also needs a suitable mouse pad. Many gamers have especially large mouse pads because they move the mouse back and forth a lot. This is especially the case with shooters like Counter Strike. The mouse pad takes up a lot of space. If a large mouse pad doesn’t bother you, it may well be worth considering. Pushing the mouse pad to its limits while playing can be very irritating.

Keyboard

You also have a lot of choice when it comes to choosing the right keyboard. Gaming keyboards are mostly mechanical keyboards, which offer you a different typing and pressure feeling than conventional keyboards. Many gamers swear by mechanical keyboards. A distinction is made between different switches, which determine the pressure feeling of the individual keys. There are switches that make pressing the keys more difficult and those that make it easier. Personal preference decides here as well.

That’s why you should also test the keyboard extensively. For example, it is relevant how close you want the keys to be or how big the keys should be. Some keyboards don’t have a numpad because you probably don’t need it for gaming. Many gaming keyboards are now even customizable. They offer light effects, but these are not important for gaming.

Headset

The headset is crucial for at least one function, but usually two. It’s used to communicate with your teammates and listen to the sound at the same time. This is important because certain sound effects in a game can be game-changing. For example, in first-person shooters, you can hear gunshots from a distance and use 3D sound to locate which direction it’s coming from. You also perceive the sound from the game better with headphones than with speakers.

The most important thing about a headset is its comfort and microphone. Because you’ll probably be wearing the headset a lot, and sometimes for several hours at a time, it should fit comfortably and not press on your ears. The microphone should be good because your teammates need to understand you well at all times. If a game goes wrong because a team member can’t be heard well, it’s a hardware problem.

The microphone should also not transmit unnecessary noise, for example the typing of your keyboard. Especially if you have a mechanical keyboard, keystrokes are often very loud. If your microphone transmits these sounds, it can be very annoying for your team. Therefore, you should test the microphone thoroughly, even in-game.

Monitor

The monitor is important because you need a good overview. The game should also run in a high frame rate. Many gamers have a 144 hertz monitor so that they can enjoy their games as smoothly as possible. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to get such a monitor. It is more important that you play with a monitor of the right size. Generally, many people play with 21-, 24- or 27-inch monitors. You can find out which size suits you best in stores.

The distance to the monitor is also relevant. If you sit a bit further away from your monitor, a large screen can pay off. You should make sure that you can see as much as possible. If you want to play on a 27-inch monitor, you should already have a distance of 23 to 35 inches.

Chair

Professional gamers practice all day. In most cases, this also means that they sit all day. That’s why a suitable chair is very useful. In recent years, pure gaming chairs have been developed to provide gamers with ergonomic seating. A good chair for your desk is important because sitting so much tends to be unhealthy. Gaming chairs therefore support a straight back posture.

You should also generally get into the habit of this posture while gaming. Sit with an upright, straight back, legs at right angles as well as arms. You will probably need to adjust the height of the chair to suit your desk.

6. Develop different strategies

When you realize that you and your team are not getting anywhere with one strategy, you should develop a new one. In general, you should always have several approaches in your repertoire when you start a match. Every opponent plays differently and in different ways. You should always be flexible and be able to recognize when a change in tactics is needed.

That’s why you should test out a lot. Most games have a quickplay mode, where you can try things out without paying attention to a specific score. There you can not only practice new techniques, but also try out other characters. In Overwatch, for example, there is a mode where anyone can play any character.

Some tactics need to be planned. In poker or chess you think several moves ahead, in competitive gaming it looks the same. It’s also very satisfying when you see a tactic work out and win the game because of it. Preparation should always be right.

7. Learn from your opponents

In the course of your gaming career, you will experience one or two moments when an opponent outplays you without any ifs and buts and you feel that you don’t stand a chance. These players often have a lot of experience and are professionals themselves, so you shouldn’t let this discourage you. Instead, you should learn from it. Observe how your opponents are doing, especially when you are clearly losing. Don’t get frustrated and learn from your mistakes.

So if you are in your practice phase and are determined to get better, a good opponent is just what you need. Take advantage of the learning effect and adapt. The same goes for your opponents’ strategies. When you learn your opponents’ tactics, you learn how to counter them. To do this, think about how you want to approach the situation beforehand. Try different things and see what works.

Professional eSports teams often have analysts on their team who look at the other top teams and analyze their strategies. This can be the key to winning. It can help you get better if you try your hand at analyzing your opponents yourself.

8. Join a team

Many games allow you to play alone in a league. This is called solo cue. But if you want to become a pro, you should get in touch with other players. In a team you can meet many players who play at different experience levels and can help you. You can learn a lot from your fellow players.

You can find many teams on the Internet, for single games or for several at the same time. The teams usually have a Discord or TeamSpeak server where you can talk to your teammates. This makes playing much more fun and you feel like part of a community. This also promotes team play, which is essential in many games. When you play with your team members, a team spirit is created.

Moreover, playing together with others provides additional motivation. You can point out each other’s mistakes and get better together.

9. Watch professionals

An excellent source for learning mechanics is watching pros play. Many pro gamers stream on platforms like Twitch or YouTube. They show how they play, what maneuvers they use. This way you can see how a game is played at profile level and what you need to achieve. You can also pick up good strategies and tricks from pros. An added bonus of streams is that you can interact with the streamer and ask them questions.

But not only in streams you can watch the pros. Tournaments for the biggest competitive games are held regularly. You can watch these tournaments on the Internet or on site.

Watch pros compete in tournaments like MSI — Watch the pros play in tournaments like the MSI

When you watch the pros, you should also pay attention to their behaviors. They are very passionate about what they do, but they are also very patient. They’ve made it to a point that you can only get to with a lot of practice and dedication. When you watch the pros, you can also learn something in terms of mentality.

10. Analyze your replays

In professional sports, every match is recorded. This gives the player the opportunity to look at his performance after the fact. This is not only the case in soccer or soccer, but also in eSports. Many players record their games to analyze them later. This helps you spot mistakes and understand your opponent’s strategy. If you play on a team, you can also watch and talk about your replays together.

Matches can now also be easily recorded. Graphics card drivers often come with their own programs for this, and there are also corresponding apps on consoles. Especially if you feel like you’re not getting anywhere, you shouldn’t disregard this option. There will be a catch somewhere, and if you look at your games again, you might see the reason.

11. Practice the relevant mechanics

No matter what game you play, you need to practice a lot. You should be able to master the core mechanics of the game without any problems. Depending on the game, these are different. In shooters like Counter Strike, for example, you need to be able to aim very well. When an enemy runs into your field of vision, you have to take him out as quickly as possible. The best way to do this is with a headshot, which immediately takes your opponent out of the game. But setting such a headshot quickly while the target is moving is anything but easy. Again, it takes a lot of practice.

You need to train your reflexes. Professional gamers can react very quickly to certain situations. The goal should be that you land on the target immediately with an instinctive mouse swing. You can practice this not only in the game itself, but also outside of it. There are many small programs on the Internet that help you practice aiming. You just have to make sure that you always play with the same mouse settings. If you change it, it will affect your aiming and you will have to get used to it again.

If you have a large mouse pad, it can be very worthwhile to move your mouse with wide arm movements instead of just your wrist. Many professional gamers swear by this type of mouse movement, because it allows you to hold the mouse more steady. When playing, you move the mouse with your arm, and the wrist is only used for adjustment. You should take a closer look at this kind of mouse movement if you want to get good at a shooter. There are also streams and tournaments for this.

But not only in shooters there are mechanics you have to learn. In Fifa, for example, you’ll have to master all forms of passes and shots, since different situations require different solutions. In League of Legends you’ll have to know the abilities of all the characters, so you’ll know how to play them and how to counter them.

12. Improve your team play

If you want to become a professional in a team game, team play is essential. You need to be very communicative. This is something that all professionals have in common. If you watch them in a tournament, you will see that they talk to each other without pause. Every little thing is picked up. Every player needs to know everything that’s going on in the game at all times. Many beginners have the problem that they can’t communicate properly while playing because they’re not used to it. But this kind of multitasking is also something you can practice. When you play together with friends or in a team, you should always try to coordinate everything.

Your role is also important. Each player should be able to carry their weight. In addition, everyone has their own function. There is often a leader or a shot caller who makes the announcements, there are support players who keep you alive and much more. A good team has players who know their role and know it perfectly. For example, if you know you have a good support player behind you, you can play more aggressively than usual. But you should also be flexible in your team composition. In League of Legends, for example, each professional player can play multiple champions. Depending on how the opponents’ team is structured, you’ll have to change champions to be successful.

Probably the most important thing in team play, however, is your behavior. This applies to gaming in general and is no different in a team. You should not behave in a toxic and unfair way, but always remain patient and friendly. Nobody likes teammates who start getting upset about little things in the middle of a match. To be victorious, you need to stay calm and neutral. Remember, if you lose your patience, it’s not only bad for you, but for the whole team.