Top 10 biggest mistakes when getting into esports

What to avoid if you want to become a pro gamer.

Becoming a professional gamer seems like a distant dream. Something you can think about to get you through the day. But, if you’re passionate and dedicated, it can become your reality. We’ve gathered the internet’s finest advice on what not to do if you want to make it to the esports scene.

#10 Poor sportspersonship

Going in with an ‘I’m not here to make friends’ attitude will get you nowhere. Not only does it ruin the fun of a game you love, but you’re ruining your chances of getting anywhere. How? Well, esports is all about who you know. The wider your network of friends, the better your chances of being offered important matches—or even sponsorships—down the line.

Plus, nothing beats maintaining a friendship through a mutual love of a game and its competitive scene. There’s no reason to be hostile. Pull your teammates up, don’t kick them down. You’re all on the same team at the end of the day.

#9 Thinking it’s too late to get into esports

Esports has been around since the dawn of gaming, with a rise in modern esports taking place just over 20 years ago. So it’s been around a while now. But if you think for one second that means all the pro spots have been taken and the scene has no room for you, you are sorely mistaken! The competitive gaming scene is always looking for new players with new skills and tricks to bring to the table. Plus, with the ever-growing number of games entering the market, maybe the game that will make you hasn’t been made yet.

#8 Thinking you’re too old or too young for esports

So, you’re still in school, or perhaps you’re a grandparent. You can’t let that hold you back! Mongraal started esports at just 13. He’s now 16 and represented the FaZe clan in Fortnite at the 2019 World Cup. On the flip side, The Silver Snipers are a team of senior CS:GO players. Their oldest team member is 78! Some of them had never even played the game before joining the team and now they're being trained by the world famous Ninjas In Pyjamas founder, Tommy Ingemarsson. So unless you’re scared you’re going to have your ass handed to you by someone multiple times your age, you really have no reason to be afraid. The esports scene can be super accepting and wholesome. If anyone says anything, whoop them!

#7 Not using a tracker

There are so many trackers out there and they all have so much to offer. If you’re not actively tracking your stats and seeing where next you need to improve, all those hours put into practice will slide away. You need to be actively practicing, not passively playing, and a tracker is by far the best way to do that.

If you’re looking for a tracker with prizes to motivate you, or you’re looking to shake up your practice by adding in some challenges, try G-Loot!

#6 Gear

First and most obviously, you have to have the right kit. Otherwise, you’re giving yourself an unnecessary challenge that just won’t benefit your play at all. There’s tons of advice out there on the best CPUs, GPUs, and other such paraphernalia. You’ll need your setup at a good enough level before it will stop holding you back.

But that’s obvious. Obviously, you’ll need good gear. Less obviously, you need to stop fantasizing about the perfect setup. Spending loads of money on the latest Razer gaming laptop is going to hold you back. It’s easy to get into the mindset that what you have isn’t good enough and that will hold you back more than a bad wifi connection ever will. 

Get gaming, see how your setup handles it, and then start thinking about necessary upgrades.

#5 Doing it for the wrong reasons

If you’re grinding because you love it and because you want to play that game for six hours straight, you’re going places. But if you’re pushing your way into esports because you want to become the next big name in Valorant or CS:GO, you’re going to fail. The game is the most important part of esports, there is no hack around for a passion for the game. You need to be true to your goals and love the game you’re playing. If you don’t, you’re setting yourself up for frustrating long nights, lots of rage quits, and a mentality that no one wants to work with.

#4 Thinking the grind ever stops

Again, if you don’t love the game, turn back, because the grind is unrelenting. You should always be researching ways to improve your play, trying new techniques, and grinding hours (with that tracker). Sticking to one technique, character, or mode of play will make you an easy target for your opponents and you won’t last long in the scene. It’s best to adopt this ever-improving mentality early on by using your tracker to see holes in your play, and by trialing out some new methods.

#3 Competitions

There are a few ways you might be screwing yourself over with competitions. First and most obviously, by not entering them. You should be entering as many contests as you can. There are so many benefits to contests. Firstly, you can check your play against other people in the scene and give yourself either a sweet confidence boost or a sharp reality check. You may also meet key contacts that could get you onto the next stepping stone in your esports journey. For example, coaches and recruiters can attend these events and be looking out for the next big name. Finally, you can potentially win some neat prizes! If you’re not competing you’re missing out on all these and harming your chances of moving up.

Another mistake people make in contests is only looking for big prizes or huge contests. Smaller contests, even those without a prize, give you invaluable experience and learnings. You’re never too good to enter a small competition, but no smurfing!!

If you’re looking for some cool prizes and contest practice, try out G-Loot!

#2 Not taking on advice

Like in any sport, advice is precious. Those tips from your teammates or friendly critique from friends will get you places. If you let it. Every great athlete has a great coach. Thinking you’re too good for advice will get you nowhere. Taking in all the advice you can and not letting critique bring you down is vital to bettering your game.

#1 Not having fun

It seems so simple. Games are made for fun so if you stop having fun, you’re going to stagnate and never progress. But so many of us start to treat a game we once loved as a chore. We load up Apex Legends without a second thought and go into autopilot. We’ll rage quit and call it a day. This mentality will not only harm your chances of progression, but it will lead to major burnout and resentment of a game you love.

To avoid this, you need to keep in mind what you love about the game. Play with some friends, play not to win but just to try out a new technique, don’t worry so much about winning but focus on making one really great headshot or finally coming to grips with a weapon you suck at. Setting goals other than winning will really help you feel your progression and prevent the game feeling like a pain.

Think you have what it takes?

These tips aren’t just one-time lessons, you’ll have to really focus so as to never fall into these simple mistakes. If you still think you have what it takes, there is no time like the present to get started! So, if you’re ready to start your esports journey, why not sign up to G-Loot? We’ll support you every step of the way with neat challenges, prizes, and stats tracking.

See you there!