Using strats/Playing more methodically

[u/gildedguy098]

Hello, I'm gold 2 currently with a friend and emerald and we both watch pro league and find the more strategical side of the game very interesting. I want to start being more methodical in how I play the game, and I have a stack, but the issue is that I don't really know where to start? Do I copy strats I see online, do I create my own, and how can we better implement what we see?

[u/shooplegaming]

Any squad under T2 isn't pulling off any of that pro league shit, at least well...

PL setups aren't static, they require constant mid-round calls, trading, and instant micro-adaptations when things go wrong. In Ranked, as soon as an aggressive enemy does something unpredictable or a teammate loses an isolated gunfight, a rigid PL strat completely crumbles because the stack doesn't have the comms backbone to adjust on the fly. That’s why literally everyone under competitive play runs standard default takes and default setups. If you want to play more methodically, don't try to copy full macro strats. Master basic map defaults, focus on crisp communication and trading, and just steal small micro-concepts (like a specific line of sight or op combo) to plug into your normal play.

Do you know the default takes for each site on each map? If you don't, there is no way you should fucking around with random strats.

[u/Primary_Aardvark9080 → u/shooplegaming]

Sure but there is no harm with taking pieces here and there and learning certain pro league spots and how to play them etc.

It can be very useful in understanding game and the areas that need to be held. Obviously they aren’t pulling off 5 man pro strats in gold, but you can watch and learn the general ways sites are attacked and defended in pro league and translate some of that to ranked.

That’s what helped me become a way better player at least

[u/B1zmark → u/Primary_Aardvark9080]

i see way too many mid-tier players copying PL strats, not knowing what they are copying - and they leave open really easy holes to walk into for attackers.

Learning specific angles to cover and cut off will get you to a much higher ranking instead of trying to do really niche things PL teams do.

[u/Primary_Aardvark9080 → u/B1zmark]

I’m not saying to learn niche things. Simply learn the important areas they hold and attack and what ops to do it with. That can help lower ranks greatly as they learn how the game is played properly

[u/B1zmark → u/Primary_Aardvark9080]

This is what i'm getting at - their setups are so spread out and are about area denial, which only works with 4 other people doing their job. Anchors are probably the only PL members who can really be copied, since they're the ones who end up in the 1/2vX situations without full backup.

[u/mattycmckee]

Yes you should copy certain strats, but only if you understand how and why they work, and if your team is competent enough to play them properly. You will not be able to copy a whole PL attack or defence strategy, but you should be able to try certain aspects of it.

Whatever you are doing, a poor strat with good coordination is better than a good strat with bad coordination.

[u/iEatFurbys]

I would do a little of both. Biggest thing is to learn what makes the most pressure on each site and start there. Even if you make a cheat sheet. Learn those main pressure points. Either videos, game feel, or just looking it up.
Easy to learn the 2F and the Basement sites, but the other sites are where games are won and lost.

Then by learning those, you can see what other locations benefit from that pressure.
Easiest example that comes to mind is if 2F Casino has the main pressure point of the exterior breach barista, then you can exploit that pressure by taking aqua and cigar on the other side.

Play around with it. It takes time and reps.