How to get primed and ready for your next gaming tournament.
We all have our ways of amping ourselves up for big events. Whether it's readying yourself for a speech to a crowd full of people or rehearsing for a big show, there are things we all do to make sure we're pumped and prime for a great performance.
But what do you do to make sure you're ready to roll when there's a gaming tournament on the line? How do you get tournament-ready and make sure you're at the top of your game?
We spoke to some of the talented players from the Red Bull Campus Clutch World Final, streamed live from Madrid, Spain. Many of them shared their go-to tips for prepping for tournaments, from getting in "the zone" and making sure they have the best equipment possible.
With their priceless advice in mind, we've put together some tips to help you get prepare for the next competition you might find yourself in -- because you never know when your skills might take you there.
Get in the right frame of mind
"Pre-game, we all like to get in the zone of playing, like forget everything outside and just focus on the game and winning," shared one competitor.
It's true -- being in the right mindset and having a good perspective when it comes to competing is always a good place to start. Getting a good night's sleep, eating a healthy meal, and forgetting your outside troubles is a good place to start when it comes to eliminating any stressful outside noise and focusing on the task at hand: competing at your best. It may sound cliched, but it's true!
Level up your self-care game
"Taking care of yourself translates to how well you can do in-game. Living healthier helps me in terms of gaming too because I'm more satisfied. I think my well-being and my mental health is better not just for myself as an individual, but for my teammates too," shared another competitor."
Gaming might primarily involve your own personal skills and abilities, but honing them all and ensuring you're the best you can possibly be starts with keeping your mind and body refreshed and in great shape. Take some time to eat healthy, get the rest you need, and exercise to stay in shape. If your body isn't in tiptop condition, your mind won't be. When you're firing on all cylinders, you'll see a noted improvement in the way you perform.
"When I wake up and I need to play an important game, I run, jog, walk, or do something physical that gets me heated."
When you take some time out to pamper yourself, especially when that pampering includes conditioning and keeping up with your fitness plans, you’ll be surprised how much more alert, confident, and clear-headed you feel.
Use reliable equipment that works for you
"The gear is very, very important. It's such a big difference maker because when you change anything, you'll feel a little less sharp, and your gameplay is going to go down, like with sports even with the smallest change."
This might go without saying, but if you're going to be competing in a tournament, you want your gear to be just as strong and reliable as you are. You likely already have your own setup that you use for everyday practice and scrimmage, but you might find that it doesn't translate well to travel or doesn't fit your needs when putting together equipment that's allowed on the broader tournament stage.
For instance, you may be using a wireless mouse for some of your practice sessions, but a wired mouse is definitely the way to go when it comes to tournament play. You might want to opt for our Prime Gaming Mouse, one of our best wired options you'll find in our product roster. It features pro grade precision tracking with the TrueMove Pro gaming sensor, and offers over 100M crispy clicks, thanks to its Prestige OM switches. It's a great option for anyone looking to find the most accurate wired mouse possible, especially when it comes to getting tournament-ready.
The Aerox 3 is another excellent choice, especially if you're looking for a lightweight mouse that offers effortless speed in a form factor that glide across your desk or mousepad. It comes with a super mesh USB-C detachable cable for less drag, and thanks to the "holey" design, it's sure to keep your hands nice and dry even when you're deep i thought and concentrating.
"The mouse I have matters a lot for me personally." It’s a sentiment we’ve heard from Campus Clutch combatants and others in the competitive space over and over. Make sure you’re using the equipment you love if you want your performance to reflect as such.
Communicate with your team
You're going to need to rely on your teammates and them on you when you're gaming in a tournament. Take some time out to talk to them about what you might be feeling, get a game plan together, and work to make sure you're all on the same page.
Also, take some time to make sure whichever headsets you're all using are tuned to the best settings so you can all enjoy crystal clear audio in the heat of the moment. One great way to do this is by picking up our Arctis Prime headset, which is a fantastic choice for any situation. It's built to be durable, while featuring the same premium hardware and tuning as the Arctis Pro. It's lightweight and comfortable, and includes noise isolating leather-like cushions to make sure it remains appropriate for long wear sessions. Your teammates will be able to hear you just fine with its Discord ClearCast microphone as well, so feel free to strategize all you want.
Have fun!
"The most important thing is you're having fun. You'll have a positive mentality yourself and that will make you play your best on the stage. That is all you ever want to do."
This might come as no surprise, but you’re going to be in a much better position to perform better in a tournament situation if you’re thinking about having fun. Winning is great, and it's obviously important for any serious esport career, but at the end of the day gaming is about fun. Remember that, and you'll be ready for whatever anyone throws at you when it comes tto tournament play. It's likely the reason you joined the industry in the first place, so be true to your roots and be true to yourself!
