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4 PUBG Mobile tips from Indian esports pros
From crosshair placement to managing resources, we ask Indian PUBG Mobile professionals to share their tips.
PUBG Mobile has taken the nation by storm and gripped an entire generation with its exciting yet tactical gameplay.
The game offers something for everyone and can be enjoyed by all, no matter your skill level.
As one of the pioneers in the battle royale genre – a format in which a bunch of characters fight in a last-player standing format on a gradually shrinking map – PUBG Mobile allows you to experiment with different strategies and tactics to try and emerge as the victor.
While being passive offers you a higher chance of making it into the late game, being aggressive gives you the chance to pick up better loot and keep your hands warm for the final fights.
We spoke with Indian gamers Angad ‘Experiment’ Singh, Ocean Sharma, Ketan ‘K18’ Patel and Arkam ‘Sonic’ Rashid for some valuable tips to help you win some chicken dinners.
1. Crosshair placement will define your results
One important aspect of coming out on top in gunfights is good crosshair placement. This means aligning your crosshair in such a way that you don’t have to scramble it across the screen when you engage an opponent in a gunfight.
Angad ‘Experiment’ Singh is a former professional player and one of the top casters in the Indian PUBG Mobile scene. He suggests: “If you're a fan of 'bolt-action' action, the simple habit of proper crosshair placement before you zoom in to take the shot will not only help in improving accuracy but also sharpen your 'quickscope' reflexes. It sounds basic enough, after all it is essentially point and shoot however, the most common mistake is that in trying to get the crosshair lined up, we take our eyes off the ball (in this case the enemy with a gun pointed at you).”
The points to remember here are that when you clear buildings or check corners, always make sure your crosshair is covering the common angles where an opponent might pop up. Also ensure your crosshair is always at the correct height; ideally target your opponent’s head, so keep your crosshair trained at eye level. This tactic even works for long and mid-range engagements.
2. Always think ahead when in a difficult situation
Plan for the end game in PUBG Mobile
© PUBG Corp/Tencent
Ocean Sharma from Orange Rock says that mentality is everything. As a popular caster, he is known for breaking down high-level plays and strategies. From his many observances, he says that the top players always plan ahead and think of their next move. While you might be in a tricky situation in the game right now, always think ahead to the end-game.
Sometimes you might have a downed teammate who needs a revival, but the blue zone might also be closing in; looking at the bigger picture in this situation might help you make a quick decision. At other times, pushing recklessly to confirm a downed opponent might leave you vulnerable to attack, thereby damaging your survival chances. In another situation, a direct path to the circle might not mean a gunfight with a camped opponent; probably best to look long-term and take a longer rotation to avoid the damage. “Focus on both the destination and the journey,” says Ocean.
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3. Try custom rooms to improve quicker
The best way to improve is to play against tougher opponents. While you can rely on the in-game matchmaking for this, not every game will be as challenging for your skill level.
One of the Indian scene’s oldest commentators, Ketan ‘K18’ Patel suggests playing in custom rooms. Having been part of the rosters of Entity Gaming and 8bit, K18 says he actually got his first break when hosting custom rooms. He says custom rooms are far more competitive and vastly different from a matchmaking lobby.
The PUBG Mobile Official Discord server has many such lobbies catering to a large tier of players. You can also opt for paid custom rooms, but pros advise that you pick a reliable, well-known organizer to avoid frauds. Streamers and content creators are also often hosting custom rooms, so lookout for those.
4. Loot smart and manage it effectively
Some of the loot available in PUBG Mobile
© Tencent Games
Managing loot between your team is a crucial aspect of the game. Knowing how many heals, how many throwables and how much ammo you’ll need in the end game is paramount to success.
“In the looting scenario throwables are given less priority over ammunition. But teams utilising throwables properly have the upper hand over other teams. So try to have a proper balance of every item like heals, ammo and throwables in your bag,” explains Arkam ‘Sonic’ Rashid of Team UMumba.
Your playing style and end game strategy will define the number of each item you need, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all strategy. And it will depend on where you land in the map and what is available to loot. But remember that it is a team game, especially in the loot.
Players in pro teams will often call out what they are carrying and exchange items between themselves to maintain a balance and support each other’s playing style. You don’t want a situation where one teammate with all the first-aid kits dies and leaves your squad struggling through the rest of the game. Similarly, no point a sniper carrying all the throwables and a fragger carrying a lot of sniper ammo.
