1. Start with the single-player campaign

Most multiplayer games have single-player modes. Battlefield, Call of Duty (except Black Ops 4), and Titanfall have story campaigns, while Apex Legends and Dota 2 have tutorials.

This is a great way to get familiar with the mechanics of the game and the available maps and get used to the controls, shooting, and movement system.

Also, single-player modes often reveal details about the characters and locations that are encountered in the online game. Your skills these details will not affect your skills but will help you immerse yourself in the gameplay.

2. Practice in the appropriate modes

Some competitive games offer unique modes to improve your skills. In Apex Legends and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds it's a shooting range. In Fortnite it's a sandbox.

In CS: GO, Overwatch, and some other shooters, you can play with bots. Also, for Counter-Strike, there are custom maps where you can train your reaction speed, accuracy, and so on.

Matches with computer opponents allow you to explore the locations in a relaxed atmosphere and practice modes - to get acquainted with the characters' abilities and remember how different weapons work.
 

3. Play Regularly

As scientists found out that the key role in increasing the skill in multiplayer game plays not the total number of matches, but their regularity.

Playing ten matches daily is more effective than engaging in 100 battles every few days. So set aside some time to play every 1-2 days - so your skill level will grow much faster.
 

4. Watch streams of professionals

Every game has its stars - players who have achieved high results. More often than not, they enjoy their popularity by hosting broadcasts and making videos.

Watching this content can teach even a seasoned player a lot. As a rule, professional gamers know all the game's secrets: how to move correctly and behave in different situations. By comparing their behavior with yours, you can find your mistakes and understand what you need to strive for.

But beware: the gap between your skills and the skills of a professional can be so big that it will take away all desire to play. The main thing is to remember that these mastodons were once the same beginners.
 

5. Read online guides

On any online game, you can find guides and encyclopedias. They can be a lot of helpful information that will help you better navigate in the thick of the battle. For example, a list of all the weapons, a description of the characters and their skills, and detailed characteristics of different modes.

Of particular value are texts describing tactics for individual heroes or teams. It is not a fact that every strategy will be suitable for you. But knowing what your favorite heroes are capable of will still be valid. Also, you can write your guidelines or find someone who can write a guide for you.
 

6. Play on the same maps

Good knowledge of locations means you will always understand where danger may come from, how to reach the right point faster, which side is better to attack your enemies, etc. With it, learning how to win will be realistic - tactics are essential in almost every game.

Learning the map for the first time is best in an empty match or with bots of low difficulty. But in actual combat, levels are perceived differently, so the only way to get to know the location better is to play it repeatedly.
 

7. Customize the controls to suit you

In creating the controls for the game, the developers are trying to please the "average player," which doesn't exist. Everyone has different hand structures, physical abilities, and controller models.

So don't be afraid to experiment and look for settings that are perfect for you. A comfortable setup is one where all the essential keys are at your fingertips, and you don't miss when trying to reach the right button. This is a critical condition for improving your skills.
 

8. Learn from Mistakes

In competitive games, you often have to lose. This is true for all players. There's no escaping defeat - it's part of the experience.

Instead of getting upset about another death or loss, making the best of them is better. Ask yourself why you lost each time - this will point to aspects you need to improve on.

For example, if you were killed from somewhere behind, start looking around more often and looking back. If the enemy used an unusual combination of abilities and weapons - search the internet for ways to counter it.
 

9. Ignore disgruntled people

Fans of multiplayer games often come across as testy and hostile people. Their phrases to other players may ruin your mood and distract you from your goal - to improve your skills.

Almost every community believes that some heroes, weapons, or abilities are unworthy of a self-respecting gamer. For example, some Apex Legends fans feel this way about the Spitfire machine gun, and individual CS: GO players think this way about the P90 submachine gun.

Don't give these stereotypes a second thought. Play as the heroes you like and choose the weapon that you want. If your methods don't violate the game's rules and work, there's no reason to give them up.
 

10. Don't forget to have fun

First and foremost multiplayer games are for fun and relaxation. Many players forget this and begin to attach too much importance to winning. They stop having fun and get very angry when they can't win.

There are better ways to do it. Of course, the game's skill can be improved, even when the process does not bring joy. But if you're not trying to get into cyber sports, you're willingly wasting your time on a thing that causes you only negativity.

So if you suddenly feel that the fun has disappeared from the game, pause for a few days. Your skill may suffer a little from the break, but your emotional state will improve. And you'll be able to enjoy your favorite project again.