The Pick-Ban Phase in Esports
The pick-ban phase, also known as the Pre-Game, is a crucial part of competitive esports. It involves selecting and banning specific heroes that can greatly impact the outcome of the game. While the heroes chosen may vary depending on the patch and opponent, there are some key aspects to consider when drafting a team.
Factors to Consider in the Pre-Game
When drafting a team comp, there are several important factors to keep in mind:
- Waveclear
- Objective Control
- Movement
- Damage
- Mix of Damage
- Early Game Strength
- Late Game Strength
- Power Spikes
- Vision
- Peel
- Dive
- Splitting Power / 1v1 Potential
These aspects, among others, should be considered when creating a well-rounded team.
Understanding Bans
Bans play a significant role in the pick-ban phase. They can be used strategically to limit the enemy team’s options and protect your team from specific heroes or strategies. Here are some common reasons for banning:
- Banning a champion to prevent the enemy team from using it due to lack of practice with other heroes
- Banning a champion because the enemy player is highly skilled with it
- Banning a champion that is strong in the meta and your team is not experienced with
- Banning heroes that counter your team’s comp
Each ban should be carefully considered to ensure it aligns with your team’s strategy.
Tier-Based Picks
The pick phase is divided into tiers, each with its own level of importance and information:
Tier One:
This is the first pick, which is a high-risk, high-reward choice. It allows you to secure a powerful or essential champion for your team, but if it gets banned, you must have a backup strategy.
Tier Two:
These picks reveal more information to the enemy team but also allow you to to counter-pick their strongest champions or take away key picks from them.
Tier Three:
At this point, your team’s comp is starting to take shape. You have a good amount of information to work with, so you can make informed decisions about your picks and potentially steal important champions from the enemy team.
Tier Four:
With only a couple of picks left, you have a clearer picture of the enemy team’s comp. This is the ideal time to solidify your own team comp and counter-pick strategically.
Tier Five:
By this stage, your team’s comp is mostly complete, and you should focus on picking heroes that fit well and counter the enemy team’s picks.
Tier Six:
This is the last pick, where you should make a safe choice that aligns with your team’s strategy. It’s a good opportunity to surprise the enemy team or fill any gaps in your comp.
The pick-ban phase requires careful planning and consideration to ensure the best possible team comp for success.
esports, pick-ban phase, team comp, bans, tier-based picks