Hera’s “Road to 2k” series from two years ago features gameplay at the 1000 to 1200 ELO range that doesn’t seem to match the current skill level of players around this range. Even Hera has mentioned this during his “Pro vs Noob” matches, noting the improved skills of lower ELO players. What’s your take on this? In my opinion, Hera should consider redoing his “Road to 2k” series in a more concise format to reflect the current competitive landscape and to avoid confusing new players.
By playing more, you will get better and stronger. DE resulted in an influx of new players, they now all grow up. Or maybe they stopped enjoying the game and quitted. As result the overall level of the player base will go up and up and up. This is not only for the average 1000 elo player, but also for pro players. They also get better and better.
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Pro players probably improved as well so it wouldn’t be surprising for me.
People watch streams/learn build orders and just like in every aspect in life…if you practice a lot you will improve
It is possible, but the improvement, if it happened, is minuscule.
I am a 1700 elo player, get paired vs 1300 when I play Quick Play. I watch replays from time to time. And 1300 players still have A LOT to learn before even we delve into the “high elo stuff” (like how to play a certain matchup). I see idle TC in Dark Age because they lure deer. I see people being housed because they lure deer. The opening is often VERY predictable (Scouts as Franks, straight Archers as Britons). The more complex openings, like pre mill Drush, full wall Skirm defense, Scouts into Skirms (or into Archers), I have never seen them at 1300 elo. From there on, often they mass 1 unit in Castle Age while trying to get up as fast as possible, they generally don’t scout or care if I already have the counter unit from 5 hidden production buildings.
Boom is also bad in 1300 elo, I am systematically 10-15 vills ahead if it’s boom vs boom without doing anything special, only doing the most mundane 3 TC boom. I also collect 3-4 Relics, get to imp first and transition into a late game unit (Halb or Hussar WAY faster than the opponent (this applies to when I go vs 1500 elo too btw).
I have no experience playing vs 1000 elo, actually the other day I played a Quick play vs a 1000 elo, I did the most mundane 3 Scouts into boom (as Teutons), sniped 2 vills for free due to micro and when he resigned (I hit like a 18 min Castle Age which shocked him) he was 7 vills behind (2 dead + I suppose 5 from idle time/panic at 3 Scouts without forging). He also overproduced spears and his build was bad (2 Ranges with REALLY late fletching isn’t something I see ever being scary to a good player).
So these are a few examples of how players at different elos play. To answer the question: 1000 elo players these days might know ONE build order to open with (as opposed to 0 2 years ago), but in terms of micro, decision making, not keeping TC idle, reading the game, in my opinion they are largely the same as 2 years ago. FWIW I consider my elo (1700) the elo where a player has a good (but basic) understanding of ALL parts of the game, ie when to go to Imp, when to transition, when to greed, when to add TCs, how to react to tower rush, how to react to castle drop…etc.
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Tbh the stuff you describe rather fits for 800/900 Elo, at least from my experience. Players below your rating know these things you describe in theory but are slower in execution.
1k and below already knew BOs two years ago, mainly due to accesible they are. When I was 600 back in 2021, I was already able to do a 22pop scout rush with 0 idle time, mainly due to practicing it over and over again. And even I as a 1k player nowadays know that you need Fletching before engaging with Archers.
1300 Elo is already Top 20% btw. Quick Play is also a mode where people play less serious as there’s no visinle Elo on the line, so it’s not really representative. I suggest spectating ranked games instead.
Idling TC in Dark Age is “playing less serious”? You either have the APM or don’t, I don’t see a person having two modes, “no idle TC tryhard mode” and “troll mode I’m 2 pop behind” when it comes to DARK age.
Maybe a key factor to low elo players is how good their macro is when they must fight an army they didn’t see coming. 20 pop scouts, pre mill drush… until even as high as 1300, I see people start floating 1000 wood, or forgetting to go to gold when they suffer these attacks. Being able to react well to attacks without macro slipping is something I think below 1500 or so is totally lacking
Well, feel free to link those matches from aoe2insights. I’m always in for educational content.