Every esports game is constantly changing and it’s a challenge that every team needs to rise up to.
The MPL PH coaches have had quite a bit on their plate these past few weeks as a new patch recently went live with balance changes and a new hero to boot. It also landed right in the middle of the regular season, just as the standings were starting to take form.
Instances like these are common in the wider world of esports. Most competitive games are regularly updated to address player feedback and add new and exciting content. What this means for professional players is that they’re not really playing the same game as time goes on. These patch updates can significantly change the landscape of a game and while they know they’re coming, esports events don’t really have a say on when they’ll drop.
In MLBB’s case, their most recent patch brought some key changes as well as Kalea, a new hero that many have been predicting will become a pro play staple. We asked various MPL PH coaches about how they prepare for an upcoming patch, especially one that brings something new. As it turns out, many coaches share the same sentiments and structure to dealing with an everchanging competitive game.
Staying Focused
Just like everyone else, teams are informed of an upcoming patch and what it may contain weeks beforehand. While each team has a different method of analysing and preparing for a patch, all the MP PH coaches share the same idea when it comes to dealing with it – that they can’t let it distract them from the current competition.
Team Liquid PH’s Coach Rodel “Ar Sy” B.Cruz has the more extreme take to this philosophy. “Sa amin, wala kaming pakialam na may dadating na patch. Pagdumating na, syaka na lang kaming mage-explore. We pay attention naman pero kung mag-overthink kami ng sobra, maski sa isang bagay lang, mahihirapan kami. Focused lang talaga kami sa anong nagiging mistakes namin tapos pagnaka adjust na kami, pwede kaming mag move forward.”
It’s a very practical approach because after all, why would you worry about something that isn’t here yet? Even with an advanced notice, you’re still playing on the current patch so it’s best to keep your focus on what matters.
“Lagi ko sinasabi sa team na wag tayo magbasa ng mga leaks o yung mga updates sa advanced server,” said Aurora Gaming’s coach Aniel “Master the Basics” Jiandani. “Ang mindset ko is baka mahalo kami so hintayin na lang natin yung update. And then confident din ako na within the day, kayo ko ituro sa team ano yung lahat na binago.”
That last part from coach MtB also points to a responsibility that all the MPL PH coaches share. As coaches, they’re expected to be the ones to guide the team’s preparations and response to a new patch. But that doesn’t mean everything is in their hands.
Preparation is a Team Effort
The biggest thing about new patches is that it’s a chance for teams to get ahead of the competition. The playing field has changed and the team that can adapt to it first will likely come out on top. For some MPL PH coaches, this is where they excel at – exploring the possibilities a new patch offers.
“Binabasa at inaaral ko ano yung pwedeng umangat, anong heroes ay magkakaroon ng indirect buffs sa patch,” says Twisted Minds’ coach Kristoffer “BON CHAN” Ricaplaza. “Pag may patches, maslalo ako nagiging excited mag explore. Kaysa sabihin ko na nalugi kami sa bagong patch, mas excited ako sa anong pwedeng mangyari.”
“As an analyst, I’m usually the one preparing the presentations for [the patch],” said Omega Esports’ assistant coach Allec “SN4P” Alberto. “There’s Elgin who shows everything on video so he’s the best reference for me. I explore it myself then feed the information to our players if this hero is still good, if it’s rubbish, etc.”
But the big thing is that while coaches and analysts can gather, study, and present all the changes in a patch, it’s ultimately up to their players to take this in and maybe even do their own research.
“Pinakamahalaga na pinagaaralan din ng mga players [yung patch] kasi at the end of the day, sila yung naglalaro. Sila yung may knowledge sa mismong pindutan,” said ONIC Philippine’s coach Anthony “YnoT” Senedrin. “It’s really a collective effort kung paano magiging understanding namin sa patch. We have to be in unison sa lahat na magaganap as we move forward kasi it’s very delicate when there’s new patches.”
Change is Exciting
With all the possible shifts that can happen with a new patch, it wouldn’t be too surprising if some players or coaches wished for things to be a bit more stable. The cadence of these patches always land sometime in the middle of the regular season or before a major tournament. This means that teams always have to be ready for upheaval in the meta throughout the year.
However, the MPl PH coaches all seem to unanimously agree on one thing, that more patches are not only preferable but good for the competition.
“I prefer more patches within the season because it proves that the more adaptive team is better,” said Omega’s coach SN4P rather simply. “It makes players more flexible. If you want to be a champion, you have to be versatile.”
Team Liquid’s coach Ar Sy echoes this sentiment. “Ok din yung pattern ng mga patches kasi, kahit paano, palamangan talaga kung sino kayang mag-adjust.”
While some MPL PH coaches have gripes with how disruptive these patches can be, especially when they drop right before important events, they can see its benefits. It makes sure that players and teams are always on their toes and it keeps fans entertained and engaged.
“I think it’s fine kasi sa ibang games nangyayari siya,” said Twisted Minds’ coach BON CHAN. “And since nagkaroon ng MPL ganito na din yung schedule. Sanay na kaming lahat so okay talaga para sa amin. Panalo din yon sa mga manonood kasi magiiba yung priority ng mga heroes or may heroes na magagamit na hindi pa nagagamit. Mas exciting panoorin.”
Banner photo from MOONTON Games.