10 Best Tips on Becoming a Pro Gamer 2026

Truth, you don’t just wake up one day and suddenly, you’re topping the charts. Dare, you have to work the steps as every other eSports professional player has before you. 

Who knows? You just might become the next most lucrative paid pro gamer. 

The key here is that it’s never too late to become a pro gamer. So, if you have your sights set on gaming professionally and are ready to put in the work, we have just the exact best tips on becoming a pro gamer outlined for you below.

10. Practice

To become an expert at something, you need to put in 10,000 hours of your time on perfecting your craft. Now, whether or not the 10,000-hour rule is true isn’t important here. What’s crucial is how often you game. 

By gaming regularly, your hand-eye coordination improves. Practice helps you strengthen synapses. That’s your attention and memory. 

For memory, it’s pretty cool because playing more will help you recognize patterns more easily. You’ll learn to identify footsteps, for example. Or anticipate where enemies are likely to appear. And, when these come more easily to you, it actually helps free up your brain to focus on strategies and dealing with any surprises.   

9. Pick One Game

Life is too short. So, it makes sense to pick one game that you can practice regularly. Most especially because the skills required for different genres vary. FPS and action games, for instance, demand speed, spatial awareness, and precise aiming.

MOBA games, though, need teamwork. You have to make quick decisions as a team and adapt new strategies on the fly, which brings us to the next item of the best tips on becoming a pro gamer.

8. Join a Team

It’s just better to practice your favorite game with support. Particularly supportive gamers who share the same goal and aspirations. That way, they can encourage you and keep you going. 

But even beyond a support system, iron sharpens iron. You’ll be surprised how many pro gamers are a part of communities, who help them finesse their own skills and strategies. 

Forums like Discord and Reddit are solid places to ask questions, find players to compete with, and learn from. 

Don’t shy away from playing with better competitors, as it’s an opportunity to watch how they explore the world, scavenge, and approach enemies differently. Perhaps check out their loadouts, too.

If you’re looking to compete in team-based tournaments, then finding a team is a high priority, one you’ll build a connection with over time.

7. Research

Further expounding on learning from better players, you can do your own research, too, finding sites like gaming.net that feature study guides and resources on how to perfect your game. 

You’ll be surprised how much you’re doing wrong, focusing on activities that reap fewer benefits, or weapons that aren’t as powerful.

You can watch YouTube playthroughs and Twitch live streams, too, of better pro gamers, taking mental notes of how they approach combat. 

And an extra step is to record your own playthroughs, and identify the areas where you’re making the wrong move, and need to fix.

6. Train

And your next tip is: train hard. But not just haphazardly. Identifying your weaknesses and working on them sets you apart from others. 

You can set a certain amount of time, every day, to practice a certain movement or combat style that’s been giving you a hard time.

And while at it, be sure to track your progress, whether it’s beating a certain stage or boss in record time, or you might need to research more tips on how to get better. 

5. Compete

The only way to know just how good you’re getting is to actually compete. Start small, challenging friends locally or online players. The rankings will tell you whether you still have work to do. 

And after bagging some wins, try out local eSports competitions, tournaments, and leagues.

4. Keep Going

Now, there’s a chance that you might lose your first eSports competition. Fret not. Every pro gamer has to start somewhere. Just pack any rage or disappointment you might feel, and go back to the drawing board. 

Perhaps you need more practice, perhaps you need to switch to another game you might be better at, perhaps you need a better team you have better synergy with.

3. Perhaps…

It might start to sink in that becoming a pro gamer might not be for you. And that’s okay. Professional gaming demands a lot of time and grind. It has its cons, including having stiff competition.

So, if the path to becoming a pro gamer isn’t for you, by all means jump off the bandwagon. Consider live streaming for fun. A lot of gamers do it. Or play with friends or solo to let loose and have a good time.

2. Upgrade Your Gaming Rig

On the other hand, if you top the leaderboards and even feature on the podiums of popular leagues and tournaments, you might want to invest in a high-end gaming rig. 

You’ll be surprised by how much difference high refresh rates, smooth performance, and little to no input lag can make in an eSports competition. 

Keep in mind, though, that high-end gaming rigs are pretty expensive, which brings us to the next point for the best tips on becoming a pro gamer. 

1. Take Good Care of Yourself

Taking care of yourself involves your financial, physical, and mental health. Don’t break the bank in the name of the best gaming rig, especially when you haven’t yet earned money from gaming.

Also, pro gamers easily spend crazy hours sitting down. But your body needs hydration and moving around. Plus, ignoring your body only worsens your brain function, reaction times, and stamina over time.

Burnout is also pretty common. The intense pressure and training can take its toll. So, remember to take breaks, a walk maybe. Practice self-care, including eating healthy and resting. 

As much practice and training as pro gaming requires, taking care of yourself is also crucial for performing at your best.