What makes a 3v3 team successful? Is it the sum of all three players’ individual mechanical ability? Is it solely based on player chemistry? Or, are there some intangibles that can make a team perform better when traditional metrics would predict they struggle? Much like in game decision making, you can find the perfect role on your team by studying the pros.

When watching RLCS, it’s incredible to see the fluidity with which top teams navigate around the pitch. Their players always seem to know where the ball is, where their teammates and opponents are, and where they have to be. Of course, this mastery of the field is undoubtedly a byproduct of thousands of hours of practice, but it also comes with all three players understanding their unique roles, and how they differ from each other. I’m especially fascinated by how different sides find comparable heights of success employing such deeply different methods. The meta is always changing, but if you know what makes the top teams so successful, both in the eye-test and statistically, you can incorporate similar strategy to your own team.

The Dignitas RLCS Roster from Season 5, the only roster to ever win back to back world championships.

For a poignant example of this polarization of play style, look at the top of North America over the Fall Split of RLCS X. Although bracketology forced them to meet in the semi-finals instead of the grand finals of the Fall Major, I believe G2 Esports and Spacestation Gaming are the two best teams in an incredibly top heavy North American region. G2’s style is distinctive and uniquely aggressive, enough to win last year’s regional championship, but their gameplay has its own flaws. When in an attacking phase, G2 is clinical at inducing consistent pressure, constantly snagging opponents’ boost pads and demolishing goalies to throw a wrench in their opponents’ rotations. Usually, this starts with JKnaps, their offensive star, attempting a mechanical outplay, like a ceiling shot, flip reset or air dribble.

Then, Chicago can win almost any 50/50 ball resulting from a save, and Rizzo hovers back around midfield, preventing a defensive clear from eliminating the mounting G2 attack. This aggression has recently kept them at the top of NA offensively, averaging 2.57 goals per game and 2.25 assists per game. However, when they miss even a single touch in the opponent’s half, their pressure breaks down-- they often concede goals into a wide open backfield, leaving us scratching our heads at how such an elite team can set their opponents up for what looks like a free shot. This high risk, high reward mentality isn’t unique to G2, with newer teams like Alpine and Team Queso giving it their own spin, but they certainly deserve credit for bringing it to the mainstream.

When watching G2, closely monitor how all three players keep each other in their peripheral vision, since by cutting rotations often, they can keep up pressure when the defense expects them to retreat. If you want to mimic this playstyle, make sure your teammates understand the importance of getting a goal when you decide to go all-in on an attack, because one mistake could give away a freebie to your opponents.

The converse to the frantic nature of G2 is the more rotational play of Spacestation Gaming, last year’s NA runner-up and the Fall Split’s eventual major champions. Spacestation has mastered a more orthodox playstyle, with clinical, evenly spaced rotations allowing for each player to take turns applying individual pressure while the other two re-up on boost and guard the net. With both Sypical and Arsenal on the SSG squad, unquestionably two of the five most mechanically talented players in the region, mechanical, often solo outplays resulting in goals are the norm, and in certain situations both decide to push up simultaneously to swarm the defense.

Combined with the recent addition of Retals from Pittsburgh Knights providing some of the most accurate finishing in the region (26.5% shooting percentage), plus some additional aggression from demolitions, it’s clear why it’s so hard to purely outscore SSG. Their offense has been almost as potent as G2’s, averaging a respectable 2.24 goals per contest, but it’s obvious that Spacestation’s true strength lies in a rock solid defense, allowing the least goals out of contending NA teams, only letting 1.47 through every game. Other top teams like NRG and Envy emulate similar strategy, each making roster changes this past offseason prioritizing stronger defense to back up offensive studs, but after winning the Fall Major, SSG rules North America, at least for now.

When you watch Spacestation, notice each player’s distinct role and how they are hesitant to break rotation to keep up pressure: they can retreat, grab boost, and trust each other to rotate properly past the back post of their own goal to take shifts as goalie, then mount a balanced counter attack. If you want to try out this playstyle, make sure to not push your luck on offense: do not be afraid to retreat and regroup. Also, make sure you trust your teammates to know their place as first, second, or third in line to take turns shooting, and then quickly move out to allow your teammates to take their turn.

Finally, there are intangibles associated with successful teams. Like any other game, Rocket League has a mental aspect as well. How easily you can put a bad loss behind you or stick to your game plan after a few mistakes separates the good teams from the great teams, in both RLCS and ranked. For evidence of this phenomenon, look at the European Fall Major a couple of weeks ago. Endpoint closed out their season placing second to Vitality in Regional Event 3 and 3rd/4th in the Fall Major, despite having a losing record on the season. Statistically, they should have lost to both Oxygen Esports in the first round and Top Blokes in the quarterfinals, but the pressure of a major tournament playoff is a whole different beast than a group stage match. When you form a team, make sure you can stay confident in each other at your nadir—a team divided against itself cannot win.

Despite a lower win percentage than each opponent and sub-par head-to-head stats (defensively compared to OXG and offensively compares to TB), Endpoint took down both en route to a semi-final finish, taking home a respectable $8,000 All statistics courtesy of octane.gg.

Though you might never reach the level of professional players, studying RLCS statistics and gameplay yields a clear picture of why some teams win and others fail, and you can apply this knowledge directly to your own performance. Know your role, trust your teammates, and head into games with a clear strategy and plan on both the macro and micro. Everything from who is first in rotations to who goes for kickoff affects your win probability. Most importantly, don’t be discouraged by a losing streak, and have fun. Good luck climbing the ladder!