Why self-review works

When you are in a fight, you are focused on reacting. You do not have the bandwidth to analyze what is happening. Watching a recording lets you step back and see the fight objectively. You can pause, rewind, and identify mistakes that were invisible in the moment.

How to record

Use any screen recording tool. Most operating systems have built-in recording options. You do not need high quality. You need to see what happened clearly enough to identify your actions and your opponent's actions.

Record 5-10 fights at a time. More than that and you will not review them all. Less than that and you may not have enough examples to find patterns.

What to look for

When reviewing, look for these categories of mistakes:

  • Positioning: Were you in the right place? Did you give up high ground unnecessarily? Did you get cornered?
  • Resource management: Did you run out of crystals, totems, or food at a critical moment? Did you waste resources on low-value plays?
  • Timing: Did you attack when you should have defended? Did you wait too long to engage? Did you miss a window to finish the fight?
  • Mechanical errors: Did you miss hits you should have landed? Did you fail a crystal placement? Did you mistime a block?
  • Decision-making: Did you choose the right target? Did you recognize when to push and when to retreat?

Find patterns, not just single mistakes

One missed hit is not a pattern. Missing the same hit in five different fights is a pattern. When you find a pattern, that is what you practice next. A single mistake might have been caused by lag or distraction. A pattern points to a skill gap you can close.

Write down the patterns you find. "I consistently mistime my crystal placements when I get pushed" is actionable. "I played badly" is not.

Watch from your opponent's perspective

If possible, watch the fight from your opponent's point of view too. What did they see? What did they exploit? Understanding how your opponent perceived the fight helps you anticipate what future opponents will do.

Do not just watch the fights you lost

Review your wins as well. You might have won despite making mistakes. Understanding why you won helps you repeat what worked. You might also find that you won because your opponent made more mistakes, not because you played well. That distinction matters.