How to Use Video Analysis to Scout Opponents in Esports

Gather the Right Footage

Obviously, before diving into your video analysis, you need to find footage of games or tournaments which is relevant to your scouting. 

Ideally, you need to find video which is as current as possible, within the last month or so. This guarantees that you are seeing the latest tactics of your upcoming opponents utilising the current meta.

You should also try to find games where your opponent is playing against teams with a similar playstyle to your own team. This will allow you to predict how they react to your own tactics.

Lastly, look for footage of matches with high-stakes, where your opposition is pushed to their very limits. This will best demonstrate cracks in their armour which can be exploited.

So, where can you obtain this footage? Well, the best place to start would be official tournament sites, where you can usually find previously streamed VODs.

Streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube are also a great source of video.

Failing this, grab a camcorder, go to an arena and film matches directly, if possible.

Organise and Tag Clips

The next step is to break your game videos down into manageable clips which can be analysed - and this is where Nacsport comes into the mix.

To break down a game with our software, you create a tagging window which contains a series of buttons which correspond to the parameters you want to analyse. You then watch the video and press the buttons when you see these actions happening. This creates a short video clip which is grouped together with all similar actions for easy analysis.

This is a very succinct description of what Nacsport can do. If you haven’t already tried the software, we suggest watching this video, which will give you a quick overview of the tools and features.

We also suggest that you sign up for a 30-day free trial and try it for yourself.

Anyway, what parameters should you be tagging in your videos? Here are a few suggestions about what to look for in your opponent.

• Early Game Strategies. How do they start rounds? Do they favour aggressive or passive openings?
• Objective Control. How do they secure objectives like Baron (LoL), the spike (Valorant), or bomb sites (CS2)?
• Rotations and Positioning. How do they move across the map? Are there patterns in their rotations?
• Weaknesses & Mistakes. Do they overextend? Struggle in clutch situations? Mismanage economy/resources?

Identify Patterns and Playstyles

Once you have broken down the video into its constituent parts, it's time to analyse your selected footage and look for common patterns and playstyles that your opponent favours. The Nacsport timeline, data matrix and dashboard can all help in this regard.

Although our software is completely customisable, giving you the freedom to analyse whatever parameters you want, here are a few suggestions about what you should be looking for:

• Preferred Compositions and Picks: Do they favor specific agents, champions, or operators?
• Teamfight Tendencies: Are they aggressive initiators or defensive counter-punchers?
• Map Preferences and Weak Points: Do they struggle on certain maps? Are there patterns in their site defenses?

We also have some premade tagging windows for various games which can be downloaded and used free from our website. Check them out here.

Break Down Individual Player Tendencies

You can break the game down even further by looking at each individual member of the opposition team, as well as the team as a whole. You can do this quickly and easily with Nacsport by creating a whole new tagging window for individual analysis.

Why do this? Well, in team-based esports, individual habits can reveal opportunities. Here are a few examples:

• Entry Fraggers and Duelists. Do they have a preferred entry path or timing?
• In-Game Leaders (IGLs). When do they make play calls? How do they adapt under pressure?
• Snipers and Support. Do they hold predictable angles? Do they struggle under aggressive pressure?

Develop a Counter-Strategy

Once you’ve identified tendencies, it’s time to develop a winning strategy for your team. The idea here is to exploit the weaknesses that you have identified during the analysis stage.

A few examples of how this might play out include:

• Exploit Weaknesses. For example, if they struggle against early aggression, increase pressure in the first few rounds.
• Deny Comfort Picks. Counter their strongest agents, champions, or weapons. Make sure that your picks are strong against those that they choose.
• Mix up Rotations. Don’t let your opponent run wild across the map in the manner they are accustomed to. Adjust your movement to disrupt their standard map control patterns.

Simulate Scenarios in Practice

Ok, it’s now time to put the strategies you’ve developed into practice. Again, video analysis can be useful here in order to analyse your own performance.

Film practice sessions and analyse them in the exact same way as you analysed your opponent’s games.

Use Nacsport to breakdown key moments in games for coaches and players and ensure that everyone is following the same game plan.

It’s also a good idea to play practice matches against teams with a similar playstyle to your upcoming opponent. This will give you added insight into how well your team’s strategy is performing.

Lastly, you might consider live analysis DURING the game. Using Nacsport, you can tag a game live as it’s being played in front of you and transmit game data directly to coaches and players so they can make on-the-fly adjustments.

Combine this with the Nacsport Live app and you can stream live video and data straight to any mobile device being used by the coaches.

Track Performance Against the Opponent

Post-match debriefings are extremely important for tracking your performance.

They allow you to compare your pre-match predictions with what actually happened. 

Did your opponent’s strategy align with what you analysed? Were your counterplays effective? How can you improve your performance in the future? 

Creating a feedback loop of pre-match scouting, in-match analysis and post-match debriefing is extremely important to the development of your team. It allows you to develop strategies and, more importantly, decide whether these strategies are working or need to be improved.

This is the road to victory.

Conclusion

Obviously, scouting out your opponents through video analysis is an ongoing process that can help to refine your long-term strategic approach. 

By consistently studying footage, tagging key moments, testing counter-strategies and debriefing the team post-match, you can stay ahead of the competition.

And it doesn’t matter at what level you are playing. Whether you’re competing in a small, local tournament or on the global stage, mastering opposition analysis can give your team the edge it needs to win.

And, obviously, video analysis software such as Nacsport can help you reach your goals. If you’re not yet familiar with our software, we offer a free, no obligation 30-day trial of any of our products. Click here to get started.

If you have any questions about anything you have read in this article, please feel free to get in contact with us at any time, either through our website or any of our social media channels.

Until then…

Thanks for reading.