# Positional Advantages and Disadvantages in Esports
  
## Introduction

In competitive esports, mastering mechanics and strategy is only half the game — the other half often comes down to **positioning**. Whether you’re holding an angle in *Counter-Strike*, setting up a teamfight in *League of Legends*, or flanking in *Overwatch*, **where you are** can be the difference between a clutch win and a brutal loss.

This guide explores:

* What **positional play** means in esports
* Key **advantages and disadvantages** based on position
* How it differs by **genre and game**
* **Pro strategies** and **training methods**
* Fun facts and further reading

  

## What Is Positional Play?

**Positioning** in esports refers to how and where players place themselves on the game map relative to:

* **Enemies and allies**
* **Objectives and terrain**
* **Vision and line of sight**
* **Choke points and escape routes**

Smart positioning allows players to:

* **Gain vision and control**
* **Force favourable engagements**
* **Avoid being caught out or flanked**
* **Maximise their champion/agent/hero potential**

It’s not just about *where* you are — but *why* you're there.

  

## Why Positioning Matters

| Benefit of Good Positioning | Example |
| --------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
| **Better vision/control** | Holding high ground in *Valorant* for info |
| **Survivability** | Staying behind tanks in *LoL* as a carry |
| **Zone denial** | Blocking a site entrance with utility in *CS2* |
| **Initiation/Engagement** | Flanking for a surprise ult in *Overwatch* |
| **Escapability** | Staying near walls or exit routes in *Apex Legends* |

  

## Positional Advantages

### 1. **High Ground**

**Games**: *Overwatch, Apex Legends, Fortnite, Valorant*

* **Tactical Advantage**:

* Greater visibility
* Easier recoil control
* Harder to shoot up than down
* **Example**:

* In *Overwatch*, snipers like Widowmaker dominate from high ground
* In *Fortnite*, high ground lets players rain down builds and shots

> “Take the high ground” is more than a meme — it’s a proven tactical edge.

  

### 2. **Cover and Corners**

**Games**: *CS2, Valorant, Rainbow Six Siege*

* **Tactical Advantage**:

* Peek safely using cover
* Reduce enemy line of sight
* Anchor without being exposed
* **Example**:

* A CS2 AWPer holds a tight angle behind a box, giving minimal exposure but full vision of entry

#### Peek Advantage (especially in online matches):

* Due to latency, the **peeker often sees first**, creating a slight positional edge in timing.

  

### 3. **Choke Points and Narrow Spaces**

**Games**: *Dota 2, LoL, CS2*

* **Tactical Advantage**:

* Funnel enemies into predictable paths
* Use AoE damage or crowd control to punish grouped opponents
* **Example**:

* Using *Breach* in *Valorant* to flash through a chokepoint just before an enemy push

  

### 4. **Flanking and Off-Angles**

**Games**: *Valorant, Apex Legends, League of Legends*

* **Tactical Advantage**:

* Catch enemies unaware
* Bypass frontline or turret defences
* Split enemy focus
* **Example**:

* In *LoL*, a top laner teleports behind the enemy team to collapse in a “pincer” movement

#### Off-angle defined:

> A position that isn’t a common line of sight — forces enemies to react late.

  

### 5. **Zoning Control**

**Games**: *RTS, MOBA, Tactical Shooters*

* **Tactical Advantage**:

* Pressure an area without direct fighting
* Prevent rotations or escapes
* Hold territory with presence
* **Example**:

* In *Dota 2*, placing vision in jungle allows a support to “zone out” the enemy carry

  

### 6. **Vision Advantage**

**Games**: *LoL, Dota 2, Fortnite, Valorant*

* **Tactical Advantage**:

* See enemies before they see you
* Prevent ambushes
* Set up safer objectives
* **Example**:

* Controlling warded bushes around Baron gives LoL teams control of the entire top side jungle

  

## Positional Disadvantages

Just as good positioning gives advantages, poor positioning can cost rounds, games, and even tournaments.

### 1. **Overextending**

* Pushing too far without support or vision
* Common in *MOBA* games
* Can lead to being “picked off” before a fight starts

### 2. **Tunnel Vision**

* Focusing too hard on one target/area
* Leads to being flanked or ambushed
* Seen in FPS when players hold one angle for too long

### 3. **Stacking Bodies**

* Clumping with teammates in narrow spaces
* Vulnerable to grenades, AoE, ultimates
* *CS2* players stacking on Dust2 bombsite = easy multi-kill

### 4. **Line of Sight Exposure**

* Standing where multiple enemies can see/shoot you
* Increases chances of being quickly eliminated
* FPS example: peeking into two sightlines at once = lose duel

### 5. **Low Ground or Blind Spots**

* Harder to shoot up or spot enemies
* Easily sprayed from above
* Often punished in *Overwatch*, *Apex*, and *Fortnite*

  

## Positional Play Across Game Genres

### 1. **FPS Games (Valorant, CS2, Overwatch)**

| Good Positioning | Bad Positioning |
| ------------------ | ----------------------------- |
| Holding off-angles | Standing in open |
| Using verticality | Rushing without info |
| Crossfire setups | Over-rotating or late rotates |

#### Positional Strategies

* **Crossfires**: Two teammates hold intersecting angles — punish pushers.
* **Utility Usage**: Smoke or flash to *create* positional advantage.
* **Site Anchoring**: Support players hold tight angles to delay push.

  

### 2. **MOBA Games (LoL, Dota 2, Smite)**

| Good Positioning | Bad Positioning |
| -------------------------------- | ----------------------------- |
| ADCs behind frontliners | Supports walking alone in fog |
| Controlling jungle vision | Overchasing past towers |
| Positioning for objective fights | Getting caught in AoE spells |

#### Positional Tactics

* **Front-to-Back Teamfighting**: Damage dealers stay behind tanks.
* **Brush/ward baiting**: Standing in visionless bush to ambush.
* **Zone control**: Using positioning to block enemy from objectives.

  

### 3. **RTS Games (StarCraft II, Age of Empires)**

| Good Positioning | Bad Positioning |
| ----------------------- | -------------------------- |
| Ranged units in back | Melee blocking archers |
| Fighting on high ground | Chasing into ambush |
| Splitting to avoid AoE | Clumping into choke points |

#### Tactics

* **Concave Formations**: Spread out in wide arc = more damage.
* **Choke Control**: Narrow passage advantage if AoE spells are ready.
* **Ambushes**: Hiding army behind terrain until scout passes.

  

### 4. **Battle Royale (Apex, Fortnite, PUBG)**

| Good Positioning | Bad Positioning |
| ---------------------------- | ------------------------------ |
| High ground + zone control | Being caught between two teams |
| Flanks with cover | Landing in low-tier loot zones |
| Early rotation to final ring | Running into open zone late |

#### Tactics

* **Third-partying**: Watching two teams fight, then flanking and finishing them.
* **Height Advantage**: Shooting down reduces TTK (time to kill).
* **Choke Holding**: Holding exit points out of ring for easy picks.

  

### 5. **Fighting Games (Street Fighter, Smash Bros., Tekken)**

| Good Positioning | Bad Positioning |
| --------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| Corner trapping | Backing into wall |
| Mid-screen spacing | Standing in throw range without shield |
| Footsie range control | Whiffing pokes too close |

#### Concepts

* **Stage Control**: The player with more movement space has more options.
* **Zoning**: Forcing opponents to approach via spacing tools.
* **Wall Pressure**: Being pushed against the edge limits defensive moves.

  

## Training Positional Awareness

### 1. **VoD Reviews and Map Review**

* Pause and ask:

* “Where should I be?”
* “What’s the enemy's best move now?”
* Tools:

* *CS2 Demo Viewer*, *LoL ProView*, *Stratz (Dota)*

### 2. **Dry Run Setups**

* Walk through plays without shooting
* Practice angles, utility use, rotates, holds

### 3. **1v1 Angle Practice**

* Challenge teammates in duel servers
* Practice holding and clearing angles

### 4. **Coaching Feedback**

* Coaches flag mispositioning in scrims
* Ask for:

* “Where should I stand in this role?”
* “Was I exposed here?”

  

## Real-World Examples

### 1. **Faker (League of Legends)**

* Known for *immaculate positioning* in teamfights
* Stays just on the edge of danger, dealing damage without dying

### 2. **s1mple (CS2)**

* Master of off-angles and repositioning mid-fight
* Constantly catches enemies by being where they least expect

### 3. **ZywOo (Valorant/CS2)**

* Uses corner angles to control 1vX clutch scenarios
* Combines good aim with perfect spacing

  

## Fun Facts

* **Holding shift in Valorant** makes footsteps silent — allowing for sneaky repositioning.
* **In StarCraft II**, units on high ground can’t be attacked without vision — true terrain-based advantage.
* **MOBAs** have “fog of war” — standing just outside enemy vision gives you a hidden edge.
* *CS2*’s classic “goose” position on Dust2 gets its name from a graffiti artist, not the bird.

  

## Useful Resources and Links

* **Lineups and Positional Guides (Valorant, CS2)**
[https://www.thespike.gg](https://www.thespike.gg)
[https://www.youtube.com/@3kliksphilip](https://www.youtube.com/@3kliksphilip)

* **Vision and Warding (LoL, Dota 2)**
[https://mobalytics.gg](https://mobalytics.gg)
[https://stratz.com](https://stratz.com)

* **Pro Match Analysis (All genres)**
[https://www.youtube.com/@analystdesk](https://www.youtube.com/@analystdesk)

* **British Esports – Esports Tactics**
[https://britishesports.org](https://britishesports.org)

  

## Final Thoughts

**Positioning wins games.**

Whether it’s securing a clutch 1v2, setting up a teamfight, or zoning an objective, smart positional play separates good players from elite players. It requires:

* Awareness
* Experience
* Prediction
* Constant evaluation of threats and terrain

By mastering **positional advantages and avoiding common mistakes**, players can massively improve win rates, especially in team games and high-stakes scenarios.