Professional Call of Duty: Mobile esports player, Lucaszin, outlines what every aspiring casual player should do if they want to enter the competitive scene.
Making the leap from being a casual gamer to a professional esports athlete in Call of Duty: Mobile (CoD: Mobile) can be challenging, but it's far from impossible. With the right setup and guidance, you'll be on the path to achieving this dream.
In this exclusive interview, Lucas "Lucaszin" Ferreira shares his insights on the pro scene and offers advice on skill development, competitive strategies, and the mindset needed to succeed.
Lucaszin is a seasoned veteran in the CoD: Mobile esports scene, having made his competitive debut in 2021. Since then, he’s established himself as arguably one of the best players in the world thanks to successes in multiple regional and global competitions. He most recently placed in the Top 4 with his team, Galorys Company, in 2024’s Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship by Snapdragon Pro Series.
Whether you're a casual player dreaming of turning pro or simply curious about the world of mobile esports, this conversation provides valuable insights to help you level up.
MobileMatters: In your opinion, what are the basic skills of CoD: Mobile, and how does someone master them?
Lucaszin: I believe that the basic skills needed would be knowing the map you are playing, the performance capacity of your weapon, and the best routes to have better gun fights, and to improve in Ranked. This is a good place to practice, trying a lot of repetitions, and entering the game with this mentality I believe that evolution will be gradual.
MobileMatters: What is a common mistake casual players make you think they should avoid?
Lucaszin: Mistakes that I always see happening are never being prepared for the opponent, entering places, and not imagining that there could be someone from the enemy team and being caught by surprise. Another common mistake is the way you position yourself on the map.
MobileMatters: What tools and resources do you recommend someone use to improve their skills such as positioning, aiming, and map awareness?
Lucaszin: One tip I always give is to watch the best players in official and unofficial championships and pay attention to the mini-map in the bottom corner to be able to locate yourself like a pro. Another tip is that several content creators make streams and videos teaching how to evolve and behave on the map to achieve a good performance.
MobileMatters: A strong loadout can be a game-changer in any situation. What advice do you have for players hoping to craft the best loadout for their preferred weapon?
Lucaszin: Use meta weapons that are the strongest in the game at the moment. For example, the USS9 is an SMG that can do a hybrid job of being a fast weapon for short distances and with a great range for long shots.
MobileMatters: What is a good mentality someone should have when hoping to compete in CoD: Mobile esports? How do they develop it?
Lucaszin: I believe that, as in all areas, when you take care of your mental health, it is extremely important to have good habits that will contribute to this such as good nutrition, other hobbies, etc. To enter a competition and be a high-performance athlete, you must understand that many will expect the best from you and it's okay that at times you won't be able to be. Being an athlete is much more about how you deal with defeats and victories. I personally try to treat both in the same way, always using it as fuel to be 1% better each day.
MobileMatters: The meta in CoD: Mobile is ever-changing. How does someone adapt to changes in the meta or updates that nerf their favorite weapons?
Lucaszin: Versatility for those who play CoD: Mobile is necessary to continue performing. It is important to give up some situations that are in your comfort zone and explore new weapons, operators, and maps.
MobileMatters: What habits or training routines should someone adopt to develop the skills for competitive play?
Lucaszin: I believe that routines are very particular for each person, however, as I was a swimming athlete for almost 17 years of my life, the doctrine of the sport made me always want more and always seek more. Today, outside of boot camp with the team, I play for around 12 hours per day, separated into individual VODs, collectives, analysis of other teams, etc.
MobileMatters: CoD: Mobile is very much a team-based game. What are the key qualities you believe every top-tier teammate should possess?
Lucaszin: At a high level, a good teammate is reflected in their decision-making to help the team, playing simply not for his life but for that of his teammate – like chess, playing with all the pieces with a single objective.
MobileMatters: Casual players can find it difficult to know where to start when entering competitive play. How does someone break into this scene?
Lucaszin: To enter the competitive world, I believe that standing out in the top ranks of CoD: Mobile, playing in a mix against pros/streamers, and, of course, creating content on a platform so that people can know who you are.
MobileMatters: How does a player get noticed by a professional esports team? What do they look for in a new recruit?
Lucaszin: What many teams are looking for is someone with good relationships, good communication, and good mechanical skills.
MobileMatters: From your personal experience, what makes the Snapdragon Pro Series stand out as a premier platform for top-tier competition?
Lucaszin: Due to the grandeur of the Snapdragon Pro Series, the proportion and importance, the ease of resolving adversities due to support, and of course having a passionate audience, are incredible.
MobileMatters: Adding on to this, how did the Snapdragon Pro Series help to push your skills and drive your career forward?
Lucaszin: It helped me encourage my desire to compete in such a big event, it contributed to other organizations joining the competition, and it created opportunities not only for me but for other athletes, so the more events like these, there will be new opportunities for more people.
MobileMatters is in partnership with ESL FACEIT Group, the organizers behind the Snapdragon Pro Series.