How To NOT Tilt (and why it's important not to)
This is going to be a fairly long article, but I do hope that whoever sees this will read the majority/all of it.
Tilt is a very common, and typically harmless thing that happens even to the best of us League players. You might have cancelled your auto on the 2 HP Lucian, and because your support couldn't give you a boost of speed, you flame them and go on tilt.
In order to understand how not to tilt, we need to know what it is first.
Tilt, in short, is being "pissed off", angered, or frustrated (or a combination of those). Why is tilt so bad? It can effectively render you useless. That one mistake you made that you acknowledged, you just can't let go of it. Because of that, all you're thinking about is how you played it poorly, how you could have done it better, etc. Your mind will go on and on, and in turn, you'll forget about how to keep playing this on-going game as you focus on what's already finished. This can not only harm your performance, but other's performance as well.
So, now that we know what tilt is, and the basics of what it does, let's talk about how we can prevent it.
First off, this is a post coming from a player who has certainly gotten tilted on more than one occasion, and recently, I had my account suspended because I let tilt turn into toxicity (which I'll talk about in a bit). After having a good amount of time to think, to evaluate my own behavior, and see that I am also a problem when it comes to fighting with other players, I've realized how important it is to keep a cool head, and how being tilted only leads to your own destruction. Let's begin:
Step 1 - Calm Down
Okay, okay. Your top-laner just got caught out in a 1v5 and practically just gave them a free Baron. Now he's flaming you for not being by his side to die a glorious death. Here's an example of a conversation that might be happening between you two:
"An ally has been slain" 
: are you serious luci? why didn't you come help omg i pinged you three times
: i didnt want to get caught out dude
: youre so bad. honestly the worst adc i've ever seen. total garbage, trash lucian.
This guy is getting on your nerves. He just got himself killed and is now telling you off. You've got to set this guy straight. He has no right to criticize you. Your instant reaction is probably this : "OMG GETTING ATTACKED MUST DEFEND".
No.
Step 2 - Choose Words Wisely
Be the better person. Don't tell him to "kill himself", don't call him bad, don't say he's retarded for making a bad play. Don't tell him off, call him a troll, or tell him to "F---- Off. Even if you DON'T agree with what he's saying, simply reply a small message, such as "Okay." In fact, if you don't feel like you can say anything without being extremely toxic, just press the mute button next to your teammates name. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO REPLY!
It's as simple as that. Now, you've not only NEGATED his insults, but you've also saved both you and him from escalating a fight that will end up causing you to be very toxic, and possibly reported. The fact is, if you don't say anything negative in response to him, then you have successfully avoided tilt and being toxic, which will make you completely innocent in the matter, whereas the "Darius" in this example, is the one to blame for being toxic.
Step 3 - Tilt + Grudge = Toxicity
Do not let your tilt escalate into toxicity. Let's say you tried to invade the enemy jungle, but unfortunately you got caught out by the rotating bot lane and mid lane. Now you've lost your buffs, and you've been put behind in CS and XP. But your bot lane and mid lane did nothing to come help you, and that pisses you off. You feel as though they should have done something to help them.
: dangit, didn't think they'd all be there. why did u guys not come up to help
: Maybe you shouldn't have gone into their jungle with no vision?
This Leona's sentence decides whether or not you will decide to exercise self-control and admit your mistakes, or decide to flame her for not warding enough. Part of controlling tilt is admitting your mistakes, letting go of the past, and striving to become a better player both overall and in that particular match. You can't do that if you're obsessing over past misplays. If you let your tilt take control of you, you WILL become toxic and flame your team. You must develop and exercise self control and restraint.
Step 4 - You Can't Win Them All
It's just a fact. Not even the pros, such as Doublelift and Faker, win every single match they play. Statistically and realistically, you CANNOT win every single match you play. Losing exists so that you can continue to perfect your performance. If you're on a losing streak, don't blame it on your teams by saying they're all a bunch of "braindead retards". That's not okay. League of Legends is a team game, and as a team game, YOU are part of the problem, or the solution. In the end, it's your choice whether or not you want to be toxic. The only way you get better is by admitting that you mess up and also analyzing how you can fix it.
As I close out this article, here are a few more things to keep in mind. Toxicity is formed because of an excess of tilt that you have let get out of control. I know it's frustrating. I know it's agitating. I know you want to strangle your teammates some times. But what makes a player good, is the fact that no matter what happens, they are encouraging to one another. Toxic players will always exist, sadly. But you can help prevent yourself from becoming one by remembering the steps I provided, and also that YOU are in COMPLETE CONTROL of YOUR actions. Whatever you choose to do, was your choice; regardless of how pissed off your team made you.
Tips To Remember
- Fight fire with WATER, not more fire
- Keep a cool head
- Ignore trolls/flamers
- Admit you make mistakes
- Analyze your downfalls and misplays
- View losses as learning experiences
- Exercise self-control
- Enjoy the game, because it's just a game.
I hope this article helps, even if it's at least one person. I sincerely hope that some of you can learn from my mistakes and experiences, from being on both the toxic side and the positive side.
Good luck, and have fun to all of you Summoners,
Razor Blade174
