So a few members of the group have asked me “how do I get better?” I’ve thought about the question a bit and have decided to post a couple helpful tips, tricks, and mindsets which help me and my team during tough moments. For my first post I want to talk about the Crucible on a basic level, which will help with all facets of the game. On a basic level the crucible pits one team of volunteers against another. The Crucible tests each teams’ ability to present and react to obstacles. These obstacles are created both by the game engine (Heavy Weapon Ammo Spawn) and the players (One team is sieging a control point). The team which handles these obstacles more successfully will win. Please notice I didn’t say anything about skill. Mechanical skill feels awesome. It feels incredible to out duel your opponent. It’s rewarding to do something in game and say “Xbox: Record that.” What skill does not do, however, is win games. Skill might make you the “best” in the room and award the most points, but would you rather be the best guy on the losers’ team or a guy contributing to the winners’ team? So let’s talk about winning. There are a huge combination of team compositions which will win games. Today I am going to talk about one which is simple but fundamental to many other strategies: [b]The Three Man Squad[/b]. The squad consists of three players with unique skillsets and mindsets. The first of which is the [b]Main-Slay[/b]. He is the guy with lightning fast reflexes, an itchy trigger finger, and a knack for dodging projectiles. Also called the Point Man, the Main-Slay usually leads the charge into battle. His Kill/Death ratio might not be incredible but his kill participation is second to none. The second member is the [b]Anchor[/b]. This selfless gamer is dedicated to the survival of the squad. While the Main-Slay looks forward, the Anchor watches the flanks and rear, and is one with his radar. Often times Anchors have a higher understanding of spawn zones, and is also the one paying close attention to which control points are under siege. The Anchor’s Kill/Death ratio will be high. The third member is the [b]Flex[/b]. He or she is the glue between the Main-Slay and the Anchor, and does a little bit of everything. Also referred to as a Support-Slay, the Flex has a unique play style. When sieging an objective it is the Flex’s job to circumvent the enemies’ line of fire and attack them while they are looking at the Main-Slay. Similarly, if the Anchor is being attacked the Flex will quickly get into position to counter their assault. The Flex’s Kill/Death will fluctuate, but assists will always be high. After you have your squad you are ready to win. The squad mates will learn to rely on each other’s communication and cover fire in order to survive every battle. The squad of three will be able to defeat disorganized mobs of six with bullet hailing glory. The trick of the squad is group communication and movement. The squad goes to the same objective, defends the same objective, and roams the map together. To newcomers I recommend learning your role, and practicing with your squad. Don’t be afraid to try out different roles (be sure your squad is on the same page) until you find the one best for you. A great place to practice the Three Man Squad is in a pressure free environment, notably the Vanguard Tiger Playlist. Work together, build synergy, and have fun. The squad is a band of blood-brothers, fighting together, as one. I hope this helps. Comment below and let me know if you want more Judge’s Academy. Also, what role do you think you are? Post below any questions or insight into how you play. Judgment