The TLDR of this is that no single game of Valorant is lost, until you've actually lost. Avoid flaming teammates (or responding to toxicity with MORE toxicity), because you never know when something will swing in your favor. Don't go for an FF unless you're a man down for some reason (leaver, ping, thrower, etc).

Here's the game, and my account if anyone is curious: https://tracker.gg/valorant/match/9b79992c-94ce-49b3-91da-00a0a633908e?handle=SeriouslyAverage%238943

(if anyone looks closely at my account, don't hate, it's been a rough ride haha)

Now for the full post:

Last night I was in a game with two mates and two randoms on Bind, and it was going bad. Really, REALLY bad. We were 4-8 down at half time, which doesn't sound too bad but we fluked a couple of rounds with ultis - in reality we were getting spanked, considering the FF as many would. At 0-5 our KJ started flaming, insulting our team in the /a chat, calling us baiters etc, etc. You know the type, gets flashed and domed once and starts rage typing in the chat, saying 'GG' and 'trash team'. Enemy team join in, calling us trash, saying "go next", and everything else you expect.

Our Phoenix was having a rough game, at one point going 0-8, just getting rolled repeatedly. It happens, we've all been there (hell I know I have). Obviously he becomes the target of our Killjoy's anger, and things just escalate from there. Phoenix asks if we want to forfeit, or stick around.

Being Bind, my exact words were "maybe, we'll see how attack goes because I find attacking Bind a bit easier, especially with our comp.".

Our second half goes 9-1, and we win 13-9. Phoenix manages to nab some important kills and plays in post-plant situations and I (Breach), manage to top our team after an average first half because I'm better on offense on Bind.

Me and my mates decided to ignore our Killjoy and change up our focus for attack, concentrating on lurking the aggressive peeks and flanks, and waiting out the surge of utility. It worked, and we rolled them.

Moral of the story? Flaming your bottom fragger - no matter how 'bad' they're playing - DOESN'T HELP. At best it'll cause the player to play more reserved (normally leading to 'baiting' comments), at worst they'll quit/ rage/ afk/ play even worse. Likewise, raging out just because you're losing isn't going to help anyone, least of all yourself. Tilt is a real thing, and it affects you the most.

Every single game is winnable, until you're in the post-game lobby. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

EDIT: Appreciate the Awards <3