There is so much hate on the forums about Trials...every weekend. There are a few common themes about why people hate Trials: 1) Apparently they play "professionals" every game and get stomped 2) Lag 3) Cheaters? 4) Tryhards (lol) 5) New meta.. I have played lots of trials.. and here are my opinions on each of these themes (if you care at all) 1) Steamers/"Professionals"/Stacked teams....: You are going to run into good players. Why should they not be allowed to carry someone to the lighthouse or run as a stacked team? There are no rules against this.. you just have to accept this situation. If you don't freak out instantly when you see their names/stats you could actually beat those teams if you play smart. 2) Lag: I run into a full team of red-bars MAYBE once per full card. Again, these teams are beatable. It does not automatically mean that they are cheating... its just connection. Most people here, including myself, do not know all the technical stuff about internet connections so its best to not just jump to conclusions that they are cheating. Especially if that team has a 50% win percentage lol. Yes, it is extremely frustrating to play against these teams... the best way to beat them is to change your strategy up a bit. 3) Cheaters: There s a 99.99% chance that team wasn't cheating. 4) Tryhards: They want to go flawless... just like you... so screw those guys, right? 5) New meta: Shotguns do not have near as much range as they used to (year 1). Snipers needed a flinch because you should not be able to drill someone in the head with a primary multiple times and then they take out their sniper and dome you. If you think you hate flinch, go back to the old Halo days where it would de-scope you completely if you were shot at. Bungie finally put snipers in their place. You should not be able to run around the map with your sniper... it is a sniper. The clever dragon is only hated because everyone has it. It is just like the grasp (god-roll grasps actually have more range). I use the vendor-roll clever dragon in trials.. go ahead and hate me. Yes titans are crazy fast and warlocks have a mile-long melee and nightstalkers can shadestep... every class has their advantages, you need to learn how to counter them. Just accept the fact that you are not the developer of the game but rather the player... play the game. I get that most maps are close quarter combat... it is what it is. So there's my opinions.. Lots of you will probably look me up. I play on a nightstalker and use the meta, yup go ahead and hate me. I also go flawless on that character like 10 times a week.. so I like to win. Before this meta, I used the hawksaw and conspiracy theory and still easily went flawless.. Sucked on a warlock when i started the game right after TTK, so his stats suck.. haven't played it in 8 months. I get that Trials can be very difficult for lots of players... but honestly here are some tips that may help you go flawless or just win more games: 1) Have a stormcaller on your team 2) Don't have more than 1 hunter on your team unless your teammates are very good 3) Use shotguns on small maps, no more than 1 sniper on ANY map unless your teammates are very good 4) Use the meta if you have it unless you are good with other weapons. Don't use a scout-rifle or auto-rifle in most cases 5) In most cases do not use your super in a 3v1 (if you are the 3 or the 1). 6) Keep the res's down 7) If you run defender use the bubble for heavy round and bait slams/novas 8) Be aware of enemy supers, how much time is left on the clock, where the over-time spawns, your teammates supers, grenades, map position, etc... all the little things matter. 9) If you match up against a team of 3 Titans, your team should rotate to a more open part of the map and not push them so aggressively because they can fly at you very quickly. You need to see them coming. 10) If you match a stacked team do not immediately freak out Free tip: Team shot! Edit: Some additional tips people (Valek27) have suggested! 11) Teamwork/communication: This is the single biggest factor even over individual skill to winning games. A team that works together and complements each other can beat a team of more skilled players that aren't working together. Basically don't form a team with guys you barely pvp with and expect an easy run to the lighthouse. [b]Your classes/loadouts should also complement eachother[/b] 12) Stick together: While great players can solo flank with success, average players rarely can. 90% of the time if you lone wolf you will die. It'll be a 3v1 or 2v1 and yeah you may take 1 guy out before you die. But he died next to his team so he's easily revived. You however died next to the enemy, so getting you back up is going to be next to impossible. Or your team dies in a 3v2 fight. The enemy team revives and it's now 3v1 against you. Rarely will anything good happen if you go alone...so stick with your team. 13) Map awareness/map control: You need to know where the common lanes are that players use. Also you need to know where the control point is. Sure your team may have a perfect area to defend [u][/u]and any team that attacks you will die. But if it's on the other side of the map away from where the control point spawns....you gave the other team a free win if they are smart. Conversely if your team is doing a good job controlling the area where the point spawns...stay patient. Aggressive teams are at a disadvantage against a team that's prepared for them. Eventually the other team will have to come for you putting them at a disadvantage against your team. Or they stay back and you guys cap for an easy win.