1. Better game sense. Most Masters players can sense when something is off by scouting better and knowing how to interpret information and react correctly.

2. Slightly better mechanics. Better micro, macro and overall multitasking. APM is actually around the same as Diamonds, but Master players are usually more efficient.

3. Tighter build orders that actually make sense.

Overall the biggest difference between a Diamond and a Masters player is their decision-making IMO. Knowing when to attack, when to retreat and when to expand.

nobodywonder

United States848 Posts

April 02 2014 18:28 GMT

#22

I suggest focusing on working on one good build order (from a pro preferably). If you master it, then you understand its strengths and weaknesses. You understand its strengths by knowing timings for attacks and harass, and understand its weaknesses by compensating with scouting or playing defensively.

You can also figure what to do when something goes wrong.

Also by sticking to one build order, the macro should be eventually second-nature and you can micro better.

Xinzoe

Korea (South)2373 Posts

April 02 2014 18:32 GMT

#23

Less resource floating
Can anticipate aggression based on scouting
Better engagements (There are so many times when a terran throws away 120 supply for 3 colossus, it's disgusting)

this is kr diamond -> master, not sure if different in other server but should be same

Rickyvalle21

United States320 Posts

April 02 2014 18:54 GMT

#24

I honestly don't think to high diamond to master is not that big of a difference at all. In fact there a lot of diamonds who are better then masters. I'm 2300 point master and I can match and win vs low grandmasters but occasionally lose to them diamond players so I don't think it's a big difference. This might be due to ladder being kinda dead aswell.

Saechiis

Netherlands4989 Posts

April 02 2014 18:56 GMT

#25

I think it will differ per person, they're just a bit better overall, there's not a secret to making masters.

torJey

Russian Federation6 Posts

April 02 2014 19:08 GMT

#26

Aaah, the jump...
I'm currently a high diamond player (getting about 2 masters per 5 games in my ladder) and been there since beta lol. I just played from time to time, always being that diamond guy. I tried to push the masters at the end of WoL and didn't succeed due to my work and here goes the second attempt, having played almost 700 games this season i unrusted and got in a decent shape.

As a zerg player i feel like getting consistent is the most difficult thing and what sets diamond and masters caliber players aside.
My ZvP is horrible, i can win a mid masters player who goes some all-in or fast 3rd Nexus if i scout right and drone to the max or i can lose to a simple one base 4gate, because i misread the proxy DT rush or smt.
In other MUs i can rely on my scouting and actually get consistent results, knowing why do i lose and improving, so i think this might be the jump for me.
I really hope to get promoted in the next season, i've been playing this game for too damn long and tryharding for half of a year daily is a really tiring thing :/

bartus88

Netherlands491 Posts

April 02 2014 19:11 GMT

#27

The things people have said are true, but really can be said about all promotions. I'm only diamond myself, but I don't think there is one thing you have to improve to jump to masters, it greatly varies for every person. Everyone I meet on the ladder has a few things that they do really well and a few things they do pretty poorly.

Ryuhou)aS(

United States1174 Posts

April 02 2014 19:19 GMT

#28

On April 03 2014 03:54 Rickyvalle21 wrote:
I honestly don't think to high diamond to master is not that big of a difference at all. In fact there a lot of diamonds who are better then masters. I'm 2300 point master and I can match and win vs low grandmasters but occasionally lose to them diamond players so I don't think it's a big difference. This might be due to ladder being kinda dead aswell.

this right here. there's not a huge difference between high diamond and entry masters. Top masters is a little different, but basically everythings much faster (timings, micro, macro, literally everything). Also, one of my friends was GM for a while in wings and the first few seasons of hots, and he almost always lost to diamonds (he would always blame the quirky builds that he scouts and misinterprets whats coming based off the other masters/GM players being more efficient)

I also wanna make a point here that you need to remember, it's still just a game. a Game! ranks don't really mean anything, and you should concentrate on having fun while playing. (understandably winning is more fun but "grinding" or forcing yourself to play takes away some of the enjoyment of it) ...dont get burned out like i did...i guess is what im saying

JacobShock

Denmark2485 Posts

April 02 2014 22:57 GMT

#29

I have yet to make the jump. I am simply too inconsistent. I believe my mechanics are there. At least low master league. I just make silly mistakes, get tunnel vision etc. When I am not confident in myself I play accordingly. I think one of the most important things to get to master league, is just to be consistent. If there is too big of difference between your best level of play and your absolute worst it's not going to happen. At least that's my point of view.

Waise

3165 Posts

April 02 2014 23:07 GMT

#30

On April 03 2014 07:57 JacobShock wrote:
I have yet to make the jump. I am simply too inconsistent. I believe my mechanics are there. At least low master league. I just make silly mistakes, get tunnel vision etc. When I am not confident in myself I play accordingly. I think one of the most important things to get to master league, is just to be consistent. If there is too big of difference between your best level of play and your absolute worst it's not going to happen. At least that's my point of view.

honestly i think you can replace this post with any two leagues. "i'm gold but i think my mechanics are there to make it to plat, i just make silly mistakes, get tunnel vision etc." the way human psychology works, we tend to try to find logic in all things, but sometimes we try too hard and find patterns that aren't really there (hence people who believe in conspiracies etc.)

everyone's ladder experience will be skewed by what they are strong/weak with as a player, you can't really generalize entire leagues to mean anything other than an overall progression of skill - skill meaning "ability to win games." there are lots of variables. only difference is as you get higher in league there are fewer and fewer windows to do random shit like infestor drops and still make it work because of mechanical gaps. back when i was in gold i used to try crazy shit and succeed with it, but as i started facing stronger opponents i realized that the weaknesses in my build were being exploited more and more

i think that's the best way to sum it up. "the higher the league, the more your weaknesses will be exploited"

mikumegurine

Canada3145 Posts

April 03 2014 01:33 GMT

#31

On April 03 2014 01:25 jyuj wrote:
You can still 4 gate into Masters on NA and EU. Nothing has changed.

u can actually 6pool into Masters on NA

requires heavy micro battles but its doable

ktimekiller

United States690 Posts

April 03 2014 01:41 GMT

#32

There is no "jump".

You can imagine leagues as arbitrary "goals" in a singular track that everyone is in.
It is entirely possible for you to be playing against the very same players as a low masters player as a high diamond player and notice no significant difference in the quality of games as you get promoted, minus the shiny badge on your profile.

For example, let us say a high diamond of MMR 10 (note, not actual values) plays against players within the range of 8-12 while a low masters player with an MMR of 11 plays against players within the range of 9-13. There is an obvious overlap of the range of players that the diamond and master players play against, and thus a league promotion does not necessarily change the quality of players that you face, but rather the difference in MMR between a typical diamond and masters players allows you to face different range of players.

FreeZEternal

Korea (South)3396 Posts

April 03 2014 01:41 GMT

#33

Haven't played for 3 seasons... but DAMN! Is it just me or Diamonds are MUCH harder now? I remember when I first moved to Masters I was beating Diamonds players easily but now it's a lot harder. In fact, high Plats are hard too... I'm exclusively playing 2v2 now and I am finding the game MUCH harder and interesting than 1v1.

HeeroFX

United States2704 Posts

April 03 2014 01:50 GMT

#34

When I use to play the biggest thing I noticed was that the game just got faster. Players were more thought out and everything they did had a purpose, or a goal. Protoss players still did a lot of all ins though that didn't change. But TvZ and TvT were fun and different. Especially the zerg players at masters level they just knew what to do vs everything.

covetousrat

2109 Posts

April 03 2014 01:59 GMT

#35

On April 03 2014 03:02 HelpMeGetBetter wrote:

Show nested quote +

I love it when people call me a noob after I win the game. Or they balance whine.
And don't forget players love to lecture you on how APM = skill.

Best Tip I got was to stop balance whining and complaining about every little thing and focus on improving anyway you can.

Typical people on NA to whine and calling noob even on high masters. Surprising i don get this on KR ladder maybe cause they don english lol.

Pursuit_

United States1330 Posts

April 03 2014 02:07 GMT

#36

The short answer is, masters on average do everything better than diamonds.

But really, as lots of people have pointed out you can get to masters off the back of a single really refined timing attack for each matchup. If you have 'correct', quick, refined responses responses to a majority of the bullshit your opponent can throw at you and 'good' micro / macro, you will probably hit masters, and this is easier to do the shorter you make your games / the more aggressively you play.