In preparation for the ongoing Call of Duty League Championships, Game Rant got the chance to sit down with two star players for the London Royal Ravens, Wuskin and Skrapz. Also known as the Marshall twins, Bradley and Matthew Marshall take up to spots on the all-star roster of the London Royal Ravens, but also provide streams on Twitch for their eager fans. Our conversation ranged from ways to improve in CoD to the rush of competitive play and everything in-between, including ways that the twins would improve Modern Warfare and how streaming fits in to a pro player’s career.
There’s plenty of reason to hang on the words of these two players. Their collective career in Call of Duty stretches back years, and they have each separately earned the title of CWL Pro League All-Star. Their advice on improving in the game is much appreciated, but some of their finer critiques and insights offer great perspective from the point of view of players who are deep in the nitty-gritty of Modern Warfare. Some portions of this transcript have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
GR: There’s a big skill gap between pro play and casual play- what can any player do to get better?
Skrapz: I get asked this question a lot, especially on stream. This is the basic one, as always, and what helped me get to where I am today: putting in a lot of time, and putting in more time than anyone else. I ain’t no special kid or one of them people have magic powers. It’s dedication. I’ve delt with s— ‘uns, but still got back up. Made sure I was gonna get to where I got. That plays a big part of it. If you’ve got that with you it’ll help a lot on the way to the top. It helps more than people think- I didn’t do anything different. Focus on putting time in and getting better, improving on your own game, and that’s it. All we do different is play the game 24/7 and treat it like a job.
GR: I’ve heard Wuskin say similar things in the past, that it’s about putting in time.
Wuskin: Yeah, that’s a big thing. Another way to help is when you’re tuning in, watching a pro player or streamer: look at what he’s doing. Look at the small things that no one looks at, and if you’ve got that in ya then you’ve got a good idea.
GR: So you’re saying there’s no easy trick to improving?
Skrapz: It’s definitely not easy! Took us 14 years to get to this point. It’s a lot easier to say than to do.
GR: How do you draw the line between playing for fun and playing for practice or work?
Wuskin: Ooh, I think it’s got to a point where I can’t play for fun. As mad as it sounds, any game I go into, someone knows who I am. It’s insane to say that but it means I have to sit up straight away and let them know I’m not playing games. I feel like there isn’t much time to have fun, but I enjoy it anyways. even if we’re having it out, it’s always fun.
GR: How important is streaming to a pro player’s career?
Wuskin: Not many of us do it. A very small percentage of pros really try to get a stream out every day for the people, because you know it’s hard to practice three sets a day and then go straight on to streaming. To be honest it’s really hard to do that.
Skrapz: Yeah, but also you’ve got to suck it up and do it, because if you don’t do it, if you’re not the chosen one, then it’s hard to get yourself out there and show who you are as a person. People might watch you in events, but they won’t know you. If you can sit there and not stream, then you tend to go under the radar.
Wuskin: I agree with that. I understand to a certain extent when players don’t, because some people just don’t want to or don’t feel comfortable. We are here to play Call of Duty, not to stream. Don’t get it twisted, it helps out a lot, but there are people that don’t and I understand it. It helps out a lot but it’s not for everybody.
GR: Why Modern Warfare? Why do you like this game above any other, why not play Overwatch or R6 Siege?
Skrapz: We didn’t know that this game would be so different to the previous Call of Duties. We’ve been doing this for so long, we’ve been playing Call of Duty for over 13 years, and all of this happened. The CDL, the franchise, and we just took advantage of it as it happened. It’s payed off.
GR: Is there anything that sets CoD and Modern Warfare apart?
Skrapz: Our community. It really is top tip. I think that goes to speak for the whole of the gaming community, it’s really top tip. You go to any tournament and see the chat going wild. Often it can be awful, but from what I’ve seen, so many great things have happened- I reckon it’s the community.
GR: How well do you think devs have been able to balance realism, competitive integrity, and casual fun?
Skrapz: There is no competitive integrity! I’ll be honest with you. In this game there’s none, mate. In multiplayer and on the pro side, this I think is the least skillful game we’ve had. So asking me that question, I’m just gonna be straight up.
Wuskin: I mean… I don’t know what to say about that.
Skrapz: I could sit here talk to you all day and literally write a book on it. To cut the story short… Mate, I don’t think it’s competitive one bit. The guns shoot for ya, you don’t even have to aim, the spawn logic, the bugs, the servers…. They’ve come out and said that they didn’t want to focus on competitive, which is fine, so I understand why it’s like that. It its what it is. We’ve come this far and I try to stay positive and hope for more competitive focus next year.
GR: What would you do to make professional play better?
Skrapz: The spawns. There’s absolutely no logic. I wouldn’t even know where to start, but I’d try to start with that. Even the maps- Hackney Yard Domination, if you spawn on allegiance, you’re down 30 off the rip. It’s so many things.
GR: What about you, Wuskin?
Wuskin: Yeah, you’ve caught up for me.
GR: Is there anything you’d do to make the game more fun in a casual setting?
Wuskin: In a casual setting…. If you go back to Modern Warfare Two, it was a lot of rewards for doing challenges in the game, like camos, titles, emblems-
Skrapz: Even that! There’s not even prestiges AHH!
Wuskin: Theres nothing to chase, if that makes sense. Back in the day we used to have emblems that not many people had. You want to chase something that not many people can get. That’s what I enjoy anyway.
GR: What are your favorite weapons or favorite loadouts?
Skrapz: I use both MP5 and M4, and I enjoy both, so definitely those.
Are there any weapons you use outside of competition that you particularly like?
Skrapz: In Warzone, unless I’m getting ready for a tournament, I love using the MP7. That’s my favorite, I have a lot of fun using that.
Wuskin: The M4 is the obvious one, but I love the HDR. Those are my two sons. In Warzone as well, I love using the HDR. Whenever I’m out in pubs I like messing around with the Grau, I could make a montage of that thing. Other than the HDR and the M4, it’s that.
GR: Do you ever just get bored and run around with a Deagle?
Wuskin: Yeah the Deagle is fun to use. I used it a lot at the start of the game, and for a while I was the only one using it in competitive matches.
GR: What’s the most fun you’ve had playing this game?
Wuskin: This could be the worst game in the world and the feeling of going to an event, going in and showing up- that feeling will never ever change. That feeling is unreal.
GR: What’s the closest a player can get to that feeling without being a pro?
Wuskin: If they’re playing 2Ks or whatever. Entering in to something like that with your friends, people who you’re close with, little tourneys.
Skrapz: In Warzone… just loading into a game with three of your mates and winning a game- I like those moments and my enjoyment kicks up even outside of pro play.
GR: We’ve heard a lot about gentleman’s agreements in pro play. How important are they, and can you give an example?
Skrapz: There’s plenty of people who don’t think they should be a thing, but just picture what it would look like in a pro match if people were throwing thermites and C4s everywhere. It would be too random and chaotic. Let’s say marksman rifles were around- everyone would be running around one-tapping each other. Actually that might be pretty fun, I might be on to something there! Regardless, if everyone was running around with and LMG or something… things could spiral out of control and a lot of stupid things would evolve.
GR: Is there a mindset you try to get into before a competition? Anything you do to get in that headspace?
Wuskin: As long as I’ve got my music, that’s all I need the most…. I need it blasting. That’s what gets me going.
GR: Casual players often copy pro loadouts and setups- are there any pitfalls there?
Skrapz: I don’t see anything wrong with that. If you’ve got a certain playstyle… some people use the muzzle brake on the MP5 for range, but if you’re more aggressive you’d replace that with Stippled Grip Tape. In copying a loadout, it’s all dependent on how you play. Copying someone else’s loadout won’t change much.
GR: How often do you two play together outside of practice?
Wuskin: Every night! In Warzone especially.
GR: Anything else you want to talk about?
Skrapz: Shout out to everyone reading for showing us love all the time! We appreciate you guys!
GR: One last question to close out: What are you looking forward to most in Champs?
Skrapz: The feeling of just competing, the fact that we’re playing for millions, that’s motivation.
[end.]
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone are available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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