Interview with iS.Axslav: "PvP is the matchup where strategy and tactics play the biggest role out of all the Protoss matchups."

Nick "Axslav" Ranish is a professional Starcraft 2 player, currently playing for Team Infinity Seven. He is well known for being very analytical and has developed a solid fanbase since his debut on the Starcraft 2 scene in April 2010.

Axslav playing at the GESL. Photo Courtesy of Leafeator

 

Well, it's great to get to talk with you today. How are you doing?

Axslav: Good.

 

You just got back from The Gigabyte E-Sports LAN Invitational. How was that event for you?

Axslav: It was a really great event to play in as we each got our own computer for the day so could fit in practice games between rounds, but unfortunately I didn't not play too well in it and got eliminated early.

 

Did you like the format, and if we were to see a GESL 2, is there anything you’d suggest that they do differently?

Axslav: I did like the format, from a player end everything was great except maybe instead of having set starting maps to use a veto process similar to MLG to decide the starting map.

 

Now that MLG Anaheim and the GESL have passed, are you going to just settle down a bit and practice? What are your upcoming plans surrounding Starcraft 2?

Axslav: I really did not do nearly as well as I wanted to in the past 2 events, but I am feeling that I'm getting better and closing the gap between myself and the better performing players so I'm just going to try my best to bridge that gap as quickly as possible.

 

Do you have any events you're looking at attending soon, or do you want to solely practice for a while?

Axslav: The next big event for me coming up will be the MLG Summer Arena Online Qualifiers. I was able to qualify for the winter arena but lost out quick in the spring qualifier. The winter arena was really fun to compete in so I really want to pick up my game to make it into the summer arena as well.

 

Do you have a certain practice schedule you follow or do you just put in as many games as you can whenever you can?

Axslav: I don't have a set schedule just fit in games whenever I have time.

 

You’re known for your very analytical stream that has become quite popular. Are you planning on integrating a regular streaming schedule into your practice?

Axslav: For the last 2 months or so I've been on a regular streaming schedule which I update on Teamliquid.net. Unfortunately for the last 10 days or so I've been in the LA area without much access to computers so I haven't been able to stream recently.

 

Once you switched away from Warcraft 3 and began playing Starcraft 2, did you actively work on becoming a professional gamer from the beginning?

Axslav: No, up until I joined team RGN there wasn't any way for me to make significant money off the game and I didn't think I could really make a profession out of it, but now it's seeming like it might be doable with enough hard work.

 

As you've been playing the game and looking towards making a living out of it, do you find you face any significant doubts/discouragement along the way?

Axslav: There are some, mostly the uncertaintly of the future and growth of the game, but the fact that it outshines any other potential job in attractiveness far outweights the discouraging aspects.

 

You’ve recently said that Protoss v Protoss is your best match-up. Why are you favoring this matchup?

Axslav: Protoss v Protoss is the matchup where strategy and tactics play the biggest role out of all the Protoss matchups. It is the easiest matchup to outmanuever your opponent, as well as get ahead by modifying your build depending on what your opponent is doing. I struggle in PvT the most because there isn't really anyway to get ahead of a terran besides wait for them to throw some units away or outcontrolling them in engagements.

Axslav competing at MLG Anaheim.

 

So PvP being your best, and PvT the one you're struggling with the most, does that mean that PvZ is just somewhere in the middle right now?

Axslav: Yes, PvZ is super stylistic and there are so many options. I find that some zergs I do well against and others I really struggle depending on how comfortable I am with matching up my playstyle vs theirs.

 

As of late, a rather hot topic in the Starcraft 2 scene has been the Kespa players switching over to Starcraft 2. Did you catch many of their games at MLG Anaheim during the mini-tournament or do you watch much Proleague?

Axslav: I haven't seen a ton of their games, but I've managed to catch a few lately. Overall their still significantly weaker than the current pros, but in the coming months they could definitely close the gap.

 

Who do you think is the best and how long will it take until we see them comparable to say, a Code A or Code S Korean?

Axslav: I think it'll be at least several months and it's too early to really tell who's best at the moment. I hope Stork will shine though as he's my favorite Brood War player.

 

As someone who is seen as quite talented in the North American scene, do you ever think about going to Korea to train/compete?

Axslav: I've thought about it, but I don't really think it is necesary. Not only do I really enjoy where I currently live, but also Starcraft 2 is played online, so you can play vs anybody living anywhere. The latency from US to KR is not that bad so there's really no reason to move.

 

Finally, if Blizzard let you change one thing in Starcraft 2 or add one new thing to Starcraft 2, what would that change/addition be?

Axslav: I would really like to see multiplayer replay viewing like they had in Starcraft 1, that was such a fun and cool tool.

 

Yeah, that's a really good feature. I actually think they're bringing it in for Heart of the Swarm, but I suppose nothing is official at this point. To close off, would you like to shout out anyone or anything?

Axslav: Thanks to my team Infinity Seven and our great sponsors, Deviant arts, Steelseries, GGWP, Zemotion, and Twisted Oak Studios.

 

Thanks once more to Axslav for this great interview. You can follow him over on twitter @iSAxslav. I'd like to give a special shoutout to Colori and PeekaySwitch over on Reddit who provided me with some great questions for Axslav. Also on twitter, be sure to follow @TeamDignitas to stay up to date on all of the latest Starcraft 2 News, Blogs, Interviews, and more!