Replaying your own matches and watching others play are the fastest ways to improve in Beyond All Reason. This guide shows how the system works.

How do you get your replay reviewed by a mentor?

If you want a mentor to review your game, follow these steps:

1. Create a thread in the Academy Chat channel on Discord by clicking the button at the top right
2. Provide a replay link from the BAR website at beyondallreason.info/replays. Replays are automatically saved there unless it was a private match
3. Include your in-game name if it differs from your Discord handle

This system works like a ticket queue. Mentors pick up replays when they have time and provide detailed feedback.

What is the best path from AI practice to PvP?

New players should follow this sequence:

• Complete the first 3-4 scenarios in the tutorial to learn basic controls
• Beat the hard barb AI without building static defenses above a beamer turret. This proves you understand the core mechanics
• Spectate 1-2 live games or watch recorded videos to observe decision-making patterns
• Join a PvP game with the lowest maximum rating or chevron requirement you can find

Jumping straight into competitive lobbies before completing this path results in poor experiences and slow improvement. The AI stages build muscle memory that transfers directly to multiplayer.

Does spectating actually help?

Yes. Watching live games exposes you to decision-making under pressure. You can observe build orders, economy management, and army positioning without your own hands full of buttons. Most players who spectate regularly report faster improvement than players who only play their own matches.

In the BAR community, spectating is not considered passive. It is recognized as active study. Players who combine personal matches with regular spectating improve their rating significantly faster than either activity alone.

What are game speed settings?

Players practicing with partners sometimes want to slow the game down. The default keybind to lower game speed is Alt. This makes the game playable for partners who are still adjusting to the pace of real-time strategy.

Key takeaways

• Tutorial scenarios, then hard AI, then spectating, then low-rating PvP. Follow this order
• Submit replays through Academy Chat threads on Discord for mentor feedback
• Spectating is active study, not passive watching
• Use the Alt key to slow game speed for practice matches