Top tips to stay alive and thrive in PUBG Mobile

When you think of PUBG Mobile, you might consider loadouts or firepower as the most important part of the game. However, wielding the most powerful weapon in the entire game won't mean a thing if you're not putting survival first on your priority list. You'll be eliminated before you fire a single shot if you're not strategic.

Below are some tips on how you can stay alive through the course of a PUBG Mobile match. Some of them might seem like common sense, but you'd be surprised at how easy it is to forget them in the heat of the moment. Follow these guidelines and there will be plenty of chicken dinners in your future.

This may sound very obvious, but it's a mistake that a lot of new players make. If you see a lot of opponents dropping into a certain area, don't join them. That location is going to turn into a fierce firefight within seconds, and if you want to stay alive as long as possible, you'll increase your chances by staying away.

Take a few matches to get familiar with the map and choose one or two places off the beaten path and with a good loot supply to be your regular landing spots, at least at the beginning. This way, not only do you know that your landing will be smooth, but you can also map out a consistent game plan more effectively.

This is another 'no kidding' tip, but the safe zone is called that for a reason: Anything outside the circle is going to whittle your health away until you're toast. While looting and battling other players is the core action of a PUBG Mobile match, safe zone mismanagement is an easy way to find yourself back at the lobby screen.

It's not only crucial that you stay inside the circle, but also that you keep a constant eye on its movements so that you can plan your next move. It might be difficult for you to escape if you get caught on the second floor of a building or on a rooftop when the circle comes closing in. Check your map regularly and plan your path to victory accordingly.

PUBG Mobile is at its best when you're playing with your squad, but a lot of what makes the team-based gameplay work is collaboration. If all four teammates go off and do their own thing, your squad isn't going to last very long in the match.

Keep in constant communication with the other members of your team. You can use voice chat or the in-game speech/emote function, so that everyone is on the same page from the moment you land. If your teamwork is solid, it'll fast-track you to your win.

You'll get a lot of downtime between battles. The maps are vast with a lot of space between locations, and sometimes you might feel lonely and isolated from the rest of the players. However, when you do finally find a foe to engage with, don't start attacking immediately. There are multiple factors to consider first!

Find some cover and track your enemy's movement. Then, when you see an opportunity to get the jump on them, take your first shot and go from there. Jumping into a fight head-on, (unless it's absolutely necessary) is a great way to get eliminated, especially in the later stages of a match.

There's no benefit to turtling in one place for an entire match, especially if you're landing somewhere on the outskirts of the map. The safe zone is going to close away from you quickly, and if you're not ready to chase it, you're going to be in deep trouble.

Careful, well-planned movements from location to location are key to PUBG Mobile victory, and trending one way in either extreme is a recipe for disaster. Keep calm and carry on, and you'll have plenty of success in your PUBG career.