Peel: How Do You Peel in Online Games?
In team-based online games, “peeling” is a smart tactic where one player steps in to take pressure off a teammate who’s being targeted—usually someone important like a healer or damage dealer. The idea is to draw the enemy’s attention away from that vulnerable ally and force them to deal with you instead.
What Does “Peeling” Mean in Online Games?
This is usually done by roles with strong defensive tools or crowd control abilities—think tanks or support characters. When a flanker sneaks up on your team and goes after a squishy teammate, the peeling player jumps in to stop them, giving their ally a chance to recover, reposition, or escape.
For example, in a shooter like Valorant or CS2, a player might block the path, throw a flash, or directly challenge the attacker. Doing this disrupts the enemy’s momentum and shifts their focus, which can be the difference between losing a teammate or turning the fight around. Pulling this off well takes teamwork, quick thinking, and strong communication.
How to Peel Effectively
Peeling is all about responding quickly when a teammate is in danger. You want to distract or pressure the attacker enough that they stop chasing your ally and focus on you instead. This could mean using an ability, getting in their way, or even just being a bigger threat in that moment.
The key is to make the enemy see you as the bigger problem, giving your teammate room to breathe. And since timing is everything, you need to act fast—hesitating could mean your teammate goes down before you can help.
Coordination with your team really matters here. When everyone’s on the same page, peeling becomes a powerful way to protect the team and keep the fight going in your favor. It’s not always about scoring kills—sometimes, saving a teammate is the play that wins the round.
