But don't fret. Coaches say A.P.M. is becoming less important in the competitive "StarCraft" world, particularly as more people jump to the sequel version of the game, from Blizzard Entertainment.
This is true, and a lot of Brood War devotees hail this as a reason that SC2 will never be as competitive as BW. Because you don't need as many APM in SC2 as you do in BW. Do you know why that is? Do you? It is because the user interface in Brood War SUCKS. In a just world with a loving God, one would look at the SC2 interface and say, man, this is pretty bad, but in OUR world, it's SO FAR AHEAD of its predecessor that people are called FAGS for not having to pound the keyboard like epileptic spider monkeys to accomplish the most basic of tasks, and people have actually considered MAKING THE INTERFACE WORSE INTENTIONALLY to bring back some of that "BW competitive spirit". There is NO HOPE.
As for HOW TO BECOME PRO:
Finger Exercises
Most SC2 pros still have 200 APM, not because they need it, but because they spend all the downtime in between doing useful things mashing on the keyboard as suggested. They're doing the exercises while they're playing.
Mental Health
No chance.
Physical Health
See: Mental Health. At one point SC2 was going to be my ticket out of alcoholism and obesity, as finally I was able to commit myself to something else. Now I just sit around eating, drinking, and feeling even worse about not being any good at SC2. CONGRATS BLIZZ.
Know Your Enemy
This only applies once you're already a pro gamer and know who you're playing. On any average night on the ladder, you're just playing URMomEetsDIX and his other random buddies from across the country.
Keep At It
Correct. I would also add:
1. Steal pro builds.
2. Watch Day9?
MaximusBlack has made it from Gold to high Masters and let us all watch, and he's done it essentially by stealing pro builds and practicing them hours a day. That's... That'll get you far. Won't get you pro, but it'll get you far.
I'm stuck at Gold (and let's be honest, Silver) because I won't do either.
(Also I barely play the game lately. Though it's starting to ramp up a little more lately.)