5 Questions with OXG’s FoxA
The Rainbow SiX star talks how he’ll deal with the target on the team’s back coming back to North American play.
After a thrilling top-three finish at Six Invitational earlier this month in Montreal, we had the opportunity to catch up with OXG star Davide “FoxA” Bucci, one of the catalysts of the run. In this exclusive Q&A, FoxA shares his thoughts on Oxygen Esports' performance in the tournament, his favorite strategies and the keys to preparation.
What are three factors you'd say allowed your team to have such a dominant showing on the world's stage at SI?
Our first factor was the fact that we not only can play aggressive and fast — which does really well in the current meta — but also, when we’re faced against an equally aggressive opponent, we know how to slow things down and play a more team/utility-based siege. Almost in a blink, we're able to play two different styles and even create a hybrid of the two, which catches a lot of teams off-guard
Secondly, to be completely honest, I'd have to say our spirit. Our will to win was unmatched by many other teams. Making comeback after comeback, we knew that if we followed our gameplan and the practice we put in, and relied on each other rather than feeling the need for one player to do it all on his lonesome, good things would happen. With our heart and spirit, we won and brought back some unwinnable games. It’s funny, we almost played better when we knew we couldn’t make any more mistakes.
Lastly, I mentioned it, but our game plan. The prep we put in beforehand was unlike any team I’ve been on before. We treated our bootcamp like an actual bootcamp, scrimming as much as possible, and putting any free time into VOD, reviewing our enemies and getting new ideas ready for game time.
Our Will to win was unmatched by many other teams.
OXG’s Davide “FoxA” Bucci
Bringing the competition back to North America, how do keep this momentum going? What stands in the way of that, and how do you address it?
Our biggest fret going back to North America will mainly be the counterstraters. Some of these teams that lost at SI will look unstoppable coming back to their region. There’s plenty of footage on us from the event, and the lower teams will be hunting for us. It's up to us to not let up and give in to the ease of being at the top for now. We can’t slow down. We have to make new plays and adjust old ones. Fortunately for us, we are arguably one of the best teams at adapting on the fly, so I think even if we get pinned down, we can make something work.
Rainbow Six requires such a high level of teamwork and coordination, and its meta-game can be complex and rewarding for dedicated players. What is your preferring playing style or operator, and why?
As slow and methodical I am in pro league, always trying to find the right puzzle piece I can slot into to help my team. I genuinely love playing like a rat. Playing ops like ash and running into the site in the first 10 seconds and trying to come out on top, or playing a roamer and staying hidden until I can creep up behind an unsuspecting team. Plays like that fill me with joy.
How do you prepare for a match or tournament, both mentally and physically?
I personally feel as if the prep you put in beforehand is most important. Know your enemy's ins and outs, so you have a response ready for anything. Once you figure out all the variables a team can do, it’s a lot easier to prepare for the unknown. I know that if I’m informed, I can put myself in the right place at the right time.
What drew you to Rainbow Six? Why this game in lieu of other titles? How did you get immersed in this community and what's it done for you on a personal level?
Rainbow Six is unlike any other game I’ve ever seen. Every round is played differently. I've never once played something twice realistically. The complexity of it is thrilling, and when you successfully make a play after working so hard at the game, it feels rewarding, unlike many other games.