E-sports is one of the biggest (and fastest growing) things in the world right now as far as competitive sports are concerned. (Yes, it is now considered a sport!)
It’s becoming as big as many professional sports leagues and has the projection of even dominating the world of sports soon. The industry is a billion dollar industry with professional players and audiences from all over the world watching both online and in person at various worldwide events!
With so much money and fame involved, such a competitive space is bound to have players looking for that “extra edge” that can help change the game for them.
That’s where nootropics come in to play! These energy / mental focus supplements can turn things around in a big way.
E-sports are all about focus, concentration, anxiety management, and imagination. Nootropic supplements can provide cognitive benefits to help with all of these.
Now, to successfully use nootropics for e-sports or any video game battle at all, it’s important to choose the right type.
You need to select cognitive enhancers that can give you the extra advantage you seek, without the risk of negative side effects. Such side effects could actually get in the way of your goals, and keep you from reaching the next level of your gaming career.
This is exactly what you’re going to see in this article! – “What Are The Best Nootropics for Esports and Gaming Success?”
That is, nootropic supplement options that can help with different brain functions. Particularly which ones you need if you want to truly stand out from the competition in competitive e-sports and gaming events.
In other words – The best smart drugs for pro gamers!
Imagine raising your focus capacity alongside your energy, memory, and motivation all at the same time, and translating that directly into superior gameplay. With nootropics, reaching the “optimal gaming effect” is possible.
Now, let’s start leveling up your gaming!
What Gamers Need To Perform Better
Pro gamers need several cognitive functions like concentration, focus, memory, and imagination. All of this, combined with the ability to perform under high-stress situations.
This means that you need nootropics that can increase your levels of dopamine, serotonin, and GABA receptors.
It’s also important that these nootropics promote other things such as NGF (nerve growth fator) that aid the brain in the regenerative process with potent anti fatigue effects.
In otherwords, you want a healthier competitive boost, as opposed to an all out energy rush that 9 out of 10 times results in a crash.
As you can see, it’s a complex subject that requires that you understand what is behind the nootropic effect and how you can use that to leverage your performance.
It also helps if you know exactly what you want.
For instance, you may be a very creative person that has a hard time focusing on anything due to your social anxiety (especially if you’re at a line in-person gaming event). In this case, you need a gaming nootropic that releases serotonin and stimulates GABA receptors.
What effects can you look for in the best nootropics for e-sports & gaming?
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Extreme focus
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Concentration
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Stress and anxiety management
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Improved memory
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Overall improvement in cognitive function
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Decrease in mental fatigue
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Mental clarity
These are just some of the cognitive enhancement effects that you can expect from the best nootropics for gamers.
The best nootropics for gaming to improve your performance and allow you to play for longer without losing your focus and your ability to deal with the stress of competition.
Buckle up, because I’m going to share with you what these effective e-sports supplements (AKA Gaming Nootropics) are below!
L-Theanine – One of the Best Nootropics for Esports Gamers
L-theanine is one of the best nootropics for gamers because it relaxes you without sedating you.
It’s also one of the key ingredients in NITROamp, one of my favorite pre-formulated nootropics for energy without the negative side effects of caffeine! (Also, great for gaming and e-sports!)
You can read my full NITROamp Review Here.
This means that you can better manage anxiety and stress, which are super common when it comes to the pro gaming world, without getting sleepy or slower.
L-theanine inhibits serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine receptors, which means that it stimulates your brain to produce more.
This increases the levels of these neurotransmitters in your brain, which in turn, make you more alert, better at dealing with your anxiety, and control your mood.
Dopamine and serotonin, especially, have other functions as well. They can improve your performance exponentially.
We’re talking about motivation, regulated depression, controlled anxiety, improved focus.
This can be a game-changer for gamers. (no pun intended!)
Still, l-theanine isn’t a miracle pill. You need to take it long-term to experience the effects.
You can’t just take it on the day of the competition and expect it to perform a miracle for you.
It isn’t a cheat code per se.
L-Tyrosine
L-tyrosine is an amino acid that stimulates the release of dopamine and noradrenaline.
This reduces the effects of stress during situations of high-stress in which your body releases too much cortisol.
This is perfect for gamers because it becomes ideal for high-stress situations where you need to perform and any minor mistake can cost you a lot.
Nootropic effects you can expect from L-Tyrosine:
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Better concentration
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Improved focus
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Reduced anxiety
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Improve cognitive performance
L-tyrosine is a powerful substance for you to have in your pro gamer nootropic stack.
It’s great for the world of e-sports where you have a direct opponent and you need your receptors to work optimally.
In this situation, you need your brain to respond as fast as it can.
L-tyrosine can give you an extra edge that’ll make your thought process faster, reducing the time between your thoughts and your actions.
In other words, your body will become more responsive. Again, it’s important to make clear that this isn’t a magical pill.
However, you’ll have a slightly faster performance, which can make all the difference when it comes to competitive gaming!
So, consider taking L-tyrosine to help with your overall performance.
You’ll be able to improve your focus, concentration, and deal with your anxiety better which leads to more calm and hyper-focused gameplay.
If peak gaming performance is your #1 goal, this is definitely one ingredient not to overlook.
Gingko Biloba
Gingko Biloba , one of the most well-known natural nootropics, can help your performance in e-sports gaming due to it’s positive effect on brain function.
This nootropic supplement is famous for its antioxidative properties, but it also helps with memory and blood circulation in the brain.
It’s a great addition to your nootropic gaming stack to help you improve your memory and have a better overall cognitive performance while playing video games competitively.
You’ll experience more clear and logical thinking, and mental energy.
What Ginkgo Biloba does in your brain, is releases anti-oxidant substances that get rid of free radicals.
This alone is incredible because it keeps the development of dementia and other mental illnesses at bay.
Now, not only that but ginkgo biloba promotes better blood circulation in your brain, which means that all the areas of your brain get irrigated, promoting healthy brain cells.
This is important for overall brain health and function, especially if you want to be considered a genius gamer by your friends or team members.
Like I just mentioned above, another thing that Ginkgo Biloba can do is improve your memory.
This can be an asset to your gaming performance.
It can improve short-term memory, executive functions in the pre-frontal cortex, and even rational thinking!
It’s a perfect fit for even the most intense gaming sessions!
Think of it as “thinking quick on your feet”, but only through a video game controller!
CDP Choline (Or Citicoline)
CDP Choline (or citicoline) is broken down in your organs into uridine and choline, which then becomes acetylcholine.
Both are important for mental performance since they boost memory, mental energy, concentration, and focus.
It can also help with mood since acetylcholine has shown interesting results against depression symptoms.
What you need to do is to take it before a game (or better yet, in the week leading up to the competitive video game session).
This can improve your overall mental performance.
What you’re looking for the most here from citicoline are the mental energy boost and the concentration levels.
Recommendation: While you can add a generic citicoline supplement to your own custom stack (nothing wrong with that), something even better would be to use an enhanced designer version like Performance Lab’s “Mind”
It’s basically like citicoline on steroids! Visit their Official Website to Learn More.
CDP choline is used for a variety of treatments including (but not limited to) ADHD.
This means that it has promising results against a lack of focus and concentration.
So, consider trying CDP choline. Just make sure that it doesn’t interact with any drug that you might already be taking.
Also, make sure that you take only the recommended dosage.
This nootropic substance should not give you any problems, unless of course you completely ignore dosing guidelines and take too much of it.
Racetams
Racetams are another group of nootropics used for hyperactivity and to enhance cognitive functions.
They’re also known as study drugs (or smart drugs) since many college students take them while studying or takings difficult exams. Piracetam (one of the more popular racetams) works mainly in the cerebral cortex which results is better memory and higher consciousness which is perfect for playing video games.
One study performed clinical trials in adolescents over a 14 month period lead to noticeable improvements in school performance.
Since racetams improve memory, focus, and concentration, improved test performance just makes sense. And the same could be said for competitive e-sports.
Hopefully someone will perform a study that links brain boosting nootropic supplements and cognitive performance while gaming.
I’d love to see the results of that for myself!
Now, they also have promising results against anxiety and depression since they also affect your serotonin and dopamine levels.
This is also important because anxiety and depression can really have a big impact on your focus and motivation, especially when it comes to esports and gaming!
Two crucial components that you need to be successful.
So, consider taking racetams as well. (Learn more about racetams here)
Just keep in mind that they’re usually short-term nootropics.
This means that you shouldn’t take them for long. Only a few days prior to or on the day of a gaming tournament.
Rhodiola Rosea – eSports Gamer’s Secret Weapon for Clean Focused Energy!
Rhodiola Rosea is an amazing nootropic for video gamers because it boosts your mental energy, stamina, and working memory.
It reduces your fatigue and increases your alertness in such a way that can have a huge impact on your gameplay.
Needless to say that Rhodiola Rosea is one of those nootropic supplements that’ll give you an extra edge when it comes to gaming.
This nootropic substance adjusts your mood by affecting your serotonin and norepinephrine levels.
This will keep you calm during heated / intense game battles.
It is also a popular ingredient in many nootropic stacks!
Including Mind Lab Pro and Qualia Mind!
So, if you’re a professional gamer, (or even just new to e-sports in general) make sure that you give Rhodiola Rosea a try.
It’s an amazing adaptogen that can improve not just your performance during a game but also in your daily life.
Bacopa Monnieri – A Gamer’s Attention Enhancer!
Bacopa Monnieri is known as one of the more popular natural nootropic supplements. It helps with attention, memory, and focus.
It can also help you deal with anxiety, which again, is at it’s highest levels in a gaming competition day.
Taking control of your game-day jitters or nervousness is crucial when you play video games in a competitive atmosphere.
That’s why this makes for one of the better gaming supplements, as it can help with those butterflies in your stomach, as well as help you laser focus on your gaming performance.
This nootropic helps you by boosting your brain’s overall cognition.
Ideally, you would take a standardized bacopa monnieri extract during the entire week before a competition and not just the day of.
This will give your body time enough to adjust to the effects, and give the nootropic itself enough time to take effect.
You should be able to notice the cognitive enhancing effects, but not in the same way as high caffeine energy drinks do.
Bacopa monnieri is more subtle, but it’s like a switch goes off in your brain cells. (Or should I say, turns on!)
Ashwagandha- A Reliable Adaptogen for Mood Regulation & Perfect for E-Sports!
Good ole Ashwagandha!
If you’ve been a reader of Super Mind Hacker for any amount of time, you’ve likely noticed that we seem to discuss the many benefits of ashwagandha quite a bit as it relates to cognitive benefits and brain function.
It’s one of my personal favorite natural substances for mood regulation by far.
Well, as it turns out, it’s also a great addition for any competitive gamer or esports player looking for an extra edge!
Ashwagandha is great for anxiety management. It makes your brain release more serotonin, which regulates mood, and has nootropic benefits like more brain energy.
It is also known to naturally increase testosterone levels which seems like a huge plus for someone who is in competition mode
While ashwagandha is commonly referred to as a nootropic substance, it is actually an adaptogen, which means that it adapts to your body’s needs.
Side Note: (Read our article on Nootropics vs Adaptogens Here)
This means that it can help you balance your serotonin levels.
Some types of depression can be caused by an imbalance of your serotonin levels, and ashwagandha can help with depression.
This is great because it results in better mood regulation, improved focus, and more concentration.
Finally, a great thing about ashwagandha is that you can take it long-term.
The side effects are minimum, which means that you don’t need to worry as much about side effects, as long as you don’t mess with the recommended dosage.
(See our full article on ashwagandha here)
What is the Best “Pre-Formulated Nootropic Supplement” for eSports and Gaming?
There are a lot of pre-formulated nootropic fomulas out there that are made specifically for esports and gaming.
The main one that first comes to mind is one you’ve likely already heard of.
That is… G-Fuel.
G-Fuel is a nootropic drink powder mix that is used by quite a lot of top gamers, youtubers, and esports professionals, mainly due to sponsorships / partnerships from the company.
I myself have taken G-Fuel before quite a few times, and must say it really does give you a lot of focus and energy, but it also contains taurine, which I am not a big fan of, because it is now being produced synthetically.
Because of this, I only consume anything with taurine in moderation.
Side Note: Some people actually like taurine a lot, and that’s totally fine too.
Like I always say, everyone is different when it comes to nootropics, and what works for one person may have the opposite effect on another person.
G-Fuel does however have a lot of glowing reviews and testimonials, and if you just want something that is quick and DFY (done-for-you), then G-Fuel is worth giving a shot.
You also can just take it right before a gaming competition for an energy and increased focus boost (no need for pre-loading days or weeks ahead of time)
While I do still keep a container of G-Fuel around, I personally only use it sparingly, as I don’t want it to interfere with my current nootropic stack (Which I change up at least once every 3 months).
You can check out reviews of G-Fuel here if having a ready-to-go gaming nootropic is something that interests you.
On a side note, there’s an alternative to conventional caffeine called “Smart Caffeine” (or natural caffeine). It’s caffeine without the crash. If that sounds like something that interests you, I seriously recommend you check out NITROamp!
It’s a great natural caffeine alternative energy nootropic made with guarana, and would make a killer addition to a nootropic gaming stack. You can read my full NITROamp review here.
The Best Nootropics for Esports and Gaming… Final Thoughts!
So, the best nootropics for eSports and gaming (in my opinion) are the ones I’ve listed above.
They can improve your performance overall, and also improve specific things that you may need some extra help with, such as your lack of focus or concentration.
They can also help with anxiety, motivation, and mental energy which are all crucial factors to consider if you are even slightly serious about competitive gaming!
However, there are literally hundreds (if not THOUSANDS) of nootropic substances out there that you can play around with to create your own custom gaming stack.
It’s not just a bunch of sugary high caffeinated energy drinks like TV commercials would have you believe.
The fact is, you have a lot of options out there to improve your cognitive function and mental performance.
Just be sure you do your homework, as some nootropics don’t work well with others, and proper dosing is essential!
In other words, it’s okay to experiment and come up with your own nootropic gaming stacks, as long as you take the time to do proper research and follow all guidelines.
(As well as know which substances do not interact well with others!)
Maintaining proper brain health should always be at the top of your priorities list when building out any nootropic stack.
When done properly, you’ll achieve cognitive enhancing effects like you’ve never experienced before.
Whether you’re playing computer games, PS5, Xbox, or even Nintendo Switch competitively, or even with friends, these nootropic supplements will surely help you with your gaming performance.
I personally play Rocket League from time to time, but not at the level as most of the kids these days. My best rank so far is Diamond 3 in Snow Day, which is pretty darn good if you ask me…
(But I can barely stay in Platinum in the standard game modes. LOL!)
If you’re interested in learning more about improving your cognitive and physical performance utilizing nootropics supplements in general (including for esports and gaming), be sure to check out our growing list of over 120+ nootropic substances to help you get started!
Your turn! What are the best nootropics for esports and gaming that have you have found to work best for you?
Everyone seems to have a different opinion and/or preference as to which is the best nootropic supplement / stack for esports and gaming, which is to be expected.
I’ve given you some of my recommendations as to what I think are the best.
But, now it’s your turn!
* Please share if you’ve had any experience with any nootropics or smart drugs, and how it has impacted your video gaming experience in the comments below!
The good, bad, or even the ugly!
About David Gracey
Founder of SuperMindHacker.com
In other words, I am completely obsessed with anything and everything related to cognitive brain enhancement!
Whether it's nootropics supplements, challenging brain puzzles, or even meditation techniques, chances are, I've tried it! This website is my outlet to give back and share what I've learned in the past 15+ years in this field of study.
You Can Read my Other Posts Here: David Gracey's Articles