xQc vs Dr Disrespect - Who would win in a stream-off?

Let's be honest; the chances are that we could pit Felix "xQc" Lengyel and Guy "Dr Disrespect" Beahm against each other in a stream-off is pretty slim. This is especially true when you consider that the latter of the two legendary streamers (i.e., Dr Disrespect) was perma-banned by Twitch, or rather "the purple snake," as he likes to call them.

Regardless, this shouldn't stop us from making a case for which streamer would come out on top should the opportunity ever present itself, right? Admittedly, if there ever were one, it would undoubtedly be a spectacular event given that both internet stars are renowned for their, erm, somewhat abrasive and outlandish antics.

xQc vs Dr Disrespect - Who would win in a stream-off?

I'll attempt to make a case for both streamers in this matchup and put my xQc-bias aside by basing the argument around gaming prowess and entertainment value and then deliver the verdict on who I think would win in a stream battle. So, without any further ado, let's get started.

Which streamer has the best gaming prowess?

Twitch icon xQc might hold the most weight in gaming prowess, although the Doc isn't entirely out of the running in this domain.

The main reason for this sentiment is that xQc has a history as an esports competitor and played Overwatch professionally for at least three years, including with the notable organisation Dallas Fuel in 2018.

His esports career started in 2016 when he played as a tank for DatZit Gaming and won the Dreamhack Montreal 2016 Overwatch tournament. By the following year, xQc won the MVP award at the Overwatch World Cup with Team Canada, placing 2nd after being defeated by the defending champions, South Korea.

Dr Disrespect does not have a history as an esports competitor. Still, he is a self-proclaimed "Two-Time" back-to-back Blockbuster video games champion, a title he apparently earned in 1994 by winning NBA Jam tournaments.

While there is not much evidence of the Doc's accolade, apart from his claims as "evidence of his gaming prowess," many fans believe him despite evidence to the contrary existing in various Reddit threads.

Regardless of the presumably fake "Two-Time" title, Dr Disrespect's demonstrated gaming prowess is perhaps overtly evident from his streams, although the same can be said about xQc.

So, with that said, I guess that xQc arguably has the most clout as far as "gaming prowess" is concerned; however, I also feel that Dr Disrespect would put up a fierce battle in familiar titles like Call of Duty, Apex Legends or Valorant.

Which streamer has the most entertainment value?

Oof, this is a tough one. Both xQc and Dr Disrespect have excellent entertainment value, over which any verdict would be purely subjective.

For example, Dr Disrespect is considered the "most ruthless" streamer on YouTube and his Livestreams are often bombastic, raging about anything and everything that could go wrong in his games. The YouTube star has an overt disdain for controller aim assist and constantly complains about how "broken" it is in his matches.

Similarly, xQc is equally bombastic, earning him the title of Twitch's most profane streamer. The Twitch star often rages in his streams and has had several heated moments that triggered much controversy. In fact, xQc's short temper or proclivity to trash-talk at other players is among the more significant determinants that drove him away from a competitive esports career.

Both streamers appeal to very different but loyal audiences; however, in both cases, fans tend to get a kick out of watching their favourite streamer rage over something nonsensical. For example, xQc generated a large following through his Grand Theft Auto NoPixel roleplay streams, while the Doc largely plays first-person-shooter games.

Perhaps the sticking point is that xQc's streams are more "genuine" than Dr Disrespect's streams. This is because Dr Disrespect plays a character, which he does with pride along with his classic black mullet wig, Pit Viper sunglasses and red tactical vest; oh, and "The Poisonous Ethiopean Caterpillar" moustache, lest we forget that.

Admittedly, Dr Disrespect puts way more effort into his stream's production, which undoubtedly makes them way better to watch and certainly adds to the overall character. xQc's production quality is that of a typical streamer. It is perhaps more uninspiring but genuine, like appropriating a kind of "f*ck you if you don't like me" kind of vibe, which I prefer.

So, I guess it just depends on what you're looking for. Given this, I can't come to an unbiased conclusion.

xQc vs Dr Disrespect comparison statistics

Considering these factors, I've decided to rely strictly on an objective metric to determine which streamer shines brightest by comparing the Twitch statistics of both stars around the time that Dr Disrespect was banned, which was arguably a time that was at the pinnacle of his Twitch streaming career.

xQc's all-time Twitch stats:

Dr Disrespect's all-time Twitch stats:

It's worth noting that Dr Disrespect started streaming much earlier than xQc, so I normalised the metrics against the period that both streamers were active on the platform (17th November 2016 to 26th June 2020).

According to data I compiled from the statistics website TwitchTracker, xQc put Dr Disrespect in the dumpster regarding the growth rate of followers and average viewers and in terms of hours streamed. 

Between 2017 and 2020, xQc had a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 154.8% versus Dr Disrespect's 71.7% (a difference of 83.1%) for follower growth. xQc also had a 102.0% CAGR regarding the number of average viewers versus only 5.6% CAGR for Dr Disrespect (a difference of 96.4%).

Therefore, the verdict is that xQc would likely destroy Dr Disrespect in a stream-off, considering all the above points.

I tried hard to remain unbiased, so I'm unsure how much my favouritism toward xQc played a role in my decision. Regardless, if you disagree with me, then, well, too bad. I don't care.

Who do you think would win? Be sure to share your thoughts or complaints with me on Twitter.

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Featured image courtesy of Twitch / xQcOW and YouTube / Dr Disrespect.