For starters, it’s important to emphasize that League of Legends is a highly complex game.
It is multidimensional and multiaxial in terms of skill. The issue with statements like “These seven tips will help you get to Diamond,” “This one trick got me to Gold,” and “Just do these three things to improve” is that they often only work for the person who wrote them or very similar individuals.
In this guide, we’ll provide eight tips on how to get better at League of Legends that can be applied to anyone.
1. Stick to One Champion
It’s essential to focus on mastering a single champion in League of Legends to improve consistently. By dedicating yourself to one Champion, you can direct your attention to understanding the broader fundamentals of the game without the distraction of constantly relearning different champion-specific mechanics. Playing at least 100 games with your chosen Champion is recommended before switching. This approach helps build muscle memory and deeply understand your Champion’s strengths and weaknesses.
Looking back on my journey, I realize the importance of this step. I’ve been playing League of Legends since season five, which amounts to 9 years of dedication. Like many others, I started in the lower ranks and had to work my way up. In the early stages, my methods for improvement could have been better. With years of experience, I refined my approach and learned how to excel at the game.
In addition to League of Legends, I’ve played other competitive games and reached high ranks, such as Hearthstone and CS:GO. Through this diverse experience, I’ve understood that mastering the improvement process is more important than mastering any game.
If I could go back nine years and start my League of Legends journey over, I would prioritize sticking to one Champion. By sticking to one Champion, you avoid constantly resetting your progress by switching champions and relearning their unique mechanics. This approach ensures you build on your existing knowledge rather than tearing it down and starting over. Once you’ve mastered a champion, transitioning to others becomes easier as you’ve developed a framework for what it takes to excel with a champion.
2. Replay Analysis and Learning from Top Players
To get better at League of Legends effectively:
Review Your Own Replays: Focus on identifying questions and uncertainties. For instance, note that question if you need clarification on trading at level 1 as a Renekton against a Darius. Learning starts with pinpointing these specific questions. Reviewing your replays is more than finding answers immediately; it is about identifying what you need to learn.
Watch Top Players: Once you have your questions, watch the high-level gameplay of your Champion to find answers. This combination helps you learn what to improve and how top players handle similar situations.
3. Branch Out to Meta Champions
Once you’ve mastered your main Champion and hit a plateau, play 1-3 games with the most popular meta champions.
This will help you understand their strengths and weaknesses, improve your matchup knowledge, and give you insights into your own Champion’s relative strengths.
4. Aggressive Playstyle for Learning
Many players play too passively. Instead, you should Limit test.
High-level players aren’t just good because they avoid mistakes; they’re good because they’ve made all the mistakes and learned from them.
Therefore, play aggressively to understand your Champion’s limits. You’ll learn more by making mistakes and getting immediate feedback than by playing it safe and learning nothing.
5. Optimize Gold and Stats
League of Legends is fundamentally about gold and stats. Every action you take should aim to maximize your gold income, which translates into better stats. Avoid dying needlessly, as it results in zero gold gain and can swing the game in favor of your opponents.
Understanding the economy of League of Legends goes beyond just individual player wealth. Objectives such as towers and dragons directly contribute to team-wide gold and map control, often carrying more weight than personal gains. For example, dragons provide stacking buffs that enhance team stats over time, setting the stage for favorable team fights.
6. Use Expected Value for Decision Making
Understanding Expected Value isn’t limited to micro-decisions like farming or fighting in lane. It also applies to macro-level decisions such as map rotations and objective control.
When deciding whether to rotate to a different lane or contest an objective like Rift Herald or Baron, consider the potential gold and map control gains versus the risks involved. For instance, rotating to assist in securing Rift Herald might yield immediate gold and a powerful pushing tool for your team, while contesting Baron could swing the game decisively in your favor if successful.
Conversely, poorly timed or misguided rotations can lead to missed opportunities and lost resources.
7. Concentrate on One Improvement Area at a Time
Choose one aspect of your game to improve and focus on until you’re satisfied with your mastery.
For example, if you’re working on wave management, break it down into specific scenarios, such as when to freeze the wave. Mastery in League of Legends, or any game, isn’t about tackling everything at once; it’s about systematic improvement. By focusing exclusively on one area, you can hone your skills to a fine point, ensuring every decision becomes second nature.
8. Everything Matters, Nothing is Equal
Understand that every decision in League matters. There’s no dead time; every second can be optimized.
Recognize whether you’re in a winning or losing state at any given moment and adjust your strategy accordingly. Autopiloting leads to missed opportunities for improvement.
To illustrate the gravity of this principle, consider the analogy of a marathon runner. In League of Legends, you’re not sprinting; you’re in a continuous marathon where each step can advance or hinder your progress. Much like how a marathon runner must maintain pace and strategy throughout the race, you must consistently evaluate your position in the game—whether ahead or behind—and make decisions that maximize your advantage or minimize your losses.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mastering League of Legends requires dedication and focus on fundamental skills. By sticking to one champion, analyzing replays, branching out to meta champions, playing aggressively, optimizing gold and stats, using expected value for decision-making, concentrating on one improvement area at a time, and understanding the importance of every decision, players can improve their gameplay significantly.
