League of Legends (LoL) is the world’s largest esport, and there are currently 180 million players on the planet. That’s pretty impressive for a game that’s existed since 2009. Let’s face it, social media and Tiktok is basically ruining our attention spans and we’re always looking for the next big thing; even the most popular games eventually fade into faint nostalgic memory. It’s therefore, quite a feat by Riot Games to keep us coming back for more after 13 years! It’s perhaps no surprise that, due to its massive popularity with modern gamers, many people want to learn how to play League of Legends and establish themselves on the competitive ladder. If you’re interested in League of Legends tips, check out the guide below.
The Basics
Before you can become a pro at League of Legends, you need to master the basics. The game is an online battle arena, otherwise known as a MOBA. You play as part of a team and battle against an opposing team on a fantasy map, known as Summoner’s Rift.
You control a single character in the team, known as your champion. Each of these fantastical beings has its own skills and powers. In the game, the aim is to fight your way through computer-controlled minions and other player champions to destroy the enemy’s base while at the same time defending your own from destruction.
Strategy is key in LoL. There’s no way you can attack your enemy’s base at the start of the game. The aim is to first level up and grow strong enough to take on the hordes of minions and enemy champions that are protecting it. You can do this by defeating enemies and gaining XP.
Attacking the Nexus
The Nexus is the part of your enemy’s base that you need to destroy to win the game in League of Legends. This is where players start the game, and respawn after they’ve been killed. Minions are also spawned from the Nexus and head off towards the enemy base. Players kill these to gain XP and they respawn at regular intervals from the Nexus.
Players generally go off on their own at the start of the game into different sections of the map. They spend some time in their respective areas gaining gold and XP. Once the characters have levelled up enough, they can begin a coordinated attack on the enemy’s Nexus.
Choosing Lanes
At the start of the game, players will choose their lanes. This is the meta way of playing League of Legends, and professionals recommend five key positions. These different spots on the map are suited to diverse playing styles and champion abilities, so the selection process is another key part in League of Legends strategy.
The main sections in the game are the top lane, the middle lane, the jungle, and the bottom lane. The job of players in the lane is to kill minions and halt the opponent’s progress. The jungle is packed full of monsters, and the “jungler” farms them to gain XP rapidly. When they’ve reached a high enough level, they’ll go and assist teammates in other sections.
The jungler is probably the most important player in a League of Legends matchup, and one of the first things you should learn in League of Legends is how to jungle. There are some League of Legends hacks that you can use in this setting, such as understanding your champion’s win conditions and not diving early on.
Abilities
All the champions in League of Legends have five core abilities along with two special spells. They can also carry seven items at a time. Knowing the diverse attributes of all the different champions in the game is crucial. Indeed, in League of Legends, how to play is all about mastering how to use the different abilities and spells in battle.
Every character has a passive ability that occurs without player input. The others are made up of three basic and one ultimate, which are triggered with different keys. Get familiar with all the distinctive abilities and what they can do, and you’ll be prepared to go into battle. You’ll also know which lane your champion will be most effective in.
The Champions
Selecting the right champion is a key part of the strategy in League of Legends. You can find out more about the various characters by following this link. Players need to select a champion that they are comfortable with, but also one that’s going to compliment the rest of the team. There are over 157 champions to choose from, so this phase requires some careful strategy.
During the champion selection process, you need to be aware of the champions that the other players are selecting. Then, try to choose a character that works well with your teammates. Reading up on the myriad champions is essential, and it’s also important to know what the meta is. This changes every time there’s a patch update, as different champions will get nerfs and buffs.
Getting Started
League of Legends is free to play, and you can start playing today by visiting the official site. You will need to play a lot of games to get the hang of it, as it’s not very beginner friendly. Once you’ve gained enough play time in practice mode, you may feel that you are ready to take on ranked play and start climbing up the ladder.
Is League of Legends pay to win?
League of Legends is completely free to play. There are no options to pay for upgrades or weapons that can give players an advantage. The only way to level up the rankings is to win games and gain XP. However, you can pay to get extra champions. Any other purchases in game are cosmetic in nature and won’t affect gameplay.
How long does a League of Legends match last?
There is no set time for a League of Legends match. Players simply play until one team is the victor. Matches typically last anywhere between 15 minutes and one hour.
Who is the best champion in League of Legends?
The best champions in League of Legends change with each patch update, but there are some that are usually near the top of the tree. These include Darius, Fiora, and Thresh.
