Riot Games champion art · Official game assetThe middle lane connects the map. Make sure your movement has a purpose.
The shortest lane affects the whole map
Mid gives fast access to both sides of the river. The price of that central position is exposure to movement from several directions.
Recognise when your opponent can clear faster and move first, and when you can push a wave to gain time.
Look at both river entrances every time you clear a wave.
Create time with a wave
Roaming without pushing can cost multiple minions and turret health. Establishing priority first often makes the move more economical.
A roam still needs a destination: consider where the enemy jungler is, who has crowd control and what objective is about to appear.
Before roaming, state what your move can realistically accomplish.
Trade around important cooldowns
Mages and assassins reach their damage through different sequences, but most become more vulnerable after spending a core ability.
Learn which spell you need to hold for defence rather than using every tool to push or poke.
Identify one cooldown that changes when you can safely approach.
Do not blindly follow
When an opponent disappears, immediately following into unwarded river can be a trap. Sometimes pushing the wave, pinging danger and gaining resources is safer.
Decide from vision and team positions instead of reacting automatically to a missing-lane ping.
On the next missing enemy, compare following with pushing before choosing.
Before your next match
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Sources and scope
This original guide focuses on gameplay fundamentals, not fixed win-rate statistics. Specific abilities, items and map details can change between patches.
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