Wards. They’re important. They let you see what’s going on in places on the map that otherwise would be shrouded by the fog of war. In pro matches, that vision is incredibly important.
So how do the pros handle making sure they’ve got sight on everything that’s happening? Let’s find out together!
Early times
Have you ever run into your own jungle at level 1, only to find the entire opposing side hiding in a bush, ready to jump on you? The pros would prefer to avoid that. They bring their Warding Totems into the fray, dropping them in prime ambush spots just to make sure their enemies weren’t trying some sneaky business.
If they’re not looking to protect themselves from a possible jungle invasion, many teams will head into the enemy jungle to place wards of their own. At the very least, they’ll be hoping to keep tabs on the other team’s jungler while they farm, making their early game significantly safer. If they’re feeling bold, they’ll attempt to pick up an early kill with that knowledge.
Staying safe
Once the laning phase begins, retaining constant vision is even more paramount. You’ll see every member of pro teams grabbing wards and placing them liberally throughout the map, making sure no one is sneaking up on them to create disadvantageous situations.
Plus, if they have a good idea as to when and where the opposing jungler is going to gank, they’ll be able to show up just in time to save the day. Maybe they’ll even grab a kill or two for themselves!
Of course, both teams know that there will be wards ridden around. As a result, the counter-warding wards often begin. The normally invisible Sight Wards can be sniffed out by utilizing the Sweeping Lense trinket or a Vision Ward, denying one side of its use. Often, that denial of vision can be just as important as creating vision of your own.
The dance
As the game progresses, the dragon and Baron Nashor become increasingly contested objectives for teams to fight over. Throughout much of the game, both the dragon pit and Baron’s lair remain under constant surveillance. As a result, trying to sneak away with a quick kill of either one is incredibly risky.
To minimize that risk, you’ll see pros just as consistently trying to sweep out wards from both locations. If teams are dancing around, waiting for opportunities, you’ll see wards tossed and destroyed with reckless abandon, the hope being that at least some of them will survive long enough to gain a vision advantage.
For example, if the team attempting to kill Baron misses a ward from a team contesting it, there’s a solid chance the contesting jungler will be able to dive in and use Smite to steal it away for their team. You gotta clear those wards.
On the fly
Wards aren’t only useful for consistent vision, they can also be used to make split-second decisions. Want to make sure that final skillshot lands on the low-health enemy behind the wall? Toss a ward. Unsure of which direction to turn while being chased down? Throw one behind you to check for your pursuers. Just want to know if a bush is clear of enemies before waltzing in? The money spent on a ward is worth far less than giving up a kill.
Last time:
What happens during the mid game?
Next time: What is going on during teamfights?
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