What is the philosophy behind Sweeping Lens if its role as a "ward killer" is so poor?

darkdill·Aug 3, 2014·2 votes·781 views

Whenever I use Sweeping Lens as a jungler, it is never enough to counter mass enemy wards. You kill one, another takes its place 5 seconds later. You try to sweep for one in an uncertain location, it's probably in another spot. And even if you swept 3 wards at once, you're already caught and can't gank. And 3 more will just appear 2 seconds later.

It seems to me like Riot never meant for Sweeper to be able to compete with warding. Merely inconvenience it. I view that as too favorable for the defenders. Just grab a pack of wards or a Sightstone and a jungler can't touch you in lane unless it's Evelynn.

Can we get some insight as to why this so?

5 Comments

Hyrum GraffAug 3, 20143 votes

A couple things:

Sweepers tend to be better lategame,
Sweepers are best used for denying vision, rather than just clearing wards
Clearing Wards: "I saw this guy ward his tri, lemme go clear it."
Denying vision: "I'm going to sweep the bushes near baron so we can baron bait them."

I'd encourage you to watch a couple LCS games and pay attention to how they use sweepers, both strategically, and in terms of placement (there are certain spots that are more efficient). That helped me a lot with understanding how to use them well.

darkdillAug 3, 20141 votes

If Sweeping Lens was never meant to be used for clearing wards and only for vision denial, doesn't that make mass wards OP? Too much vision means you can't deny all of it.

FyshinaTuxAug 3, 20141 votes

You don't need to deny all of it, just the key spots that will make the enemy do something stupid ;)

Hyrum GraffAug 3, 20141 votes

You don't need to deny all of it, just the key spots that will make the enemy do something stupid ;)

This.

It's also useful because it deactivates any wards while you're sweeping them. So if you're taking baron and the enemy team shoots 10 wards over the side of the pit, you pop your sweeper, and ignore the wards. Sure, they'll all be there when you're done. But who cares? For the last couple seconds while you're taking baron, you KNOW they don't have vision.

DoumzAug 3, 20141 votes

In last challenger series match both team sweeped over 30 wards in 40 min match (not counting the pinks destroyed wich are like 10+). That's quite a lot of vision denied. If you think about it it's near 1 ward per minute destroyed.

You can also time their wards, so you can gank when they are going down.

Also, I don't know what jungler you may be using but same if a lane is warded there can be ways to gank it.

P.S. not attacking wards sweeped will not reveal you. If you plan to sneak a gank it's better not destroying the sweeped ward