Explaining Roles : How to know your best Role to Win. (For Ranking Up in Solo/Duo)
Hey Guys.
This post will discuss how I interpret differing League of Legend Roles and how to know which one is most natural for you to grind with. Before I begin, I want to attribute a brief section on who I am.
As a long-time League of Legends player and current streamer, I've been playing this game since Season 2 and just about mastered every role. I've gotten to Diamond 1 on Top and Jungle, and Diamond 3 on Support, ADC, and Mid. A regular question asked on my stream is 'how can I get out of elo-hell?' As I went into deep discussion while answering this question, I realized that a lot of people do not grasp the understanding of how of differing league roles operate to win games. Therefore, I've decided to explain how I interpret each league role:
Top - It is central that this role is designated to the best player on the team. The Ace. The best player who knows that they can out play anyone 1v1, or at least match against anyone, in any match up. This role is deemed most irrelevant by many due to its secluded/isolated nature. However, as a Top main for many years I can argue for the opposite. A solid Top main controls the competitive edge of the game. Dominating your lane or making clutch Teleports to help others is significant to winning the game and giving your team the competitive edge.
Jungle - This role is designated to the player who can best control the pace of the game. By constantly "Ganking" lanes, jungles are naturally speeding up the game, while farming and back-dooring jungles can slow the pace down. This is important when considering team comp advantages or when feeling out the game. As a current Jungle main, I pride myself on making decisions to benefit the team when its comes to controlling the pace of the game. When we are winning, I focus on getting to the lanes when needed, whereas if we are losing, I like to farm up and focus on dragon/herald/turret control. On stream, I often argue that Jungle is the best role for people who are stuck in Low-Elo or "Elo-Hell" as it requires one to make constant decisions that directly influence the team/game early on.
Mid - This role is for those who can control the focus of the game. In other words, where is the game most focused on? Bot? Mid? Top? Jungle? Where ever the Mid goes, so does the focus of the game. If the Mid-laner decides to 'Gank' bot-lane a consecutive amount of times, then winning bot-lane will decide the advantage for both teams in the next coming phase. Whereas, if the Mid-laner decides to push mid as much as one can, then fighting for mid is essential. The decision of which is more important, winning mid, or changing the focus of the game to another lane/area is the best tool that the Mid-lane player must possess.
ADC - One characteristic comes to mind: win the game. The ADC is focusing on to things - damage and surviving. If you are someone that is good or is interested at both of these, then this role is for you. If you are good at survival games, this role is for you. If you are content with being dependent until mid to late game, this this role is for you. If you lack the interest to deal the most damage in the game, or fail to do so, then this role is not for you. If you are not good at kiting, then this role is not for you. In other words, for one to be an ADC player, they must understand that they are mid and late game predators. Until then, they are merely prey who scavenge for gold in any form. As my friend once put it: even the king of beasts starts out as a cub.
Support - My favorite position. We all hate it. We all love it. This role is designated to the player with the most game awareness. A.K.A. the player who knows about every other persons role. They understand that they can reinforce any role that seems out of line with the team's ability to win. The Top can't win? Well, the support should go top to help with a Gank. The Jungle is constantly invaded, then the support should ward key spots and help the Jungle player out. Most importantly, the support decides bot lane. Supports thrive in the first 10-20 minutes of the game since they can manipulate the outcome of bot lane. But beyond this, supports can make clutch plays through utilizing wards and working in tandem with ADC's or Mid champs. As the most utility heavy role, especially in the only duo lane, supports must understand and impact the game in unique and clever ways. Additionally: I usually look at ADC and Support as one force, two sides of the same coin. Where ADC thrives in late game, the support thrives in early game. But, together, they can dominate the entire game.
After explaining these roles in my own interpretation, here is my thoughts on how to rank up. Figure out which of these are most suitable to you. Are you someone who can control pace? Are you someone who believes that they can 1v1 anyone? Are you someone who understands the game, and believes that early leads are crucial for W's?
Now here is the catch. Once you choose one, don't stop that from understanding the rest. I believe that learning every role is key to succeeding in ranked. And if I were to push the envelope and give my own personal take, I would definitely suggest to anyone and everyone looking to rank up to focus their attention on Mid and Jungle. This is not to say that they are the most important, but perhaps the two roles that directly impact the game the most. In higher Elo (Diamond and up) the importance is more constant across the board. This is just my interpretation and I hope it helps.
Best Regards,
SHerv
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