Looking for tips on how to shot call well as a top laner

CrownTempus·8/21/2015, 1:23:39 AM·1 votes·1,146 views

So to put this in perspective, I am on a recently made 5's team in which I am the highest rank of the bunch (being Plat) and usually am the one making most of the calls. I typically have a decent understanding on what is going on in the game, however as a top laner it is fairly difficult to keep up with the other lanes while still beating mine. I am wondering what I can do to become as good of a shot caller as I can, but as a top laner. I know it is harder to be a shot caller from the top lane position then others, but I think that I can make it work over time, with some help from others.

1 Comments

Torenthal8/21/2015, 2:04:44 AM1 votes

Hey there! I'm the shotcaller for my team as a mid laner. I am by no means as good as like an LCS player, but I'd call myself okay for our gold team. Here's some tips I learned over many games.

It takes practice! You're going to screw up, not always make the right call, and even lose the game for your team.
It takes confidence! A fast okay call, is better than long well thought out perfect call. The few extra seconds between deciding could often mean getting a baron, or getting aced and losing.
You can take barons really really early as ranked 5s teams. You get a kill or two and you have a decent team to take baron with? (High damage/perccent damage + at least 1 semi-tank) You can take baron at around 23-24 minutes fairly fast.
Once you get good enough you can even start shotcalling ganks. Think one step ahead at first, then begin to think 2-3 steps ahead. Example: Kill bot or force bot lane to back, enemy blue spawns at around 7:45, take that, dragon spawns in 30 seconds, back and get ready to contest. It's like a game of chess, but you also need to focus on your own gameplay too!
Shotcalling fights: You need to understand who needs to be focused for the good of the whole team, and try not to tunnel vision on your own character. Know if they have an Irelia all over your backline, Irelia needs to die first, not the enemy adc corki.
You get frustrated, you get angry or upset, you lose that bond you have with your teammates. Be calm, be quick thinking, be authoritive. Your shots are the ones that go through. If someone argues with your call, quickly and kindly remind them that you're the boss.
Watch LCK. Not EU, not NA, watch the Koreans. Their gameplay is so centered around strategy is absolutely beautiful to watch. You'll learn a lot about objective trading, coming back from a deficit, teamfighting, and much much more. I'd reccomend watching Jin Air Greenwings or SKT T1 (Faker is my Savior).
If you make the wrong call, quickly apologize AFTER the game. At the same time don't always put yourself down as this will make your teammates lose confidence in your ability.
Know what an objective is worth. If you're behind in gold, and the enemy is taking their first or second dragon? A turret is really worth getting rather than trying to contest it. A turret is worth 650 gold for your whole team (150 for nearby allies when turret dies + 100x5 for other players).
POWERSPIKES. Know when you're team is strongest. Know when the enemy team is weakest and strongest. Know when you have an advantage or you need to make a desperate call.