How to avoid getting zoned?

Vythanar·Oct 25, 2014·4 votes·2,210 views

Hi all!

So I've been trying to pinpoint things that I do really poorly, and I find that I let myself get zoned rather often. I'm having a hard time diagnosing exactly how it happens (I think I need to be more aggressive in trading back when someone trades with me), but it usually snowballs into a situation where I'm afraid to CS at all because they can unload significant amounts of damage onto me, and thus miss out on a LOT of farm and end up horribly behind and useless.

I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions for what to do when you're in a very unfavorable matchup or your opponent is obviously more skilled with their champion.

Thanks!

14 Comments

7ha7guy777Oct 25, 20142 votes

it might help for people who have more experience with this problem than me if you listed the champions you typically get zoned as. as an unranked player who doesn't trust the servers enough to play normals on a consistent basis, i'm not the best person to give advice on this beyond simply using champions who have a long range poke.

StOrmysLIVEOct 25, 20142 votes

Please list examples of champ vs champ otherwise this is an unanswerable question

VythanarOct 26, 20141 votes

I commented above giving some recent examples I could think of, if you still were interested in providing advice.

InvalidGuestOct 25, 20142 votes

It can vary from who you're playing vs who they're playing but very generally ask your jungler to pitch a tent and go farm nearby jungle camps in between creep waves.

Mat7itanOct 25, 20142 votes

Certain match ups just work that way (especially if you get behind). It would be easier to explain how to not get zoned or still cs while behind if you gave a list of champs you are getting zoned as and who your against (also a little info on your starting/ early game items on those champs might help).

VythanarOct 26, 20142 votes

Okay, here's some examples:

I play Wukong top when I can't jungle with him. Although it's kind of uncommon, I was having a really hard time with a jungle Alistar (similar to how I have issues against Renekton) because if I get too close to him, I get CC'd, harassed, and and can't really trade back effectively.

The other really prominent example is playing either of my midlaners (Kat and Ori) against LeBlanc. I feel absolutely helpless in the matchup because her jump is so hard to dodge if she's any good. Ori is a little easier because I can usually keep my distance, but I just get wrecked as Kat.

I think that some of my problem might stem from the fact that I sometimes get a little freaked out and don't try to trade back. For instance, though LeBlanc can do massive damage at level 2, she can't 100-0 so I could make some attempt to fight back (though her jump backwards makes it difficult). With Wukong I'm never certain if I want to jump in Q->E preferably or E->Q if I need to close the gap and then W out, or if I should try to extend the trade with the AS increase from my E.

StOrmysLIVEOct 26, 20142 votes

when its wu vs alistar- his eq is extremely mana intensive, and is a great lane pusher. Bait him to spam while you are standing in your minion waves, and 2 of them will make the entire wave get to your turret where you can farm easily. use your clone to take his headbutt (try to anticipate it)

vs lb gotta bait her dash pre-6 and have your jungle camp and get fed off her. post 6 don't even bother fighting vs her, shove the lane, then roam.

VythanarOct 26, 20141 votes

Okay, that helps quite a bit! Thanks for the feedback =)

Rinky DinkyOct 26, 20142 votes

With this little amount of information, all I can do is suggest a champ with good lane sustain. Garen comes to mind as the easiest to play, and since his passive buff, he can go from 10% to 100& in 15 seconds at lategame.

DocRedgraveOct 26, 20142 votes

IamTitan makes a good argument, but he's missing the fact that recklessly pushing minion waves when you're behind your lane opponent in levels can often lead to them safely farming under their turret and zoning you to death. Try and work on last hitting minions with autoattacks and avoiding using AOE spells on them. That's a good start in most matchups. Otherwise it's often best to snag Ancient Coin first along with some pots if you're getting zoned by a champion such as Ryze. I've seen a number of my fellow Gold elo players do this lately.

MrBuffingtonOct 26, 20142 votes

It depends a lot on your match ups and your opponents and your powerspikes. You have to learn when you can trade and how to trade effectively; knowing when you can out trade your opponent is key. Playing scared is a guaranteed way to zone yourself out of CS, you have to know how to position yourself well and take favorable trades when you have the chance. Certain champions naturally get zoned out early, Vayne is a prime example, but if you watch a good Vayne player, they'll know when they can take trades and when to back off.

Leblancs BoobOct 26, 20141 votes

Lux

FantasySniperOct 26, 20141 votes

If you aren't capable of out-trading your opponent at applicable ranges, you're going to be zoned.

Ranged tops have this particularly dominating advantage because they can kite and harass from safe ranges without you being able to fight back unless you're to practically all-in.

The best way to deal with this is to play passively, and take as little as damage as possible while farming and still trying to dish out what little harass you may be capable of safely. Stick to your minions so you won't take the brunt of their damage nor CC, and they'll preferably be pushing the wave in your favor. Hug the tower and don't do anything risky.

iluvalarOct 27, 20141 votes

learn to freeze. As long as there is more minions on the opponent side then yours, they can't sustainly zone you since the minions are moving toward your tower anyway. I guess your main issue is they do it to you while you don't realize how it's done.