It takes A LOT of games to learn the game properly. I only got to Gold after 200+ ranked games and 600+ normals (in other words, A LOT OF TIME).
You can play normals if you just want to improve and have fun, but ranked is the environment where you will learn the most. You already won half the battle of learning how to improve - YOU ACCEPT THAT YOU AREN'T A GREAT PLAYER. Since you know you need to improve, you can look to where you can.
For every game you play, ask yourself the following questions throughout and after the game.
- Why did I die there? What could I do to avoid dying in the future?
- Why did I score a kill there? How can I re-use this strategy in the future? What mistake did the enemy make so I can score another kill if my enemies make a mistake like this in the future?
- Why did I lose lane? How did this champion counter my champion? What can I do to improve this match-up in the future?
- Why did I win lane? Why does my champion counter theirs? What can I do to better abuse my advantage in the future?
- What should I be doing right now? Why am I wasting my time and/or using my time efficiently? What is the best thing for me to do right now?
- Why did we lose that teamfight? How can I make sure I can help my team win fights in the future?
- Why did we win that teamfight? How can I abuse our strategy to win fights in the future?
- What was most important in determining my victory/defeat? In what way can I influence that most important factor so that I can win games in the future?
Ex: Your team loses a teamfight, enemy pushes down mid and ends the game. Defeat
Why did we lose that game?
The enemy team won a key team-fight in an even game.
Why did we lose that teamfight?
Fiddlesticks jumped in the middle of our team and Fear'd our ADC and killed everyone.
What can I do to avoid this mistake in the future?
Be wary of Fiddle ults. Try not to group up when playing against Fiddle. Ward over walls so Fiddle can't surprise your team.
Just learning that one thing makes that game a victory in my eyes.
Improving at League is a marathon, not a sprint. You can't just watch 8 hours of tutorial vids one-day and suddenly become a Challenger player. Just play every game to have as much fun as possible and to learn as much as possible. Over time, you'll improve.
There is literally nothing you can lose by playing ranked. If you go down, so what? You already know you aren't that great of a player. You can still learn a lot from those games, not matter the elo. If you go up, that's a sign that you've improved and that you are doing things right! Keep on learning and you'll go higher! If you find your teammates are too toxic, just mute anybody who looks like they'll rage. Don't worry about team-play or communication if you can't control it. Just do your best to do to contribute what you can to your team.
And remember, have FUN. If you aren't, then there is no point to playing the game. Games are supposed to be fun, if you aren't having fun, then something is terribly wrong.
