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[ADC] When to leave lane?

Nova Skye·3/24/2015, 2:45:05 AM·1 votes·3,472 views

I'm looking to learn some solo queue techniques for specific roles. I learned this game playing with no less than 5 people (college group, they forced me to play, and I haven't looked back :P ), and am having trouble with switching over to a solo queue mindset. With my friends, I go with their cues on when to leave lane or when to free farm.

But here I don't have that guidance, and I didn't realize how reliant I have been on it. I need to learn the circumstances on when it's fine to leave lane and when I must stay.

  1. When I lose tower, and am behind, I have been trying to stay in lane and farm to catch up.
  2. Obviously when Jungle is in trouble in our own area, I will leave.
  3. When I see their entire team is rotated top, I usually try to take the opportunity to push my lane as hard as possible before recalling.
  4. I do keep getting caught in trying to contest a dragon the rest of my team doesn't seem to care about losing.
  5. Many times I am tempted to roam mid to counter gank a 3v2, but I get scared to give my opponent the free lane advantage (and that my support won't follow).
  6. When I win tower, I want to roam, but the enemy usually stays in that lane, and it starts getting consistently pushed my way (and I fall behind in CS pretty quick).
  7. Yet when I do stay to contest that push, I tend to draw an entire team fight.
  8. If, for any reason, I am behind, I hug my lane.

What are some situations when it is okay to stay in lane and when I need to leave it? I know not every instance can be accounted for, but I would like some ideas to springboard from.

4 Comments

ChexMex3/24/2015, 5:57:05 AM2 votes
  1. When I lose tower, and am behind, I have been trying to stay in lane and farm to catch up.

-This is fine, however you should try to freeze at your T2 if your team is a team that is built to hold (e.g anivia mid, jayce top, amumu jungle) towers. Otherwise, you may have to go and help hold for a bit.

  1. Obviously when Jungle is in trouble in our own area, I will leave.

-Yeah, this one is not done by many players - even higher up so it's good you are paying attention to this.

  1. When I see their entire team is rotated top, I usually try to take the opportunity to push my lane as hard as possible before recalling.

-I hope you took towers during the time their team is completely top.

  1. I do keep getting caught in trying to contest a dragon the rest of my team doesn't seem to care about losing.

-That's fine, join the crowd. Instead focus on trying to take an objective solo, like towers. 5) Many times I am tempted to roam mid to counter gank a 3v2, but I get scared to give my opponent the free lane advantage (and that my support won't follow). -Roam mid as ADC? Provide little to no damage unless you have two cores built? Just stay bot and get those two cores, or else your enemy will.

  1. When I win tower, I want to roam, but the enemy usually stays in that lane, and it starts getting consistently pushed my way (and I fall behind in CS pretty quick). -Yes, that's what happens when you just roam mindlessly. Have a plan. Are you caitlyn against akali who can push mid tower fast? Go mid. Are you vayne verse anivia? stay bot. You only roam mid and give up farm if you are playing a champion that can crush other said champion.

  2. Yet when I do stay to contest that push, I tend to draw an entire team fight. -Ward up, stay solid. Give up tower if they insist on 5v2 bot.

  3. If, for any reason, I am behind, I hug my lane. -Good strategy, just remember you are sacrificing your teammates for you getting ahead. You need to ask yourself if it is worth it. If you're playing

I realize I did not add in any new circumstances, but I hope this clears up any misunderstanding or misconception you may have had.

skippersd3/24/2015, 5:30:48 AM1 votes

Here is the thing:

It heavily depends on the adc and team scaling. Caitlyn usually wants to rush down turrets, since her mid-game is just horrible. Hyper carries (vayne, Kog) want to farm, even if that means losing a turret or three, and a few dragons.

Also, it depends on your mid laner. A Xerath/orianna can waveclear decently, a Ziggs is MADE for waveclear. If you have those, you can freeze the lane, your team can defend 4v5. If you have a Diana mid, she ain't gonna save your turret.