The Most Important Strategies Each League Player Needs to Master to Rank Up
Most League players know the struggle of being stuck at Silver and Gold rank despite aiming for Platinum, Diamond, or (for the more ambitious players) Challenger. MMR (Matchmaking Ratings) or ELO, in combination with visible rankings, further complicates things, making it that much more difficult for you to level up. While sheer determination and dedication can help with ranking up, it would be the equivalent of rushing blindly in an FPS Multiplayer. Instead, you want to have a solid strategy that you stick to, as this is the only way you will see results while ranking. In honor of all League soldiers trying to power through, here are some strategies you can try implementing to speed up the ranking process.
Strategy 1: The Mental Game and Calculated Risk Management
Although you might be wondering how risk management applies to LoL, it's actually quite simple: you want to understand when a risky move is worth the reward. If you take a risky roam now, will it be worth the double kill you could potentially get, or will it lose you two waves of minion gold? This is why playing the mental game and only taking calculated risks is important. For example, casino games like or sites similar to Spin Palace are great instances of high-stakes environments that are quite similar to a League-ranked match.
You would need to strategically pick between slots, table, and live dealer games and use the massive bonuses and various promotional rewards to your advantage. This is similar to knowing which champion to play with and what resources to use in League. With stock market trading, for instance, knowing when to cut your losses early is vital; the same thing applies in LoL in knowing when a tower is lost or when you should disengage. In essence, disciplined and calculated decisions (over impulsive or emotional choices) are what will get you ahead.
Strategy 2: The Champion Pool of a Winner
Let's be honest: all of us fall for the Champion trap, where we jump between different characters as an attempt to master them. For those who dabble in games like COD, it is similar to switching between a bunch of different guns in each category in an attempt to master them. However, what you don't realize while following this method is that you are shooting yourself in the foot by spreading yourself too thin. Trying out a new Champion every few sessions means you will never master one, as you don't ever get the time to do so.
Think of it this way: if you were a race car driver, would it not make more sense to master your skill with one car instead of trying to be an "okay" driver in a bunch of cars? Your skill will have more time to develop if you focus on 1-2 Champions at a time, providing you with an opportunity to know the pros and cons of each character. Additionally, this knowledge will make it easier for you to know when to play with which character. Lastly, try to stick to high-impact or simple Champions (basically, don't rely on being ultra-fed) even if it means not being unique. You want your skill to carry you and be the reason you stand out, not your character design or cosmetics.
Strategy 3: Mastering Wave Management
When it comes to wave management, blind pushing is, unfortunately, just not going to cut it. This is especially true if you are trying to rank up to Diamond or higher. If you are building a wave (or hitting), and you ask yourself why you are doing it but have no answer, then you are simply doing it wrong. The key is to go into every match with a strategy in mind for how you want to beat your enemy: are you going to build a wave so you can focus on an objective somewhere else on the map? Are you trying to force an enemy player to abandon their team so your group gets the upper hand? Knowing exactly what you want to achieve before executing your plan is crucial.
A few key concepts to master would be slow pushing, which is where you slowly build a massive wave of Minions by only killing off a few with each spawn. You can do this for a recall or a rotation. Another would be "Freezing", which is essentially holding a wave until just the right moment outside of your tower. In doing so, you can not only create the perfect anti-gank tool, but also a farming paradise by denying the enemy CS and making them vulnerable to ganks. Alternatively, you could aim for a Fast Push or Shove if you're aiming for an objective like Dragon or Herald. This creates a nice momentum for you to distract the enemy (basically the reverse of a Slow Push, but with the same outcome).
Strategy 4: Playing for Objectives, Not Kills
A common mistake players make in most games (not just in LoL) is to play for the kills without focusing on objectives. Remember, the objectives are there for a reason. Getting the most kills is not going to get you a win unless that is the objective of the match or mode you are playing. With that being said, you want to focus on things like the First Turrent Bonus, Dragon Souls, and Baron or Elder Bait. For one, securing the First Turrent Bonus is your first step in gaining access to the winning side of the map, as the global gold swing is huge for each member. This is where your strategy building for wave management (for example) comes in, as your first priority should be destroying an enemy tower.
Similarly, you can also use your wave management strategy as a way to build momentum before the Dragon spawns. This way, you can treat the Soul as a win condition as opposed to something that you will deal with when it happens. Lastly, work on your timing so you know when to start aiming for an objective (such as with the Dragon spawning). If your numbers are at a disadvantage, you are clearly fighting a losing battle, or even if your game is lagging, now probably isn't the best time to aim for an objective. You'll get it next time.
Strategy 5: Vision Control is Free ELO
ELO or MMR is where things get a bit tricky, as you can gain a lot of ELO by beating a player better than you, or lose ELO for not being someone the system might think is worse than you. As such, you want to navigate this very carefully, and a great way to do so is by looking at how high ELO players operate. For one, low ELO players tend to hoard or save their trinkets, while high ELO gamers treat their wards as their most valuable resource. Of course, this begs the question of how you can mimic this. For one, tracking your Enemy Jungler could give you an upper hand, as you are allowed the opportunity to place a ward before a Jungler is even near you.
By doing this, you can head back to your tower quickly, prepare a counter-attack, or even avoid a fight entirely. If you are a risk-taker, dropping a ward deep in enemy territory can reward you with valuable tracking information. For those who want to specifically up their ELO ranking without the fluff, it might be a good idea to try signing up for a LoL PBE account. This can give you access to some of the latest champions, modes, and balance changes weeks before they are released. In turn, you get a head start and can dominate once the patch is released, easily gaining ELO over newer players who still need to figure things out.
Conclusion
Ultimately, following one or a combination of these core strategies should help make your rank-up journey that much easier. Additionally, you want to maintain a positive mindset, and a good way to ensure this is to embrace the mute button when things get toxic (often found in ranks below Diamond). Stop playing after two straight losses, take a breather to regroup, and be self-aware when it comes to your own mistakes. Practicing these structured habits (and avoiding flashy plays) is how you will achieve your goal ranking. Remember, you are the only thing holding yourself back, so lock in and go get that Grandmaster of Challenger ranking.
