Reign of Gaming

Middle Lane Strategies

What is up Reign of Gaming readers? I am back with yet another blog to talk with you guys about the middle lane. In this one, I want to focus more on the strategy aspects of laning and just being an overall better middle laner. There are many many different things that can be covered in this discussion, but let us move through this slowly. In this post I will be talking to you about 3 main aspects, and those are:

• Proper ward positions 
• Shoving lane and taking enemy/allied wraiths
• Leashing for the jungle, even with the new leashing mechanics

Each of these topics are very important and can really improve your overall game-play. Some of them might seem a little straight-forward or too easy NOT to do already, but maybe you will learn something. Don't forget, sometimes it is the easy things that end up being most beneficial/crucial. 

Ward Positions

 Warding is probably one of the most important aspects of League of Legends. No lie, a single ward can determine the winner of a game in certain situations. Most people instantly think that it is the supports' job to ward, yet being smart enough to constantly keep your lane warded can honestly save you many deaths and even save you from losing your lane. A lot of players, even pro ones, have trouble remembering to keep their lane warded constantly and as a result even they die cause of it. 

Now, I am unfortunately unable to say anything and somehow make everyone reading this instantly remember to always ward, I myself forget at times. However, I can give you tips as to where to place the wards that will give the most ideal vision. There are of course two sides to a game, the purple team and the blue. I have an image that illustrates the ward locations for each side. Let us begin with the purple team. 

Purple Team - Warding Locations

Keep in mind that this is the team that spawns at the TOP RIGHT. These are the 3 main positions I believe are the most idea for warding in the middle lane. I will go through each one and give you my thought process behind it. Let us begin with the dot labeled #1. This is probably the best spot and the one you should be throwing down the ward almost all the time. There are two spots you can put in this area, and one sacrifices something that the other spot offers and vice versa. If you decide to place the ward closer to the wraith area, this will give you the vision of the enemy jungler/middle laner when they are clearing the wraiths. This gives you great advantage because it will tell you where the enemy champion is, and you can even come in as they are doing it and steal the wraiths from them. This is what I consider a more offensive ward since it does not give you vision of the river just above it. The other ward location in the #1 spot is slightly closer to the river, pretty much right on the ramp. This does NOT give you vision of the wraiths but it does give you river vision. I consider this one more defensive. Also, both spots here will make sure that the middle laner or jungler aren't running through that path to go into bot lane for a gank.

#2 ward spot is not too bad either. This will make sure no-one is trying to sneak into your jungle behind you, and possibly tower dive you with a flank. It is not as good as the #1 spot, but it is still a decent spot. It can also give slight vision around the dragon area to see if anything fishy is going on there. Not a bad spot that can replace #2 is the little bush right below it, the one in the middle of the river. 

#3 ward spot very good, probably the second best spot. This spot acts similarly with the #1 ward. It makes sure the middle laner or jungle is not going to top lane for a gank, and works like the #2 ward to make sure you aren't getting flanked by the enemy jungler and that he is not going into your allied jungle. This pretty much does what ward #1/#2 does, but in the opposite side of the lane. Very useful. 

The order of usefulness is, #1, #3, #2.  

Here is the image for the opposite team, the concepts are all the same as above. 

Blue team - Warding Locations

Taking Wraiths for Extra CS

This is a very important concept that can push you much farther ahead than your enemy middle laner. This is something that was used in a tournament a while ago by M5 primarily (from what I saw). The whole concept behind this is, you constantly push the lane as hard as you can and then take the enemy wraiths and sometimes the allied once as well. Playing a heavy lane pusher like Mordekaiser works well here. You simply pop your skills, get the lane to the enemy tower, and then you go and take the enemy wraiths. This not only gives you extra 4 cs constantly, but it denies exp/cs for the enemy jungler and possibly middle laner. 

This relates to the warding topic above as well. If you happen to place the ward in the area that also reveals the enemy wraiths, this will give you an ever better idea of when the wraiths re-spawn. However, doing this WITHOUT flash is very risky. I usually do this extremely cautiously if my flash is down since if I ever get caught while doing the enemy wraiths, I am probably dead. 

Also, you can take the allied wraiths. I usually let the jungler get a few waves of this as to not let them fall behind, and if my jungler is okay with it, I will begin taking them as well. If you can consistently take your wraiths, enemy wraiths, and still get the cs from lane..well..you will be sooo far ahead of the enemy mid laner.

So this is a very important concept you should learn to pick up, and slowly your cs will go way ahead of the enemy mid laners'. There is a video on this below that will show this and all the other concepts that I am discussing here.

Leashing

Leashing has been altered since the latest HUGE patch (not counting the one that came on the Thursday just now). Riot made leashing pretty much non-existent, or at least not in the same way. Before, the jungle minions would keep their aggro on the first champion that did damage to them prior to switching. Now, all the jungle minions target the closest champion, which in most cases will be the jungler. 

Because of this, leashing as the middle laner is not as good as it used to be, but that doesn't mean that you can't help at all. One thing the middle laner should ALWAYS do is help the jungler with their first camp, which will tend to be either the wolves camp or the wraiths camp. You want the jungler to take as least amount of damage from those as possible. Next, you can still put some hurt onto the buff camps but usually it is not worth it for you. Either you will put on a lot of damage and assist the jungler but miss a few CS, or put a bit of damage onto the buff camp but then not miss any CS in lane. 

Personally, I usually put on a bit of damage and go straight to lane so I will not miss a CS and any experience. The choice is yours. But it is almost essential for you to assist in the first camp (wolves/wraiths). 

Conclusion

Warding is extremely important for any player to do. Supports are NOT the only people that should be warding, especially during the laning phase (unless you are the AD carry). You should keep middle lane constantly warded, following the spots I have shown. #1 spot being the best and usually the most ideal. Pushing the lane fast and taking enemy wraiths and sometimes your own is a huge boost in dominance. You will get more experience and gold. Recommended to do this with heavy pushers like Cass or Mordekaiser. Leashing is not the same as it used to be, however you can still provide assistance. You should always help with the wolves camp or wraith camp. It is your decision if you want to help your jungler with the buff camp and miss some CS, or put a bit of damage and make it in time for the first CS.

Hope you guys enjoyed my second post in RoG, and can't wait to speak again! Also, I have a video talking about all three of these points but keep in mind it was made before the change to leashing was made. Hope you enjoyed this post, PEACE!

My champion of the week pick is.. Twisted Fate!!