Today I would like to talk about solo queue as many others before me and many more after me. But, I want to talk about coming back from behind and just winning in general. Solo queue is a very volatile beast, so there are a lot of things to say about it. However, I want to try and move away from talking about that beast and focus on you. I want to address YOUR mentality and the way YOU play the game.
1. Play your own game
So, I know this has been said before, but honestly it’s really important. Don’t force things that you’re not comfortable with. Don’t pick champions because you’ve seen them being played to great success or because they are flavor of the month or overpowered in some way. This is perhaps the biggest trap you can fall for in ranked play (trust me and look at my TF/Thresh stats this season). Play champions that you know and love. Your mechanical skill and game knowledge with these comfort champs will definitely outweigh the things that make the other champs good. It’s not like there are any champions that don’t bring anything to the table anyway. If you want to try something out, use normal games to get a feel for it. Remember: ranked is supposed to be a “tryhard” environment. That’s why it’s called ranked after all.
2. Always look toward winning
This may sound a bit strange but you should be looking for the path to victory at all times. No matter what part of the game you’re in, you should always be trying to win. Think to yourself “how can we win this game” and when you think you have the best answer, do it. Tell your team! They probably want to win too.
3. Communicate with your team
Your team doesn’t know what you are thinking. If it is relevant to winning, do not hesitate to tell them! Do you think you have a good chance to steal a buff or win a fight? Tell your team and go do it.
~Quick side note~
A message to all duo queue-ers: please don’t keep all communication in skype/vent/etc. Let the rest of your team in on what you two are saying if it is relevant to winning the game. Too many times I’ve been in queue with a duo who says absolutely nothing and the lack of communication really creates an unnecessary obstacle to overcome.
4. Know your role
This is something that I don’t see said a lot and quite frankly, I think it’s one of the most important things to know. By “know your role” I don’t mean top, bot, etc. I mean you should know what it is your champion is going to do this game (peel, dive, damage, initiate, etc) and how best to do this. This not only includes build, but also play style. This means that you can play the same champ twice in a row and play completely differently. For example, say you’re playing Shen. One game you build a bit of damage and then tanky and proceed to dive for the enemy carries after ulting in on your initiator. Another game, you’re a bit behind but your carry is doing pretty well. In this scenario, the best option will probably be to build straight tank and taunt an enemy assassin/diver after ulting in on your carry. Knowing when to utilize your kit and your build in different ways is to truly know your role.
5. As always, practice your mechanics
Not much really needs to be said about this but I will go over it in brief detail. Mechanics, for those who don’t know, are your in-game actions, whether it be last hitting, kiting, landing skill shots, etc. It doesn’t matter how well you know the game or communicate with your team if your mechanics are poor. How do you practice mechanics? Play the game, of course. But play it while thinking about it. Make a mental note every time you miss a minion kill or skill shot and realize that mistake. It is the first step in improving.
If you as a player can focus on these 5 things, I can guarantee that you will improve as a player. And once you improve yourself, you can begin climbing to the top! Thanks for reading.
If you have any things to say to me, be it questions or comments, my in game name is Stratekraken on NA and my email address is [email protected].
