The Ultimate Guide to Roaming in League of Legends for All Lanes
By Charlene on Oct 7th, 2023, 09:28
The word roaming invokes a sense of movement, strategy, and intent. In Summoner's Rift, knowing when and how to roam can mean the difference between a sweet victory and a crushing defeat. Have you ever found yourself pushing your wave, wondering if now's the right time to lend a hand to the bot lane? Or perhaps, as a support, you've pondered if you should head into the enemy jungle, seeking that deep ward. This guide is your compass to learning how to roam properly.
Roaming isn't merely an action; it's a strategy that weighs a ton in every elo. It's the calculated risk of leaving your assigned position to influence the broader map. Successful roaming can swing the momentum of a game, asserting pressure, securing objectives, or saving a teammate from a gank. However, it's not without its perils. Misjudge a roam, and you might find yourself giving away kills, gold and experience, or key objectives.
Top Lane: The isolated island of the top lane can sometimes feel far from the action. However, with the Teleport summoner spell and a keen sense of map awareness, top laners can create plays across the map. The key? Push your wave, keep an eye on dragons or skirmishes in the bot lane, and be ready to teleport in, turning the tide of battle.
Jungle: As the role naturally inclined to move across the map at all stages of the game, junglers are the masters of the roam. But it's not just about ganking. A jungler's roam extends to counter roaming or ganking, invading to steal camps, and providing vision. Timing is everything. Knowing where the enemy jungler is can offer a window of opportunity.
Mid Lane: Ways to roam as a mid laner diversifies. Mid laners are at the heart of the map, equidistant from top and bot. Successful mid laners leverage this, pushing their lane and looking to roam to help other lanes, which can be even easier after the enemy mid lane tower is down. The enemy champion won't even know what hit them.
ADC: Traditionally, ADCs focus on farming and taking the bot turret. But once that's accomplished, an effective ADC rotates and roams to another lane, pressuring the map and snowballing their lead.
Support: Roaming as a support role is a must-know skill for almost all support champions. Depending on the game state, supports can try to roam to mid, assist with jungle vision, or even set up plays with the jungler. Their roam gives numbers advantage, however, requires coordination. Leaving an ADC staying in lane alone can be risky, so clear communication is vital.
Good roams aren't just about moving from one lane to another. It's a meticulous art that, when mastered, can help your team win the game. Let's delve deeper into the foundational principles that can make your roams more impactful.
The Power of Control Wards: A well-placed control ward denies enemy vision and secures key areas, making roaming safer. Placing these in river brushes or enemy jungle entrances can pave the way for a successful roam.
Sweeping Lens Efficiency: Before you begin your roam, use the Sweeping Lens trinket to clear any enemy wards along your path. That ensures the enemy is unaware of your movement, giving you the element of surprise.
Choke Points and High-Traffic Areas: Roaming often means crossing areas where enemies frequently pass or place vision. Recognizing these areas, such as river entrances or jungle crossroads, and gaining sight control over them can make your roaming endeavours more unpredictable and successful.
Effective Pinging: Use the in-game ping system to communicate your intentions. A simple "On My Way" ping can inform allies of your plan, allowing them to adjust their positioning and playstyle.
Wave Management: One of the critical nuances of roaming is understanding wave positioning and lane priority. Ensure your lane is either pushed or neutral so you don't lose significant experience or gold during your roam.
Enemy Positioning Intel: Always keep an eye on the minimap. Tracking the enemy jungler or if any laner is missing, can provide valuable information about whether your roam will be safe or could potentially walk into a trap.
Turret Pressure: One of the most significant risks of roaming is leaving your turret vulnerable. If the enemy laner can quickly push waves, they might damage or even take down your turret during your absence. Always factor this into your decision.
Potential Counter-plays: The enemy team might anticipate your roam, setting up a counter-gank or ambush. Be wary of areas where multiple enemies might converge, and always be ready for a quick retreat.
Evaluating Gank Success Rate: Not every lane is gankable. Before roaming, assess factors like enemy health, available summoner spells, and potential escape routes. If it's hard to roam, focusing on objectives, farm, or vision control might be better.
Incorporating these principles into your gameplay will refine your roaming strategy and increase its success rate. Always remember that League of Legends is a team game, and even though roaming is an individual's decision, its effectiveness is amplified when synchronized with the team's objectives and game plan.
The strategic depth of League of Legends shines when we delve into the art and science of roaming. It's not just about deciding to roam; it's also about the time to roam and how you execute it. Here, we'll look closer at the various pathways and techniques each role can utilize to maximize its roaming impact.
River Brushes: One of the most straightforward paths. Push the wave to ensure the enemy laner is occupied, then sneak into the side river brushes, setting up ambushes or transitioning into other lanes.
Through The Jungle: A slightly riskier but potentially rewarding move. Dip into your jungle, move around the enemy's vision, and approach the other lane from behind. This route is particularly effective when you have jungle support or are confident the enemy jungler isn't nearby.
Lane Ganks: Roaming from lane is a deceptive technique. Move back as if you're going to base, but instead, loop around to either top or bot from behind your own turret, sneaking into lane brushes. When the enemy pushes, you pounce.
Deep Jungle Pathing: Especially useful when the enemy is pushed. Move into the enemy jungle (with appropriate vision), and either place deep wards or create surprise plays. These paths often allow you to approach the mid lane from unexpected angles.
River Control: Securing vision in the river not only aids your ADC but also sets up potential roams to mid. With scuttle control or a cleared river, the support can quickly transition to mid, helping tilt the balance in your team's favour.
Lane Assistance: Instead of going for a full roam, sometimes you want to roam just a little up the river or into your jungle, acting as a buffer or backup for potential skirmishes or fights that break out close to your lane.
Teleport Flanks: Using the Teleport summoner spell on deep wards or minions can bring the top laner right into the heart of a skirmish in bot or mid lane.
River Rotations: Similar to mid laners, after pushing the wave, top laners can utilize the river for quick transitions, especially if they're aiming to secure or contest the Rift Herald.
Lane Bush Ganks: Instead of the classic river gank, junglers can sneak into the side lane bushes, setting up an ambush.
Counter-Jungling into Gank: After stealing camps from the enemy jungle, use that deeper position to set up unexpected ganks, especially if you notice laners overextending.
Mid-River Skirmishes: Junglers often meet in the river, contesting scuttles. Turning these encounters into a planned 2v2 or 3v3 with your laners can create unexpected play opportunities.
Lane Swaps: ADCs can rotate to the top lane post-turret destruction, bringing pressure and potentially securing another turret. It's a macro roam, shifting the entire dynamic of the game.
Invading with Support: On getting a lead, the ADC and support can together venture into the enemy jungle, potentially catching out the enemy jungler or setting up vision for later plays.
Remember, while these pathways and techniques provide options, always be aware of the game's state. Vision, communication with teammates, and understanding both teams' current strengths and positions are crucial to ensure successful roams.
The main reason for roaming is to help your teammates, and that can even be game-changing. However, you can put youself or the team behind if not navigating correctly. Let's discuss some common mistakes players often make and the expert League of Legends skills needed to sidestep the pitfalls.
The Mistake: Eager to make a play, many players roam deep into enemy territory without sufficient vision, making them easy targets for enemy ambushes.
The Solution: Always prioritize vision control. Place control wards and use the Sweeping Lens trinket before delving into unfamiliar or potentially dangerous areas. If some areas of the map is entirely dark and the enemy's whereabouts are unknown, it's best to reconsider your roam or approach with extreme caution.
The Mistake: Leaving your lane without managing minion waves can lead to significant losses in gold, experience, and even turret health.
The Solution: Before roaming, push the wave to the enemy turret or ensure it's neutral. That minimizes your losses and might even force the enemy laner to stay, giving your roam a higher chance of success.
The Mistake: A silent roam can lead to miscoordination. Your team might not be ready or in a favourable position to capitalize on your movement.
The Solution: Roaming is usually done with pinging. Inform your team of your roaming intentions and ask for information about enemy summoner spell statuses or possible vision placements.
The Mistake: Sometimes, players roam into a lane where the odds of a successful gank or play are low, wasting time and resources.
The Solution: Evaluate the situation carefully. Check the health and mana bars, available summoner spells, and potential escape routes of both allies and enemies. If a play seems unfavourable, returning to your lane or redirecting your focus elsewhere is okay.
The Mistake: Committing to a roam without considering potential outcomes might lead you into unfavourable situations with no escape plan.
The Solution: Consider potential scenarios before roaming. What will you do if the enemy jungler intervenes? How will you respond if the roam fails? A backup plan, be it a safe escape route or a quick transition to another objective, can salvage a situation that doesn't go as planned.
The Mistake: Being so focused on your roam that you forget to account for the enemy's roaming or counter-roaming abilities.
The Solution: Always watch for missing enemy laners, especially those with strong roaming capabilities. If you're roaming bot and the enemy mid laner is missing, they may have the same idea. Inform your team and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Roaming works best when you have the right tools at your disposal. In the League of Legends, many champions are built for the roam. Their kits, mobility, and playstyle allow them to traverse the map quickly and strike where least expected. Let's dive into the top 5 champions that shine when it comes to roaming:
Why He's Great: Talon's parkour ability, thanks to his E - Assassin's Path, allows him to leap over walls and obstacles. This unique trait makes his roaming path unpredictable and hard to ward against.
Roaming Tip: After pushing your wave or securing a killing the enemy in the mid lane, leave lane and try to get a kill from bot or top lane. Use your W - Rake and R - Shadow Assault for a surprise burst and quick takedowns.
Why He's Great: With his W - Astral Flight, Aurelion Sol can fly over terrains, making his roams swift and unexpected. His Q - Breath of Light also brings significant AoE damage into skirmishes.
Roaming Tip: Engage with your W from a distance, positioning yourself to utilize your Q, E, and R effectively against enemies.
Why He's Great: Pyke's mobility and camouflage from W - Ghostwater Dive make him a roaming nightmare for opponents. He's able to roam without being spotted or to follow the enemy quietly. His Q - Bone Skewer and R - Death from Below offer solid pick potential and execution.
Roaming Tip: Roam when your ADC is safe, or the enemy bot lane is pushed in. Utilize your camouflage to approach lanes unseen, and always aim to execute low-health champions with your ultimate for that extra gold bonus.
Why She's Great: Ahri's charm and mobility make her a prime roamer. Her Q - Orb of Deception provides wave-clear, allowing her to push and roam. But it's her ultimate, R - Spirit Rush, that gives her unparalleled dash mobility to weave in and out of skirmishes.
Roaming Tip: Use your E - Charm to catch out-of-position opponents during roams. This can set up easy kills for your team. When diving into a skirmish, leverage your R to reposition, dodge key abilities, or chase down fleeing enemies. Also, while Ahri's mobility is a strength, be mindful of its cooldowns to ensure you don't get caught in a tight spot without an escape.
Why He's Great: Bard thrives on roaming more frequently than the enemy support due to his passive, Traveler's Call, collecting chimes to empower his meeps. His E - Magical Journey offers unique pathways through walls, while his Q - Cosmic Binding can stun opponents.
Roaming Tip: Look for opportunities to roam to the mid lane while collecting chimes. Your R - Tempered Fate can be a game-changer, freezing enemies or objectives and setting up your team for a favourable engagement.
When selecting a champion for roaming, it's essential to consider their mobility and ability to impact fights quickly. The good roaming champions listed above are exceptional in this aspect, but remember, successful roaming is as much about understanding the game's flow as it is about champion capabilities.
Simply put, the art of roaming is about working together to win. It means leaving your main area in the game to help elsewhere. Using the tips in this guide, you can learn how to roam, make smart moves, and help your team win. Make every roam counts. Onward, summoner!
