Hello reader,
Here, I'm going to share a few tips and my thoughts on how to climb the Elo ladder and get out of Bronze. This article is based on thorough research and first hand experience.
What qualifies me to write this ?
I was stuck in Bronze 5 for ages. I've managed to reach Gold. By just playing 2-3 hours a day, 4-5 days a week. Not bad if I say so myself !
Accepting the Truth
This is the hardest part. Acceptance. Accept the fact that you are where you are because of Yourself and not anyone else. You need to improve your game to climb the elo ladder.
It's not Riot's fault (They have an MMR (Match making rating) system. Learn how it works. If you don't like it, please quit LOL)
You are paired with unskilled players because you are not too better than them yourself
You lack some/most or all of the following:
- Game Mechanics
- Champion Mastery
- Decision Making
- In-game goal setting and execution
- Map presence / Presence of Mind
- Counter picks knowledge
- Top Picks
- Responsibility for your actions
- Focus
- Adequate, Polite team communication skills
I will explain each in detail:
Game Mechanics:
This includes the overall game knowledge which can be either something as basic as last hitting under towers, denying farm to enemy laner to relatively complex technique of freezing a lane. Also, split pushing at the right time, Not over extending in a lane alone without adequate wards / vision, having constant vision around global objectives like dragon, baron, around key places on the map, where to use pink wards and so on.
Many players in bronze do not have these concepts clear.
Champion Mastery:
As the name suggests, Having a hold on certain champions for every role is a must.
This ensures that you don't need to beg others for a role in champ select. You should know to play at least 2 or 3 champions exceptionally well in every lane including jungle. Not much to ask from you.
Not to mention, you need to understand how to play each role effectively. i.e. when to gank, how to counter gank as a jungler, where to ward, what items to buy as a support etc, When to push and roam as a top/mid laner etc.
I carried myself from Bronze to Silver mostly playing Jarvan IV in the Jungle / Mid lane.
From, Silver to Gold, I relied mostly on Diana (main) followed by Jarvan IV and others to an extent.
I knew that on these champs, I could carry most games alone and usually snowball through the game.
The bottom line is having confidence on your ability to play a champion against most matchups.
Many players in bronze do not have mastery over their champions.
Decision Making:
One of the most important aspect of the game. This includes things like: When to start fights, when not to, When to roam, when to counter jungle, when to go in for a dragon/baron and so on.
Even simple things like when to back off from a fight and when to turn back and fight makes a lot of difference.
I see many low players, when caught up in a bad situation and are sure to die, not even trying to hit and try for a kill on an enemy who has a solid possibility of dying. i.e. if you're about to die, try to take someone down with you rather than trying to run aimlessly.
Another basic but important example would be hitting the priority target (main damage dealer) over others like tanks / supports. Many players ignore the main targets and hit tanks/supports who have a less chance of dying eventually dying in the proess by the enemy with most damage.
This can be seen even in high silver - low gold tier.
Another example: Going for key objectives like Dragon / Baron when the enemy jungler is either dead or far away and your jungler is close by to smite is a far better decision rather than trying to take dragon/baron when the enemy jungler has a 50-50% chance of taking it.
Remember: Good Decisions will win you many games.
In-game goal setting & Execution of the goal:
This involves goals like trying to reach "x" farm in say 10 min and focusing on that, Pushing the enemy's first tower in a lane, then roam the adjacent lane or perhaps go for dragon and so on.
Many players mindlessly sit in their lanes all day rather than doing something which can significantly increase their chance of winning games like ganking other lanes, taking a dragon and so on.
E.g. As a jungler, you need to keep track of the red/blue buff respawns and ensure you or your team takes it. Counter jungle when you see the enemy jungler far on the map. thus slowing down the enemy jungler and so on.
Many junglers just try to gank all game and dont focus on farming which is equally important for them. This eventually hurts them.
Another example - If a 2 v 2 or 3 v 3 teamfight is going on and you are far away with no enemy in your lane, You should try to at least push a tower in your lane as you aren't helping your team. Do something to compensate for your absence in a teamfight.
Note: This is only applicable if you really cannot make to the fight in time.
Map presence / Presence of mind:
Inculcate a habit to look at the minimap once every minute. This might sound hard but it is important.
You need to be aware of what's going on on the map at all times. If you cannot see the adjacent laner, There is a high chance that he/she is roaming for kills. Many players fail to ping a missing enemy. Proper warding and map presence will ensure that you dont get ganked and this might even net you a kill if you're prepared to fight and surprise the roamer.
Many people freak out when they're surprise-ganked. i.e. when they really dont expect it.
There are many instances when people could've easily lived but instead freak out, press wrong buttons, fail flashes and so on..
In such situations, Presence of mind will ensure that you get to safety or even kill someone before you get killed yourself.
Remember: Being calm helps.
Counter Picks knowledge:
This basically invloves knowing which champions counter a particular champion picked by an enemy and picking those champions if (IF) you can play the counter pick properly.
e.g. Brand has an advantage over Annie, Ryze has an advantage over Fizz, Caitlyn can harass Vayne in the early game from far and so on..
NOTE: Counter picks give you a small - moderate advantage over your enemy laner however it is not 100% foolproof.
Top Picks:
Every patch / season, there are certain champions which are OP (Over powered). i.e. Naturally strong over many others in their category / lane.
This is due to the buffs these champions have received recently and/or nerfs to other champions / items etc.
Learn to identify and play these champions rather than crying about facing and lsing againt them. They are OP for a reason.
Every season, the meta changes. i.e. a season where all tanks are strong or all assassins are strong due to item changes/balances etc. Try to learn and play several champions who are "in-the-meta"
e.g. In S4, Tanky junglers were the meta with the addition of 'Juggernaut' Machete item. Junglers like Sejuani / Volibear who were rarely picked before became the top picks due to their insane tankiness and CC (Crowd control skills)
Taking full Responsibility for your actions:
This is important. If you lost your lane or screwed up a fight / play, It's you and not your teammates.
If you as a laner gave kills to the enemy laner or worse fed him or fell insanely behind in farm, It is Your fault. Not your Jungler's fault. Not your team's fault
If you initiated a fight which was a 50-50% win/loss ratio and lost it, Remember that You triggered that event. It was your decision.
Blaming others is easy. Accepting and learning from your own mistakes and plays is the key to get better.
Focus:
Some players focus more on what their team mates are doing rather than on their own game. Some players focus on typing a lot instead of playing the game.
DO NOT do it.
Focus on how you can win a game. Focus on what you can do in each game to secure vistory rather than focusing on what your team mates are doing and typing all game.
Communication:
Adequate communication: That is, Not more, not less. Just enough communication. Use pings instead of typing basic commands.
Be Polite to your team. If you rage on a team mate for their sub par performance, they will perform worse. Instead tell your team mate/s:
"Play Defensive", "Just Farm", "Wait for jungler to gank", "Do not fight alone", "Do not overextend".
Phrases like these are all you need. Don't try to counsel someone in game. Just ask politely. Your team mate has a good chance of not feeding and actually helping your team if you speak properly.
If you cannot handle someone (Players who rage at you), Use the "MUTE" feature. I find it easier to concentrate on the game by muting out raging players.
The Bottom Line:
Getting out of Bronze is not a quick process. But it shouldn't be a long and a painful one either.
Self Improvement is the key.
Remember the points listed above.
Getting yourself to follow these will take some time but it will eventually pay off.
Many players in Bronze feel helpless, demotivated and confused.
In truth, A single good player with strong knowledge of game mechanics and strong decision making with good communication with his team can carry games easily.
You just have to work to be "That player"
