Hello and welcome to our in-depth guide on the Mid Lane in League of Legends. As one of the most popular roles in the game, mastering the Mid Lane is crucial if you want to climb the ranked ladder and become a top player. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about playing Mid Lane, from champion picks and item builds to laning strategies and teamfighting. So, whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the role, read on to discover how you can dominate the center of the map.
Table of Contents
| Section | Subsections |
|---|---|
| 1. Champion Picks | 1.1 Burst Mages 1.2 Control Mages 1.3 Assassins |
| 2. Item Builds | 2.1 Core Items 2.2 Situational Items 2.3 Boots |
| 3. Laning Strategies | 3.1 Pushing vs. Freezing 3.2 Roaming 3.3 Trading |
| 4. Teamfighting | 4.1 Positioning 4.2 Target Priority 4.3 Ability Usage |
| 5. Frequently Asked Questions |
1. Champion Picks
The first step to success in the Mid Lane is choosing the right champion for the job. There are three main types of Mid Lane champions: Burst Mages, Control Mages, and Assassins. Each type has its own strengths and weaknesses, so let’s take a look at the top picks in each category.
1.1 Burst Mages
Burst Mages are all about dealing massive amounts of damage in a short amount of time. They typically have high AP ratios on their abilities and rely on burst combos to take down their opponents. Some of the best Burst Mages in the Mid Lane include:
- Ahri
- Annie
- LeBlanc
- Veigar
- Zed
When playing a Burst Mage, your goal is to quickly burst down your opponent and take them out of the fight. You’ll want to focus on farming and building up your AP, then look for opportunities to land your combos and secure kills.
1.2 Control Mages
Control Mages are all about manipulating the battlefield to their advantage. They typically have strong CC and AoE abilities that allow them to control the flow of teamfights. Some of the best Control Mages in the Mid Lane include:
- Anivia
- Orianna
- Syndra
- Taliyah
- Viktor
When playing a Control Mage, your goal is to zone out your opponents and control the battlefield. You’ll want to focus on farming and building up your mana pool, then look for opportunities to land your abilities and control the flow of teamfights.
1.3 Assassins
Assassins are all about taking out high-priority targets quickly and efficiently. They typically have high mobility and burst damage, allowing them to quickly dive onto their targets and eliminate them. Some of the best Assassins in the Mid Lane include:
- Akali
- Kassadin
- Talon
- Zed
When playing an Assassin, your goal is to take out high-priority targets like the enemy ADC or mid laner. You’ll want to focus on farming and building up your mobility and damage, then look for opportunities to dive onto your targets and eliminate them.
2. Item Builds
Once you’ve chosen your champion, it’s time to think about your item build. The right items can make a huge difference in your ability to deal damage, survive fights, and control the battlefield. Here are some of the core items, situational items, and boots that you’ll want to consider when building your Mid Lane champion.
2.1 Core Items
Core items are the items that you’ll want to build on almost every Mid Lane champion. They provide essential stats like AP, mana, and cooldown reduction, and help you deal damage and survive fights. Some of the most common core items include:
- Luden’s Echo
- Rabadon’s Deathcap
- Morellonomicon
- Liandry’s Torment
- Zhonya’s Hourglass
When building your core items, you’ll want to consider your champion’s abilities and playstyle, as well as the enemy team’s composition. For example, if you’re facing a team with a lot of healing, you might want to build Morellonomicon to reduce their healing.
2.2 Situational Items
Situational items are items that you’ll want to build in specific situations, depending on the enemy team’s composition and your own needs. They provide unique effects that can help you deal with specific threats or enhance your strengths. Some of the most common situational items include:
- Banshee’s Veil
- Void Staff
- Rylai’s Crystal Scepter
- Spellbinder
- Lich Bane
When building situational items, you’ll want to consider the enemy team’s composition and which threats you need to deal with. For example, if the enemy team has a lot of AP damage, you might want to build Banshee’s Veil to reduce their ability to burst you down.
2.3 Boots
Boots are an essential part of any Mid Lane build, providing mobility and utility that can help you escape danger or chase down enemies. There are several types of boots to choose from, each with its own unique effects. Some of the most common boots for Mid Lane champions include:
- Sorcerer’s Shoes
- Merc Treads
- Ninja Tabi
- Ionian Boots of Lucidity
When choosing your boots, you’ll want to consider your champion’s mobility and need for crowd control reduction. For example, if you’re playing a Burst Mage with low mobility, you might want to build Sorcerer’s Shoes to increase your damage output. If you’re facing a lot of crowd control, you might want to build Merc Treads to reduce its duration.
3. Laning Strategies
Once you’ve chosen your champion and built your items, it’s time to head into the Mid Lane and start laning. The Mid Lane is one of the most important areas of the map, as it provides access to both the top and bottom lanes as well as the jungle. Here are some laning strategies that can help you dominate the Mid Lane and gain an advantage over your opponent.
3.1 Pushing vs. Freezing
One of the key decisions you’ll need to make in the Mid Lane is whether to push the lane or freeze it. Pushing the lane involves using your abilities to quickly clear the minion wave and damage the enemy tower, while freezing the lane involves only last-hitting minions and keeping the wave near your tower. Here are some of the pros and cons of each strategy:
| Strategy | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Pushing |
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| Freezing |
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When deciding whether to push or freeze the lane, you’ll want to consider your champion’s abilities and the enemy champion’s abilities. For example, if you’re playing a Burst Mage with strong waveclear, you might want to push the lane and roam to other lanes or invade the enemy jungle. If you’re facing a Control Mage with strong zoning abilities, you might want to freeze the lane and deny them CS and XP.
3.2 Roaming
Roaming is an essential part of playing Mid Lane, as it allows you to impact other lanes and help your team gain an advantage. Roaming involves leaving the Mid Lane to gank other lanes or invade the enemy jungle, then returning to the Mid Lane once the job is done. Here are some tips for successful roaming:
- Look for opportunities to roam when your lane is pushed or your opponent is dead or recalled.
- Communicate with your team to coordinate ganks and invades.
- Be aware of enemy vision and try to avoid wards.
- Consider building mobility items like Spellbinder or Luden’s Echo to enhance your roaming potential.
When roaming, you’ll want to look for opportunities to catch the enemy team off-guard and secure kills or objectives. You’ll also want to be aware of your own safety, as leaving the Mid Lane can leave you vulnerable to ganks or enemy harass.
3.3 Trading
Trading refers to the act of exchanging damage with your opponent in the Mid Lane. Successful trading can help you gain an advantage in lane and set you up for kills or CS leads. Here are some tips for successful trading:
- Be aware of your own and your opponent’s cooldowns.
- Look for opportunities to land your abilities and auto-attacks.
- Be aware of your own and your opponent’s health bars.
- Consider using minions to your advantage, such as by hiding behind them or using them to block skillshots.
When trading, you’ll want to be aware of your own and your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. For example, if you’re playing a Burst Mage, you’ll want to look for opportunities to land your full combo and burst down your opponent. If you’re facing an Assassin, you’ll want to be aware of their mobility and burst potential and avoid getting caught out.
4. Teamfighting
Teamfighting is where Mid Lane champions really shine, as their abilities can have a huge impact on the outcome of fights. However, teamfighting can also be one of the most challenging aspects of playing Mid Lane, as you’ll need to be aware of your positioning, target priority, and ability usage. Here are some tips for successful teamfighting:
4.1 Positioning
Positioning is crucial in teamfights, as it can mean the difference between life and death. As a Mid Lane champion, you’ll want to be aware of your own and your opponent’s positioning, and look for opportunities to land your abilities while avoiding enemy damage. Here are some tips for successful positioning:
- Stay behind your front line and avoid getting caught out by enemy CC or burst damage.
- Look for opportunities to flank the enemy team and catch them off-guard.
- Be aware of your own and your opponent’s mobility and look for opportunities to use the terrain to your advantage.
4.2 Target Priority
Target priority refers to the act of choosing which enemy champion to focus in teamfights. As a Mid Lane champion, you’ll want to be aware of your own and your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, and choose your targets accordingly. Here are some tips for successful target priority:
- Focus on high-priority targets like the enemy ADC or mid laner.
- Be aware of enemy CC and look for opportunities to take out enemy champions who are out of position.
- Consider using zoning abilities to control the battlefield and limit the enemy team’s options.
4.3 Ability Usage
Ability usage is perhaps the most important aspect of teamfighting, as your abilities can make or break fights. As a Mid Lane champion, you’ll want to be aware of your own and your opponent’s abilities, and look for opportunities to land your own abilities while avoiding enemy damage. Here are some tips for successful ability usage: