How to Play League of Legends: Complete Beginner Guide

This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to start playing League of Legends, from basic mechanics to climbing the ranked ladder.

Getting Started

System Requirements

Minimum:

• OS: Windows 7, 8, or 10
• Processor: 3 GHz processor
• Memory: 2 GB RAM
• Graphics: Shader version 2.0 capable video card
• Storage: 12 GB available space

Recommended:

• Processor: 3 GHz dual-core processor
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: Dedicated GPU with 512MB+ VRAM
• Storage: 16 GB available space

Installation

1. Visit leagueoflegends.com
2. Click "Play Now" and download
3. Create a Riot Games account
4. Install the client (~12GB)
5. Complete the tutorial

Initial Setup

Game Settings:

• Video: Set to native resolution, adjust for performance
• Interface: Enable "Show Attack Range" and "Quick Cast"
• Hotkeys: Start with defaults, customize later
• Sound: Adjust volumes for comfort

Understanding the Basics

Game Objective

Primary Goal: Destroy the enemy Nexus (main structure in their base)

Path to Victory:

• Push down lanes
• Destroy towers
• Destroy inhibitors
• Destroy Nexus towers
• Destroy Nexus

The Map (Summoner's Rift)

Three Lanes:

• Top Lane: Usually 1v1, isolated
• Mid Lane: Shortest lane, high impact
• Bot Lane: 2v2 (ADC + Support)

Jungle:

• Area between lanes
• Contains neutral monster camps
• Jungler farms here and ganks lanes

Key Structures:

• Towers: Defensive structures (3 per lane)
• Inhibitors: Spawn super minions when destroyed
• Nexus: Main objective

Minions and Waves

Minion Types:

• Melee Minions: Frontline, more HP
• Caster Minions: Backline, ranged
• Cannon Minions: Tanky, spawns every 3rd wave
• Super Minions: Powerful, spawn when inhibitor is down

Wave Management:

• Minions spawn every 30 seconds
• Last-hitting gives gold
• Pushing vs. freezing strategies

Choosing Your Role

Top Lane

Playstyle: Isolated 1v1, split-pushing, team fight frontline

Beginner Champions:

• Garen: Simple, tanky, high damage
• Malphite: Tank, easy ultimate, team fight impact
• Darius: Bruiser, strong duelist, snowball potential

What You'll Learn:

• 1v1 trading
• Wave management
• Split-pushing
• Teleport plays

Jungle

Playstyle: Farm camps, gank lanes, secure objectives

Beginner Champions:

• Master Yi: Simple mechanics, high damage
• Warwick: Sustain, easy ganks, beginner-friendly
• Amumu: Tank, game-changing ultimate

What You'll Learn:

• Jungle pathing
• Gank timing
• Objective control
• Map awareness

Mid Lane

Playstyle: High damage, roaming, team fight impact

Beginner Champions:

• Annie: Simple, high burst, point-and-click stun
• Malzahar: Safe laning, point-and-click ultimate
• Lux: Long range, skill shots, burst damage

What You'll Learn:

• Wave management
• Roaming
• Burst combos
• Positioning

ADC (Bot Lane Carry)

Playstyle: Sustained damage, scale into late game, positioning

Beginner Champions:

• Miss Fortune: Simple, high damage, strong ultimate
• Ashe: Utility, easy to play, global ultimate
• Caitlyn: Long range, safe laning

What You'll Learn:

• Kiting
• Positioning
• Farming
• Trading in lane

Support (Bot Lane)

Playstyle: Protect ADC, vision control, engage/disengage

Beginner Champions:

• Soraka: Healer, simple, forgiving
• Leona: Tank, easy engage, crowd control
• Lux: Poke, shields, burst damage

What You'll Learn:

• Vision control
• Roaming
• Peel and engage
• Map awareness

Core Mechanics

Last-Hitting (CS - Creep Score)

Why It Matters:

• Primary source of gold
• 15-20 CS = 1 kill in gold value
• Good CS: 7-8 per minute
• Great CS: 9-10 per minute

How to Practice:

1. Enter Practice Tool
2. Pick your champion
3. Practice last-hitting for 10 minutes
4. Goal: 80+ CS by 10 minutes

Tips:

• Watch minion HP bars
• Learn your champion's attack animation
• Don't auto-attack constantly
• Time your attacks for killing blow

Trading in Lane

Trading Stance:

• Position aggressively when enemy goes for CS
• Attack when they're locked in animation
• Back off before they can retaliate

Good Trades:

• Hit enemy, take no damage back
• Use abilities, then back off
• Trade when you have minion advantage

Bad Trades:

• Taking more damage than you deal
• Trading in large enemy minion wave
• Trading when behind in levels

Wave Management

Pushing:

• Kill minions quickly
• Forces enemy to farm under tower
• Allows you to roam or recall

Freezing:

• Keep wave near your tower
• Deny enemy CS safely
• Set up for jungle ganks

Slow Pushing:

• Let minions build up
• Creates large wave that crashes
• Allows safe recall or roam

Map Awareness

Check Minimap Every 3-5 Seconds:

• Enemy positions
• Missing enemies
• Jungle tracking
• Objective timers

Danger Signs:

• Multiple enemies missing
• Enemy jungler not visible
• Wards expiring
• Overextended position

Itemization

Starting Items

Top Lane:

• Doran's Blade/Shield (fighters)
• Corrupting Potion (sustain)

Jungle:

• Jungle item (required)
• Refillable Potion

Mid Lane:

• Doran's Ring (mages)
• Corrupting Potion (sustain)

ADC:

• Doran's Blade
• Health Potion

Support:

• Support item (required)
• Health Potions

Core Items by Role

Top Lane (Bruiser):

1. Boots (Plated Steelcaps or Mercury's Treads)
2. Mythic Item (Goredrinker, Stridebreaker)
3. Black Cleaver
4. Sterak's Gage

Jungle (Fighter):

1. Jungle item completion
2. Boots
3. Mythic Item
4. Situational tank/damage items

Mid Lane (Mage):

1. Boots (Sorcerer's Shoes)
2. Mythic Item (Luden's, Liandry's)
3. Zhonya's Hourglass (vs. AD)
4. Rabadon's Deathcap

ADC:

1. Boots (Berserker's Greaves)
2. Mythic Item (Kraken Slayer, Galeforce)
3. Zeal item (Phantom Dancer, Runaan's)
4. Infinity Edge

Support (Enchanter):

1. Support item completion
2. Boots (Mobility or Lucidity)
3. Mythic Item (Moonstone, Shurelya's)
4. Redemption/Ardent Censer

Situational Items

Against Heavy AD:

• Plated Steelcaps (boots)
• Randuin's Omen
• Frozen Heart

Against Heavy AP:

• Mercury's Treads (boots)
• Spirit Visage
• Force of Nature

Against Healing:

• Executioner's Calling → Mortal Reminder
• Oblivion Orb → Morellonomicon

For Survivability:

• Guardian Angel (revive)
• Zhonya's Hourglass (stasis)
• Stopwatch (one-time stasis)

Summoner Spells

Essential Spells

Flash:

• Instant short-range teleport
• 5-minute cooldown
• Everyone takes this (except some junglers)

Teleport (Top Lane):

• Teleport to allied structure/ward
• 6-minute cooldown (reduced after 14 min)
• Split-push and join team fights

Smite (Jungle):

• High damage to monsters
• Required for junglers
• Secures objectives

Ignite (Mid/Support):

• True damage over time
• Reduces healing
• Kill pressure in lane

Heal (ADC):

• Heal yourself and ally
• Movement speed boost
• Bot lane sustain

Exhaust (Support):

• Slow and reduce damage
• Counter assassins
• Peel for carries

Runes and Masteries

Rune Pages

Primary Tree:

• Keystone rune (most important)
• 3 additional runes

Secondary Tree:

• 2 additional runes

Stat Shards:

• 3 small stat bonuses

Popular Keystones

Precision:

• Conqueror: Sustained fights, bruisers
• Press the Attack: Burst trades, ADCs
• Lethal Tempo: Attack speed, hypercarries

Domination:

• Electrocute: Burst damage, assassins
• Dark Harvest: Scaling, poke champions

Sorcery:

• Arcane Comet: Poke, mages
• Phase Rush: Mobility, kiting

Resolve:

• Grasp of the Undying: Tanks, sustain
• Aftershock: Engage tanks

Inspiration:

• Unsealed Spellbook: Flexibility
• Glacial Augment: Utility, slows

Beginner Rune Setup

For Most Champions:

• Use recommended runes
• Adjust as you learn
• Copy pro player runes from op.gg

Game Phases and Strategy

Early Game (0-15 minutes)

Laning Phase Goals:

• Farm minions (CS)
• Trade favorably
• Avoid dying
• Help with objectives

First Objectives:

• First Tower: 150 gold bonus
• First Dragon: Team buff
• Rift Herald: Tower destroyer

Tips:

• Focus on CS over kills
• Ward river to avoid ganks
• Communicate missing enemies
• Don't overextend

Mid Game (15-30 minutes)

Transition Phase:

• Laning phase ends
• Group for objectives
• Take towers
• Secure dragons

Objectives Priority:

1. Dragon (soul at 4 dragons)
2. Towers (map control)
3. Rift Herald (if still available)
4. Enemy jungle camps

Tips:

• Group with team
• Don't farm alone without vision
• Rotate for objectives
• Push advantages after winning fights

Late Game (30+ minutes)

High Stakes:

• One team fight can end game
• Baron Nashor is crucial
• Elder Dragon is game-changing
• Death timers are long

Win Conditions:

• Secure Baron, push with buff
• Catch enemy out of position
• Win 5v5 team fight
• Split-push with teleport

Tips:

• Don't get caught alone
• Ward Baron and Dragon
• Group for objectives
• Play patiently

Objectives

Dragons

Types and Buffs:

• Infernal: Bonus AD and AP
• Mountain: Bonus armor and MR
• Ocean: Health regen
• Cloud: Movement speed

Dragon Soul (4th Dragon):

• Permanent powerful buff
• Game-changing advantage

Elder Dragon:

• Spawns after soul
• Execute damage on low HP enemies
• Usually ends game

Baron Nashor

Spawns: 20 minutes

Buff Duration: 3 minutes

Benefits:

• Empowered recall
• Bonus stats
• Empowered minions
• Usually leads to victory

When to Take:

• After winning team fight
• When enemy team is dead/far
• With numbers advantage

Rift Herald

Spawns: 8 minutes (respawns at 14 min)

Use: Summon to destroy towers

Best For:

• Taking first tower
• Breaking sieges
• Creating pressure

Vision Control

Warding

Stealth Ward (Trinket):

• Free, 3 charges
• 90-second cooldown per charge
• Lasts 90-120 seconds

Control Ward:

• Costs 75 gold
• Reveals invisible units
• Lasts until destroyed
• Always carry one

Key Ward Locations:

• River bushes
• Jungle entrances
• Baron/Dragon pit
• Enemy jungle

Vision Denial

Sweeping Lens:

• Reveals and disables enemy wards
• Supports should switch to this
• Use before objectives

Control Wards:

• Reveals enemy wards
• Place in key locations
• Protect with team

Team Fighting

Positioning by Role

Tanks/Bruisers:

• Frontline
• Engage or peel
• Absorb damage

Assassins:

• Flank or wait for opportunity
• Eliminate priority targets
• Get out safely

Mages:

• Mid-range
• Use abilities on grouped enemies
• Stay safe

ADC:

• Backline
• Attack closest safe target
• Kite backwards

Supports:

• Protect carries
• Engage or peel
• Use abilities wisely

Focus Targets

Priority Order:

1. Enemy ADC (if safe)
2. Enemy Mid (if safe)
3. Whoever is closest and safe to attack

Don't:

• Dive into enemy team alone
• Chase too far
• Ignore threats to your carries

Team Fight Tips

• Wait for engage
• Use abilities on grouped enemies
• Peel for your carries
• Don't blow all cooldowns at once
• Kite backwards if losing

Communication

Essential Pings

• Missing: Enemy left lane
• On My Way: Coming to help
• Danger: Retreat, danger
• Assist Me: Need help
• Enemy Vision: Enemy ward here

Chat Communication

✅ Do:

• Call missing enemies
• Coordinate objectives
• Time summoner spells
• Encourage teammates

❌ Don't:

• Flame or blame
• Spam ping
• Give up
• Argue in chat

Pro Tip: /mute all if teammates are toxic

Training and Improvement

Daily Practice Routine

Warm-up (15 minutes):

1. Practice Tool - Last-hitting (10 min)
2. Practice Tool - Combos (5 min)

Gameplay (1-2 hours):

1. Play 2-3 games
2. Focus on one improvement goal
3. Review mistakes after each game

Learning (20 minutes):

1. Watch one educational video
2. Review your replays
3. Study one matchup

Learning Resources

YouTube Channels:

• Skill Capped: Comprehensive guides
• ProGuides: Quick tips and tricks
• Coach Curtis: Mid lane coaching
• xFSN Saber: ADC coaching
• Virkayu: Jungle coaching

Websites:

• op.gg: Stats, builds, tier lists
• u.gg: Champion builds and stats
• Mobalytics: Performance tracking
• ProBuilds: Pro player builds

In-Game:

• Watch replays of your games
• Spectate high-elo players
• Practice Tool for mechanics

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Not last-hitting: Focus on CS
2. Overextending: Stay safe without vision
3. Ignoring objectives: Dragons and towers matter
4. Not warding: Vision wins games
5. Chasing kills: Don't throw leads
6. Fighting without team: Group for objectives
7. Bad itemization: Build situationally
8. Tilting: Stay positive, mute toxic players
9. Not adapting: Change strategy if losing
10. Playing too many champions: Master 3-5

Ranked Climbing Tips

1. Master 3-5 champions in your main role
2. Focus on fundamentals over flashy plays
3. CS is more important than kills
4. Die less - each death is a mistake
5. Ward consistently - vision wins games
6. Communicate positively with team
7. Take breaks after losses
8. Review your replays to find mistakes
9. Play your best role consistently
10. Mental game matters - stay positive

Advanced Concepts (For Later)

Once you master basics, explore:

• Animation Canceling: Faster combos
• Kiting: Attack while moving
• Orb Walking: Maximize DPS
• Wave Manipulation: Advanced wave control
• Jungle Tracking: Predict enemy jungler
• Roam Timing: When to leave lane
• Split-Pushing: Apply side lane pressure

Conclusion

League of Legends is complex, but incredibly rewarding. Focus on:

1. Master the fundamentals - CS, trading, positioning
2. Play one role and 3-5 champions
3. Focus on improvement, not just winning
4. Stay positive - mental game is crucial
5. Practice consistently - Even 30 minutes daily helps
6. Learn from mistakes - Review your games
7. Have fun - Enjoy the learning process

Start with simple champions, focus on CS and not dying, and gradually expand your knowledge. With consistent practice and a positive attitude, you'll climb the ranks and enjoy one of the most popular games in the world.

Welcome to the Rift, Summoner! ```