The lane-swapping strategy in League of Legends is no longer unfamiliar. This fascinating tactic has been successfully implemented by many teams worldwide, including Vietnam's own Saigon Jokers. Let’s explore how to use this strategy effectively!
See more: Lane-Swapping Tactics and What You Need to Know in League of Legends
Overview of the Strategy
In the standard strategy of League of Legends, the bot lane consists of an ADC paired with a support, the mid lane is occupied by a mage, the top lane by a bruiser or tank, and the jungle role is held by a dedicated jungler. Lane-swapping, as the name suggests, involves switching the positions of champions between lanes. This could mean swapping the ADC and support to the top lane while sending the bruiser or tank to the bot lane. Alternatively, it might involve sending the mage to the bot lane while the ADC-support duo moves to the mid lane or switching positions between the mage and the top lane bruiser.
The strategy is used primarily for two main objectives: neutralizing a strong enemy lane or rapidly pushing down towers.
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Neutralizing a strong enemy lane: If the enemy team has champions that dominate early-game duels, such as Olaf, Jax, or Xin Zhao, lane-swapping can help limit their impact. In this case, the ADC-support duo is often sent to the top lane, allowing your bruiser or tank to farm safely in the bot lane. Having two champions in the top lane reduces the enemy champion's ability to farm effectively and delays their ability to acquire core items.
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Fast tower pushes: With 150 gold rewarded to each team member for destroying a tower, objectives become highly valuable. Lane-swapping is an effective tactic to gain an early advantage with champions capable of quickly clearing waves. In this case, the bot lane duo can swap positions with either the top or mid lane.
First utilized by Counter Logic Gaming Prime, the lane-swapping strategy has since evolved into several interesting variations. For example, some teams only swap the ADC and the mage, with the ADC moving mid while the mage pairs with the support in the bot lane. Another variation involves using supports with strong crowd-control abilities, like Taric or Blitzcrank, who roam between lanes to disrupt the enemy alongside the jungler.
How to Apply the Strategy
When executing a lane swap, the ADC-support duo will typically face a 2v1 scenario against the enemy. This duo must have strong combat potential as they are likely to become the primary target of enemy ganks.
Meanwhile, your bruiser, tank, or mage, who ends up in a 1v2 situation, needs to have abilities for farming from a distance, turret defense, or simply surviving enemy assaults.
Some champion combinations suitable for this strategy include:
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ADC-Support Duos: Combat-oriented: Ezreal-Blitzcrank, Corki-Taric, Graves-Leona. Push-oriented: Varus-Lulu, Sivir-Janna.
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Mages: Lux, Karthus, Zyra, Morgana.
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Bruisers/Tanks: Shyvana, Malphite, Singed.
When employing the lane-swapping strategy, it’s crucial for the ADC-support duo to quickly take down the enemy turret. The longer this takes, the longer your solo laner will have to endure a 1v2 situation. Additionally, the ability to control the dragon—a significant gold resource in League of Legends—may also be compromised as the enemy bot lane has two champions.
After destroying the first turret, your team can decide to either push for the second turret or swap lanes back to their original positions. This allows your solo laner to continue farming and purchasing necessary items. At this point, with the gold advantage gained from the turret, your solo laner will likely have a lead over their opponent, making it harder for them to lose trades.
From here, the match transitions into the mid-game phase, and how you proceed will depend entirely on your gameplay decisions. Good luck mastering this strategy!