How to Gank League of Legends: Strategies and Techniques
Ganking in League of Legends is a crucial concept for any jungler or support role player to master. In this article, we will provide you with the ultimate guide on how to gank effectively, covering strategy, timing, and teamwork.
What is Ganking in League of Legends?
Ganking in LoL is short for "gaining kills and taking objectives together with a team." It requires coordination with your team to burst down an enemy champion, take lane objectives, or roam to conquer other lanes. As a jungler, your main objective is to destroy enemy junglers, steal valuable buffs and camps, and turn the tide of the game in favor of your team. As a support champion, you need to focus on getting picks, taking objectives, and setting up ambushes to shut down the enemy team’s attempts.
Strategic Considerations
Roles and Responsibilities
- Jungle players: As the primary ganking force, junglers should position themselves in key areas to surprise, ambush, or hunt down enemy champs.
- Support players: Support champs are crucial in setting up effective ganks by providing vision (wards, scrying blink, etc.), shielding allies, and getting picks themselves.
Minding Your Surroundings
Keep an eye on the minimap at all times, monitoring:
- Enemy movements to anticipate and react.
- Team positions, ensuring no one is out-of-position.
- Objectives, ensuring no enemy control over strategic areas.
When to Gank
Ganks are most effective:
- Under enemy jungle camps, after destroying an enemy jungle timer.
- When an opponent is alone in the jungle, reducing opponents’ awareness.
- Outside enemy wards, catching prey off guard.
- When low on health or with a vulnerability, catching an enemy’s moment of weakness.
Communication Keys
Effective ganking requires:
- Team communications: Coordinate strategies and timings with fellow team members.
- Ganking notifications: Inform fellow players about enemy positions.
- Emphasis on setup: Highlight importance of vision denial, warding, and setup.
Best Ganking Heroes in League of Legends?
The champions listed below are popular choices due to their inherent ganking traits:
| Jungler | Support | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Master Yi (Yi-Shen) —— Jungler’s best ganking buddy—— | Leona —— Fearless warrior keeps enemies busy | Out-of-combat gank damage and assassination potential with Yi-Shen, as well as tank/bruiser synergies with Leona |
| Nocturne —— The Assassin’s Edge | Nami —— Tidebreaker, a dependable pick-maker for allies | All-around aggressive and mobile gank setup from Nocturne, paired with Nami’s zone clear and vision support |
| ⽓ Ekko —— Timetraveling troublemaker; time can’t escape chaos | Zylara —— An enchantment for both lanes, securing last-hits, and protecting allies against gank attempts | Mechanics: speed, zone denial, and teleport allows for creative ganking as Ekko; Zylora’s utility as a protective aid |
| Lee Sin —— High-pressure ganks and split-pushing with incredible mobility | Diana —— Unrelenting pressure; Moonfall setup and ambush from Diana | Lee Sin utilizes his Saunter for setting up stealthy ganks at high levels, and Diana works with vision denial to surprise in-lane foes |
These common errors can ruin what could be a successful ganking attempt:
1: Lack of Map Awareness – **Misunderstanding Surroundings
Focus on knowing enemy positions at all times; avoid walking into pre-arranged ambush zones.
2: Overextension Without Support
Get caught solo without backup assistance; losing health, making mistakes.
3: Underestimated Enemies
Neglecting minions, objective takes, or ganking power, making opponents unpredictable.
4: Clumsy Ward Placement
Failing to set up correct ward placement could leave gaps for enemy rotation and negate your own; keep lanes secure!
The most essential thing is keeping an eye on the mini map, anticipating situations, and staying mindful of game-changing decisions—as both Jungle and Support Champions!
5: Delayed or Failed Setup
Allies cannot react quickly with the needed vision and protective support for successful gans.
To overcome these hazards, it is crucial to practice self-awareness and adjust strategies consistently. Analyze and improve both individual actions and team synergies.
6: Filling Up Gank Timer**.** Avoid ganking to set up in advance and, in consequence, delay actual help
This decision could prove fatal; adjust timing of ganks!
Gank Tactics and Strategies Every Ranker Needs to Know
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Hints from Experienced Jungler/Supports:
· **Communicate and focus on timing** with squadmates: Timing ganking is the key.
· **Read Mini-map Constantly** during fights.
Use * Smite and Ignites** correctly**. · **Secure Last-hits and Lane Clears** during early stages**.
· **Take advantage of Smite- timer buffs, when they refresh** and can’t be traded**.
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