How to Counterpick in League of Legends
Counterpicking is a critical part of League of Legends, and it’s one of the most important skills a player can master. Counterpicking is the process of predicting and responding to an opponent’s pick and strategy in order to gain an advantage. It can be used to gain an edge in both individual and team play, and it’s an essential skill for any serious League of Legends player. In this guide, we’ll discuss the different types of counterpicking, how to identify them, and how to use them to your advantage.
Types of Counterpicking
Counterpicking can be broken down into three distinct categories: pre-emptive counterpicking, reactive counterpicking, and strategic counterpicking. Pre-emptive counterpicking is used to gain an advantage before the game begins, by selecting a champion or item build that’s strong against your opponent’s predicted picks. Reactive counterpicking occurs during the game, in response to your opponent’s in-game decisions. Strategic counterpicking involves playing the game in a way that puts you in a better position to counterpick in the future.
Identifying Counterpicks
The first step in counterpicking is to identify your opponent’s picks and strategy. Fortunately, League of Legends is a team game, and there are many resources available to help you understand your enemy’s picks. The most obvious are the champion select screens, which show your opponents’ picks in real-time. Additionally, experienced players can often recognize patterns in the enemy team’s picks and strategies. The more familiar you become with this information, the easier it will be to identify counterpicks.
Optimizing Builds and Strategies
Once you’ve identified your opponent’s picks and strategy, the next step is to optimize your own builds and strategies to counter it. This can involve item builds, skill builds, and even the use of certain summoner spells. It’s important to remember to pick a champion and build that’s not only strong against your opponent, but also fits your team composition and playstyle. Taking too much time to optimize your build can make you vulnerable to your opponent’s plan, so it’s important to strike a balance between a strong counterpick and a fast decision.
Team Composition
Team composition is another important factor when counterpicking. You want to make sure you have the right mix of champions with the right abilities to counter your opponent’s team composition. For example, if your opponent has a team full of tanks, you’ll want to pick champions that have the ability to burst down tanks quickly. If your opponent has a team of assassins, you’ll want to pick champions that have the ability to survive their burst damage. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your opponent’s team composition, you can better position your own team to counter their strategy.
Warding and Other Strategies
Finally, warding and other strategies can also be used to gain an edge in counterpicking. Wards are essential for providing vision, which can give your team a better understanding of your opponent’s movements and strategies. Additionally, certain strategies can also be used to give your team an edge in counterpicking. For example, fake dives can be used to bait opponents into revealing their plans, while split pushing can be used to force your opponent to spread their team out and create opportunities for your team to capitalize on.
Conclusion
Counterpicking is an essential skill for any serious League of Legends player. By understanding the different types of counterpicking and how to identify them, you can gain an edge in both individual and team play. Additionally, by optimizing your own builds, team composition, and strategies, you can further improve your counterpicking skills and give your team an advantage over your opponents. With the right knowledge and practice, you can become an expert at counterpicking and take your game to the next level.