The Most Common Mistakes in Low ELO

Are you frustrated with your ranked experience and not sure why you can't seem to climb? Don't worry, because you are not alone. Here are some of the most common mistakes made by low ELO players.

Not Warding

This is one of the most common mistakes that low ELO players make. When playing League of Legends, vision can often be what separates the winners from the losers. You should always ensure that you place your wards in the right locations, and you should also make use of the minimap so that you can see where your allies are relative to where your enemies are. In low ELO, players often go into a lane without caring about vision, and this most commonly leads to getting caught out or ganked.

Playing Too Many Champions

Low ELO players tend to play way too many champions. Instead of focusing on one champion, many players keep switching between different champions. This is often a result of tilt after losing a game. By playing a champion that you are not familiar with, you put yourself at a disadvantage since you won't be utilizing the champion's full potential.

Not Communicating

League of Legends is a team game, and as with any team game, communication is very important. Low ELO players tend to just "wing it," and hope for the best. Instead of trying to make team plays, they focus too much on their own individual game.

While it is certainly important to improve your individual play, it is also important to work with your team to achieve the common goal of winning. Pinging your intentions and objectives goes a long way for your team.

Playing on Tilt

When you lose a game, it can be very easy to let your emotions get the best of you. When you tilt, you are often not playing at your best and making decisions that you would not normally make. This is a major problem in low ELO because players often stay in this state, which results in a losing streak. Try to take a break after each loss to reset your mind.

Playing Without Purpose

In low ELO, many players play the game without any real purpose. They often don't have a clear plan or strategy for the game, and this results in a lot of bad decisions being made. Instead of just playing to play, try to have a goal in mind for each game. This will help you to make better decisions and improve your performance.

Not Tracking Dragon and Baron Timers

Dragon and Baron Nashor are two of the most important objectives in the game, yet most low ELO players treat them as afterthoughts. When either objective dies, you should immediately note the respawn timer and start planning around the next spawn. If you're ahead, set up vision around the pit before the timer hits and look to force a fight or siege. If you're behind, look for a pick or fight before the objective spawns so you can contest it. Ignoring these timers is essentially handing the enemy team a free path to victory — Dragon souls and Baron buffs are strong enough to decide games on their own.

Flaming Teammates Instead of Focusing on Yourself

This one shows up in almost every low ELO game. When something goes wrong, players start typing in chat to blame a teammate. Not only does this not help — it actively hurts your performance by pulling your attention away from the game. Every second you spend typing is a second you're not watching the map, farming, or positioning correctly. More importantly, you cannot control what your teammates do. You can only control yourself. If someone makes a mistake, ping constructively and move on. The players who climb fastest are the ones who treat every game as a personal evaluation of their own play, not a referendum on their teammates.