With the Grand Finals of the League of Legends 2016 World Championships on a few days away, there are bound to be a number of new viewers tuning in for the first time. This Primer is one of many in a series I'll be publishing that are meant to act as a crash-course into understanding League of Legends, and the Grand Finals. This is the second part of a two-part set of Primers made to help new viewers gain a basic understanding of the gameplay of League of Legends, with a stronger focus on the team-oriented concepts. In the next upload, we'll go through the spectator system that's used on the broadcast, and how to watch the game.

1. League of Legends
World Championships 2016 Primer
Part 3: Understanding the Basics of LoL (2/2)
Prepared by: Luc Ryu

2. This primer is meant for individuals who are interested in learning about the basics of
League of Legends – both as a game, and as a spectacle.
The 2016 World Championships are just around the corner (October 29, 2016), and
awareness of the game is at an annual high. With that, comes a large influx of individuals
who are interested in watching, but have no idea what the game is, how its basic gameplay
functions, or even how to properly watch the game.
This Primer will be comprised of multiple sections, each designed to explain a unique
component of League of Legends – be it its history and growth, its basic gameplay, or the
head-to-head matchup at the 2016 World Championships.
Altogether, the goal of this Primer is to help beginners learn the basics of League of
Legends, such that they can enjoy the experience of watching the 2016 World
Championships.
The biggest barrier to entry for any video game is the steep learning curve involved in
learning the fundamentals. It is my hope that this Primer will help to break down those
barriers, and help introduce the fascinating world of competitive League of Legends to new
viewers.
About This Primer

3. In the previous segment, we learned about
the underlying basics involved with a game of
League of Legends.
Now, we’re going to put all that knowledge
together, and learn about how the game is
played as a team.
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4. The most important part of a team in any
MOBA, is its composition of Champions.
Remember, that all five members of a team
are required to pick different Champions who
they’ll control over the course of the game.
They are not allowed to switch partway.
2/3

5. There are 133 Champions in League of
Legends. Each Champion has their own set of
unique strengths and weaknesses, and
therefore, is best suited to play a certain role
and playstyle on a team.
It’s imperative that a team picks a team of
Champions that can fill these roles, so that
the team is more well-rounded.
3/3
And here come the 2017
Toronto Raptors to help me
explain this next part!

6. In basketball, there are five positions:
i) Point guard;
Kyle Lowry
Point Guard

7. In basketball, there are five positions:
i) Point guard;
ii) Shooting guard;
Kyle Lowry
Point Guard
Demar Derozan
Shooting Guard

8. In basketball, there are five positions:
i) Point guard;
ii) Shooting guard;
iii) Small forward;
Demarre Carroll
Small Forward
Kyle Lowry
Point Guard
Demar Derozan
Shooting Guard

9. In basketball, there are five positions:
i) Point guard;
ii) Shooting guard;
iii) Small forward;
iv) Power forward; and
Jared Sullinger
Power Forward
Demarre Carroll
Small Forward
Kyle Lowry
Point Guard
Demar Derozan
Shooting Guard

10. In basketball, there are five positions:
i) Point guard;
ii) Shooting guard;
iii) Small forward;
iv) Power forward; and
v) Center
Jonas Valanciunas
Center
Jared Sullinger
Power Forward
Demarre Carroll
Small Forward
Kyle Lowry
Point Guard
Demar Derozan
Shooting Guard

11. In basketball, there are five positions:
i) Point guard;
ii) Shooting guard;
iii) Small forward;
iv) Power forward; and
v) Center
Each position plays its own unique
role on the team, and are defined by
certain generic traits*.
Just a tall dude
Center
Main rebounder
Power Forward
Versatile player
Small Forward
Enables the team
Point Guard
Shoots a lot
Shooting Guard
*I’ve simplified the positions. Like, really simplified them.

12. In basketball, there are five positions:
i) Point guard;
ii) Shooting guard;
iii) Small forward;
iv) Power forward; and
v) Center
Each position plays its own unique
role on the team, and are defined by
certain generic traits.
In LoL, there are five positions:
i) Top Lane;
ii) Jungle;
iii) Mid Lane;
iv) Attack Damage Carry (Bot Lane); and
v) Support (Bot Lane)
Each position plays its own unique
role on the team, and are defined by
certain generic traits.The traits that define Champions to
certain lanes are set by what’s known
as the current “meta”.
Riot Games updates LoL weekly, and
this can make certain Champions and
playstyles stronger or weaker. This is
how the meta is determined!

13. In basketball, there are five positions:
i) Point guard;
ii) Shooting guard;
iii) Small forward;
iv) Power forward; and
v) Center
Each position plays its own unique
role on the team, and are defined by
certain generic traits.
In LoL, there are five positions:
i) Top Lane;
ii) Jungle;
iii) Mid Lane;
iv) Attack Damage Carry (Bot Lane); and
v) Support (Bot Lane)
Each position plays its own unique
role on the team, and are defined by
certain generic traits.The traits that define Champions to
certain lanes are set by what’s known
as the current “meta”.
Riot Games updates LoL weekly, and
this can make certain Champions and
playstyles stronger or weaker. This is
how the meta is determined!
Think of it as how in the past, big
center players used to dominate
basketball, but now the focus has
shifted to smaller players who can
shoot well.

14. In basketball, there are five positions:
i) Point guard;
ii) Shooting guard;
iii) Small forward;
iv) Power forward; and
v) Center
Each position plays its own unique
role on the team, and are defined by
certain generic traits.
This next section will delve into the
details of these five different roles, so
that we can get a basic level of
understanding as to what their
generic traits are.
We’ll focus on the generic traits
that are desired when the team, as
a unit, is strategically playing to
always fight as a team
(a “team-fight) composition).

15. In basketball, there are five positions:
i) Point guard;
ii) Shooting guard;
iii) Small forward;
iv) Power forward; and
v) Center
Each position plays its own unique
role on the team, and are defined by
certain generic traits.
This next section will delve into the
details of these five different roles, so
that we can get a basic level of
understanding as to what their
generic traits are.
We’ll focus on the generic traits
that are desired when the team, as
a unit, is strategically playing to
always fight as a team
(a “team-fight) composition).
Other types of playstyles include:
“Poke composition”: Where the team deals chunks of damage
from long-range to try and whittle the opponents down.
“Engage composition”: Where the team just runs straight at the
opponents.

16. Top Lane
Top Lane Champions are
typically characterized by Skills
which allow them to lockdown
multiple enemies.
Top Lane is played 1v1, so most
Top Lane Champions have
Skills that allow them to heavily
abuse the opponent if they
make a positional mistake.
Top Lane Champions will almost
always take Teleport as one of
their Summoner Spells so that
they can travel across the map
faster to help their teammates.

17. Top Lane
Common Top Lane Champions
Poppy
Keeper of the Hammer
Key Skill: Keeper’s Verdict
After winding up her hammer for a few
seconds, Poppy smashes the ground
sending a rippling shockwave.
The first enemy Champion hit by the
shockwave will be launched towards their
base, shooting them out of the fight!
Top Lane Champions are
typically characterized by Skills
which allow them to lockdown
multiple enemies.
Top Lane is played 1v1, so most
Top Lane Champions have
Skills that allow them to heavily
abuse the opponent if they
make a positional mistake.
Top Lane Champions will almost
always take Teleport as one of
their Summoner Spells so that
they can travel across the map
faster to help their teammates.

18. Top Lane
Common Top Lane Champions
Poppy
Keeper of the Hammer
Key Skill: Keeper’s Verdict
Top Lane Champions are
typically characterized by Skills
which allow them to lockdown
multiple enemies.
Top Lane is played 1v1, so most
Top Lane Champions have
Skills that allow them to heavily
abuse the opponent if they
make a positional mistake.
Top Lane Champions will almost
always take Teleport as one of
their Summoner Spells so that
they can travel across the map
faster to help their teammates.
At 0:12, look at how all
those Champions go
flying away – isolating
the one player!

19. Top Lane
Common Top Lane Champions
Gnar
The Missing Link
Key Skill: GNAR!
Gnar takes a huge swipe around him and
throws enemies in a direction. If they’re
thrown into a wall, they’ll be stunned!
If enemies are grouped together near a wall,
this stuns a lot of enemies at once, and make
them unable to fight for some time!
Top Lane Champions are
typically characterized by Skills
which allow them to lockdown
multiple enemies.
Top Lane is played 1v1, so most
Top Lane Champions have
Skills that allow them to heavily
abuse the opponent if they
make a positional mistake.
Top Lane Champions will almost
always take Teleport as one of
their Summoner Spells so that
they can travel across the map
faster to help their teammates.

20. Top Lane
Common Top Lane Champions
Gnar
The Missing Link
Key Skill: GNAR!
Top Lane Champions are
typically characterized by Skills
which allow them to lockdown
multiple enemies.
Top Lane is played 1v1, so most
Top Lane Champions have
Skills that allow them to heavily
abuse the opponent if they
make a positional mistake.
Top Lane Champions will almost
always take Teleport as one of
their Summoner Spells so that
they can travel across the map
faster to help their teammates.
0:13 – Got all 5 of the
enemies! They didn’t
all hit a wall, but he
caught them for his
team to clean up.

21. Jungle
Remember that the Jungle is
usually covered by fog-of-war.
Opponents must be cautious
and respect the fact that the
Jungle player can be almost
anywhere on the Rift.
A strong Jungle Champion is
one that has a Skill that allows it
to efficiently ambush (“gank”)
opponents in Lanes.
Jungle Champions will always
take the Smite Summoner Spell
since it helps kill Camps and
secure the killing blow on Epic
Camps.

22. Jungle
Remember that the Jungle is
usually covered by fog-of-war.
Opponents must be cautious
and respect the fact that the
Jungle player can be almost
anywhere on the Rift.
A strong Jungle Champion is
one that has a Skill that allows it
to efficiently ambush (“gank”)
opponents in Lanes.
Jungle Champions will always
take the Smite Summoner Spell
since it helps kill Camps and
secure the killing blow on Epic
Camps.
The most opportune time for a
team to contest an Epic Camp
would be when the opposing
Jungle Champion is either dead or
far away.

23. Jungle
Remember that the Jungle is
usually covered by fog-of-war.
Opponents must be cautious
and respect the fact that the
Jungle player can be almost
anywhere on the Rift.
A strong Jungle Champion is
one that has a Skill that allows it
to efficiently ambush (“gank”)
opponents in Lanes.
Jungle Champions will always
take the Smite Summoner Spell
since it helps kill Camps and
secure the killing blow on Epic
Camps.
The most opportune time for a
team to contest an Epic Camp
would be when the opposing
Jungle Champion is either dead or
far away.
This is because Smite deals a large
amount of damage instantaneously, so
regardless of which team is winning, it
almost always ends up being a battle of
reflexes between Jungle players which is
super risky for the team that’s ahead!

24. Jungle
Remember that the Jungle is
usually covered by fog-of-war.
Opponents must be cautious
and respect the fact that the
Jungle player can be almost
anywhere on the Rift.
A strong Jungle Champion is
one that has a Skill that allows it
to efficiently ambush (“gank”)
opponents in Lanes.
Jungle Champions will always
take the Smite Summoner Spell
since it helps kill Camps and
secure the killing blow on Epic
Camps.
The most opportune time for a
team to contest an Epic Camp
would be when the opposing
Jungle Champion is either dead or
far away.
This is because Smite deals a large
amount of damage instantaneously, so
regardless of which team is winning, it
almost always ends up being a battle of
reflexes between Jungle players which is
super risky for the team that’s ahead!
If you watch in slow-motion, you’ll see
Team 8’s Jungle player misuse his
Smite around 0:16, dropping Baron
Nashor from 884 health to 204 health.
GV Move then uses his Smite to
secure the killing blow.

25. Jungle
Remember that the Jungle is
usually covered by fog-of-war.
Opponents must be cautious
and respect the fact that the
Jungle player can be almost
anywhere on the Rift.
A strong Jungle Champion is
one that has a Skill that allows it
to efficiently ambush (“gank”)
opponents in Lanes.
Jungle Champions will always
take the Smite Summoner Spell
since it helps kill Camps and
secure the killing blow on Epic
Camps.
Common Jungle Champions
Lee Sin
The Blind Monk
Key Skill: Dragon’s Rage
Lee Sin kicks an enemy in the direction that
he’s facing.
Other Skills Lee Sin has revolve around
quickly repositioning himself. Watch to see if
Lee Sin can get behind a target and kick
them into his team so that they can kill them!

26. Jungle
Remember that the Jungle is
usually covered by fog-of-war.
Opponents must be cautious
and respect the fact that the
Jungle player can be almost
anywhere on the Rift.
A strong Jungle Champion is
one that has a Skill that allows it
to efficiently ambush (“gank”)
opponents in Lanes.
Jungle Champions will always
take the Smite Summoner Spell
since it helps kill Camps and
secure the killing blow on Epic
Camps.
Common Jungle Champions
Lee Sin
The Blind Monk
Key Skill: Dragon’s Rage
0:12 – Special delivery!
Lee Sin uses all of his
Skills and Flash to get in
position to kick the enemy
into his teammates.

27. Jungle
Remember that the Jungle is
usually covered by fog-of-war.
Opponents must be cautious
and respect the fact that the
Jungle player can be almost
anywhere on the Rift.
A strong Jungle Champion is
one that has a Skill that allows it
to efficiently ambush (“gank”)
opponents in Lanes.
Jungle Champions will always
take the Smite Summoner Spell
since it helps kill Camps and
secure the killing blow on Epic
Camps.
Common Jungle Champions
Olaf
The Berserker
Key Skill: Ragnarok
Olaf goes complete man-mode and can’t be
slowed or stunned!
Perfect for an engage composition – watch
for Olaf to find a target out of position and
just run right at them to kill them quickly.

28. Mid Lane
As the name suggests, the Mid
Lane is right in the middle of the
Rift. This gives the Mid Lane
player the opportunity to quickly
roam to either side lane to help
their teammates!
A strong Mid Lane Champion is
one that can absolutely delete a
priority enemy target by using
all of their Skills (“bursting”).
Mid Lane Champions take the
Summoner Spell that enables
them to sustain the most
pressure in their Lane.

29. Mid Lane
As the name suggests, the Mid
Lane is right in the middle of the
Rift. This gives the Mid Lane
player the opportunity to quickly
roam to either side lane to help
their teammates!
A strong Mid Lane Champion is
one that can absolutely delete a
priority enemy target by using
all of their Skills (“bursting”).
Mid Lane Champions take the
Summoner Spell that enables
them to sustain the most
pressure in their Lane.
Losing pressure in a Lane (“getting
pushed”) is especially detrimental
in the Mid Lane. This is because
this allows the enemy to begin a
roam first, which allows them to
impact a side lane first!

30. Mid Lane
As the name suggests, the Mid
Lane is right in the middle of the
Rift. This gives the Mid Lane
player the opportunity to quickly
roam to either side lane to help
their teammates!
A strong Mid Lane Champion is
one that can absolutely delete a
priority enemy target by using
all of their Skills (“bursting”).
Mid Lane Champions take the
Summoner Spell that enables
them to sustain the most
pressure in their Lane.
Common Mid Lane Champions
Orianna
The Lady of Clockwork
Key Skill: Command: Shockwave
This Skill sends out a shockwave around
Orianna’s ball, which deals a large amount of
damage and pulls enemies towards the ball.
Grouping multiple enemies together may
help increase the effectiveness of any of her
teammates’ Spells that affect an area.

31. Mid Lane
As the name suggests, the Mid
Lane is right in the middle of the
Rift. This gives the Mid Lane
player the opportunity to quickly
roam to either side lane to help
their teammates!
A strong Mid Lane Champion is
one that can absolutely delete a
priority enemy target by using
all of their Skills (“bursting”).
Mid Lane Champions take the
Summoner Spell that enables
them to sustain the most
pressure in their Lane.
Common Mid Lane Champions
Orianna
The Lady of Clockwork
Key Skill: Command: Shockwave
It happens at 0:11, but
keep an eye on the ball
just flying around - you
could imagine how hard it
is to keep track of it!
At 0:03, the ball is flying into the middle
of the screen

32. Mid Lane
As the name suggests, the Mid
Lane is right in the middle of the
Rift. This gives the Mid Lane
player the opportunity to quickly
roam to either side lane to help
their teammates!
A strong Mid Lane Champion is
one that can absolutely delete a
priority enemy target by using
all of their Skills (“bursting”).
Mid Lane Champions take the
Summoner Spell that enables
them to sustain the most
pressure in their Lane.
Common Mid Lane Champions
Viktor
The Machine Herald
Key Skill: Chaos Storm
Viktor throws out a contraption that creates a
storm around it which deals a lot of initial
damage, then damages over time as well.
If a teammate can stun enemies within the
storm, they’ll take serious amounts of
damage over time since they can’t escape!

33. Bot Lane
(ADC)
The Bot Lane is the only Lane
that is played 2v2. One of the
two players in the Lane is the
Attack Damage Carry (“ADC”).
ADC Champions typically start
off relatively weak compared to
the Champions in other Lanes,
but get stronger over time
because the damage of their
Skills scale at a greater rate.
ADCs will take the Heal
Summoner Spell. It’s the only
one that can affect a teammate,
It also helps avoid getting
bursted when they eventually
become the priority target.

34. Bot Lane
(ADC)
The Bot Lane is the only Lane
that is played 2v2. One of the
two players in the Lane is the
Attack Damage Carry (“ADC”).
ADC Champions typically start
off relatively weak compared to
the Champions in other Lanes,
but get stronger over time
because the damage of their
Skills scale at a greater rate.
ADCs will take the Heal
Summoner Spell. It’s the only
one that can affect a teammate,
It also helps avoid getting
bursted when they eventually
become the priority target.
ADCs will rarely choose to
sacrifice their damage output by
buying defensive items. Instead,
they’ll have to rely on their
teammates to help get enemies off
of them (“peel” for them).

35. Bot Lane
(ADC)
The Bot Lane is the only Lane
that is played 2v2. One of the
two players in the Lane is the
Attack Damage Carry (“ADC”).
ADC Champions typically start
off relatively weak compared to
the Champions in other Lanes,
but get stronger over time
because the damage of their
Skills scale at a greater rate.
ADCs will take the Heal
Summoner Spell. It’s the only
one that can affect a teammate,
It also helps avoid getting
bursted when they eventually
become the priority target.
Common ADC Champions
Jhin
The Virtuoso
Key Skill: Curtain Call
Jhin sets up and shoots four bullets one at a
time that can travel a real far distance, with
the last one doing tons of damage.
This can be used to poke from long-range to
soften up enemies, or to snipe down low-
health enemies that think they’ve escaped!

36. Bot Lane
(ADC)
The Bot Lane is the only Lane
that is played 2v2. One of the
two players in the Lane is the
Attack Damage Carry (“ADC”).
ADC Champions typically start
off relatively weak compared to
the Champions in other Lanes,
but get stronger over time
because the damage of their
Skills scale at a greater rate.
ADCs will take the Heal
Summoner Spell. It’s the only
one that can affect a teammate,
It also helps avoid getting
bursted when they eventually
become the priority target.
Common ADC Champions
Jhin
The Virtuoso
Key Skill: Curtain Call
The bullets start flying
from the top-right at 0:02,
and the fourth shot lands
at 0:07!
Slow-motion replay starts at 0:11.

37. Bot Lane
(ADC)
The Bot Lane is the only Lane
that is played 2v2. One of the
two players in the Lane is the
Attack Damage Carry (“ADC”).
ADC Champions typically start
off relatively weak compared to
the Champions in other Lanes,
but get stronger over time
because the damage of their
Skills scale at a greater rate.
ADCs will take the Heal
Summoner Spell. It’s the only
one that can affect a teammate,
It also helps avoid getting
bursted when they eventually
become the priority target.
Common ADC Champions
Ezreal
The Prodigal Explorer
Key Skill: Trueshot Barrage
Ezreal shoots out a wave of energy that can
travel across the entirety of the Rift, dealing
damage to all enemies it hits.
This gives Ezreal pressure across the map. If
an enemy Champion is low on health, watch
for this to fly in from Bot Lane!

38. Bot Lane
(ADC)
The Bot Lane is the only Lane
that is played 2v2. One of the
two players in the Lane is the
Attack Damage Carry (“ADC”).
ADC Champions typically start
off relatively weak compared to
the Champions in other Lanes,
but get stronger over time
because the damage of their
Skills scale at a greater rate.
ADCs will take the Heal
Summoner Spell. It’s the only
one that can affect a teammate,
It also helps avoid getting
bursted when they eventually
become the priority target.
Common ADC Champions
Ezreal
The Prodigal Explorer
Key Skill: Trueshot Barrage
Look at the Mini-Map -you
can see the path the
Trueshot Barrage takes!
…Hell yeah.

39. Bot Lane
(Support)
Support Champions must be
effective even without gold,
since they should let their ADC
kill the Minions for gold
(“farming”).
Support Champions usually
have a Skill that can peel for
their teammates, or a Skill that
can generate a shield for them
or heal them.
Support Champions are also
responsible for buying the
wards and ensuring as much
vision is on the Rift as possible!

40. Common Support Champions
Zyra
Rise of the Thorns
Key Skill: Stranglethorns
Zyra selects an area and has a scary plant
monster rise up to deal damage and stun*
enemies standing in the area.
If enemies are grouped up, this Skill could
lockdown a good portion of the enemy team!
Bot Lane
(Support)
Support Champions must be
effective even without gold,
since they should let their ADC
kill the Minions for gold
(“farming”).
Support Champions usually
have a Skill that can peel for
their teammates, or a Skill that
can generate a shield for them
or heal them.
Support Champions are also
responsible for buying the
wards and ensuring as much
vision is on the Rift as possible!
*They aren’t “stunned” per se, but are knocked airborne.

41. Common Support Champions
Alistar
The Minotaur
Key Skill: Pulverize
Alistar smashes the ground around him,
sending enemies in his proximity airborne,
essentially acting as a stun.
Watch for Alistar to use his Headbutt Skill
first, as this rams a selected target which
helps to close the distance.
Bot Lane
(Support)
Support Champions must be
effective even without gold,
since they should let their ADC
kill the Minions for gold
(“farming”).
Support Champions usually
have a Skill that can peel for
their teammates, or a Skill that
can generate a shield for them
or heal them.
Support Champions are also
responsible for buying the
wards and ensuring as much
vision is on the Rift as possible!

42. Common Support Champions
Alistar
The Minotaur
Key Skill: Pulverize
Bot Lane
(Support)
Support Champions must be
effective even without gold,
since they should let their ADC
kill the Minions for gold
(“farming”).
Support Champions usually
have a Skill that can peel for
their teammates, or a Skill that
can generate a shield for them
or heal them.
Support Champions are also
responsible for buying the
wards and ensuring as much
vision is on the Rift as possible!
The big bipedal cow
headbutts towards the
enemies at 0:06, then
uses Flash to get to the
low-health enemy before
using Pulverize!

43. And with that, we’ve covered all the basics of
how team compositions are constructed, and
the dynamics of the different Lanes!
1/2

44. Since we know almost all that we need to
know about the game itself, next we’ll jump
into understanding the spectator’s view – so
that you know where to look, when to look at
it, and what it is!
2/2

45. League of Legends
World Championships 2016 Primer
Part 3: Understanding the Basics of LoL (2/2)
Prepared by: Luc Ryu