League of Legends objectives In-depth guide

League of Legends is all about that sweet victory, but it's not just about mindlessly smashing turrets and taking down the nexus – unless, of course, you're as skilled as Thebausffs! The game's complexity requires a deep understanding of all the moving parts that contribute to success. Let's get right into the League of Legends objectives guide.

From champion abilities and item builds to map control and objective prioritization, there's a lot to consider if you want to come out on top. It's like a giant puzzle where every piece needs to fit together just right for you to secure that win.

For beginners and everyone who wants to see through the complexity of the game, we will begin our journey by analyzing the importance and impact of turrets!

Turrets

These big boys gave me quite a hard time when I was a new player, as I had no clue about their range, importance, and the gold they give. I’ll save you from the struggle. Let's get right into it!

Tier 1 Turret: Positioned farthest from the nexus.

Tier 2 Turret: Located one step closer to the nexus than Tier 1 turrets.

Tier 3: Also known as Inhibitor turrets, they guard the inhibitors.

Tier 4/Nexus Turrets: Safeguarding the nexus, these turrets are crucial for defense.

Each lane in League of Legends is equipped with one Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 turret, while both teams possess two Nexus turrets. Progressing towards the enemy nexus turrets requires systematically destroying these turrets in each lane, following the established order.

Turret Destruction Strategies and Decision Making

Turrets aren't just towering structures dotting the Summoner's Rift landscape; they're critical objectives that can tilt the balance of a game in an instant. Let's delve into the importance of turrets and the strategic considerations that accompany their destruction:

Tier 1 (Outer)Turrets

Stats and Effects of Outer Turrets

• When an outer turret's health is reduced to 4000, 3000, 2000, and 1000 health; the turret gains a stack of Bulwark which grants them resistance for 20 seconds. 
   
• The duration refreshes upon gaining a new stack while the effect is already active. Each stack grants 45 − 225 (based on nearby enemy champions) bonus armor and bonus magic resistance, up to a maximum of 180 − 900 (based on nearby enemy champions) bonus resistances at 4 stacks. 
   
• Granted resistances increase based on the number of alive enemy champions within the 850 range of the center of the turret.

Gold Generation:

• Turrets are valuable resources because of the gold they offer. This influx of gold can fuel your team's itemization and power spikes, providing a crucial edge in the relentless clash for dominance.

Forcing Lane Presence:

• When you destroy an enemy turret, you create pressure on the enemy team by naturally pushing the minion wave into their territory. This forces them to choose between getting outnumbered at a team fight or losing gold and experience and risking another turret of theirs getting destroyed if they decide not to cover.
   
• By forcing this dilemma onto the enemy team, you create opportunities for your team to seize an even greater advantage.
   
• While destroying a tier 1 turret offers advantages, going too deeply into enemy territory to capitalize on them can risk your lead.

Seizing Control of Wave Dynamics:

•  Upon destroying an enemy turret, the results of the wave dynamics become different as the waves are now naturally pushing into the enemy team's territory.
   
•  If your opponent decides to shove the wave, you must catch the wave before it reaches your turret to secure the XP and gold.
   

 However, if the wave remains in a neutral position, your opponent gains a window of opportunity to capitalize on your absence, potentially turning the tide of battle in their favor with a rotation.  
 

• Skilled players adeptly navigate these wave dynamics, leveraging kill participation opportunities without sacrificing precious creep gold and experience.

Strategic Reads and Counterplays:

•  Observing your opponent's response to turret takedowns allows you to predict their next move and decide most advantageously. 
   

For example, if your opponent attempts to exploit the absence created by a turret takedown with rotations, you can punish their maneuver by pushing multiple waves toward their tier 2 turret, maybe even taking the tier 2 turret. Thereby extending your gold advantage and taking advantage of their sneaky tactics.

The Turrets and Gold Rewards

• The first turret killed yields 400 total bonus gold to its killer's team.

Tier 2 Turrets

With these insights into the importance of tier 1 turrets firmly in hand, let's embark on a journey deeper into the strategic labyrinth of tier 2 turrets, where the stakes are higher, and the rewards even greater. 
 

• Side lane Tier 2 Turrets provide a significantly higher financial advantage, that was updated to this state to encourage and reward split pushing.
   

As we continue our exploration of turret dynamics, it's crucial to understand that the strategic principles governing tier 1 and tier 2 turrets share many similarities. Let's head onto these shared principles:

Strategic Positioning and Map Control:

• Turret takedowns present a double-edged sword. On one hand, they allow you to venture deeper into enemy territory, outmaneuvering your opponents and seizing control of key objectives just like tier 1 turrets, yet with a much higher reward potential as the turrets are way closer to enemy nexus. 
   
• On the other hand, they expose you to the risk of overextension and potential ambushes, as the absence of defensive turrets leaves you vulnerable to enemy aggression just like tier 1 Turrets, with higher risks. 
   

It's essential to recognize that the loss of turret gold and potential skirmishes are not the only factors at play.
 

•  In lower tiers of play, the risk of getting punished due to the destruction of an enemy turret decreases as people don't really know how to punish out positioning. 
   
• This lack of proactive decision-making provides a buffer of safety, allowing you to take calculated risks.

Risk Assessment and Decision-Making:

While the game may be governed by mathematical principles, success ultimately hinges on your ability to adapt and respond to real-time developments. 
 

• Understanding when to push your advantage and when to exercise caution is the key to being a skilled player. In higher tiers of play, opponents are more adept at exploiting strategic vulnerabilities, deciding to take down tier 1 and tier 2 turrets a higher risk.
   

However, in tiers diamond and below, the risk-reward calculus shifts, with players often failing to capitalize on strategic opportunities with greater frequency.

In conclusion, while tier 1 and tier 2 turrets present strategic challenges and opportunities, the decision to take them down should be approached with careful consideration and a keen understanding of the current game state. 

Inhibitor Turrets: Engines of Pressure

• When you successfully take down an inhibitor turret, you're not just earning gold, you are also making it a potential to take the inhibitor without needing a wave. 
   
• By pressing forward and targeting the inhibitor itself, you force the enemy team into a difficult decision: defend the inhibitor and risk a team fight while outnumbered, or leave the objective and regroup for a stronger defense.

This strategic dilemma often leads to chaotic skirmishes and decisive moments that can turn the tide of battle in your favor.

Nexus Turrets: The Final Frontier

• The final defense line in between your team and victory.
   
• Destroying it once the chance arrives is always the best option.

Strategic Decision-Making:

In the heat of battle, it's easy to become overwhelmed by the multitude of decisions that confront you.

Should you push for the inhibitor or regroup for a team fight? Is now the right time to target inhibitor turrets, or should you focus on securing other objectives first? These questions weigh heavily on the minds of players at all levels of play, from beginners to seasoned veterans.
 

While high-level strategic considerations certainly play a role in your decision-making process, it's equally important to trust your instincts and seize opportunities as they present themselves.

Platings

Until minute 14, there are 5 platings at tier 1 turrets and they grant:

Extra Protection 

• Turret platings are shields that give outer turrets extra durability during the early stages of the game in League of Legends.
   

They not only make turrets tougher to take down but also offer strategic benefits that impact the flow of the game which are:

Gold rewards 

• Breaking turret platings grants 125 gold for the nearby allies. 

Strategies

• Turret platings have a big impact on how lanes are played. Teams strategize to chip away at platings to gain map control and set themselves up for success. 
   
• Understanding how turret platings work is key to controlling the flow of the game and staying one step ahead of the competition.

True Value of Platings

Based on the details we've discussed earlier in the article, from an economic perspective, platings are worth approximately 125 gold, right?
 

• By damaging the enemy turret, you're inching closer to demolishing it. When you combine this knowledge with the gold value of platings, it becomes evident that taking down a plating holds slightly more value than securing a kill!

Summary

If you want to get a head start in the early game, prioritize protecting and securing those turret plates. Each one holds a gold value equivalent to 125 Gold, and a higher true value, so it's worth the effort. 
 

Important Note: Just remember to balance your plate defense with strategic rotations to ensure that the gold you gain from securing plates outweighs any gold you might lose from rotating.

Inhibitors

Ah, this is where things start to get interesting! You might think that destroying an inhibitor is a surefire path to victory, right? Well, not quite! Taking down inhibitors is something you want to approach with caution. Let's break it down.

The Value of an Inhibitor

• The inhibitor provides 50 Gold to the executor.

Super minions

• Super Minions are powerful minions with melee range. They only spawn on lanes where enemy inhibitors are destroyed, and stop spawning when the inhibitor respawns. 

Wave Management

• But here's the twist: this also shakes up the dynamics of minion waves, potentially putting your team's gold advantage at risk as the super minions which give enemy resources are way stronger compared to the enemy's regular waves.
   
• Timing is everything when it comes to making the most of inhibitor takedowns since an early inhibitor can provide the enemy team with outstanding resources without granting your team a high objective advantage.

Financial Risks and Strategies 

• From a purely financial perspective, destroying an inhibitor is a bad decision, as it provides the enemy team extra gold, while decreasing your gold income from that lane.

When to Take Inhibitors

1. Setting the Stage:

Picture this: You're competing for control of the map's precious objectives against the enemy team. In such moments, taking down an inhibitor can be a game-changing play as it will shift the power in your favor since the enemies are now obliged to clear up super minion waves.

2. Baiting the Enemy:

Imagine you're dominating team fights. In such situations, tempting the enemy team to engage with you can work to your advantage. 
 

• By not destroying an inhibitor, you maintain pressure on the enemy team, giving them the chance to contest objectives and allowing your team to capitalize on their weaknesses, winning team fights and closing the game sooner!

3. Preventing Smite Fights:

Takedowns aren't just about objectives – they're also about strategic disruption. By strategically targeting inhibitors, you can deny the enemy team's attempts at contesting crucial objectives like Baron Nashor.
 

• With inhibitors down, you limit their ability to regroup effectively, giving your team the upper hand to zone the enemy jungler during an objective to prevent smite 50/50.

4. Super Minion Pressure:

• These minions bring chaos to the enemy base, applying relentless pressure that forces the enemy team to spread thin and defend multiple fronts, which the team can use to get into enemy territory and damage the nexus turrets.

5. Vision and Picks:

• After destroying an inhibitor, having a deep vision in the enemy’s territory is mandatory to have the highest value.
   
• With inhibitors out of the picture, you gain unparalleled control over vision and positioning, setting the stage for strategic picks and advantageous skirmishes. 

Summary

Taking down inhibitors applies pressure on the map, forcing your opponents to scramble and defend against those rampaging super minions. This opens up opportunities for your team to seize objectives elsewhere on the map, assert control, and ultimately march toward victory.

So, while the decision to take inhibitors might not always be crystal clear, it's all about weighing the risks and rewards and making the move that sets your team up for success in the long run. 

Dragons

The dragons, for some players just an excuse to team fight, and for others a great resource to have a lead. Let's get into details, shall we?

Infernal Dragon: 

Grants bonus attack damage and ability power. For gold values:

• Early Game (0-18 minutes): 100 gold
• Mid Game (19-35 minutes): 150 gold
• Late Game (36+ minutes): 200 gold

Ocean Dragon: 

Grants bonus health and mana regeneration. For gold values:

• Early Game: 150 gold
• Mid Game: 225 gold
• Late Game: 300 gold

Mountain Dragon: 

Grants bonus resistances. For gold values:

• Early Game: 100 gold
• Mid Game: 150 gold
• Late Game: 200 gold

Cloud Dragon: 

Grants bonus movement speed out of combat. For gold values:

• Early Game: 150 gold
• Mid Game: 225 gold
• Late Game: 300 gold
   

Hextech Dragon:

Greatly increases the attack output of a team as their cooldowns come up quicker and their attacks come out rapidly.

• Early Game: 150 gold
• Mid Game: 240 gold
• Late Game: 350 gold

 Chemtech Dragon:

Grants the team greater resistance to the effects of crowd control as well as greater effectiveness when they receive healing or shielding effects. 

• Early Game: 150 gold
• Mid Game: 240 gold
• Late Game: 350 gold

These values are awarded to each member of the team that secures the dragon, meaning the value is x5 for the team total.

When to take Dragons?

• If you spot the enemy jungler trying to make a play at top lane or execute the voidgrubs, drake is the play to go for.
   
• Right after a successful gank on the enemy bot or mid lane, the risk of going for a drake execution is at its lowest.
   

To get more detailed information, check out our Jungle Objectives Guide. 

Voidgrubs, Herald, and Baron Nashor!

The 3 void monsters which have the utmost value! The decision you make whether to take it or not and the plays you make around them are what define a victory! Let's get right into it and start understanding the mechanics of these objectives.

Voidgrubs

The new members of the jungle objectives that are added at S14! They have high value and they bring a great fresh way of jungling as well!
 

• Their camp is located in the baron pit. The Voidgrub camp consists of three epic Voidgrubs. Every 12 seconds in combat, each Voidgrub also spawns four lesser Voidmites.
   
• Killing this camp awards gold and experience, as well as grants a stack of the Touch of the Void buff to all team members for each Voidgrub killed. 

The Touch of The Void Buff

• The Touch of the Void grants bonus damage over time to structures as well as a stack of the Hunger of the Void for each stack beyond the fourth.
   
• While in combat with structures, the Hunger of the Void summons allied Voidmites that attack nearby enemy structures.

Spawn and Despawn Timers

• Each Voidgrub can spawn up to two times per game. The camp despawns permanently at 13:45, or 13:55 if in combat. 
   
• A group of Voidgrubs only spawns a second time if they were first slain before 9:45. The Rift Herald spawns in the same position at 14:00.

Voidgrub Slaying Techniques for Laners

1. Preparation for Battle:

• As the clock ticks towards the 5-minute mark, make sure to recall, ensuring that you maintain a reserve of health and mana. 
   
• Try to shove the wave to gain priority to arrive at the objective.
   
• Poking down your opponent around the 5-minute mark can define the difference at the voidgrub combat.

2. Supporting Your Jungler's Vision:

• For support players, following your junglers expectations towards the objective and coordinating with them is crucial.
   
• After making sure that your jungler intends to execute voidgrubs, your responsibility is to grant vision around the objective.
   
• Consider basing around the 4-minute mark to grant vision around the Voidgrub nest, but be sure to communicate effectively with your team.

When should you play for void grubs as a Jungler?

• If you spot the enemy jungler trying to make a play at bot lane or execute the drake, voidgrubs is the play to go for.
   
• Right after a successful gank on the enemy Top or Mid lane, the risk of going for a voidgrubs execution is at its lowest.

To get more detailed information, check out our Jungle Objectives Guide.

Herald

Do you want to take down turrets, gain a bunch of XP,  gold, and create a 2v2/3v3 fight? There is our void friend to help you with all that! 

Rewards

• Slaying the Rift Herald drops the Eye of Herald at the entrance of the pit for 20 seconds, which can be picked up by one member of the slayer's team, and is used for summoning the Rift Herald Mercenary. 
   
• Upon picking it up, the slayer's team also gains Glimpse of the Void. Glimpse of the Void grants a one-time-only fast recall to every team member of the slayers team that participated in the execution.

Spawn and Despawn Time

The Rift Herald only spawns once per game and despawns permanently at 19:45, or 19:55 if in combat. Baron Nashor spawns in her place at 20:00.

Tips

With the recent changes, upon summoning the rift herald, you have the chance to ride it! 

• With that new mechanic, you can take turrets from different lanes, make sure to practice that before trying in your ranked games!

Sneaky Heralds vs. Contested Heralds

There are two main ways to take down the Rift Herald:

Sneaky Herald

• Your jungler attempts to secure the Herald without the enemy team's knowledge. 
   
• As a laner, do not interfere. Focus on warding the Herald pit to deny enemies sneaking herald, and pressure your lane opponent to prevent them from responding if your jungler is on it.

Contested Herald

• A fight erupts around the Herald pit as both teams try to claim the objective. 
   
• Gain lane priority and be prepared to either join the fight or capitalize on your lane advantage by pressuring a different tower.

When to take and use Herald?

• Taking down Herald instantly at spawn is a valuable technique as its not quite expected in any tiers of play.
   
• If you see the enemy team making a play with their jungler at bot lane, rush the herald as they cannot contest!
   
• Use the herald to destroy enemy tier 2 turrets on side lanes if the teams are not grouping
   
• In a team fight-oriented game, using the herald on the place where your team has the numbers advantage is the best option.
   

To get more detailed information, check out our Jungle Objectives Guide. 

Baron Nashor

The true king of the rift! Gives the slayer team a decent amount of gold, XP, and other advantages which leads to victory! Let's see what this beast grants upon slay!

Rewards

• Killing Baron Nashor grants Hand of Baron to all living teammates for 180 seconds, which grants bonus attack damage, bonus ability power, Empowered Recall, and an aura that greatly increases the power of nearby minions.
   

Pretty straightforward, isn't it? No need to overcomplicate things; it's simply a great objective to increase your chances of winning the game! The Nashor spawns at 20:00 and then respawns every 6 minutes after being slain.

When should you set up Nashor as a jungler? 

• If your team possesses a significant lead at the minutemark 20.
   
• Right after a won team fight, taking down Nashor is as easy as it gets.
   
• Sneaking a Nashor play is always an option, the moment you see at least three opponents on bot lane, go for an execution with your team!
   

To get more detailed information and everything about jungling, check out our Jungle Objectives Guide.

Creeps(Minions)

The backbone of winning any game is the resource that gives you the most gold in total. The minions, the real summoners of the rift!

Minion Gold Values:

Melee Minions: Each melee minion grants 21 gold when last hit by a champion.

Caster Minions: Each caster minion grants 14 gold when last hit by a champion.

Cannon Minions: Each cannon minion grants 60 gold when last hit by a champion.

The numbers increase as the game proceeds into later stages.

Importance of Farming:

This is plain and simple, it gives you a great amount of gold, experience, and pressure on the map. All you need to know is that! No need to overcomplicate, if you began playing League of Legends, you need to just focus on the minions!

How to farm efficiently? How to manage waves? 

• Practicing your last hitting at Practice Tool is always the best option, as it helps the players to relax and focus on those valuable creeps without the risky situations that any regular game mode puts you in.
   
• To manage waves, the laners must have the upper hand, as the player can't manage waves without having an advantage in combat.
   
• Understanding the basis of it such as freezing, pushing, and slow pushing is the key to maximizing your impact in your games. 

To get in-depth information and more, make sure to check our laning and farming in-depth guide.

Importance of Gold Lead

All the objectives can be defined with gold values, even the passive pressure that the destruction of turrets puts into the game, has financial reasonings behind it. There are multiple ways to earn a gold advantage, these are:

• Turrets, Platings, Dragons, Herald, Nashor, Voidgrubs and Minions
• Kills & assists
• First Strike (Rune)
• Cull (Item)

If you’d like to know more about the resources of income and how to optimize them on your way to victor, make sure to read our article on how to maximize your financial lead!

Decision Making: The Key to Victory

It's what separates the good players from the great ones. Knowing when to push for objectives, when to engage in team fights, and when to play it safe can make all the difference in the outcome of a game.

In our decision-making article, we have delved deep into the intricacies of decision-making in League of Legends. Make sure to check that out if you want to maximize your performance!

Want to Master League of Legends and Climb the Ranks?

This guide has only unveiled a glimpse of the strategic depths within the game. From champion-specific tactics to advanced objective control and champion synergies, there's always more to learn.

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