LoL New Player Guide

==League of Legends New Player Guide==

BEFORE YOU READ THIS GUIDE:
Make sure you've played the In game tutorial and battle training (first things offered to you when you start)

==BASICS==

PRE GAME INFO:
This is info that you need to know prior to even playing the game.  The use of the word "levels" and "EXP" exists twice.  That is, there are two separate meanings to them... this is very confusing for new players.  The game is NOT an MMO, but uses an in game level system.  You, as a player, is referred to as a "Summoner".  All players are "Summoners".  You have a summoner level, which maxes out at 30.  You earn experience from completing games.  But it is important to note that it is different from the in game exp.  Champions start at level 1 and can max out at level 18.  This level is just an indication of your current power level.  it is not an RPG stat that represents your character's power and growth over time.  This stat is unique to individual matches and is not saved in any way.  It's sort of like an indication of your resources, similar to StarCraft.  It's a resource that is set to a default at the beginning of the game.

==SUMMONERS RIFT==

This is the standard game play available for League of Legends.  The objective of Classic is to destroy the enemy Nexus located in their base.  There are 3 different lanes to choice from.  Turrets guard the lanes which lead towards the enemy base.  At the front of the enemy base, which is at the end of each lane, are Inhibitors and Inhibitor turrets.

Minions are small, weak units that charge at the enemies base straight through the lanes.  When they meet with the enemy minions, they will stop and fight them.  They will also target champions if they are nearby.  When they reach a turret, they will begin to attack it.

The turrets are powerful defensive structures that prevent you from reaching your opponent's base (as well as protecting your own).  In each lane, you may only target the closest exposed turret (meaning it has no turret closer to you).  However, any turret can target you or minions.

When the minions reach the turret, they will automatically target them.  An important thing to note about turrets, is that they will auto target players that are ahead of their minions and will continue to damage them until they leave the turret's range.  Turrets also do increased damage with each attack against the same target (until it loses aggro).

You can attack the enemies minions to earn gold.  When you land the killing blow on a minion, you earn gold (this is called CS, or Creep Score which is a term from DoTA)

You also earn exp for your champion for killing a minion (NOT SUMMONER EXP), and also you earn some exp by being near an enemy that has been killed by someone else.

Destroying a turret will grant gold to all of your teammates.  Turrets do NOT re-spawn.

The inhibitors are key structures to be destroyed.  By destroying them, you allow your team to spawn Super Minions, more powerful versions of regular minions that are very difficult to kill. Unlike turrets, inhibitors will re-spawn after a while.

==LANES AND ROLES==

Now that you know the basics, let's move on to laning and roles.

So as I mentioned earlier, there are 3 different lanes.  These lanes are commonly referred to as "Top", "Middle" (or Mid) and "Bottom" (or bot).  They represent the respective parts of the map (an in game image shows which lanes is which).

What is important to know next is the roles.  Even though you could make up a team of many different champions, there are proven effective workings of the different champions performing special jobs.  These jobs are assigned to different lanes and work differently in certain team compositions.

The roles are:
Top
Mid
ADC
Jungler
Support

The top laner is typically a strong bruiser or tank.  They can take a lot of damage and deal a lot of damage in the enemies face.

The Mid laner is often referred to as an "AP Carry".  They use magic and their abilities to deal a lot of damage to the enemy team.

The ADC (the Attack Damage Carry) is a champion that goes to the bot lane.  His role in fights is to deal as much damage as possible from the back line, but also try to stay alive.  If the enemy tries to reach him, he can do his best to stay away AND deal damage, thus forcing them back.

Next is the jungler.  The jungler is a champion that does not go to a lane.  He instead roams through the neutral area called the jungle (this is mentioned in the tutorial!!).  He will kill some neutral camp and then perform a manuever called a  "gank".  This is a flanking maneuver used to catch enemies off guard by coming into the lane through the fog of war.  Ganking, however, is not limited to only the jungler.  The different lanes can gank for each other, granted the travel distance is not too far away.

Finally, the support.  The support is a second champion that goes to the bot lane.  Their job is to allow the AD Carry to last hit minions and set up kills for them.  They must also do their best to protect the AD Carry against ganks, the enemy adc and support.  The support is often the champion that spends the most of their money on Sight Wards, which are used to grant vision of areas hidden by the fog of war.

Now, see what I just mentioned above?  Most players pre level ~20 completely disregard this.  You may find people who try to abide by it, but it is mostly unimportant at early levels.  The skill level of players is so low, that team comps don't actually matter.  At higher levels, of course team comps matter so when you get past level 20, you should start worrying about the metagame.  (METAGAME)

METAGAME

METAGAME

==CHAMPIONS==

Now, obviously you need to know which champs go in which role.  Now, you can probably figure out where different champs go based on their abilities and stats.  An ADC needs to be able to hit enemies in the back line while protecting himself... so would a Melee character be good for that?  No he wouldn't.  He would have to dive at the enemy team, thus putting himself at risk!  Thats not what the ADC does!  Thats just an example.  I'm going to list some good starter champs for each role.  Some champs are also viable in more than one role, so learning these things comes with time.  Take a look at the /vg/ general to get an idea for what champs do what.

Top:
Garen
Cho'Gath
Jax
Malphite
Nasus
Singed

Mid:
Annie
Kayle
Ryze
Eveylnn
Morgana
Zilean

ADC:
Ashe
Tristana

Jungler:
Nunu
Amumu
Cho'Gath
Dr. Mundo
Eveylnn
Fiddlesticks
Malphite
Nasus
Udyr

Support:
Nunu
Soraka
Alistar
Janna
Taric


BEST CHAMP IN THE ENTIRE GAME:
Heimerdinger
The Donger
BASEDODNGER HUHUHEUEHEUEJhklahdadaldas

There are still MANY more champions in the game, but they will take you longer to earn.  All these champions listed are 450 IP or 1350 IP and are relatively easy to get after a few games.  IP is earned from playing games (it is earned alongside XP)