What is a Priority Position in League of Legends?
In the fast-paced and strategic world of League of Legends, understanding the concept of a “priority position” is crucial for both new players and veterans alike. This term is often thrown around in champion select, but its meaning and significance can sometimes be unclear. In this article, we’ll break down what a priority position is, why it matters, and how you can use this knowledge to improve your gameplay.
What is a Priority Position?
A priority position refers to a specific role or champion that a team deems essential to their strategy for the upcoming match. This can be based on various factors, such as the enemy team’s composition, the strength of certain champions in the current meta, or the team’s overall game plan. Essentially, it’s a way for teams to communicate and ensure that they secure the champions or roles they believe will give them the best chance to win.
For example, if the enemy team has a heavy engage composition with champions like Leona and Darius, your team might prioritize a tanky champion like Galio or Braum to counter their all-in strategy. Similarly, if the meta favors AD carry champions, your team might prioritize securing a strong late-game scaling champion like Jinx or Tristana.
Why is Understanding Priority Positions Important?
Understanding priority positions is key to improving your win rate and overall gameplay. Here are a few reasons why:
Balanced Team Composition: By prioritizing certain roles or champions, teams can ensure they have a well-rounded composition. For instance, if one player locks in a mid-game power spike champion like Lucian, the team might prioritize a late-game scaling champion like Senna to complement their strategy.
Countering the Enemy Team: Identifying and prioritizing counter picks is a proven way to gain an advantage before the game even starts. For example, if the enemy team has a Riven in the top lane, your team might prioritize a tanky champion like Sion or Nautilus to neutralize her early-game aggression.
Improving Communication: Communicating about priority positions encourages teamwork and collaboration. When everyone is on the same page, it reduces the likelihood of misunderstandings and frustration during the game.
How to Effectively Prioritize Positions
Prioritizing positions isn’t just about locking in a champion; it requires strategy and communication. Here’s how you can do it effectively:
Analyze the Enemy Team: Start by looking at the champions the enemy team has picked. Are they heavy on assassins? Prioritize a tank or a champion with strong defensive capabilities. Do they have a lot of crowd control? Consider picking a mobile champion or someone with a reliable escape tool.
Communicate with Your Team: Use the champion select phase to discuss your strategy. If you’re the jungler, for example, you might say, “I’m going to prioritize Sejuani to counter their Elise.” This ensures everyone is aligned and avoids last-minute conflicts.
Be Flexible: While it’s important to have a plan, it’s equally important to be flexible. If the enemy team takes a priority pick, be willing to adapt. For instance, if they steal your intended mid-lane champion, consider switching to a counter pick instead of forcing your original strategy.
Challenges and Solutions
While prioritizing positions is a powerful tool, it’s not without challenges. One common issue is when multiple players want to prioritize the same role or champion. To avoid this, teams should designate a shot caller—usually the jungler or mid laner—to make the final decisions on priority positions.
Another challenge is dealing with smurf accounts or players who refuse to cooperate. In such cases, it’s best to focus on what you can control and adapt to the situation. Remember, League of Legends is a team game, and even with imperfect compositions, good teamwork can often lead to victory.
Case Study: A Successful Priority Position Example
Let’s take a real-game scenario to illustrate how prioritizing positions can lead to success. Suppose you’re playing a ranked match, and the enemy team picks Thresh, Galio, and Kennen. These champions indicate a heavy crowd control and engage-focused composition. To counter this, your team might prioritize a mobile mid laner like Azir or Orianna, who can dodge skill shots and kite effectively. Additionally, securing a tanky jungler like Nunu or Vi can help neutralize their engage potential.
By prioritizing these champions, your team gains a significant advantage in both the early and mid-game stages, making it easier to secure objectives and ultimately