Map visibility | Basic Gameplay League of Legends Guide

Last update: 15 July 2019

Map visibility plays a huge role in League of Legends. Most of the map is covered with the Fog of War, which prevents players from seeing what happens on the covered area, untill they or one of their teammates send there their champion. The map may also be uncovered by minions, some champions' abilities (e.g. Nidalee's traps or Teemo's Noxious Trap), as well as global ult (e.g. Ashe's Crystal Arrow, Ezreal's Trueshot Barrage), which fly across the entire map. However, the most popular way to sustain the map visibility is setting down Wards. Those can be bought in the game's store.

Types of Wards

	Stealth Ward: The regular Wards, which are available only after completing a mission for a support item, can also be placed thanks to Kleptomancy Rune. They reveal a small fragment of the map after which they disappear. They can be destroyed by the opponent if, he e.g. put a Vision Ward nearby or used the Sweeping Lens. Each of the heroes can have only 3 wards of this type and simultaneously, there can only be, up to, 3 Stealth wards on the map, per player.
	Vision ward: It is the, so called, Pink, i.e. a pink Ward. It is available at the shop for 100 gp. It is more expensive, because it reveals the nearby area, and the invisible units in that area, until it is destroyed. Each one of the heroes can only have 2 such Wards at a time. Each player can only deploy one Vision Ward on the map.
	Warding Totem: the so called Trinket, which can be obtained at the shop, completely free of charge. After you use this item, you can place an invisible Ward in a place of your choice, which remains active for 60 seconds (recharging of the totem takes 120 seconds) Trinkets cannot be used for the first 90 seconds of the game. Selling the Trinket (e.g. in order to exchange it for another one) blocks the ability to use them for 180 seconds. On level 9, the ward Totem transforms into the Greater Totem.

Use of Wards

Using Wards and Trinkets is easy. You only need to:

Press the right button (numbers from 1 to 6), depending on which slot contains Wards. This will create a ring around your champion within which the Ward can be put down. This way you can put it on the other side of a small wall or similar obstacle without risking your life, or when you are expecting that your enemy is hiding in bush. Wards' cast range gives you some space for quick reactions.

Clicking RMB will put down a Ward and uncover the surrounding area. All enemies walking by that place will be discovered and marked on the minimap.

Are Wards worth my money?

Inform of enemy movement

You are farming on a lane, and all of a sudden you are attacked by 4 enemies. Skillful deployment of Wards can prevent such surprises and buy you some time for reaction, as well as warn your teammates.

Wards can help protect key objectives

Deploying Wards close to the Baron, the Dragon, or Buffs enables your team to quickly respond to enemies' attempt to capture one of the objectives. Pinks can also drain the opposing team's vision giving them a cause to worry.

Wards as Gank preventers

There are many bushes on the map, where enemies can hide waiting to ambush an unsuspecting victim. If, in turn, they come across a Ward, they can become an easy target themselves.

Wards give tactical advantage

champions playing on the Top or the Mid often have Teleport as one of the summoner spells. Thus they can teleport to a Ward and cut off enemy's retreat.

Control Ward reveals camouflaged heroes, such as Evelynn, Twitch, Pyke and Rengar. However, it is useless against heroes like Kha'Zix or Talon because these characters can become invisible.

In certain situations, a Control Ward can hinder enemy actions. Thresh's Dark Passage is a perfect example - if you place a Ward right next to his lantern, it is highly probable that the enemy won't be able to target it and making escape impossible.

Counter Warding

Since your team is not the only one who will use Wards, it is important to prevent the enemy from getting too much map visibility. This will ease the game, especially for Jungler, who Ganks a lot. You can disturb enemy vision in two ways: by drinking the Oracle's Extract, which enables you to detect enemy Wards within a certain range, or with aforementioned Pinks. The enemy can be deprived of vision in two ways: after using the Greater Lens (a Trinket) , or with the abovementioned Pinks.

If you are using Oracle Lens, avoid situations where two or more players cover the same area. Also, avoid using Oracle Lens near a Control Ward.

Place a Control Ward in a safe area to make it a more difficult target. You should also place this Ward while you are fighting a Dragon or a Baron to limit the enemies' sight.

Blue plant has two uses - offensive and passive. You can use it on enemy terrain to make potential Ganks easier, or on your terrains to avoid Invades.

Types of Trinkets (Talismans)

There are three types of Trinkets in League of Legends and they can be helpful in different aspects of the gameplay:

	Warding Totem: After it is used, it places an invisible totem, in a specified place, which then remains active for 90 - 180 seconds depending on character's level. The Totem takes 240 - 120 seconds to recharge. Ward has 3 health points.
	Sweeping Lens: After it is used, it revels and deactivates all of the nearby invisible traps and Totems, for 10 seconds depending on median level of all champions, within a small radius of its operation. Important - if a rewealed Ward was destroyed by an ally, they will both get gold.
	Scrying Orb: After being used, it reveals a small area within distance of, up to, 1500 units, for one second. During that time, the enemy heroes will be visible on the map for 5 seconds. At level 9, the Scrying Orb turns into the Greater Orb, after which it can be upgraded to the Farsight Orb, with gold.

Each one of the Totems can be obtained at the shop at the beginning of the game, free of charge, and upgrade it later on, to the option that you want. A Totem can be exchanged for another one, which you find more useful at a more advanced phase of the game. Oracle Lens is recommended for supporters since they have access to Wards, while leaders should get Farsight Alteration to avoid getting caught by an enemy.