League of Legends is a game that requires players to master various skills and techniques to succeed. One of the most important skills that players need to master is last-hitting. Last-hitting refers to the act of dealing the killing blow to enemy minions, which rewards the player with gold. In this article, we will discuss the art of last-hitting in League of Legends and provide tips on how to improve your last-hitting skills.
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Why is Last-Hitting Important?
Last-hitting is essential in League of Legends because it provides players with a reliable source of gold. Gold is necessary to purchase items that enhance a champion’s abilities and stats. Without gold, champions become weaker and less effective in combat. In addition to providing gold, last-hitting also helps control the minion wave. By last-hitting, players can manipulate the minions’ position and timing, allowing them to push or freeze the wave as needed.
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Basics of Last-Hitting
Last-hitting may seem like a simple task, but it requires a lot of practice and precision. The basic principle of last-hitting is to deal the killing blow to a minion at the right moment. If you deal the killing blow too early, you risk missing the gold reward. If you deal the killing blow too late, another minion or champion may take the gold instead.
To last-hit effectively, you need to pay attention to the minions’ health bars and attack damage. Minions have a set amount of health, and their health bars decrease as they take damage. You need to deal enough damage to the minion’s health bar to bring it to zero, without dealing too much damage too soon. As minions become weaker, they become worth less gold, so it’s important to time your last hits correctly.
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Tips for Last-Hitting
Focus on Last-Hitting Over Harassment
When playing in a lane, it’s easy to get caught up in harassing your opponent and dealing damage. However, focusing too much on harassment can cause you to miss last-hits. Instead, prioritize last-hitting over harassment, and only attack the enemy champion when it’s safe to do so. -
Use Auto-Attacks Wisely
Auto-attacks are the most common way to last-hit minions. However, using auto-attacks indiscriminately can cause you to push the wave too quickly or miss last-hits. Instead, try to time your auto-attacks so that they deal the killing blow to a minion at the right moment.
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Use Abilities to Secure Last-Hits
Some champions have abilities that can be used to last-hit minions. For example, Annie’s Q ability deals extra damage to minions and can secure last-hits that would be difficult to get with auto-attacks alone. However, using abilities to last-hit minions can also push the wave, so use them wisely.
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Watch the Minion Wave
To last-hit effectively, you need to pay attention to the minion wave’s position and timing. If the wave is pushing towards you, you may need to wait for the minions to come closer to your tower before you last-hit. If the wave is pushing towards the enemy tower, you may need to push the wave quickly to prevent your minions from dying to the tower.
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Practice, Practice, Practice
Last-hitting is a skill that requires a lot of practice to master. The only way to improve your last-hitting skills is to practice consistently. Try to focus on last-hitting during your games and make it a priority. You can also practice last-hitting in custom games or against bots to improve your timing and precision.
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Conclusion
Mastering the art of last-hitting in League of Legends is essential for any player who wants to succeed in the game. By last-hitting effectively, players can control the minion wave and earn a reliable source of gold, which is necessary to purchase items and improve their champion’s abilities and stats. To last-hit effectively, players need to pay attention to the minions’ health bars and attack damage, use auto-attacks and abilities wisely, and practice consistently.
In addition to these tips, it’s also important to be aware of the different types of minions in the game. Melee minions have the highest health and deal the most damage, but they move slowly and are easier to kite. Ranged minions have lower health and deal less damage, but they move quickly and can harass players from a distance. Cannon minions are the strongest type of minion and only appear every few waves. They have high health, deal significant damage, and are worth more gold than other minions.
Players should also be aware of the different stages of the game and how last-hitting can vary depending on the situation. In the early game, players should focus on last-hitting to gain gold and control the minion wave. In the mid-game, players should continue to last-hit, but also focus on team fights and objectives. In the late game, last-hitting becomes less important, and players should prioritize team fights, objectives, and pushing the wave to the enemy base.
Finally, players should also be aware of their opponent’s abilities and playstyle. Some champions are better at last-hitting than others, and some players may try to harass and deny last-hits. By paying attention to the opponent’s actions and movements, players can anticipate their next move and adjust their last-hitting accordingly.
In conclusion, last-hitting is a crucial skill in League of Legends that requires practice, precision, and strategy. By mastering the art of last-hitting, players can earn a reliable source of gold, control the minion wave, and improve their chances of winning the game. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, following these tips can help you improve your last-hitting skills and become a more successful League of Legends player.