Lane Pushing Tactics

[Jonathan Meer]

I don't understand these at all. I hear a lot of 'let's push mid,' but why do we do that, when there isn't any real hope of gaining a tower by it?

My guess is to establish initiative. In chess, the person who has the initiative is the person who is setting the atmosphere of the game; the person with initiative makes moves, and the person without it must respond. Even though the position and material may be dead even, the initiative is valuable in itself for the flexibility it provides to the possessor; if the individual with the initiative makes a mistake, she can usually recover quicker than if she didn't have the initiative. If, however, the individual without the initiative makes a mistake, they can typically be pressured into making further mistakes.

This doesn't appear to be as strong in LoL, due to the turret dynamics, which equalize (providing a safety net for the team on the back heel), but that's the only grasp I have on lane pushing, beyond the basic 'hey, their team is dead, let's kill a turret.' When and why do we split push? Who should be split pushing? Why do we 'ball up and push mid', if we don't already have an advantage?

[Ashe]

It opens options. If we create a scenario where we have creeps against multiple towers, then not only are we having some time of getting a small amount of tower damage (which on its own isn't much but also builds over time), we also now have the option to appear at any of these locations for a quick skirmish on their tower(s). Additionally, by pushing different lanes up that far, we deny THEM the opportunity to do the same. Furthermore, by doing this, we restrict their map presence so that we can farm the entire jungle, as well as their side of the map, while they have to sit at towers and clear the waves. During this time, we can safely farm jungle, control buffs, control dragon and/or Baron, or even reward key areas in preparation for a push in another area so that when they move to defend said area, we know how many and which path they are taking, which wins the information war. Then someone else could make a quick strike at another tower if we know they've sent their full force to try to surround our top. Just one of the scenarios it opens up.

But basically that, it opens up options and map control. (EDIT: The argument of "If we can't take the tower, then pushing the lane is pointless" is very analogous to "If we can't get the kill due to summoner spells, then don't waste your time on the gank". We've already outlined how a gank can be successful with no intention of actually getting a kill, and how it isn't a fail-gank just because they didn't die.)

[Jonathan Meer]

That makes a lot of sense.

[Kaden]

Yeah, there are a handful of reasons.

Something like a 20-minute "everyone get mid and push" is really to force a team-fight. It's very chess-like, actually. You force the enemy team to react in a predictable way.

If they'd been split up, it makes for an easy push.

If they're running a gimmick team-comp, you can just win a team fight.

If you can keep pressure 4v5, you can have a teammate collect buffs or split push.

Balling up and rolling down mid is one of my preferred tactics, really. It helps equalize disparities if their team is more coordinated than yours. It lets you gauge mid-game/team-fight strength. It's required for some other tactics (AoE comp, for example, will never work if you don't get the enemy all in one place). It's a good initiation to grab a quick dragon. People will usually let their own team 4v5 or 3v5 if they know their lane is open and they can get some damage on a tower (letting you trade towers should be a gain for your team in a 4/3v5 situation).

I think one of the reasons I like it when playing with our group, specifically, is that it lets me see exactly what's happening and why. If I'm in bot lane and our top dies during the early game, I won't know why nine times out of ten, but when everyone is right in front of me and I can see what everyone is doing, it lets me get a better feel for the game. Additionally, when I said it forces the enemy team to behave in a predictable way, it also forces your team to behave in a, hopefully, predictable way.

But yeah, I like this play, usually.

[Super Buu]

Basically, at some point, one of the teams is going to group up and push. You can either be the initiator, or the reactee. I think it's important to note, though, that even as the initiator you should be reacting as well. If their entire team shows up, take a bit of pressure off and try to let them make a mistake. You get people who, in a balanced 5v5, will decide it's a good idea to start a teamfight under their tower in the hopes of 'completing the push'. This is usually a very bad idea, just giving the other team a great opportunity for some easy kills. Either pull back a little and try to get a kill when one of their team slips up, or leave some people in mid to hold the fort whilst others try to get an advantage elsewhere - be it in another lane, or by grabbing dragon or jungle buffs, etc.

[Mal Nova]

You get people who, in a balanced 5v5, will decide it's a good idea to start a teamfight under their tower in the hopes of 'completing the push'. This is usually a very bad idea, just giving the other team a great opportunity for some easy kills..

<_<

*Is one of those that seems to not care if it breaks out right beneath their tower*

Usually the Tower is already had some damage. A few quick beats on some minions, a Hextexch, R>W>Q>E Then Straight to the turrets base to pummel it =D

That tower comes down a lot faster then some of those champions.

[Super Buu]

That's why I said USUALLY a very bad idea. Sometimes it's very low, and the tower gives them a false sense of security. IF you can get that tower down quickly and stun the enemy, you can wipe them out.