Force a fight when the enemy is missing something you have: a player, summoner spells, ultimates, health or the items they are about to buy. Engage when they are split up or have walked too far forward, and close to an objective you can take after you win. If you don't have one of those advantages, don't force: take vision and wait for your moment.
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1. The advantages that make a fight worth forcing
More players close to the fight. More health and mana. Ultimates and summoner spells that they have used and you still have. A level or item lead they are about to close when they recall.
One clear advantage is often enough. Without any, forcing a fight is a coin flip at best.
2. Count the players on the map
If one enemy is farming a far side lane, the fight near dragon is five against four for as long as it takes them to walk or teleport over. That is the moment to force.
Look at the minimap before every engage: who is visible, who is missing, and how long the missing ones need to arrive.
3. Use timers
Right after the enemy uses their big ultimates, there is a window of a minute or more where they can't use them again. Right after they lose a fight, they are low and waiting to recall. Right before they complete an item, they are weaker than they will be soon.
Each of these is a reason to fight now instead of later.
4. Force near something you can take
A won fight next to dragon, Baron or a tower gives you the objective as well. A won fight in the middle of nowhere gives a few kills and then everyone walks home.
Plan the objective first, then force the fight near it.
5. When not to force
When the enemy has the numbers, the levels or the items. When you are about to hit a power spike yourself and could fight better in a minute. When the fight would happen in their vision and out of yours.
If you are not sure who wins, it is usually better to wait and gather information first.
Review the fights you started
In a replay, pause at the start of every fight your team started. Which advantage did you have: numbers, cooldowns, health, items? If none, why did the fight happen?
Then look at fights you avoided while the enemy was down a player. Those are the fights you should have forced.
Practice the decision to fight
MOBA Trainer turns real game situations into puzzles: you see the map, choose the play, and learn what the best players would do and why. Forcing a fight has its own video explanation and training puzzles on the Pattern Map, made by top players and coaches, next to the other fighting patterns.
Frequently asked questions
- What does forcing a fight mean in League?
- It means starting a fight on purpose, by engaging or pressuring the enemy, instead of waiting for them to start it. You force a fight when you have an advantage you might lose if you wait.
- How do I know if we will win a fight?
- Compare players close to the fight, levels and items, health and mana, and which ultimates and summoner spells are up. The side with more of these usually wins.
- What if my team does not follow my engage?
- Ping the advantage before you engage, for example an enemy missing or their key ultimate used, and engage when your team is close and ready. In solo queue, a fight your team can see coming is a fight they follow.
- Should I fight when we are behind?
- Only when you have a specific advantage in that moment, like the enemy being split or down key cooldowns. Otherwise play for vision and wait for them to make a mistake.
- Is MOBA Trainer free?
- The daily puzzle and the first lesson are free. The full campaign with every pattern is part of the Season Pass, at $9.99 a month or $69.99 a year. MOBA Trainer runs on Windows, macOS, iPhone and Android, in the web app and as the Discord bot Moti, in 12 languages.