Items like Zhonya's Hourglass, Quicksilver Sash, Guardian Angel and Mikael's Blessing can cancel your best play. Check the enemy's items before you commit, bait the item out or wait until it is used, and save your crowd control or burst until it is on cooldown. Track your own team's items the same way.
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Which items to watch
Some items change fights on their own. Zhonya's Hourglass makes a champion untargetable for a moment. Quicksilver Sash removes crowd control. Guardian Angel brings a champion back after they die. Mikael's Blessing lets a support cleanse an ally. Items like Hextech Rocketbelt give an extra dash.
Each of these has a long cooldown once used. A carry who used Zhonya's or Quicksilver Sash is far easier to kill for a while.
How to check
Open the scoreboard (Tab) to see what the enemy has bought, especially before a big fight. You can also check items by selecting an enemy champion.
Watch for the item being used: a golden stasis for Zhonya's, a cleanse effect for Quicksilver Sash or Mikael's, a revive for Guardian Angel. Note it and tell your team.
Bait, then commit
Use a smaller threat first and save your best one. Make the enemy use Zhonya's against your first ability or a teammate's engage, then use your big burst or ultimate when it is gone.
Against Quicksilver Sash, lead with a less important crowd control. If they cleanse it, your stronger one lands. If they hold it, you still got something.
Use your own items well
Your items work the same way for the enemy. A Zhonya's used too early, before the enemy committed, leaves you open for the rest of the fight. Wait for the moment they commit to you.
Know your teammates' items too. If your support has Mikael's, you can play a little more forward. If they just used it, play safer.
Check the fights an item decided
In a replay, find fights where a Zhonya's, Quicksilver Sash or Guardian Angel cancelled your team's play. Was it known? Could someone have baited it first?
Then check your own item use: did you press it at the best moment, or at the first moment?
Practice the order of your play
Tracking item cooldowns is one of the 51 patterns on the MOBA Trainer Pattern Map. MOBA Trainer turns real game situations into puzzles: you see the map, choose what to do, and then learn why the best players choose differently. The pattern has a video explanation and training puzzles made by top players and coaches, so you can practice the decision in a few minutes a day, outside of ranked games.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I play against Zhonya's Hourglass?
- Don't use your biggest damage into it. Make the enemy use it first with a smaller threat, then commit when it is on cooldown.
- How do I play against Quicksilver Sash?
- Lead with a less important crowd control so they cleanse it, then use your stronger one. Check the scoreboard (Tab) to see who bought it.
- Can I see enemy items in League?
- Yes. Open the scoreboard (Tab) or select an enemy champion to see what they have bought.
- How can I practice playing around item cooldowns?
- Review fights where an item cancelled your play. MOBA Trainer has a Tracking item cooldowns pattern with a video explanation and puzzles from real game situations.
- 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. MOBA Trainer runs on Windows, macOS, iPhone and Android, in the web app, and in Discord through the Moti bot.