A level advantage means your champion has more abilities, higher ability ranks and more stats than the enemy. The strongest moments come when you reach level 2, 3 or 6 first, because each one gives a new ability or your ultimate. Watch how close both of you are to the next level, and fight in the short window when you are a level ahead, before the enemy catches up.
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What a level up timer is
Champions gain experience when enemy minions and champions die near them. In a solo lane, both players usually reach level 2 partway into the second wave, so the player who kills minions faster, or stands closer to the ones dying, gets there first.
A level up timer is simply knowing when that will happen, for you and for the enemy. In the bot lane the experience is shared between two players, so levels come slower than in solo lanes. Junglers level from camps, so their timing depends on their clear.
The levels that matter most
Level 2 gives a second ability and level 3 gives the third, so a player who gets there first often wins the first trade by a lot. Level 6 unlocks the ultimate, which is the biggest jump for most champions. Levels 11 and 16 rank up the ultimate again.
Each of these levels is a short window. Once the enemy reaches the same level, the advantage is gone, so the trade has to happen right away.
How to play around level up
Before the level arrives, stand where you can attack the moment it happens. Push the wave a little faster if you want to hit the level first, and keep enough mana for the trade.
When the level comes, use the new ability right away and trade, then step back before the enemy levels too. If your jungler is nearby, a level advantage is a good time to ask for a gank.
When the enemy is a level ahead
If the enemy reaches the level first, respect it. Step back, stay out of their range, and wait until you catch up. Champions with strong ultimates are most dangerous right at level 6, when you may still be at level 5.
A level behind usually means a lost trade, not a lost game. Take the farm you safely can and look for the next window.
Levels across the map
Level differences matter outside your lane too. A laner who is a level ahead of the enemy jungler can often fight them in a skirmish, and a jungler who falls behind in levels should avoid fights at the river.
Roaming and long recalls cost experience. If you leave lane, know what you give up, and come back before the gap gets too large.
Check your trades in the replay
After a game, look at the early trades you lost. For each one, check the levels: was the enemy a level ahead, or about to reach level 6 while you were not?
Then look at the times you reached a level first and did nothing with it. Using even one of those windows per game puts you ahead in lane.
Practice the timing, not just the trade
Level up timers 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
- Why is level 2 so important in League of Legends?
- Level 2 gives a second ability. The first player to reach it can trade with two abilities against one, which often decides the early lane.
- How do I know when the enemy will level up?
- Their level is shown next to their health bar. They earn experience from the same minions as you, so if you are close to leveling, they usually are too. Watch who has killed more minions and who stayed in lane longer.
- Does level advantage matter after the laning phase?
- Yes. Levels 11 and 16 rank up the ultimate, and a one or two level gap in the mid game still decides skirmishes, especially for champions who rely on their ultimate.
- How can I practice level up timers?
- Review your early trades and note who had the level advantage. MOBA Trainer has a Level up timers pattern with a video explanation and puzzles, so you can practice the decision outside of ranked games.
- 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.