Use Rift Herald on a tower your team can follow up on: in a lane where your laner can stay to finish the tower, with your minions there, while the enemy cannot come to stop it. The best place is the tower that opens the map most, such as the lane where your team wants to play next or the side of the next objective. Where you use it matters more than how fast.
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1. Pick the lane, not just the closest tower
The nearest tower is not always the best one. Use Herald where your laner can follow up and where the fallen tower opens space: bot side before a dragon, mid lane to open the map for everyone, or the lane of the carry you want to get ahead.
A tower in mid lane gives every enemy a longer walk and your team an easier path into their jungle.
2. Bring a wave with it
Herald does the most when your minions and teammates are there to finish the job. Use it when your wave is reaching the tower or right behind it.
A charge into an empty lane often leaves the tower damaged but still standing, and the enemy can defend it with the next wave.
3. Use it when the enemy cannot stop it
If several enemies are near the tower, they can fight you around it and the tower survives. Use Herald when the enemy jungler and nearby laners are seen on the other side of the map, for example right after they show at the dragon.
4. Trade Herald and dragon
Herald and dragon are on opposite sides of the map. If the enemy takes one, take the other instead of fighting at a disadvantage.
Decide which one your team needs more. Herald helps take towers and open the map, while dragons give lasting bonuses that add up toward the Dragon Soul.
5. Do not wait for a perfect moment
Holding Herald for a perfect moment that never comes is a common mistake. While you wait, the enemy recalls, wards and gets ready to defend.
Choose a good lane soon after you take it, and use it.
Check what Herald got your team
In a replay, find where you used Herald and look at the next minute. Did your team get a tower, a second tower or a dragon from it?
If the answer is nothing, the lane or the moment was wrong: the laner could not follow up, there was no wave, or the enemy was there to defend.
Practice using Herald
Using Herald is one of the 51 patterns on the MOBA Trainer Pattern Map. It has a video explanation from a coach and training puzzles built from real game situations: you see the map, choose what to do, and learn why the best players choose differently. The puzzles ask where and when to use Herald, with the waves and the enemy team on the map.
Frequently asked questions
- Where should I use Rift Herald?
- On the tower your team can follow up on: a lane with priority, where your laner can stay and your wave is arriving. Mid lane opens the map for everyone, while bot side helps if the next dragon is your goal.
- When should I use Rift Herald?
- When your wave is near the tower and the enemy players who could defend it are seen elsewhere on the map. Do not hold it for long waiting for a perfect moment.
- Is Herald or dragon more important?
- It depends on your team. Herald helps take towers and open the map, which suits teams that want to play early. Dragons give lasting bonuses, which suits teams that want to scale. If the enemy takes one, take the other.
- How can I practice using Herald?
- Check what Herald got your team in your replays, and train the decision with MOBA Trainer puzzles for the Using Herald pattern, where you choose where and when to use it in 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, plus the web app and the Discord bot.