A power spike is a moment when a champion becomes much stronger, usually from finishing an item, reaching a key level such as 6, or ranking up an important ability. Know when your champion spikes and when the enemy does. Fight in the window where you are stronger, and avoid fights right after the enemy completes theirs.
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The three kinds of power spikes
Level spikes come at level 2 and 3 in lane, at level 6 when the ultimate unlocks, and at levels 11 and 16 when it ranks up. Item spikes come when a champion completes an important item, often the first full item and then the second. Ability spikes come when a key ability reaches a higher rank.
Every champion has its own spikes. Some are strongest early and fall off, others are weak early and become very strong with items and levels. Knowing which kind you play, and which kind you face, tells you when to fight.
How to spot the enemy's spike
Check the enemy items on the scoreboard (Tab) after they recall. If they come back with a completed item and you are still building yours, they are stronger for now, even if the score is even.
Their level is shown next to their health bar. If they reach 6 before you, or have more completed items, step back and wait for your own spike.
How to fight on your spike
Plan your recall so you can buy the item that makes you stronger, then walk back and use it before the enemy buys theirs. The first fight after your spike is often the best one you will get.
Tell your team when you hit an important spike. A jungler who knows you just finished a key item can play around your lane, and the team can set up the next objective while you are strong.
Team power spikes
Power spikes also add up for the whole team. A team built for the early game wants to fight and take objectives before the enemy carries finish their items. A team built to scale wants to avoid risky fights and reach its late items.
Before a big objective, compare the two teams: who has more completed items and more ultimates at a high rank? That team usually wins the fight.
Find the fights you took on the wrong spike
In a replay, look at the fights you lost and open the scoreboard at that moment. Compare items and levels: did the enemy just finish an item, or were you a level behind?
Then look for the fights you could have taken right after your own spike. Learning both sides, when to fight and when to wait, is the whole pattern.
Practice the timing of fights
Tracking power spikes 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
- What is a power spike in League of Legends?
- A moment when a champion becomes much stronger, usually from finishing an item, reaching a key level like 6, or ranking up an important ability.
- How do I know my champion's power spikes?
- Look at when your champion unlocks or ranks up the abilities it relies on, and which completed items change how it plays. Champion guides and your own games show which items and levels feel like a big jump.
- How do I see if the enemy has a power spike?
- Check their items on the scoreboard (Tab) after they recall, and their level next to their health bar. A completed item or a level 6 before you means they are stronger for now.
- How can I practice playing around power spikes?
- Review fights and compare the items and levels of both sides. MOBA Trainer has a Tracking power spikes 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.