League: How to Solo Carry

2018-08-21

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Are you tired of relying on your teammates and want to take control of your own destiny in League of Legends? Solo carrying is the art of single-handedly winning a game, even when your team is behind. It's not easy, but it's definitely possible with the right mindset and approach.

In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about solo carrying in League of Legends. We'll discuss the best champions to use, the most effective strategies, and the mental fortitude you need to succeed. So, if you're ready to take your game to the next level, read on!

Before we dive into the specifics of solo carrying, let's talk about the mindset you need to have. Solo carrying is not about glory or bragging rights. It's about doing whatever it takes to win, even if it means sacrificing your own KDA or playing a less-than-glamorous role.

league how to solo carry

To solo carry in League of Legends, you need to focus on the following key points:

Champion Mastery: Master a small pool of champions.
Map Awareness: Keep an eye on the minimap.
Objectives: Prioritize objectives over kills.
Split Pushing: Apply pressure across the map.
Vision Control: Ward key areas and deny vision.
Team Communication: Use pings and chat effectively.
Mental Fortitude: Stay focused and don't tilt.
Adapt to the Game: Adjust your strategy based on the situation.

Remember, solo carrying is not about playing for yourself. It's about doing whatever it takes to win, even if that means sacrificing your own stats or playing a less-than-glamorous role. If you can master these key points, you'll be well on your way to becoming a solo carry in League of Legends.

Champion Mastery: Master a small pool of champions.

One of the most important things you can do to improve your solo carrying ability is to master a small pool of champions. This means choosing a few champions that you're comfortable with and learning them inside and out. The benefits of this are twofold:

Deeper Understanding: When you focus on a small pool of champions, you'll develop a deeper understanding of their strengths, weaknesses, and matchups. This will allow you to make better decisions in-game and exploit your opponents' weaknesses.
Improved Mechanics: The more you play a champion, the better your mechanics will become. This includes things like last-hitting, trading, and teamfighting. When your mechanics are good, you'll be able to outplay your opponents and carry your team to victory.
More Consistent Performance: When you master a small pool of champions, you'll be able to perform more consistently from game to game. This is because you'll be familiar with your champions' strengths and weaknesses, and you'll be able to adapt your playstyle to different situations.
Better Decision-Making: When you're comfortable with your champions, you'll be able to make better decisions in-game. This includes things like when to engage, when to disengage, and when to push for objectives. Good decision-making is essential for solo carrying, as you'll often need to make plays that your teammates might not be expecting.

So, if you want to improve your solo carrying ability, start by mastering a small pool of champions. This will give you a solid foundation to build on and help you reach your full potential as a player.

Map Awareness: Keep an eye on the minimap.

Map awareness is one of the most important skills for any League of Legends player, but it's especially crucial for solo carries. When you're solo carrying, you need to be able to track the movements of all nine other players on the map. This will allow you to make better decisions about where to farm, when to gank, and when to rotate for objectives.

The minimap is your best friend when it comes to developing map awareness. Keep an eye on it constantly, and pay attention to the following:

Enemy Champions: Where are the enemy champions located? Are they ganking a lane, taking an objective, or recalling to base? Knowing where the enemy champions are will help you avoid ganks, make picks, and take objectives.
Allied Champions: Where are your allied champions located? Are they pushing a lane, defending a tower, or rotating to an objective? Knowing where your allies are will help you coordinate ganks, avoid feeding the enemy team, and secure objectives.
Objectives: Are any objectives up for grabs? Is the Rift Herald about to spawn? Is the Baron Nashor pit undefended? Keeping an eye on the objectives will help you prioritize your goals and make the most of your time.
Vision: Where are the wards placed? Are there any dark areas of the map where the enemy team could be lurking? Pay attention to the vision control and adjust your playstyle accordingly.

Developing good map awareness takes time and practice. But once you master it, you'll be able to make better decisions, avoid ganks, and take advantage of opportunities all over the map. This will give you a huge advantage over your opponents and help you carry your team to victory.

Here are some additional tips for improving your map awareness:

Use keyboard shortcuts to quickly move the camera around the map.
Ping the minimap to communicate with your team.
Watch professional games and pay attention to how the pros use the minimap.

Objectives: Prioritize objectives over kills.

As a solo carry, your main goal is to win the game. And the best way to win the game is to take objectives. Objectives are things like towers, inhibitors, and the Baron Nashor. Taking objectives gives your team a lead in gold, experience, and map control. It also makes it harder for the enemy team to win teamfights and come back into the game.

Kills are important, but they are not as important as objectives. If you have the opportunity to take an objective, always do it, even if it means giving up a kill or two. Here are some tips for prioritizing objectives:

Identify the most important objective: Not all objectives are created equal. Some objectives, like the Baron Nashor, are more important than others. Learn to identify the most important objective and focus on taking it.
Take objectives when they are available: Don't wait for the perfect opportunity to take an objective. If an objective is available, take it, even if it means giving up a kill or two.
Communicate with your team: Make sure your team is on the same page about which objectives to prioritize. Use pings and chat to communicate your intentions.
Be patient: Taking objectives takes time and patience. Don't get discouraged if you don't get an objective right away. Keep working at it and eventually you will succeed.

By prioritizing objectives over kills, you will increase your chances of winning games and climbing the ranked ladder.

Here are some examples of how you can prioritize objectives over kills:

If you are bot lane and the enemy bot lane is pushed up to your tower, take the opportunity to take their tower instead of trying to kill them.
If you are mid lane and the enemy mid laner is roaming, take the opportunity to push your lane and take their tower.
If you are jungling and the enemy jungler is ganking top lane, take the opportunity to take the dragon.

Split Pushing: Apply pressure across the map.

Split pushing is a strategy where you push a lane by yourself, while your team is doing something else, like taking an objective or defending a tower. Split pushing is a great way to apply pressure across the map and force the enemy team to make difficult decisions.

To split push effectively, you need to choose a champion that is good at dueling and taking down towers quickly. Some good split pushers include Tryndamere, Jax, and Fiora.

Once you have chosen a split pushing champion, you need to identify the best lane to push. The best lane to push is usually the one that is furthest away from your team's objectives. This will force the enemy team to send multiple champions to stop you, which will create opportunities for your team to take objectives elsewhere on the map.

When you are split pushing, it is important to be aware of the enemy team's movements. If you see multiple champions coming to stop you, you need to be prepared to disengage and run away. You can also use wards to track the enemy team's movements and avoid getting caught out.

Split pushing can be a very effective strategy for solo carrying games. By applying pressure across the map, you can force the enemy team to make mistakes and create opportunities for your team to win.

Split pushing can help you create space for your team to farm and take objectives.
Split pushing can force the enemy team to send multiple champions to stop you, which will create opportunities for your team to take objectives elsewhere on the map.
Split pushing can help you draw attention away from your team, which can help them to win teamfights.
Split pushing can help you to take down towers and inhibitors, which will give your team a lead in gold and experience.

Vision Control: Ward key areas and deny vision.

Vision control is one of the most important aspects of League of Legends, and it is especially important for solo carries. By warding key areas and denying vision to the enemy team, you can create a huge advantage for yourself and your team.

Ward key areas: Ward key areas of the map, such as the jungle entrances, objectives, and chokepoints. This will allow you to track the enemy team's movements and avoid ganks. It will also allow you to make better decisions about where to farm and when to engage in fights.
Deny vision to the enemy team: Use your wards to deny vision to the enemy team. This means placing wards in areas where the enemy team is likely to place their wards. You can also use your abilities to destroy the enemy team's wards. By denying vision to the enemy team, you can make it difficult for them to gank you and make plays.
Use vision control to your advantage: Use your vision control to your advantage by taking objectives, ganking enemy champions, and avoiding ganks. You can also use vision control to set up ambushes and traps for the enemy team.
Communicate with your team: Communicate with your team about vision control. Let them know where you are warding and where you need wards. This will help your team to maintain good vision control and avoid getting caught out.

Vision control is a complex and challenging aspect of League of Legends, but it is essential for solo carrying games. By mastering vision control, you can gain a huge advantage over your opponents and increase your chances of winning.

Team Communication: Use pings and chat effectively.

Use pings: Pings are a quick and easy way to communicate with your team. You can use pings to signal danger, indicate your intentions, or request assistance. Make sure to use pings frequently and effectively.
Use chat: Chat is a more detailed way to communicate with your team. You can use chat to discuss strategy, call for ganks, or simply encourage your teammates. Be sure to use chat respectfully and constructively.
Be clear and concise: When you are communicating with your team, be clear and concise. Avoid using jargon or slang that your teammates might not understand. Be direct and to the point.
Be positive and encouraging: Even when things are going badly, try to stay positive and encouraging. A positive attitude can help to motivate your teammates and keep them focused on the game.

By communicating effectively with your team, you can increase your chances of winning games and climbing the ranked ladder.

Mental Fortitude: Stay focused and don't tilt.

Mental fortitude is one of the most important qualities for any solo carry. Solo carrying is a challenging and often frustrating task. You will face setbacks and challenges along the way. It is important to stay focused and not tilt if you want to succeed.

Stay calm under pressure: Solo carrying can be a stressful experience. It is important to stay calm under pressure and not let your emotions get the best of you. If you start to feel yourself getting tilted, take a deep breath and try to relax. Remind yourself that it is just a game and that there is no need to get upset.
Don't blame your teammates: It is easy to blame your teammates when things go wrong. However, this will only make you feel worse and it will not help you to win games. Instead of blaming your teammates, focus on your own gameplay and try to improve your own performance.
Learn from your mistakes: Everyone makes mistakes. The important thing is to learn from your mistakes and move on. Don't dwell on your mistakes or beat yourself up over them. Instead, focus on learning from them so that you can avoid making the same mistakes in the future.
Take breaks: If you are feeling tilted or frustrated, take a break from the game. Go for a walk, listen to some music, or do something else that you enjoy. Taking a break will help you to clear your head and come back to the game refreshed and ready to focus.

Mental fortitude is a skill that can be learned and developed. By following these tips, you can improve your mental fortitude and become a better solo carry.

Adapt to the Game: Adjust your strategy based on the situation.

No two games of League of Legends are exactly the same. The champions, the team compositions, and the overall strategies can vary greatly from game to game. As a solo carry, you need to be able to adapt your strategy based on the situation. This means being able to identify the win conditions for your team and playing to those conditions.

Identify the win conditions: The first step to adapting your strategy is to identify the win conditions for your team. What are your team's strengths and weaknesses? What are the enemy team's strengths and weaknesses? Once you know the win conditions, you can start to develop a strategy that will allow you to exploit your team's strengths and weaknesses.
Be flexible with your champion picks: Don't be afraid to pick champions that are outside of your comfort zone if they are a good fit for the situation. For example, if the enemy team has a lot of crowd control, you might want to pick a champion with a lot of mobility. Or, if the enemy team has a lot of tanks, you might want to pick a champion with a lot of % health damage.
Be willing to change your strategy during the game: As the game progresses, the situation can change drastically. You might need to change your strategy several times during the game in order to stay ahead. For example, if you are winning early game, you might want to focus on taking objectives. But, if the enemy team starts to make a comeback, you might need to switch to a more defensive strategy.
Communicate with your team: Make sure to communicate with your team about your strategy. Let them know what you are trying to achieve and how they can help you. By working together, you can increase your chances of winning.

Adapting to the game is one of the most important skills for any solo carry. By being able to identify the win conditions and adjust your strategy accordingly, you can increase your chances of winning games and climbing the ranked ladder.

FAQ

Have more questions about solo carrying in League of Legends? Check out these frequently asked questions:

Question 1: How do I choose the right champion to solo carry?

Answer: The best champion to solo carry with is one that you are comfortable with and that fits your playstyle. You should also consider the enemy team composition when choosing a champion. For example, if the enemy team has a lot of crowd control, you might want to pick a champion with a lot of mobility.

Question 2: How do I improve my map awareness?

Answer: Map awareness is one of the most important skills for any solo carry. You can improve your map awareness by keeping an eye on the minimap, warding key areas, and paying attention to your surroundings.

Question 3: How do I prioritize objectives over kills?

Answer: Objectives are more important than kills because they give your team a lead in gold, experience, and map control. You should always prioritize taking objectives over getting kills, even if it means giving up a kill or two.

Question 4: How do I split push effectively?

Answer: Split pushing is a great way to apply pressure across the map and force the enemy team to make difficult decisions. To split push effectively, you need to choose a champion that is good at dueling and taking down towers quickly. You should also identify the best lane to push and be aware of the enemy team's movements.

Question 5: How do I use vision control to my advantage?

Answer: Vision control is essential for solo carrying. By warding key areas and denying vision to the enemy team, you can create a huge advantage for yourself and your team. You can use vision control to track the enemy team's movements, avoid ganks, and make better decisions about where to farm and when to engage in fights.

Question 6: How do I stay focused and not tilt?

Answer: Solo carrying can be a challenging and often frustrating task. It is important to stay focused and not tilt if you want to succeed. You can do this by staying calm under pressure, not blaming your teammates, learning from your mistakes, and taking breaks when you need them.

Question 7: How do I adapt my strategy based on the situation?

Answer: No two games of League of Legends are exactly the same. You need to be able to adapt your strategy based on the situation. This means being able to identify the win conditions for your team and playing to those conditions. You should also be flexible with your champion picks and be willing to change your strategy during the game.

Remember, solo carrying is not easy, but it is definitely possible. By following these tips and practicing regularly, you can improve your solo carrying skills and climb the ranked ladder.

In addition to the information provided in the FAQ, here are some additional tips for solo carrying in League of Legends:

Tips

Here are some additional tips for solo carrying in League of Legends:

Tip 1: Practice last-hitting.

Last-hitting is one of the most important skills for any League of Legends player, but it is especially important for solo carries. By last-hitting minions, you can earn gold and experience, which will allow you to stay ahead of your opponents. There are many ways to practice last-hitting. You can practice in the practice tool, or you can play custom games with friends.

Tip 2: Learn to trade effectively.

Trading is another important skill for solo carries. Trading is when you attack your opponent while avoiding their attacks. By trading effectively, you can harass your opponent and force them to recall to base. This will give you a lead in lane and make it easier to solo carry your team to victory.

Tip 3: Ward key areas and deny vision to the enemy team.

Vision control is essential for solo carrying. By warding key areas and denying vision to the enemy team, you can create a huge advantage for yourself and your team. You can use vision control to track the enemy team's movements, avoid ganks, and make better decisions about where to farm and when to engage in fights.

Tip 4: Communicate with your team effectively.

Communication is essential for any team game, and League of Legends is no exception. As a solo carry, you need to be able to communicate effectively with your team in order to coordinate ganks, secure objectives, and win teamfights. Make sure to use pings and chat to communicate with your team. Be clear and concise, and avoid using jargon or slang that your teammates might not understand.

By following these tips, you can improve your solo carrying skills and climb the ranked ladder.

Remember, solo carrying is not easy, but it is definitely possible. With practice and dedication, you can become a master of solo carrying and lead your team to victory.

Conclusion

Solo carrying in League of Legends is a challenging but rewarding experience. By following the tips and advice in this guide, you can improve your solo carrying skills and climb the ranked ladder.

Remember, the most important thing is to stay focused and never give up. Even if you are behind, there is always a chance to come back and win the game. Solo carrying is not about playing for yourself. It is about doing whatever it takes to win, even if that means sacrificing your own stats or playing a less-than-glamorous role. If you can master the art of solo carrying, you will be a valuable asset to any team.

So, what are you waiting for? Start practicing and become a solo carry master today!

Call to Action:

If you are serious about improving your solo carrying skills, I recommend checking out the following resources:

Solo Carry Guides: There are many helpful solo carry guides available online. These guides can provide you with detailed information on how to improve your solo carrying skills.
Pro Player Streams: Watching pro players stream their games is a great way to learn how to solo carry. You can see how pro players make decisions, trade with their opponents, and teamfight. This knowledge can be invaluable when you are trying to improve your own solo carrying skills.
Practice: The best way to improve your solo carrying skills is to practice regularly. Play games, experiment with different champions and strategies, and learn from your mistakes. The more you practice, the better you will become at solo carrying.