Since 2013, I have been playing this rage-inducing, mind-numbing and stressful video game called League of Legends because I am a masochist and I like some competition every now and then.
Even though I have been roaming around Summoner's Rift for almost almost three years now, I only started playing ranked games during season 4. And during my first two seasons of ranked play, I had the good fortune of finishing in Gold III every time.
However, I reached a new milestone in the game as I finally reached the next level yesterday, 23 August 2016: PLATINUM, BAY-BEE!
Now, I know that being Platinum V is not that big of a deal nowadays. With the creation of the Master Tier, some argue that the quality of play in Diamond Elo and below is not as good as it used to, and that Plat is the new Gold.
Still, I am proud of my accomplishment. After all, there are still thousands of players fighting their way, or in some cases, getting their accounts boosted, to where I am.
Now, some of you are probably thinking, "Meh, he is probably not that good.", and you are right. I have seen people in lower elo, except for Bronze, that are mechanically superior than me.
So how did I escape gold?
1. I Stopped Flaming
This has been one my biggest problems when playing ranked games. Whenever a teammate feeds or makes mistakes, I cannot help but insult them because I am very passionate about winning. Despite the chat bans and constant reminders on the loading screen that flaming contributes to losses, I continued to bad-mouth people who are not performing well simply because I felt that I am giving my best while they are doing the exact opposite.
However, when I stopped chatting and started to focus on my game instead, I noticed that I started winning more. In fact, during my last few games to Plat, I usually had a teammate who fed. Still, I managed to win by simply not talking to them and focusing on how I can help us succeed.
You see, if you are constantly going to look over your shoulder and call out people for playing badly, not only are you taking your focus off the game, you are also causing your allies to do the same, and this will only make them play worse than they already are. In addition, flaming will also result into uncooperative allies, which is very problematic for a team game like LoL.
Besides, at the end of the day, you will have no control over what the other player does, so why bother wasting your time talking shit about them when you can win the game with your own efforts, right?
2. I Cared A Little Less
Do not get me wrong about this one. I am very passionate about winning. However, in the past, I think I cared way too much and that is why I flame people when they are feeding.
Sure, I still get upset when I lose. But I am not anymore as rage-y as I used to. I do not harass my teammates whenever they make a bone-headed play and I do not go thermonuclear after every loss.
Nowadays, I started taking things one game at a time. I give my 100% every match and hope for the best. If I end up victorious, I celebrate a little and contemplate whether I should quit while I am ahead or try my luck and see if can notch another win. If I lose, I briefly ponder on what I could have done to change the outcome of the game and move on. By doing so, I took the pressure of winning off my back and enjoyed League for the chaotic game that it is.
In short, I am not as emotionally invested in LoL unlike before.
3. I Kept My Champion Pool Small
Thanks to the LCS, LCK and other professional League of Legends... uhm... leagues, I became fascinated with the idea of having a huge champion pool. After all, if you can play a lot of champions, you will be able to adjust against any kind of pick and will be able to utilize different play styles.
However, I realized that expanding my champion pool required a lot of practice. And for someone like me who works on an average 10 hours a day, time is one of the many luxuries I cannot afford.
So instead of wasting my time mastering almost 20 champions, I decided to build a roster of five easy-to-use and flexible champions in the form of Xin Zhao, Dr. Mundo, Jarvan IV, Maokai and Nautilus.
True enough, my five-man champion pool paid off and my winning percentage is at 66.7% with Xin and Mundo leading the charge at 71.4% and 85.7% respectively.
You see, a smaller champion pool allows you to play a selected number of champions that you are really good at. It does not matter if they are out of the meta or have received nerfs recently. As long as you understand their strengths and weaknesses, as well as your win conditions, they will help you get a W.
4. I Flexed Pick... A Lot
In the past seasons, I did not give my picks much thought. I simply picked what I liked to play (I am looking at you Xin).
This season, however, I took advantage of the times when I got to pick first or second to confuse the enemy team. With most of my champions being viable at top, jungle and support (except for Xin), I can force the other players to counter my pick allowing my teammates to counter their pick in the process.
For example, if I get to pick first, I usually select Mundo as my jungler. Since he is a popular pick in the top lane, the opposing top laner would most likely pick a counter to him like Shyvana. A Mundo pick even forces opposing AD carries to pick Vayne sometimes. This gives my team the chance to counterpick two roles while I farm in the jungle where I will not be forced to deal with the champs that counter mine.
5. I Camped A Lot
As a jungler, I used to be pressured to camp every lane because I thought I would have a better chance of winning if all of my laners are fed.
While this is true, it is easier said than done. After all, walking to a different lane takes time. Time that would have been better spent farming and earning more experience. And should your gank fail, do not be surprised to find the enemy jungler ahead not only in CS but in level as well.
This season, whenever I forced a flash out of a champion after ganking, I make it a point to gank that lane again and make return trips while that champ's flash is on cooldown. This allows me and one of my teammates to get fed in the process.
I also make it a point to camp champions without escape abilities in their kit. AD Carry Ashe? Camped. Top Lane Nasus? Camped. Mid Lane Syndra? Camped.
And that is how I escaped gold.
