7 Best Vision And Warding Tips In League of Legends

Controlling vision may not be the most glamorous part of League of Legends, but it’s one of the most vital skills for players who want to climb the ranked ladder. Vision control and warding are often misunderstood as solely the responsibility of the support role, but in reality, maintaining and denying vision is a team-wide effort that significantly impacts the outcome of games.

The good news is that mastering vision control is relatively straightforward. Unlike mechanical skills that take years to perfect, effective warding primarily relies on knowledge, positioning, and map awareness. In this guide, we’ll walk you through seven essential tips to improve your vision game, helping you make smarter plays and take your performance to the next level. Let’s get started!

#7: Think Beyond Bushes for Warding

A common misconception among players is that wards should only be placed in bushes. While bushes often provide excellent vision, they’re far from the only valuable warding spots on the map. Expanding your ward placement to key strategic areas can give your team a significant advantage.

For instance, warding entrances to the Jungle is highly effective. These chokepoints are mandatory pathways for enemies without mobility spells, making them prime locations to spot enemy rotations. Additionally, after mid-lane towers fall, placing wards deeper into the lane itself can help cover Jungle entrances and prevent surprise attacks.

Jungle camps are another excellent location for wards. Vision near camps allows you to track the enemy jungler’s movements, giving your team critical information about their positioning and potential objectives.

By diversifying your warding strategy and thinking beyond bushes, you’ll provide better map control and valuable intel that can turn the tide of the game in your team’s favor.

#5: Track Control Wards in Enemy Inventories

Regularly checking the scoreboard (by pressing TAB) is a habit every player should develop, especially as they climb the ranks. One of its most useful benefits is identifying when enemies are carrying Control Wards before they place them.

For example, if you notice an enemy with a Control Ward in their inventory heading into a bush or disappearing into the fog of war, and then see them return without it, you can easily deduce where they likely placed the ward. Sharing this information with your team through a ping can prevent unnecessary risks and allow for timely vision denial.

By staying aware of Control Wards in enemy inventories and monitoring where they’re likely being placed, you’ll improve your team’s vision control and maintain a tactical advantage on the map.

#4: Place Wards While Recalling

Many players overlook the fact that you can drop a ward while recalling back to base. This small but effective technique extends your ward’s presence on the map, as the ward’s timer begins only after it is placed. By warding just before your recall completes, you can gain an extra eight seconds of vision—enough to potentially spot an approaching enemy or prevent an ambush.

However, timing and positioning are crucial. Ensure that the area you want to ward is within range, as attempting to place a ward too far away will cancel your recall. Properly executed, this simple trick helps maintain vision control while making your base trips more efficient. It’s a subtle move that can make a big difference in your team’s map awareness.

#3: Avoid Placing Wards in Plain Sight

Wards are powerful tools in League of Legends, but their effectiveness diminishes if the enemy knows exactly where they are. When opponents see you place a ward, they can easily choose to avoid detection, destroy the ward for gold, or use the information to make better decisions. To maintain the element of surprise, it’s crucial to avoid placing wards on visible areas.

To prevent this, follow a few key practices:
• Stealthy Placement: When warding outside of bushes, ensure no enemy champions or minions are nearby to provide vision. Dropping a ward in their sight gives away its location, rendering it far less effective.
• Timing Around Dead Wards: After clearing an enemy ward, wait a moment before placing your own in the same spot. Recently destroyed wards leave behind brief residual vision, which can reveal your next move if you aren’t careful.

By warding thoughtfully and avoiding detection, you maximize the impact of your vision control and keep your team one step ahead of the enemy.

#2: Avoid Attacking Deactivated Wards

When an enemy ward is disabled by a Control Ward or Oracle Lens, it no longer provides vision. However, attacking the ward will temporarily reveal the area around it, potentially giving the enemy team critical information about your position.

This is especially important during high-stakes moments, such as taking objectives like Baron Nashor or Dragon. While it may be tempting to destroy the ward for gold and deny it completely, leaving it deactivated ensures the enemy remains in the dark about your movements and intentions.

In other scenarios, such as clearing vision while setting up for an objective or gaining map control, it’s usually safe to kill enemy wards. Just remember that attacking wards briefly reveals you, so be mindful of your surroundings and potential enemy threats before committing.

By strategically deciding when to destroy deactivated wards, you can maintain a tactical advantage and keep your team’s plans concealed from the enemy.

#1: Use Fake Wards to Deceive Your Opponents

At higher levels of play, experienced enemies often pay close attention to your movements, especially when you approach common warding spots like the tri-bush during the laning phase. They’ll likely assume you’ve placed a ward and adjust their strategy accordingly. You can exploit this by fake warding—a clever tactic to manipulate their perception.

To fake ward, simply walk up to a bush or into the fog of war as if you’re placing a ward, then return to lane without actually dropping one. This can lead enemies to believe the area is warded, discouraging ganks or aggressive plays. Additionally, they might waste an Oracle Lens or Control Ward trying to clear a non-existent ward, giving you a vision advantage and potentially disrupting their tempo.

Fake warding not only keeps the enemy guessing but also makes them think your actual wards are on cooldown, giving you the opportunity to place real wards later without drawing suspicion. It’s a simple yet highly effective mind game to outwit your opponents and maintain control of the map.

Conclusion

Mastering vision and warding in League of Legends is one of the most impactful ways to improve your gameplay and climb the ranks. Vision control goes beyond simply placing wards—it’s about understanding where and when to ward, denying enemy vision, and effectively communicating with your team.

By applying these tips, such as diversifying your ward placements, using vision pings, and strategically managing Control Wards, you can turn vision into a game-winning advantage. Remember, vision is a shared responsibility, and a well-coordinated team effort in maintaining and denying vision can dictate the flow of the game.

With these strategies, you’ll not only improve your map awareness and decision-making but also become a more valuable player for your team. Vision might not always be the flashiest skill, but it’s one of the most essential for consistent success in League of Legends.