LEAGUE OF LEGENDS: WILD RIFT – BEGINNER’S GUIDE
April 7, 2021
Riot Games officially launched their latest entry into the League of Legends franchise, League of Legends: Wild Rift on March 29. The mobile MOBA takes the League of Legends formula and reduces it down to a faster and sleeker experience. But for new players not acquainted with the series, or MOBA games in general, Wild Rift may seem overwhelming at first.
But with a little practice, you can be a real contender in Summoner’s Rift. Wild Rift is designed so that anyone — whether they’re League of Legends pros or just picking up video games for the first time — can play. Here’s a quick and simple guide on how to get started in League of Legends: Wild Rift.
Picking A Champion
Like it’s big brother, Wild Rift is a hero-based game. Heroes in the game are called Legends, and each has a unique moveset and play style to learn. Right now there are 62 Legends in the game. While it may be tempting to try to master every character, it’s best to nail down just a few in the beginning to get you started.
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You can check out each character’s skills by tapping on the left side of the screen while viewing them. When you find one you like, enter practice mode with them to get a handle on how they play. Be sure to really read up on a champion’s abilities on their screen before starting practice mode, as there’s currently no way to get these descriptions while in-game.
Try to learn how the character’s attacks and abilities play out on the screen as well as their area of effect. Moving in a MOBA can also feel different from other, more traditional games. Before you launch a real game of Wild Rift, try to get a handle on using abilities while on the move.
Selecting A Role
Now that you’ve got a champion you like, it’s time to learn what roles they can play. You got a glimpse of the game’s map (there’s currently only one, but more are on their way) and the roles are mostly based on your positioning. Certain characters are great for pushing up through one of the three “lanes” on the map, referred to by their placements: Top, Mid, Bottom.
Some characters are better as support for their teammates, while others can nearly carry their team to victory. Play around in practice mode and figure out which of these play styles works best for you.
Starting The Game
Trying out heroes in practice mode and playing the game are two entirely different experiences. Before you launch into a game, you should complete the tutorials to get the basics down. You’ll earn yourself a Champion Selection Chest for completing it, which isn’t a bad deal.
For those who want to get right into Wild Rift however, the gist of the game is this: Destroy the enemy team’s towers in order to get closer to and destroy their Nexus.
Farming Minions For Experience And Gold
One of the most important aspects to pick up in Wild Rift is farming minions. Minions are the little guys that run straight down the lanes towards the enemy side. Walk with your minions and use them as cover while fighting the enemy team’s minions.
Doing so will earn you both experience and gold, allowing you to level up your character and buy them items. Keep in mind that each game you play in Wild Rift resets your Legend entirely, so you’ll have to farm every game.
Leveling can become the most important part of a game, as a large level-gap between teams can quickly cause a game to become a one-sided steamrolling. Killing minions in this fashion also allows your minions to attack towers. Letting your minions absorb the hits from a tower allows you to attack it without worry, but once your last minion falls be sure to retreat to the next wave of them!
Be aware however that the enemy team is also going to be pushing with their minions. Often, attacking towers comes only after you’ve defeated the enemy player in your lane. Do not overextend yourself while fighting an enemy. If you notice your minions are nearly depleted or you’re running far ahead of them, pull back and wait for them to catch up.
Buying Items
All that gold you’re getting from farming minions isn’t just for bragging rights, it’s for buying items at the Nexus. When you’ve got a good amount of gold, and there’s no threats in your lane, warp back to the Nexus using the recall button. Recalling takes six seconds, so be sure your character is safe.
At the very back of the Nexus is a shop. Depending on your Legend, level, and gold, certain items will be available to you. Each character has their own item sets that are ideal for them, but if you do not want to jump right into looking up builds, it’s effective to buy items that complement your playstyle.
Pinging The Map
Information is key in a MOBA, but Wild Rift being a mobile game means that typing out long call-outs to your team isn’t a viable option. Pings are the solution to this. Pings are in the top right corner, clicking on the icon pulls up a map for you to place a marker.
This marker will alert your entire team to what’s happening. Simultaneously, your teammates may ping the map occasionally to call attention to a specific area. Summoner’s Rift is a pretty condensed map, so try to learn the general layout as quickly as possible to respond effectively to these pings.
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Nicolas Perez is a journalist who has played way too much Civilization 5. He’s rambling on Twitter @Nic_Perez_.
