League of Legends can feel a little daunting at first, especially if you are new. Check out this video first to get a head start on League!
GAME CONTROLS
League only requires a small number of keys to play with. Namely, three groupings! First off, your mouse with left and right click. Left click is used to select items or targets or drag your inventory around. However, right click is used to attack and move.
Then there’s the primary ability keys: Q, W, E, and R. You’ll press those to cast your spells or abilities in game. Also, you have two special summoner spells on D and F.
Lastly, the numbers 1-7 correspond to the inventory your champion has in game. If you’ve got something that can be consumed, like a potion, or an item with a special active, press that button to chug that potion or use that active!
PINGS
Pressing G on your keyboard anywhere on the map or in game will ping that part of the ground. Doing so on a character will mark them.
When you press and hold down G, a small ping wheel appears! By dragging your mouse in any of the four directions (Up, Right, Down or Left), you can ping the appropriate message once you let go of the G button. Here’s what you can ping, and each ping describes what it means on the button!
- Up: ‘Danger’
- Left: ‘Enemy Missing’
- Down: ‘Assist Me’
- Right: ‘On My Way’
STRUCTURES
TURRETS
Turrets help protect you and your base. Be cautious though since the enemy has them as well. When approaching or attacking a turret make sure to keep the following in mind.
- They attack the nearest enemy target (Minion or Champion)
- If there are a group of minions in the Turret’s range, it will continue killing them before targeting a Champion
- Attacking a Champion under an enemy Turret will draw fire from the Turret
- Avoid consecutive hits from the Turret, since it deals additional damage
- Keep your ears open. Turrets will warn you with a loud audible sound whenever they target you. Back away when you hear it
Once destroyed a Turret will provide some gold to you and your teammates and move your team one step closer to destroying the enemy Nexus.
INHIBITORS
Three inhibitors are located in your base, each corresponding to one of the lanes. These prevent enemy Super Minions from spawning in that lane. Destroying an Inhibitor can give your team a hefty advantage over your opponents.
- Inhibitors are protected by an Inhibitor Turret
- Destroy the Inhibitor Turret to be able to damage the Inhibitor
- When destroyed, Super Minions will spawn in that lane for several minutes
- After a few minutes, the Inhibitor will respawn and Super Minions will stop spawning
NEXUS
The Nexus, the heart of both team’s base. Destroy your enemy’s Nexus before the enemy destroys yours to secure glory.
- Minions spawn from the Nexus
- The Nexus is protected by 2 Nexus Turrets
- In order to destroy the Nexus both Nexus Turrets must be destroyed, and at least 1 Inhibitor must be down
- Game is over as soon as a Nexus is destroyed, don’t let it be yours
MINION TYPES
MELEE 
- Attack with sword and shield
- Worth around 20 gold
CASTER 
- Attack with magic bolts
- Worth around 17 gold
SIEGE 
- Attack with cannonballs from a distance
- Worth around 45 gold. Make sure you get the kill to get the gold
- Appear every third minion wave
- Spawn more frequently the longer the game goes on
SUPER 
- Only spawn while a lane’s inhibitor is destroyed
- Worth around 40 gold
- No friendly siege minions will spawn in a lane with super minions
- Extremely strong and durable and can shred through opposing minion waves and turrets
- Strengthen other friendly minions around them
JUNGLE MONSTERS
Red Brambleback 
The Brambleback’s attacks are empowered by the Crest of Cinders
The Crest of Cinders (Red Buff) temporarily empowers Champions to:
- Deal extra damage
- Slow targets
- Passively heal you over time
Red Buff transfers to the champion who dealt the killing blow
- If you have Red Buff and are killed by an enemy champion, the buff transfers to them
Blue Sentinel 
The Blue Sentienl’s attacks are empowered by the Crest of Insight
The Crest of Insight (Blue Buff) temporarily grants Champions:
- Increased Mana/Energy regeneration
- Reduced cooldowns
Blue buff transfers to the champion who dealt the killing blow
- If you have Blue Buff and are killed by an enemy champion, the buff transfers to them
Gromp 
A large frog who deals a surprising amount of damage
Wolves 
A group of vicious wolves who attack as a pack
Raptor 
A deadly flock of seven birds, all hitting equally hard
Krugs 
Earth Elemental creatures who break into smaller Krugs when killed
Scuttler 
Rift Scuttlers (affectionately called “Scuttlecrabs”) inhabit each river and roam that area
These creatures will not fight back and run away if attacked
Defeat a Rift Scuttler for a temporary shrine that provides vision around it and boosts champion movement speed when moving through it
EPIC MONSTERS
DRAGON
ELEMENTAL DRAGONS
These epic monsters shouldn’t be fought alone. When defeated, each slain Dragon empowers your team with a ‘Buff’. Each Dragon provides a unique stackable buff to your team:
Cloud Dragon Buff
Bonus movement speed whenever you’re not in combat.
Infernal Dragon Buff
Boosts overall damage.
Mountain Dragon Buff
Boosts damage to structures and epic monsters.
Ocean Dragon Buff
Replenishes some health and mana every few seconds if not in combat.
ELDER DRAGON
This dragon only spawns after 35 minutes in game. He’s bigger and more dangerous!
Elder Dragon is far stronger than an Elemental Dragon. Bring your whole team to fight it, one or two champions won’t stand a chance against this monster. Slaying the Elder Dragon provides different bonuses:
- Existing dragon buffs are amplified for a few minutes
- All basic attacks and abilities will cause enemies to burn for extra damage. This includes damage done to enemy champions, minions, and structures
Use this buff to your advantage and force a fight!
RIFT HERALD AND BARON NASHOR
RIFT HERALD 
Rift Herald is an epic monster that resides in the top side of the river, in a giant pit known as ‘Baron’s Pit’.
- Rift Herald is very hard to fight alone, bring a friend or two
- Every few seconds the eye on his back opens up. Attack the eye from behind for extra damage
If you kill Rift Herald, a small buff appears on the ground for a few seconds that anyone on your team can pick up. If you don’t run over it quickly, it will disappear!
- Rift Herald’s Buff provides extra damage when no friendly champions are nearby
- The buff lasts 20 minutes and dying won’t cause you to lose it
Once killed, Rift Herald doesn’t respawn. And if you don’t manage to kill him, he’ll run away at 19:45 before Baron can eat him.
BARON NASHOR
This epic monster spawns when the game hits 20 minutes. Baron Nashor starts as a hard hitter and only gets more difficult as the game progresses. Don’t underestimate him!
Fighting something this difficult does yield great rewards though. You’ll earn gold and experience for your whole team, as well the buff the ‘Hand of Baron’! This buff is obtained for each living teammate the moment your team slays Baron.
Hand of Baron (Baron Buff) will:
- Boost your stats, making you more powerful
- Grant you a faster recall to your base (Hit B!)
- Turbocharge nearby minions to attack from farther away, do more damage, and take less damage
Baron buff can be key for destroying the enemy’s turrets, opening the enemy base on your way to victory!
ROLES
ASSASSIN
These are opportunistic champions, looking for brief openings to quickly eliminate individual opponents in the blink of an eye. They are generally very mobile and like to pick their target. They like to prey on marksmen and mages.
Common Positions: Mid Lane, Jungle
FIGHTER
Versatile champions that can deal damage and defend allies. They occupy a happy medium between the high damage of a Marksman or Mage and the prolonged survivability of a Tank, letting them adapt to various situations.
Common Positions: Top Lane, Jungle
MAGE
Champions that focus exclusively on their strong abilities, though they usually have weak basic attacks. Some mages deal enormous amounts of damage, while others focus on utility and controlling the battlefield.
Common Positions: Mid Lane, Support, Top Lane
MARKSMAN
Ranged champions that focus on dealing high damage from a distance. They build items to enhance their attack damage and speed. They are fragile, so careful positioning and teamwork is required for them to reach their full destructive potential.
Common Positions: Bot
SUPPORT
Helpful champions that focus on augmenting teammates (through heals, shields, etc) and disabling their opponents. They usually have low damage but offset that with their high utility and unparalleled battlefield control.
Common Positions: Support, Jungle
TANK
These champions focus on being tough to kill, prioritizing survivability over damage, making them perfect to be at the front of a fight. They often have abilities to inhibit or stop enemies, swaying the flow of battle.
Common Positions: Top Lane, Jungle, Support
Champions
Currently there are 137 champions in League of Legends.
Aatrox Ahri Akali Allistar
Amumu Anivia Annie Ashe
Aurelion sol Azir Bard Blitzcrank
Brand Braum Caitlyn Camille
Cassiopeia Cho’Gath Corki Darius
Diana Draven Dr. Mundo Ekko
Ellise Evelyn Ezreal Fiddlesticks
Fiora Fizz Galio Gangplank
Garen Gnar Gragas Graves
Hecarim Heimerdinger Illaoi Irelia
Ivern Janna Jarvan IV Jax
Jayce Jhin Jinx Kai’Sa
Kalista Karma Karthus Kassadin
Katarina Kayle Kayn Kennen
Kha’Zix Kindred Kled Kog’Maw
LeBlanc LeeSin Leona Lissandra
Lucian Lulu Lux Malphite
Malzahar Maokai Master Yi Miss Fortune
MK Mordekaiser Morgana Nami
Nasus Nautilus Nidalee Nocturne
Nunu Olaf Orianna Ornn
Pantheon Poppy Pyke Quinn
Rakan Rammus Reksai Renekton
Rengar Riven Rumble Ryze
Sejuani Shaco Shen Shyvana
Singed Sion Sivir Skarner
Sona Soraka Swain Syndra
Tahm Kench Taliyah Talon Taric
Teemo Tresh Tristana Trundle
Tryndamare Twisted Fate Twitch Udyr
Urgot Varus Vayne Veigar
Vel’Koz Vi Viktor Vladimir
Vollibear Warwick Xayah Xerath
XinZhao Yasuo Yorick Zac
Zed Ziggs Zilean Zoe
Zyra
Online Games 