This week, I’ll be talking about How to Play from Behind. This article will teach you to know and calculate when you are behind. I will also include how to change your playstyle to stop your enemies from snowballing. Finally, you’ll see what you can do to catch up with your enemies.
HOW TO KNOW WHEN YOU’RE BEHIND
The first step to catching up when you are behind is knowing you’re behind in the first place. Some people find this quite hard to determine, so I’ll tell you some ways to tell if you’re behind.
If you are losing trades with your enemy, it can mean two things. It means you are either behind or in danger of falling behind. Trading can be quite complex. But to simplify things, losing trades is when you and the enemy have a quick scuffle, and he comes out with a higher HP. If this happens a lot during the Laning Phase, it can lead to you falling behind. If you are taking a massive loss in trades, you are likely behind and should begin to change your playstyle.
If you have started taking a massive loss in trades that you cannot even get near the minion wave, it’s called “being zoned.” This happens because you cannot go near minions without dying or taking much damage. Often, this means you are behind in the lane. The two previous examples are obvious ways to tell when you are behind. But there is an easier way to know if you are falling behind before it happens or when it isn’t too severe.
This is by calculating your advantages versus your enemies. Compare creep scores (CS), kills, assists, and other objectives your teams have. This can be the easiest way to tell if you are behind and how far behind. It’s important not to let your ego get in the way. Many people will say to themselves, “Oh, I’m only 20 cs down,” or “It’s only two kills ahead; I can still win!” That attitude will only get you further and further behind.
CHANGING YOUR PLAYSTYLE
Now that you have admitted you’re behind, it’s time to take the first recovery step. Low-tier players often fall into a particular trap. After realizing they are behind, they get this sense of urgency to catch up before their team rages at them. This trap often causes people to go 0/5 during lane in 10 minutes. That’s because they are desperate to get back into the game by fighting an already stronger enemy. This likely happened because he was good enough to beat you when you were even.
Don't be that guy once you realize you are behind; stay positive instead. I know it sounds corny, but it’s true. Getting all sad and grumpy about being the slightest bit behind isn’t going to help you catch up. It will do the opposite and cause you to make more mistakes. Being grumpy also risks setting off your teammates, so stay quiet, calm, and focus on your game.
Also, now that you’re behind, the game has changed. You are no longer aiming to be the god who smites all filthy casuals who look at you wrong. Now is the time for you to stop playing that way. Doing this is like watching a small boy punch a cactus because it pricked him. It would be best to stop looking for flashy plays or engaging without backup. In this situation, you need to play the thief. You need to sneak around and snatch every little morsel you can get without getting caught. That is your game now. Soon, you will finally catch up and be even on terms. Once you see your enemy out of position or somebody further behind you, BAM! Now, you can go forth to be the king of the rift.
THINGS YOU CAN DO TO CATCH UP
The first simple thing is to accept that there will be losses. There are going to be things that you can’t do that your enemy can. Those things can lose you the game, and you have to accept them. You will get zoned, you might lose a tower, and your enemy might roam. These are facts of life when you are behind. You're doing the right thing as long as you avoid death by letting them do these things.
Much like you having inevitable losses, there are many new things you can count as victories now. You can think of these as your mini-games to yourself. Some ways to win are:
- Not giving your enemy kills. While you might miss some cs, lose a tower, or whatever, not giving the enemy a more significant advantage with kills is a win.
- You are stopping your enemy from snowballing from other lanes. Even if you are behind and need gold for that BF, Sword, placing wards is still essential. Doing so will defuse your enemy laner’s ability to roam and get kills elsewhere. The last thing you want to do is have him disrupt your other lanes. This is why communication and vision are essential.
- Siege Minions and Neutral Camps. Try to get these because they are a great way to increase your gold. Your enemy will likely miss these if they focus on killing you super hard.
Finally, be a team player. Even if you’re behind, you are not entirely worthless. It's pretty useless, but not completely. So, leaving your team high and dry in a 4v5 so you can farm 4–6 minions isn’t worth it. It’s essential to catch up for your sanity and pride, but helping your team is still important. This means being around for Dragons, being able to roam when you can, talking to your team, and Warding. All these will help your team carry you in dire situations.
Remember, you don’t always have to carry. Sometimes, you need to be light enough for others to carry you.
That’s a wrap! As always, I hope you learned something from this article. Good luck on the rift!
