This week, we’re going to follow up on my previous article about Closing Games, and look at Objectives.
I’m going to be looking at the list of objectives I posted in my previous article. My goal is to explain what exactly do you gain from them to give you a better idea of what’s important during your game. This article is also going to be a little longer than my usual ones. But I felt like it was necessary to do it this way so that I can fit everything that I wanted.
IMPORTANCE OF OBJECTIVES
One quick thing to mention before we begin. I want to preface this article by explaining the quote from my previous article.
The importance of objectives is completely subjective. One must base it on the state that the game is being played. Generally, this list is correct. But you should always focus on objectives that you can secure, to cut the risks involved. It is worth contesting objectives that are worth taking that doesn’t present a larger risk to you.
The importance of objectives is completely dependent on your specific game. Certain objectives can be more beneficial depending on the situation. Team compositions can also play a part in deciding the values of objectives. The purpose of this article is to explain to you what these objectives give you. I will also be adding some general examples of when to take them.
Now I am going to go through the list I featured in my previous article and I’ll be adding the following points to each one:
- The benefits of taking the objectives
- The reason why you should take them
- Importance Rating (IR) on a scale from 1–10, indicated by stars
VALUE OF OBJECTIVES
1) Caster Minions (IR: ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆)
These guys are not as important as the rest of the guys on the list, although they are pretty common. They give you 14 gold throughout the game as well as giving you 29–37 experience. These guys are the DPS of minion waves.
2) Melee Minions (IR: ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆)
They give you 21 gold throughout the game as well as giving you 60–75 experience. These guys are the tanks of minion waves.
3) Siege Minions (IR: ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆)
These are by far the most valuable type of minions which is worth 60–90 gold and 93–116 experience.
4) Jungle Camps (IR: ★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆)
Includes: Wolves, Raptors, Gromp, and Krugs
These camps are very similar with regard to importance. Keep in mind that they give you around 85–135 gold and 95–236 experience.
IR: ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (Early Game)
IR: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ (Mid Game)
IR: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (Late Game)
This is a bit more important than the Jungle Camps included above. It is because of the immense vision and mobility it gives to your team. It is the only unclearable vision in the game. It also deters the enemy from doing Dragon or Baron Nashor while you have control of it. As the game goes on, this becomes more and more important.
6) Red Brambleback / Blue Sentinel (IR: ★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆)
The rating of these camps can vary. We know that they give 100 gold and 110–149 experience when taken. There are games where they would have a mana or cooldown dependent mid laner. In that situation, stealing the enemy Blue Sentinel can be a huge advantage. There will also be games where the enemy has a low mobility ADC or a jungle with no CC. In this case, stealing the Red Brambleback can put them behind. As the game goes on, stealing either of these buffs can increase your poke and siege potential. If either you or the enemy team has a poke comp, stealing these can be beneficial.
7) Top Outer Turret (IR: ★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆)
Destroying this turret gives 500 gold to your team. It also gives you access to the map that you didn’t have before. This will allow you to get into the enemy’s side of the map. It also denies a large amount of vision for the enemy team. If you would notice the map, each turret is actually placed to give the largest possible vision. By destroying a turret, the enemies lose significant amounts of vision. This will give you more opportunities to invade and take their jungle camps.
8) Bot Outer Turret (IR: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆)
Destroying this turret gives the same 500 gold to your team that all other outer turrets give. There is a reason that this turret is more valuable than the top outer turret. It is because this allows you to push the minions further into your enemy’s side of the map and hold control of Dragon.
9) 1st Elemental Drake (IR: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆)
Although this doesn’t give global gold anymore, it still gives 150–330 experience. Remember that Dragons have a multiplier if your team’s average level is lower than the opponent team. This means that Dragons are actually more valuable to your team if you are behind.
10) Rift Herald
IR: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ (Post-14 minutes)
IR: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (Pre-14 minutes)
Getting this is pretty important before the 14-minute mark. That timeframe is when the Turret Platings are still up. It allows you to get at least 320 gold from the Rift Herald’s leap attack. After 14 minutes, the value of Rift Herald changes to destroying turrets. If left unchecked, she can destroy many turrets very fast.
11) Mid Outer Turret (IR: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆)
This turret bears 500 gold that you’ll be getting for the team when taken. I do have to note that this turret is the most valuable outer turret. This is because it is the only turret that gives you access to both sides of the enemy’s jungle. It allows your team to have the freedom to move around the map more and it allows you to get objectives easier.
12) 2nd Elemental Drake (IR: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆)
This is almost the same as the 1st Elemental Drake. It has a higher rating because of the Dragon Slayer buff. This allows you to either build into more effects or amplify the effects of the buff. It is one thing for you to be able to secure this for your team. But you have to remember that by doing so, you’re also denying it from the enemy team.
13) Top Inner Turret (IR: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆)
These types of turrets give 550 gold to the team when destroyed. This turret isn’t as valuable as the other inner turrets because it grants you a small amount of map access. Even though it denies vision and puts pressure on the top inhibitor, its benefits aren’t that great.
14) Bot Inner Turret (IR: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆)
Much like the top inner turret, it doesn’t grant too much extra map pressure. Getting this is still pretty important as it denies vision. It will also allow you to put even more distance between your minion pressure and Dragon.
15) Mid Inner Turret (IR: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆)
This turret is a staple turret as it is the enemy’s greatest vision asset outside of their base. Destroying this gains you complete unseen access to their entire jungle. This then allows you to create map pressure, and then you would be able to rotate to either of the side lanes.
16) 3rd Elemental Drake (IR: ★★★★★★★★☆☆)
There is only one reason this Dragon is better than the 2nd Elemental Drake. This creates immense pressure for the enemy to stop you from getting the 4th Elemental Drake. This is what we refer to before as the Soul Point.
17) Top Inhibitor Turret (IR: ★★★★★★★★☆☆)
Once you destroy any of these turrets, you get a few things: First, you will give your team 300 gold. Second, all your minions are more valuable on the map. This is because there is nothing to stop them from pushing and grouping in this lane anymore. In other words, there is nothing in the way to reset the lane on its own. Finally, there’s a tactic you can do once you have an inhibitor turret down. You can create one of those unstoppable waves that I mentioned in my previous article. They will have to send somebody to stop it. Otherwise, the defenseless inhibitor will go down. Once again, this turret is often the least valuable inhibitor turret. This because top pressure isn’t as viable late game due to Baron Nashor being so close.
18) Mid Inhibitor Turret (IR: ★★★★★★★★☆☆)
This turret has the same benefits as the top inhibitor turret. The difference is, this one is more valuable as you can use it to create pressure for both sides of the map.
19) Bot Inhibitor Turret (IR: ★★★★★★★★☆☆)
This turret is often the most valuable inhibitor turret. This is because it draws your enemies as far away from Baron Nashor as possible. This will depend on what threat is larger in the game though. If Dragon is the larger threat, then the most valuable inhibitor turret could be top.
20) 4th Elemental Drake (IR: ★★★★★★★★☆☆)
There are two main reasons why securing this is important: One, you will be giving your team the Dragon Soul. This is a powerful buff that will cause a significant change in how you will play the rest of the game as a team. Second, this denies your opponents from getting any more Elemental Drakes. Also note that by getting this, you’ll be pressuring the enemy even further. They have to decide a play for when Elder Dragon is going to spawn as it is important to contest.
21) Nexus Turrets (IR: ★★★★★★★★☆☆)
These turrets are less important than inhibitors. If you analyze it, it’s actually because they don’t give you all that much. It gives you only 250 gold to your team and no extra map access. But it increases all your minion pressure further. Taking these also makes taking an inhibitor even more valuable. Nexus Turrets share the same principle of inhibitor turrets. They make your minions stronger. Now, there is no automated defense for your enemy. This will allow you to create strong opportunities with the right pressure.
22) Baron Nashor (IR: ★★★★★★★★★☆)
Taking this is an excellent way to overwhelm your enemies with map pressure and fight if you need to. Once taken, you should split and create pressure in as many lanes as you can. Another thing you can do is group together and siege one turret down if it’s easier to rotate to.
23) Elder Dragon (IR: ★★★★★★★★★☆)
This one is a bit more important than the Baron Nashor as it is great for closing out games through a big teamfight. Another thing you can do is use it to overwhelm them due to the power boost your team will be getting. Once taken, you should look to create pressure and force a teamfight as soon as possible.
24) Top Inhibitor (IR: ★★★★★★★★★★)
Inhibitors are often the most important thing to secure on the map. There are a few instances where Baron Nashor and Elder Dragon can be more beneficial. They are only better than inhibitors if they would allow you to take many inhibitors or end the game. Destroying an inhibitor delays your enemies from being able to end the game. It is also important to note that they have to make one person recall to defend that lane. This allows you to pressure all other objectives to your heart’s content with little worry. Due to the top inhibitor’s position on the map, it isn’t as valuable as the other inhibitors. This is because they can clear the minion waves as they are on their way to Baron Nashor.
25) Mid Inhibitor (IR: ★★★★★★★★★★)
This inhibitor is almost always the second-best inhibitor. It provides smaller pressure all over the map for either Baron Nashor or Dragon. Taking this allows you to maintain the most vision as your minions travel down the lanes.
26) Bot Inhibitor (IR: ★★★★★★★★★★)
One could argue that this inhibitor is the most important thing to secure in the game. It allows you to have constant pressure in the bottom lane. This can then allow you to push the top lane as a team. While those are ongoing, they need to send at least one of their champions on the complete opposite side of the map. It also gives you an easier time to take Baron. Note that the top inhibitor turret might be more important if you need to secure Dragon instead.
27) Nexus (IR: ★★★★★★★★★★)
Not much to say here. Once you take this, you win the game. Congratulations!
Now that you’re done reading all that, you now know the methods behind how I rank the objectives. Remember that this is all subjective depending on what game you’re playing and this is a general list.
That’s all for today’s article! I hope you guys learned something after reading this. Good luck on the Rift!
