Support Fundamentals - Wave States

Summary

This video script delves into the critical concept of 'wave states' in support gameplay within wave-based games, emphasizing its importance for strategic advantage. It explains the impact of minion waves on gameplay, how to identify good and bad wave states, and offers tactics for manipulating them. The script also advises on reacting to these states, utilizing the jungler's presence to fix wave issues, and the benefits of mastering wave manipulation for overall game improvement.

Takeaways

• 📚 Wave state mastery is crucial for support gameplay as it can help navigate difficult matchups and scale effectively.
• 🌊 A wave state refers to the positioning and dynamics of minion waves in the laning phase, affecting farming, experience gain, and safety.
• 🛡️ Good wave states allow the ADC to farm safely without the support's presence, providing opportunities for roaming and map pressure.
• 🏰 A frozen wave outside your turret or a crashed wave that creates a slow push towards your tower are examples of good wave states.
• 🏹 Bad wave states occur when the wave is frozen on the enemy side or after they've crashed it away, leading to potential overextending and risk.
• 🤝 Reacting to a good wave state involves using the opportunity to roam, gank, or exert map pressure, enhancing team advantage.
• 🚨 In a bad wave state, use the jungler's presence to help break the slow push and crash the wave into the enemy tower to regain control.
• 🛂 Slow pushing as slow as possible can buy time for the jungler to assist or for the enemy jungler to show, allowing for a potential wave reset.
• 🔮 Recognizing the impending wave state is key; maintain a freeze with at least four full health minions to prevent the enemy from gaining wave advantage.
• 🏹 Fast pushing is a strategy used to quickly advance the wave into the enemy tower before the enemy returns, disrupting their farming rhythm.
• 💡 Prioritizing wave state over other actions like fighting can lead to fewer autopilot moments and better overall game understanding for the team.

Q & A

Why is mastering wave states considered the number one priority for support gameplay in wave states?

Mastering wave states allows a support to circumnavigate bad matchups, scale up without taking unnecessary risks, and effectively punish enemy champions that scale hard. It is fundamental because it impacts the ability to farm, gain levels, and gold, which are crucial for playing the game effectively.

What is a wave state in the context of the game?

A wave state refers to the position and composition of minions in the lane, including how many minions are on each side and what is happening to the wave, such as whether it is frozen, slow pushing, or about to crash into a tower.

Why are minions important during the laning phase?

Minions are integral to the bot lane and laning phase as they provide opportunities for ADCs to farm up, gain levels, and acquire gold, which are essential for scaling and playing the game effectively.

What constitutes a good wave state for a team?

A good wave state is where the wave is frozen outside the team's turret or when the team has just crashed a wave, allowing the ADC to farm safely without the support's presence, and providing opportunities for roaming and map pressure.

How does crashing a wave create opportunities for a support?

Crashing a wave into the enemy tower creates a slow push into the support's tower, providing time for the support to roam, pressure the map, and engage in other strategic plays while the ADC safely farms the minions.

What should a support do when they have a good wave state?

With a good wave state, a support can roam, gank, control vision, or punish the enemy lane. The key is to use the opportunity to impact the game elsewhere while the ADC can safely farm.

What is the consequence of having a bad wave state?

A bad wave state can lead to the enemy having a safe and advantageous position to farm, while the support's team is forced to overextend, risking ganks and losing minion waves, which can snowball into a significant disadvantage.

How can a support react to a bad wave state?

A support can react to a bad wave state by using their jungler's proximity to help break the slow push and crash the wave into the enemy tower, or by slow pushing as slowly as possible to buy time for their jungler to assist or for the enemy jungler to show and leave.

What is the importance of recognizing wave states in advance?

Recognizing wave states in advance allows a support to anticipate and prepare for slow pushes and freezes, making strategic decisions that can prevent losing minion waves and maintain a favorable wave state.

How can a support use the concept of fast pushing in their gameplay?

A support can use fast pushing to quickly move the minion wave up the lane, crash it under the enemy tower, and create a situation where the enemy has to return to lane at a disadvantage, potentially missing minions and being vulnerable to ganks.

What is the role of the jungler in managing wave states?

The jungler plays a crucial role in managing wave states by providing proximity and assistance when needed, helping to crash waves into the enemy tower, and creating opportunities for ganks or map pressure when the wave state is favorable.