How a MID LANER got CHALLENGER with a 70% Win Rate - League of Legends

Summary

In this guide, we dive into the strategies of Fantasm, a 2000 LP Challenger player who dominates the solo queue ladder. From early vision control with strategic ward placements to aggressive lane pushing and advanced roaming techniques, Fantasm's approach revolves around precise map awareness, smart itemization, and timely roams. His unique ability to bait enemy junglers, control objectives like Baron, and make impactful decisions in teamfights makes him a formidable player. Learn the key elements of his playstyle and elevate your own solo queue performance with tips from SkillCapped’s expert guides.

Takeaways

• 😀 Fantasm, a 2000 LP Challenger on the E server, consistently maintains a 70% win rate through strategic gameplay and strong lane control.
• 😀 His first key move in every game is placing a ward on the enemy Raptors at 1:27, allowing him to track the jungler's path and avoid early ganks.
• 😀 Fantasm prioritizes early lane push and wave control, often using his Q ability to hit both minions and enemy champions for maximum wave clear and harassment.
• 😀 He strategically places wards and positions himself in ways that bait enemy junglers into wasting time or getting caught in gank attempts.
• 😀 When he doesn't have lane priority, Fantasm leverages cooldown timings from his opponents to trade and gain a health advantage.
• 😀 He excels at roaming by pushing the wave, then evaluating side lanes for potential ganks, executing 'half roams' before fully committing to a gank.
• 😀 In advanced roaming tactics, Fantasm capitalizes on enemy overextensions and focuses on objective control, like pushing waves and securing kills on empty lanes.
• 😀 His playstyle includes smart decisions such as roaming to other lanes when necessary but also returning to lane to catch up on farm if needed.
• 😀 Fantasm uses the fake roam strategy to deceive enemies and punish them for overextending by making aggressive plays in his own lane.
• 😀 In the mid-game, Fantasm focuses on creating number advantages by pushing out sidelanes and forcing objectives like Baron, especially when ahead in gold.
• 😀 He plays patiently in team fights, waiting for enemies to use their key abilities, and uses his reset mechanics to clean up fights, ensuring his team has the upper hand.

Q & A

What is the primary strategy behind Fantasm’s early game?

Fantasm focuses on securing early vision, particularly on the enemy jungler’s path, to track their movements. By placing wards on key jungle camps, he gains an advantage in knowing when and where to play aggressively or defensively.

How does Fantasm use the wave to gain an advantage in lane?

Fantasm uses his champion's passive to push the wave early and efficiently. This forces his opponent to respond under their turret, allowing him to pressure them while simultaneously creating opportunities for ganking or jungle objectives.

What is a ‘half roam’ and how does it fit into Fantasm’s playstyle?

A ‘half roam’ is when Fantasm pushes the wave and briefly checks another lane for potential gank opportunities. If no opportunities arise, he returns to his own lane without losing significant farm, maximizing his impact across the map.

Why is wave control important in the mid game, and how does Fantasm use it to his advantage?

Wave control in the mid game allows Fantasm to apply pressure across the map, either by forcing his opponent to stay in lane or by opening up roaming windows. He uses his wave pushing to force the enemy to react, giving his team better map control and objective opportunities.

What role does item power spikes play in Fantasm’s mid game strategy?

Fantasm times his recalls to match key item power spikes, ensuring that when he returns to lane or enters a fight, he is at his strongest. This strategic recall timing allows him to secure fights and objectives more effectively.

How does Fantasm capitalize on the enemy jungler’s mistakes?

Fantasm often baits the enemy jungler into wasting their time or failing a gank. He uses this knowledge to counter their plays, secure objectives, or gain a small advantage for himself or his team.

What is Fantasm’s approach to roaming in the early game?

Fantasm aggressively roams once he has pushed his wave. He doesn’t commit unless there is a clear opportunity but will check other lanes to see if a kill is possible, ensuring he’s always involved in plays while maintaining lane pressure.

What role does vision play in Fantasm’s gameplay, especially in the early game?

Vision is a critical part of Fantasm’s gameplay. By placing wards on key jungle camps and tracking enemy movements, he ensures that he can make informed decisions, avoid ganks, and take advantage of the enemy’s mistakes.

What is Fantasm’s strategy for teamfights in the late game?

In late game teamfights, Fantasm is patient and waits for key enemy abilities to be used before engaging. He relies on his champion’s ability to reset with his **E** and revive teammates with his **W passive**, allowing him to clean up and secure victory after the enemy has spent their resources.

How does Fantasm use Baron to close out games?

Fantasm aggressively uses Baron to pressure the enemy team. By securing the Baron with his team after a successful fight, he can push waves, apply pressure, and force the enemy into difficult decisions, accelerating the game towards a victory.