No matter how well you farm or how strong your champion gets, bad positioning can throw any game of League of Legends. Good positioning decides teamfights, secures objectives, and often determines victory in ranked play.
In this guide, we’ll break down the fundamentals of LoL positioning, including how different roles should position, common mistakes to avoid, and advanced tricks to stay alive while still contributing to fights.
What is Positioning in LoL?
Positioning refers to where you place your champion during fights relative to allies, enemies, and objectives. It combines awareness of:
Threats: Who can kill you quickly?
Safety Zones: Where can you deal damage without being collapsed on?
Role Responsibility: What is your job in the fight—damage, engage, or peel?
Why Positioning Wins Teamfights
Survivability – Staying alive longer means more damage dealt over time.
Damage Efficiency – Good positioning allows you to attack freely.
Pressure – Safe positioning forces enemies to overcommit if they want to reach you.
Objective Control – Well-placed champions control zones around Baron, Dragon, and towers.
Even the best mechanics can’t save you if you’re caught out of position.
Positioning by Role
1. ADCs (Marksmen)
Primary Rule: Stay behind your frontline at all times.
Positioning Tips:
Never be the first into a fight.
Kite backwards while hitting the closest safe target.
Use attack-move commands to avoid missteps.
Common Mistake: Walking too far forward for damage, getting deleted by assassins or divers.
2. Mid Laners
Mages: Stay near your ADC, slightly behind, poking and controlling zones with abilities.
Assassins: Flank from fog of war, never front-to-back. Timing is key.
Battle Mages (like Cassiopeia/Ryze): Position mid-range—close enough for DPS, but not far enough to get instantly bursted.
3. Junglers
Engage Tanks (Sejuani, Zac): You lead fights, so positioning = finding the right angle to start.
Assassins (Kha’Zix, Evelynn): Wait for cooldowns to be burned, then dive backline.
Farm Junglers (Graves, Lillia): Play off angles to pressure carries without being all-in.
4. Top Laners
Frontline (Ornn, Malphite): Position at the very front, peeling for carries if needed.
Bruisers (Camille, Jax): Flank and dive onto enemy carries.
Split Pushers: Avoid grouping unless forced—positioning for you means being on the map applying pressure.
5. Supports
Enchanters (Lulu, Janna): Stay glued to your ADC, positioning just far enough to shield/peel.
Engagers (Leona, Rell): Look for engages from the side, not straight through vision.
Utility (Thresh, Bard): Position where you can peel but still threaten picks.
Positioning in Different Scenarios
Laning Phase
Stay on the side of the lane opposite the enemy jungler’s likely path.
Hug walls or towers when playing defensively.
Position to punish overextensions when ahead.
Mid-Game Skirmishes
Don’t walk into unwarded jungle areas alone.
Control high ground and choke points with vision.
Keep track of assassin ultimates and engage cooldowns.
Late-Game Teamfights
ADCs & Mages: Stay near peelers.
Tanks: Don’t over-chase—protect your carries.
Split-Pushers: Time your pressure with objectives so your positioning forces enemies into tough choices.
Common Positioning Mistakes
Overchasing – Running too deep for a kill, leaving your team exposed.
Tunnel Visioning – Ignoring flank threats while focusing on damage.
Stacking Up – Making your team vulnerable to AoE abilities.
No Respect for Fog of War – Walking blind into bushes or jungle paths.
Frontline ADCs – Stepping up before tanks/engagers soak cooldowns.
Advanced Positioning Tips
Use Minions and Towers as Shields – Block skillshots and stay safe.
Track Enemy Threats – Always know where assassins and CC champs are.
Peel vs DPS Balance – Supports must balance between peeling and engaging.
Reset Angles – If a fight starts poorly, reposition rather than forcing.
Play with Fog – Good flanking requires enemies not knowing where you are.
Practicing Better Positioning
Watch Replays: Analyze every death—was it due to bad positioning?
Follow Pros: Study how pro ADCs like Gumayusi or Ruler maintain safe DPS.
Custom Games: Practice kiting and attack-moving while staying behind frontline bots.
Ping for Help: Communication ensures allies understand your positioning needs.
Conclusion
Positioning is one of the most important yet overlooked skills in League of Legends. By learning how to position for your role, respecting enemy threats, and avoiding common mistakes, you’ll not only stay alive but also maximize your impact in every fight.
Remember: kills are flashy, but survival wins games.
