Starting out in League of Legends (LoL) can feel overwhelming. With over 160 champions, endless builds, and a constantly changing meta, new players often fall into the same traps. The good news? Most beginner mistakes are easy to fix once you understand what they are.
This guide breaks down the top 10 mistakes new players make in League of Legends, and more importantly, how to avoid them and improve faster.
❌ 1. Ignoring the Minions (Not Farming Properly)
The Mistake:
New players chase kills instead of focusing on CS (Creep Score). But in LoL, farming minions is the main source of gold. Missing CS means falling behind in items.
The Fix:
- Practice last-hitting in practice mode.
- Set a goal: aim for 70–80 CS at 10 minutes in normal games.
- Remember: 15–20 CS ≈ 1 champion kill in gold value.
❌ 2. Overstaying After a Fight
The Mistake:
Beginners often stay too long after a skirmish, trying to take more fights or towers while low on health and mana.
The Fix:
- After a win, recall and spend gold before the enemy respawns.
- Use your advantage to secure objectives (dragon, Rift Herald) instead of chasing kills.
❌ 3. Poor Warding (or Not Warding at All)
The Mistake:
Many new players rely only on the yellow trinket and forget to place wards. This leads to being ganked over and over.
The Fix:
- Always buy a Control Ward (75g) after your first back.
- Swap to Sweeper Trinket if you’re a jungler or support.
- Place wards at choke points: river brushes, jungle entrances, dragon/baron pits.
❌ 4. Fighting Without Understanding Power Spikes
The Mistake:
Engaging without realizing the enemy just bought mythic items or hit level 6 with an ultimate.
The Fix:
- Learn your champion’s power spikes (e.g., Katarina at level 6, Jinx with Kraken Slayer).
- Respect enemy spikes—back off when they get a big item first.
❌ 5. Playing Too Many Champions at Once
The Mistake:
Beginners try every champion, but never learn one properly.
The Fix:
- Pick a small champion pool (2–3 champions per role).
- Focus on learning mechanics, matchups, and combos.
- Mastery with a few champs beats being average at many.
❌ 6. Ignoring Objectives
The Mistake:
Chasing kills instead of focusing on towers, dragons, or Baron.
The Fix:
- Remember: Objectives win games, not kills.
- Track timers:
- Dragon: 5 min respawn
- Baron: 6 min respawn
- Turrets: permanent gold lead
- Always ask: “What can we take after this fight?”
❌ 7. Not Respecting Jungle Pressure
The Mistake:
Pushing your lane without vision, then dying to repeated ganks.
The Fix:
- Watch the minimap every few seconds.
- Track enemy jungler’s likely position.
- If you have no wards and don’t know where the jungler is, play safe.
❌ 8. Bad Recall Timing
The Mistake:
Beginners recall randomly, losing gold and XP.
The Fix:
- Recall after pushing your wave so the enemy can’t freeze it.
- Recall when you have enough gold for key items.
- Avoid recalling during big objective fights (Dragon/Herald).
❌ 9. Poor Positioning in Teamfights
The Mistake:
New players run straight into the enemy frontline or get caught first.
The Fix:
- ADCs & Mages → Stay behind your frontline.
- Supports → Protect carries with CC/peel.
- Tanks/Engagers → Start fights, but don’t dive alone.
❌ 10. Toxicity & Giving Up Too Early
The Mistake:
Many new players flame teammates or surrender at 15 minutes.
The Fix:
- Stay positive: even losing games can teach you a lot.
- Remember: comebacks happen often, especially in low ranks.
- Use the mute button if needed—focus on yourself.
⚡ Bonus Mistakes Worth Noting
- Auto-piloting: Playing without thinking about strategy.
- Not adapting builds: Copying one build every game instead of adjusting.
- Ignoring patch notes: Playing outdated strategies.
❓ FAQ (Rank Math Schema Boost)
Q: What’s the #1 mistake new players make in LoL?
A: Not farming properly. CS is the most consistent way to get gold and improve.
Q: How can I stop dying to ganks?
A: Ward key areas, track the enemy jungler, and don’t overextend without vision.
Q: Should beginners play ranked right away?
A: It’s better to play normals until you’re comfortable with a small champion pool and basic map awareness.
Conclusion
League of Legends is a game of constant learning. Every mistake is an opportunity to improve. By avoiding these 10 beginner pitfalls—bad farming, poor vision, ignoring objectives, and bad positioning—you’ll climb faster, enjoy the game more, and become a stronger teammate.
Remember: even pros started as beginners. What matters most is learning from your mistakes and improving each game.
