League of Legends tanks, the unsung heroes of the Rift, stand as immovable fortresses, absorbing damage and protecting their allies. From the ironclad walls of Ornn to the indomitable spirit of Braum, tanks play a crucial role in shaping the tides of battle.
Join us as we delve into the world of these formidable champions, exploring their abilities, strategies, and the art of tanking in League of Legends.
In this comprehensive guide, we will navigate the intricacies of tank champions, empowering you with the knowledge to master their defensive prowess. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a novice eager to embrace the tank role, this guide will equip you with the tools to become an impenetrable force on the battlefield.
Overview of League of Legends Tanks
Tanks in League of Legends are champions who specialize in absorbing and mitigating damage, providing a frontline for their team and creating opportunities for their carries to deal damage. They are essential in team compositions, as they can soak up enemy abilities, protect their teammates, and set up kills.
Some popular tank champions include:
- Malphite: A tank with high crowd control and area-of-effect damage.
- Shen: A tank with global ultimate that allows him to teleport to allies and shield them.
- Braum: A tank with a shield that can block projectiles and knock up enemies.
Types of Tanks in League of Legends
There are several different types of tanks in League of Legends, each with their own unique abilities and playstyles:
- Vanguard tanks: These tanks are the primary frontline for their team, soaking up damage and initiating fights. They typically have high health and crowd control abilities.
- Engage tanks: These tanks are designed to start fights and create chaos in the enemy team. They typically have mobility and crowd control abilities that allow them to disrupt the enemy backline.
- Peeling tanks: These tanks are focused on protecting their carries from enemy assassins and divers. They typically have abilities that can knock up, slow, or stun enemies.
Building and Itemization for Tanks
When building a tank, it is important to focus on items that increase their health, armor, and magic resistance. Some core items for tanks include:
- Sunfire Cape: Provides health, armor, and an aura that damages nearby enemies.
- Thornmail: Provides armor and reflects a portion of damage taken back to the attacker.
- Spirit Visage: Provides health, magic resistance, and increases healing received.
Situational items can also be useful for tanks, depending on the enemy team composition and the game situation.
Runes and Masteries for Tanks
The optimal runes and masteries for tanks will vary depending on the champion and the playstyle. However, some common choices include:
- Runes: Resolve (Guardian, Font of Life, Conditioning, Overgrowth) and Inspiration (Perfect Timing, Minion Dematerializer)
- Masteries: Courage of the Colossus (increases health and resistances), Aftershock (deals damage to nearby enemies when using crowd control abilities), and Font of Life (heals allies when damaging enemies)
Laning Phase for Tanks, League of legends tank
In the laning phase, tanks should focus on managing waves, trading effectively, and avoiding ganks. They can also create pressure and set up kills by zoning the enemy carries.
Some tips for laning as a tank:
- Use your abilities to harass the enemy carry and prevent them from farming.
- Stay close to your carry to protect them from ganks.
- Ward the river and jungle entrances to track enemy movements.
Team Fighting with Tanks
In team fights, tanks should focus on initiating, peeling, and absorbing damage. They should also try to create space for their carries to deal damage.
Some tips for team fighting as a tank:
- Use your crowd control abilities to disrupt the enemy team and create opportunities for your carries.
- Peel for your carries by using your abilities to block enemy assassins and divers.
- Absorb as much damage as possible to protect your team.
Advanced Tank Techniques
To play tanks at a high level, it is important to master some advanced techniques:
- Map awareness: Tanks need to be aware of the enemy team’s movements and positioning at all times. This allows them to make informed decisions about when to engage and when to peel.
- Tracking the enemy jungler: Tanks need to track the enemy jungler’s movements to avoid ganks and to set up counter-ganks.
- Rotations: Tanks can rotate to different lanes to help their team create pressure or to defend against enemy pushes.
- Communication: Tanks need to communicate with their team to coordinate engages, peels, and rotations.
Quick FAQs
What are the key responsibilities of tanks in League of Legends?
Tanks are primarily responsible for absorbing damage, protecting their allies, and disrupting the enemy team’s formation. They initiate team fights, peel for their carries, and provide crowd control to turn the tide of battle.
What are some examples of popular tank champions?
Some popular tank champions include Ornn, Braum, Nautilus, Leona, and Malphite. Each champion possesses unique abilities and playstyles, catering to different team compositions and strategies.
How do I build an effective tank in League of Legends?
Building an effective tank requires a focus on defensive stats such as health, armor, and magic resistance. Core items like Sunfire Aegis, Randuin’s Omen, and Spirit Visage provide substantial durability and utility. Adapt your itemization to the game situation, considering the enemy team composition and your team’s needs.