NA LCS Teams Struggle with Warding
When watching the NA LCS, it’s easy to notice certain characteristics that define the teams. From their preference for mid lane fights to their difficulty adapting to meta changes, there are clear signs of their playstyle. However, there’s another aspect that often goes unnoticed but is crucial: vision.
NA LCS teams struggle with placing wards effectively, making them the worst among major regions in terms of wards per minute. This issue has persisted throughout the Summer Split, and it’s essential to understand how bad it is and what can be done to improve it.
Wards Don’t Lie
The numbers speak for themselves. According to data from League stats site Oracle’s Elixir, NA LCS teams average 3.324 wards per minute (WPM) this summer. Comparatively, European teams average 3.325 WPM, and South Korean teams have a higher average of 3.642. While the difference between NA and EU might not sound significant, it becomes clear when considering that European games are almost three minutes faster on average.
The relationship between game length and WPM is consistent. Faster games tend to have fewer wards, as supports have less time to build their vision items. Late-game objectives like Baron and Dragon require a strong focus on wards. The data from previous seasons shows this correlation.
The Persistent Problem
The removal of the Tracker’s Knife in the 2018 Summer Split has affected the scatter plot of WPM, but the overall relationship remains the same. When comparing the stats across regions, it’s evident that NA teams are significantly behind. Echo Fox, in particular, struggles with vision control, which has been exploited by smart opponents.
An analysis of the forecasted numbers based on average game time and WPM further reveals NA’s deficiency in warding. Only two teams, Team Liquid and CLG, have a positive differential when compared to their forecasted numbers. Including data from EU and LCK teams in the forecast amplifies the issue, making the situation worse for NA teams as a whole.
Breaking the Habit
The lack of warding in NA stems from years of bad habits and poor team coordination. Support players, in particular, have the greatest impact on WPM, but warding is a team effort. Split push solo laners can take risks with warding, but supports can’t venture into the fog of war alone. It requires effective communication and teamwork from all five members to expand the support’s ward line.
NA teams tend to focus on mid lane fights and ARAM, as these strategies don’t require extensive knowledge of the map or strong vision control. However, this style hinders their ability to use vision effectively to support their objectives.
Improving warding will take time and effort for NA teams. It’s a deliberate process that needs to be developed throughout the game. Until then, it’s important to set realistic expectations for NA teams at Worlds, as their vision control may hinder their performance.
Statistics from Oracle’s Elixir were used for this analysis.
NA LCS, warding, League of Legends, vision control, game length, wards per minute, forecast, support players, teamwork, objectives, World Championships