Cheese Blue Buff: Early Game Strategies For League Victory

how to cheese blue buff starts

Blue Sentinel is a neutral monster in the game League of Legends. Killing the Blue Sentinel grants the player the Crest of Insight buff, which increases mana regeneration and ability haste. Players can also obtain the buff by killing the Voidborn, the evolved form of the Blue Sentinel. This buff is crucial for players to gain an advantage in the game. In this discussion, we will explore strategies for how to cheese the blue buff at the start of the game.

Characteristics Values
Game League of Legends
Monster Blue Sentinel
Buff Crest of Insight
Buff effect Increased mana regeneration, energy regeneration, and ability haste
Buff duration 60 seconds
Buff recipient Player with Smite equipped or an ally
Starting strategy Start on the opposite side of the map from where you want priority
Starting position Botside or topside, depending on desired gank location
Champion Karthus, Zed

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Warding and vision

Wards are deployable units that can be placed in various locations on the map to remove the "Fog of War" and provide vision. The most basic ward is the Yellow Trinket or Stealth Ward, which is accessible to all players from the start of the game. These wards provide vision over a small area with a radius of 900 units for a duration of 90 to 120 seconds, depending on the game phase. They are invisible unless spotted by a Control Ward, Sweepers, Umbral Glaive, or Scryer's Bloom. Despite their simplicity, Stealth Wards are critical for map control and gaining information about enemy movement and jungle activity.

There are also other types of wards, such as Warding Trinkets or Totem Wards, which are invisible and can only be destroyed by Control Wards, Oracle Lenses, or when their time runs out. Each ward has a lifespan that grows as the game progresses and is based on the average level of your team. Control Wards are essential for countering enemy wards, as they can reveal and destroy them.

When placing wards, it is important to consider timing and positioning. While bushes offer great spots for vision, there are also other strategic locations, such as entrances to the jungle or jungle camps, where enemies without a dash must pass through. Additionally, players can drop wards while recalling to base, gaining an extra eight seconds of vision.

Clearing enemy wards is just as important as placing your own. Every role in the team should contribute to clearing vision by purchasing Control Wards to limit the enemy's map presence. Players can use the scoreboard to spot Control Wards before they are dropped and communicate this information to their team. When killing enemy wards, it is crucial to wait a short while before placing your own, as dead wards still provide a brief period of vision after being destroyed.

Effective vision control in League of Legends gives your team a significant advantage, allowing you to anticipate and counter the enemy's moves while making informed decisions about your own strategies.

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Champion-specific strategies

  • For champions like Bel'Veth, who is a manaless champion, starting with a blue buff may not seem optimal since the only benefit is the 10 ability haste. However, some players choose to start with the blue buff to avoid the enemy jungler, as starting on the opposite side of the map reduces the chances of an early encounter. Additionally, starting blue can be beneficial if you plan to gank a volatile lane, such as a Lucian Nami bot lane, as you can quickly reach level 2 and gain an advantage.
  • Champions with strong level 1 abilities, such as those mentioned in the Doublelift facecheck strategy, can take advantage of the enemy leashing blue by waiting in specific bushes and chunking them when they walk through.
  • Champions that excel in single-target combat, like Bel'Veth, may prefer starting blue as it is generally easier to take blue and gromp together than taking raptors and red together.
  • Champions that rely on snowballing early, like Pantheon, can push the lane slightly to reach level 2 first and use their level, skill, health, and damage advantage to 'all-in' their opponents.
  • Proxy farming, one of the oldest cheese strategies, works well with champions like Singed, especially when the opposing champion has poor waveclear.
  • If you are playing a champion with long reach, such as Thresh, you can hook the enemy jungler and steal their buff, putting them at a disadvantage.
  • For red side players, picking Teemo support and teleporting to the bot lane after the first minute can set up an opportunity to kill a weakened jungler with the red buff.
  • Champions that benefit from early cooldown reduction, like Lee Sin, can take the blue buff to gain energy regen and cooldown reduction, allowing them to cast abilities repeatedly.

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Avoiding enemy junglers

To avoid enemy junglers when attempting to cheese the blue buff, there are several strategies you can employ. Firstly, it is important to understand the enemy jungler's pathing and starting position. Warding the enemy's red buff and having a teammate watch the river ramp from their blue buff can provide valuable information. This allows you to adjust your path accordingly and avoid a potential invade.

Additionally, you can have your laners watch the opposite camp that you are not focusing on. For example, if you are starting at your red buff, ask the laners on the blue side to keep an eye on the enemy jungler and vice versa. This way, you can anticipate their movements and avoid potential confrontations.

Another strategy is to start on the opposite side of the enemy jungler. Take your buff, reach level 2, and then invade their buff. If they have a weaker level 3 than you, you can hide in the bush and wait for them to approach. Use your abilities effectively, such as activating E to trade hard or recasting E for fear if they try to escape.

It is also important to be mindful of counter jungling and counter ganking. If the enemy realizes their camps are being stolen, they may attempt to feast on the camps you have leveled up for them. To counter this, establish vertical jungling based on team composition to deny the enemy jungler access to certain areas of the map.

Furthermore, certain champions have advantages when it comes to invading. For instance, Shaco has a strong early game invade potential if you start with Q. Hide in a bush near the buff they are taking, wait for their leash to return to the lane, and then invade with your level advantage. Similarly, Kayn has a powerful cheese strategy where you can take their raptors and then use E to smite the buff away from the other jungler.

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Starting location strategies

When considering starting location strategies for cheesing the blue buff, there are several factors to keep in mind. Firstly, you should start on the opposite side of the map from where you want to gank. For example, if you plan on ganking the top lane, you should start in the bottom lane, and vice versa. This strategy helps you avoid early confrontations with the enemy jungler and gives you time to farm and gain resources.

Another consideration is your champion's early-game strength and clear speed. Some champions, like Karthus or Zed, have early resource issues and slower clear speeds, so they may need to start on their blue buff to gain the mana regeneration and ability haste provided by the Crest of Insight buff. This is especially important if you are against an aggressive enemy jungler who may invade your jungle. By starting on your blue buff, you can ensure you have the necessary resources to clear your camps effectively.

Additionally, you should take into account the enemy jungler's starting location. If possible, try to path opposite of them to avoid confrontations and potential invades. This strategy can help you secure your camps and gain a level advantage over the enemy jungler. It is also important to be aware of champions who are known for their fast clear speeds, such as Udyr and Rammus. If you are up against these champions, cheesing the blue buff may be more difficult, and you might need to adapt your strategy accordingly.

Communication with your team is also crucial. Let your teammates know your starting location and ask for a leash on your blue buff if needed. This will help you secure the buff and give you a healthier start to the game. By starting with items like Dark Seal and health potions, you can ensure you stay in lane longer and maintain high health.

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Leashing strategies

Understanding the Early Game

The first two minutes of the game are crucial for setting the pace and securing early advantages. At the 1:40 mark, the red and blue buffs spawn, and sidelanes (top and bottom) usually help the jungler in killing the first buff. It's important to note that the mid-laner typically doesn't assist with the buff as their lane is shorter, and minions arrive faster. When leashing, don't sacrifice your lane by staying too long.

Lane Management

If your lane opponent isn't leashing, they might be pushing the first two waves under your tower. This can be dangerous if you miss minions and XP by helping the jungler. To counter this, aim to help the jungler with half the buff and then return to your lane. If the jungler starts the buff on the lower side, the bottom lane can assist, and then they can proceed to the second buff, usually leading to a top gank.

Smiting Strategies

Smiting the buff is a decision that depends on various factors. If there's a risk of the enemy team or a champion stealing the buff, smiting can prevent this. Additionally, smiting can be useful for a level 2 gank, allowing you to reach the lane slightly faster. However, smiting is not always necessary, especially when invading or being invaded. Smiting has a long recharge time, so getting a leash from teammates can save time and allow you to focus smite on other camps.

Invading Strategies

When invading the enemy jungle, having crowd control abilities like Blitzcrank's Rocket Grab (Q) or Thresh's Death Sentence (Q) can help catch opponents off guard. Compare the strength of your team at level 1 before invading, as the enemy might be expecting it and set up an ambush.

Timing and Coordination

Time your leashing carefully to avoid missing out on minions and XP. Watch when sidelanes arrive on their lane, as it can indicate where the jungler will gank first. Additionally, pay attention to the jungler's starting position; if they start on the same side as the enemy jungler, they might meet at the top scuttle crab, and smite can provide an advantage in this encounter.

By employing these leashing strategies, you can effectively support your jungler in securing the blue buff and setting up early ganks to gain an advantage in the game.

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