In the realm of League of Legends, split pushing has emerged as a formidable strategy that can dismantle even the most impenetrable defenses. At its core lies the art of systematically pushing a lane solo, creating pressure and forcing the enemy team to respond, often leaving their base vulnerable. In this regard, no champion excels quite like the elusive split pushing ADC, a marksman with unparalleled mobility and damage output who can single-handedly wreak havoc upon enemy structures and objectives.
The greatest split pushing ADCs possess a unique blend of attributes. They are typically equipped with abilities that grant them exceptional mobility, allowing them to swiftly traverse the map and evade enemy ganks. Their damage output must be substantial and consistent, capable of melting turrets and eliminating enemy champions in a matter of seconds. Furthermore, they often possess some form of sustain or self-peel to ensure their survival during extended split pushes.
Mastering the art of split pushing with an ADC requires a deep understanding of map awareness, macro decision-making, and champion mechanics. Split pushers must possess the ability to read the game state, identify opportunities, and coordinate with their team to create pressure on multiple fronts. They must also be adept at wave management, knowing when to push a wave into the enemy turret or to freeze it for farm and experience. With the right champion and the proper execution, the split pushing ADC can become an unstoppable force, capable of carrying their team to victory through relentless pressure and decisive objective control.
Defining Split Pushing ADCs
Split pushing ADCs excel at pushing lanes and structures independently, creating pressure and map control. They typically possess:
Wave Clear
Split pushers clear minion waves swiftly, allowing them to advance and push towers rapidly. Champions like Sivir, Tristana, and Jinx excel at this, as their abilities grant them wave-clearing capabilities.
Tower Damage
ADCs with high tower damage can efficiently take down turrets. Champions like Vayne, Kayle, and Corki possess abilities that enhance their tower-hitting power, making them formidable split pushers.
Map Awareness and Decision-Making
Split pushers require excellent map awareness to identify potential ganks and decide when to push or retreat. They must balance the risks and rewards of split pushing, coordinating with their team to create distractions and capitalize on opportunities.
Mobility and Escape Tools
Split pushers often need to escape from ganks or tower dives. Champions like Ezreal, Lucian, and Kalista have mobility and escape tools that allow them to evade enemies and extend their presence in side lanes.
| Champion | Wave Clear | Tower Damage | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sivir | Excellent | Moderate | Good |
| Vayne | Good | Exceptional | Moderate |
| Ezreal | Moderate | Good | Excellent |
Characteristics of Effective Split Pushers
Split pushing is a strategy in League of Legends where a champion focuses on pushing a specific lane while avoiding team fights. Effective split pushers possess several key characteristics:
Tower-Taking Ability
Effective split pushers have high damage output and abilities that allow them to quickly demolish towers. This includes abilities that deal bonus damage to towers, such as Tristana’s “Explosive Shot” and Quinn’s “Harrier.” Additionally, champions with high attack speed and wave clear, such as Sivir and Kayle, can rapidly push lanes and take turrets.
Wave Management
Split pushers must effectively manage their waves to create pressure on the enemy team. This involves freezing waves near enemy turrets to deny gold and experience to the enemy laner, as well as manipulating minion waves to push into the enemy base during ganks or team fights.
Map Awareness
Map awareness is crucial for split pushers. They need to constantly monitor the minimap to track the movements of the enemy team, avoid ganks, and coordinate with their team to create pressure in other lanes.
Team Coordination
Effective split pushing requires coordination with the rest of the team. The team needs to create distractions or engage in team fights to draw enemy attention away from the split pusher, allowing them to freely push lanes and take objectives.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Split Pushing
Advantages
1. Map Control: Split pushing forces the enemy team to divide their attention and resources, disrupting their coordination and allowing your team to gain control of key objectives like turrets and dragons.
2. Gold Lead: By farming in isolation, split pushers can accumulate gold and experience faster than their counterparts in team fights. This advantage translates to stronger items and higher levels, giving the split pusher a significant edge in upcoming skirmishes.
3. Pressure Creation: Constant split pushing creates immense pressure on the enemy team, forcing them to react and allocate defenders to contain the push. This distraction can open up opportunities for your team to engage in favorable trades elsewhere on the map.
Disadvantages
1. Vulnerability to Ganks: Split pushers are inherently vulnerable to ganks, as they are isolated from their teammates. If caught out, they can quickly be eliminated, leading to a potential gold and experience deficit for their team.
2. Team Fight Dependence: While split pushing can create pressure and gold leads, it ultimately relies on your team to capitalize on the advantages you create. If your teammates are unable to coordinate and follow up on your push, your efforts may be wasted.
3. Time Consumption: Split pushing is a time-consuming strategy that can delay the pace of the game and leave your team vulnerable to organized pushes from the enemy team. It requires a careful balance between map control and team coordination to be effective.
Top 5 Split Pushing ADCs in League of Legends
### 4. Twitch
Twitch’s ultimate ability, Spray and Pray, allows him to deal true damage to all enemy champions within a large area. This ultimate makes Twitch extremely effective at pushing down turrets and inhibitors, as he can quickly take down multiple targets at once. In addition, Twitch’s stealth ability, Ambush, allows him to sneak up on unsuspecting enemies and quickly delete them. This makes Twitch a very dangerous split pusher, as he can easily pick off enemies who are caught out of position.
Twitch’s passive ability, Venom Cask, poisons enemy champions, dealing damage over time. This passive ability can be very effective at slowing down enemy champions and making it difficult for them to escape. In addition, Twitch’s W ability, Venom Bolt, slows enemy champions and deals damage. This ability can be used to set up kills for Twitch and his teammates.
Overall, Twitch is a very effective split pusher due to his ability to deal true damage to multiple targets, his stealth ability, and his slowing abilities.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High damage output | Immobile |
| Good waveclear | Vulnerable to ganks |
| Stealthy | Requires good map awareness |
Runes
The best runes for split-pushing ADCs vary depending on the champion and playstyle.
However, some common choices include Conqueror, which provides bonus damage and sustain. Other good options
include Press the Attack, which provides bonus damage to isolated targets, and Fleet Footwork, which
provides increased mobility and sustain
Item Build Options
The item build for split-pushing ADCs also varies depending on the champion and playstyle. However, some
common core items include Blade of the Ruined King, which provides bonus damage and lifesteal, and Black
Cleaver which provides bonus damage, health, and cooldown reduction. Other good options include Guinsoo’s
Rageblade, which provides bonus attack speed and on-hit damage, and Wit’s End, which provides bonus
magic damage on-hit and magic resist.
Blade of the Ruined King
The Blade of the Ruined King is a great item for split-pushing ADCs as it provides a nice mix of
damage, lifesteal, and attack speed. The passive also helps to shred enemy armor, which makes it
easier to take down objectives.
Black Cleaver
The Black Cleaver is another great item for split-pushing ADCs as it provides bonus damage, health, and
cooldown reduction. The passive also helps to shred enemy armor, which makes it easier to take down objectives.
Guinsoo’s Rageblade
Guinsoo’s Rageblade is a great item for split-pushing ADCs as it provides bonus attack speed and
on-hit damage. The passive also stacks with each attack, which can lead to a significant increase in
damage output.
Wit’s End
Wit’s End is a great item for split-pushing ADCs as it provides bonus magic damage on-hit and magic
resist. The passive also procs on every third attack, which can help to clear waves and take down towers quickly.
Lane Management and Wave Control Techniques
Knowing how to manage your lane and control the waves effectively is one of the significant aspects of split pushing. This involves understanding how to freeze the wave near your tower, push it to the enemy tower, and deny farm from the enemy ADC.
Freezing the Wave
Freezing the wave involves keeping it near your tower, allowing you to farm safely and push it up whenever needed. This is achieved by slightly outdamaging the enemy minions or allowing them to push into you, then last-hitting them just before they die to the tower. The goal is to maintain a small wave of minions near your tower, making it difficult for the enemy to engage or push back.
Pushing the Wave
Pushing the wave involves building up a large wave of minions and pushing it toward the enemy tower. This creates pressure and allows you to take down the tower or force the enemy ADC to back off. To push the wave, continuously damage the enemy minions and avoid last-hitting them until they’re within range of your tower. The enemy ADC will have to choose between clearing the wave or losing their tower.
Denying Farm
Denying farm involves preventing the enemy ADC from getting gold and experience by last-hitting minions before they do. This can be done by predicting the path of the minion and auto-attacking it just before it dies. Denying farm weakens the enemy ADC and makes it harder for them to keep up in gold and levels.
Importance of Wave Control
Proper wave control is crucial for split pushing for several reasons. It allows you to create pressure on the enemy team, force them to respond to your push, and deny farm to the enemy ADC. This gives you an advantage in gold and experience, making you stronger and more difficult to deal with.
Advanced Wave Control
Advanced wave control techniques include slow pushing, freezing, and turret diving. These techniques require a higher level of skill and game knowledge but can be highly effective in specific situations.
| Technique | Description |
|---|---|
| Slow Pushing | Gradually build up a wave of minions near the enemy tower, forcing the enemy to respond or lose farm. |
| Freezing on the Backline | Position your wave slightly behind the enemy wave, creating a buffer zone that makes it difficult for the enemy to trade with you. |
| Turret Diving | Aggressively push the wave into the enemy turret and attempt to take down the enemy ADC if they try to defend the tower. |
Decision-Making and Macro Gameplay
Split Pushing Decision-Making
Split pushing requires careful decision-making. Here are some key considerations:
- Wave Management: Control the wave to maximize minion pressure on the desired tower.
- Map Awareness: Monitor the enemy team’s movements to anticipate ganks or rotations.
- Team Coordination: Inform your team of your intentions and request assistance if needed.
- Objective Priority: Prioritize towers that provide strategic advantages or deny the enemy gold.
- Risk Assessment: Evaluate the risk of being caught out by multiple enemies before committing to a split push.
Macro Gameplay for Split Pushers
Split pushers need to develop macro strategies to maximize their impact. These strategies include:
- Ward Coverage: Establish vision around the targeted tower and escape routes.
- Information Gathering: Communicate with the team to track enemy movements and potential threats.
- Backdoor Opportunities: Coordinate with teammates to create distractions and open backdoor opportunities.
- Objective Control: Secure neutral objectives such as Dragon or Baron Nashor to provide map pressure and siege potential.
- Map Splitting: Divide the team’s map presence by splitting into multiple groups, forcing the enemy to choose between defending multiple objectives.
Extended Discussion on Map Splitting
Map splitting is a crucial strategy for split pushers. It involves dividing the team’s map presence into multiple groups, each with a specific objective. This forces the enemy to make difficult decisions:
| Team A | Team B |
|---|---|
| Split Push | Defend Split Push |
| Push Turrets (Top) | Defend Turrets (Mid) |
| Group (Bottom) | Group (Mid) |
| Objective (Dragon) | Objective (Baron) |
By splitting the map, Team A forces Team B to focus on defending the split push (Top) while trying to secure the higher-value objective (Baron). Team B must decide whether to sacrifice the top lane turrets or concede Baron. This creates a dilemma for the enemy team and allows Team A to gain an advantage through split pushing and objective control.
Countering and Preventing Split Pushing
When facing a split-pushing ADC, there are several strategies to counter and prevent their advance:
1. Wave Control and Freezing
Control the minion wave to deny the split-pusher farm and pressure. This can be done by slow-pushing or freezing the wave near the allied tower.
2. Map Awareness and Tracking
Keep an eye on the minimap and communicate with teammates to track the split-pusher’s movements. Knowing their location enables swift rotations and interceptions.
3. Engagements and Teamfights
Force team fights or engage on the split-pusher if they overextend or attempt to take an objective alone. Coordinate with teammates to burst them down quickly.
4. Counter-Splitting
Send a teammate to split push on another lane to draw the split-pusher away or create pressure on their base.
5. Itemization
Build items like Pinks or Oracle Lens to reveal the split-pusher’s wards and trap them in vulnerable positions.
6. Deep Wards and Teleportation
Place deep wards in the split-pusher’s path. It allows for swift rotations and surprise teleportation ganks.
7. Early-Game Aggression
Pressure the split-pushing ADC early in the game to hinder their farm and deny them the resources they need for itemization.
8. Champion Counterpicks and Compositions
Choose champions or team compositions with excellent split-pushing capabilities, such as Tryndamere, Yorick, or champions with Teleport to counter the enemy split-pusher. Coordinate rotations to prevent them from advancing too far and forcing a tower trade or team fight.
| Champion | Split-Pushing Ability |
|---|---|
| Tryndamere | High mobility, tower dive potential, and ultimate grants damage immunity |
| Yorick | Summons ghouls that push waves and create pressure |
| Nasus | Scales with farm, with each stack of Siphoning Strike increasing damage |
Advanced Split Push Strategies
9. Warding and Vision Control for Split Pushing
Vision control is crucial for successful split pushing. Deep wards in the enemy jungle and around your push target can provide you with valuable information, allowing you to anticipate ganks and make informed decisions. Keep in mind that vision control is a two-way street; the enemy team will also be trying to ward your push. Coordinate with your team to establish and maintain vision dominance.
Here’s a detailed explanation of the different types of wards and their optimal placement for split pushing:
| Ward Type | Purpose | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| Totem Ward | Provides vision in a large area | Behind the enemy jungle camp near your push target or on the path between mid and top/bot lanes |
| Control Ward | Denies enemy vision and provides true sight | Near the objective you’re pushing or in the enemy jungle to disrupt their vision network |
| Vision Ward | Provides temporary true sight and slow | In bushes or near objectives to detect incoming ganks or to check if an objective is still undefended |
| Farsight Orb | Grants long-range vision and can be used to scout deep into enemy territory | To check for enemy rotations or to provide vision for your team |
The Art of Split Pushing Dominance
Split pushing is a powerful strategy in League of Legends that can create immense pressure and lead to victory. By sending a champion to a distant lane and forcing the enemy team to respond, you can create a numbers advantage elsewhere on the map. However, not all ADCs are cut out for the role of split pusher. Here are the best split pushing ADCs in the game:
1. Tryndamere
Tryndamere is the quintessential split pusher. His ultimate, Mocking Shout, makes him immune to crowd control and grants him bonus attack speed. This allows him to duel almost any champion in the game and quickly destroy towers. Tryndamere also has a strong laning phase and can snowball out of control if he gets ahead.
2. Jax
Jax is another excellent split pusher due to his innate tankiness and dueling potential. His E, Counter Strike, blocks all incoming auto-attacks, making him a nightmare to deal with in the late game. Jax also has a passive that grants him bonus attack speed and damage based on his critical strike chance, which synergizes well with Trinity Force.
3. Fiora
Fiora is a unique split pusher who excels at dueling and tower destruction. Her ultimate, Grand Challenge, allows her to target an enemy champion and quickly strike them four times in a row. If she hits all four strikes, she gains true damage and bonus healing. Fiora also has a parry that can block all incoming projectiles, making her very difficult to kill.
4. Camille
Camille is a versatile split pusher who can also be played in the jungle or top lane. Her E, Hookshot, allows her to quickly engage or disengage from fights, making her very slippery. Camille also has a strong ultimate, Hextech Ultimatum, which traps an enemy champion in a zone and damages them over time.
5. Yasuo
Yasuo is a high-skill-cap split pusher who can be incredibly powerful in the right hands. His Q, Steel Tempest, allows him to dash through enemies and knock them up. This makes him very difficult to catch and allows him to quickly stack up his critical strike chance. Yasuo also has a passive that grants him bonus movement speed and attack speed, making him very mobile.
6. Kayle
Kayle is a late-game scaling split pusher who can become nearly unkillable in the late game. Her ultimate, Divine Judgement, makes her invulnerable and grants her bonus attack range and damage. Kayle also has a strong passive that grants her bonus attack speed and magic damage, making her a potent threat to towers.
7. Vayne
Vayne is a hypercarry ADC who can shred through enemy tanks in the late game. Her W, Condemn, allows her to stun an enemy champion and knock them back. This makes her very difficult to catch and allows her to kite melee champions effectively. Vayne also has a passive that grants her bonus attack damage based on her target’s maximum health, making her very strong against tanks.
8. Lucian
Lucian is a mobile split pusher who can quickly take down towers. His E, Culling, allows him to fire a barrage of shots in a cone, dealing massive damage to enemy champions and structures. Lucian also has a passive that grants him bonus attack speed when he uses his abilities, making him very strong in the early and mid game.
9. Sivir
Sivir is a unique split pusher who can waveclear very quickly. Her W, Ricochet, allows her to bounce her auto-attacks off of enemies, damaging multiple targets. Sivir also has a passive that grants her bonus movement speed when she uses her abilities, making her very difficult to catch.
10. Ezreal
Ezreal is a safe and consistent split pusher who can poke down enemy champions from afar. His Q, Mystic Shot, allows him to fire a long-range skill shot that deals damage to enemies. Ezreal also has an E, Arcane Shift, that allows him to blink a short distance, making him very difficult to gank. Ezreal’s laning phase can be weak, but he scales very well into the late game.
| Champion | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Tryndamere | Immune to CC, strong dueling, quick tower destruction | Weak early game, vulnerable to ganks |
| Jax | Tanky, strong dueling, bonus attack speed and damage | Mana-intensive, weak early game |
| Fiora | Dueling, tower destruction, true damage and healing | Difficult to master, weak crowd control |
| Camille | Mobility, strong ultimate, slippery | Weak early game, vulnerable to CC |
| Yasuo | High skill-cap, mobile, high critical strike chance | Difficult to master, vulnerable to CC |
| Kayle | Late-game scaling, invulnerable ultimate | Weak early game, vulnerable to ganks |
| Vayne | Tank-shredding, late-game hypercarry | Weak early game, vulnerable to CC |
| Lucian | Mobile, quick tower destruction | Weak crowd control, vulnerable to ganks |
| Sivir | Waveclear, mobility | Weak dueling, vulnerable to CC |
| Ezreal | Safe, consistent, long-range poke | Weak early game, vulnerable to ganks |
Best Split Pushing ADC
Among the marksmen in League of Legends, several excel at split pushing due to their unique abilities and item builds that empower them to pressure objectives effectively. Here are three of the most potent split pushers in the role:
- Quinn: Quinn’s kit provides her with exceptional mobility and scouting capabilities, making her a constant threat to isolated enemies or undefended structures. Her E (Vault) grants her a burst of speed and allows her to leap over obstacles, while her R (Behind Enemy Lines) transforms her into a bird, granting her a significant movement speed bonus and the ability to scout enemy positions.
- Tryndamere: Tryndamere is a melee hyper-carry known for his immense dueling potential and tower destruction capabilities. His E (Spinning Slash) grants him a massive attack speed boost, allowing him to rapidly destroy towers and inhibitors. Additionally, his ultimate ability (Undying Rage) makes him immune to death for a short duration, granting him ample time to demolish structures or escape from ganks.
- Fiora: Fiora is a duelist and split pusher who excels at isolating and defeating enemies. Her Q (Lunge) allows her to dash towards a target and gain bonus attack speed. Her ultimate ability (Grand Challenge) allows her to challenge an enemy champion to a duel, disarming them and dealing massive true damage upon completion.
People Also Ask
Who is the best split pushing ADC in the late game?
Quinn and Tryndamere are considered the best split pushing ADCs in the late game due to their potent damage output and tower-taking abilities.
Is it effective to split push with an ADC?
Yes, split pushing with an ADC can be highly effective in creating pressure on multiple lanes, forcing the enemy team to respond and potentially creating opportunities for your team to secure objectives elsewhere.
