T1 Oner gives advice on the new jungle meta in League of Legends
In the competitive landscape of League of Legends, strategies continuously evolve, exerting their influence on the game with each new patch.
Recently, there has been a resurgence of an old tactic known as lane swapping—a strategy that holds nostalgic value for some players. T1’s jungler, Oner, has some advice for those encountering this strategy in solo queue.
Lane swaps have reemerged as a significant aspect of the current meta, particularly in professional play. However, as seasoned players are aware, the League community often tries to emulate strategies seen in high-level play or international competitions, albeit with limited success.
While Oner has chosen to keep his specific tips for countering this strategy to himself, as T1 is currently vying for the 2024 Mid-Season Invitational title, he did offer a straightforward suggestion to solo queue players facing lane swaps: “Just have fun.”
According to T1 Oner, there is currently “no way” to adjust your strategy as a jungler when confronted with lane swaps in solo queue. Overcoming this tactic requires a high level of coordination between you and your teammates, which can be rare to find or difficult to cultivate quickly while climbing the ranks in solo queue. Typically, lane swaps are used to avoid unfavorable matchups in the lane while hindering the enemy top laner’s farm. However, executing a successful lane swap demands extensive teamwork and communication, which are not always readily available in solo queue environments.
Nevertheless, when executed effectively, a lane swap can provide your team with a significant advantage. By grouping up in the top lane, you can swiftly dismantle the enemy’s tower before they have an opportunity to reciprocate. Additionally, it aids in controlling the map and can afford your duo lane an advantage in terms of gold and items.
Although not everyone embraces the lane swap strategy, you may encounter it in your ranked games for a few more weeks until the meta adjusts itself once again. If confronted with this scenario, you could attempt to establish clear communication and formulate a plan with your team—or simply heed Oner’s advice and focus on enjoying the game.