How to Play League of Legends Choosing Your Gameplay

League of Legends, also known as LoL, is a free-to-play MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena). If you're new to the game, you can read below for a basic break-down of how things work, the goals of the game, and strategies for play.

Choosing Your Gameplay

1. Play PvP. In this game type, all champions (or controlled characters) are played by actual players, rather than the game’s AI. There are a few different options in this game mode:

Classic - In this mode, the players work to destroy the enemy’s Nexus (or base structure).

Dominion - In this mode, the point of the game becomes about taking control of a number of capture points or locations (which are very similar to the turrets encountered in Classic mode. This gamemode was removed in February 22, 2016.)

ARAM - In this mode, all of the player’s champions are chosen at random, and it is intended for all players to fight together in the central road (or lane).

2. Play Co-op vs AI. In a co-op vs. AI game, you will play on a team with other player controlled characters against computer controlled opponents (or bots).

Only Classic mode is available when playing this type of game.

3 Play a custom game. In a custom game, you can choose the number of players, as well as password protect it to ensure that only your friends can play. The opposing team can either be other players or bots.

4. Choose the map. Choosing the map means choosing what environment you play in. It also affects how many players will be on a team and what game types are available. These are easy to see, so choose whatever map fits the criteria you want.

5 Choose Game Type. The game type determines how the champions are chosen. In a blind pick, players cannot see which champions have been chosen. In a draft pick, players take turns banning the use of and then choosing certain champions. Ranked games are more competitive in nature and consist of game-ranked players being matched according to experience.

6 Invite your friends. You can play with your friends in any game type. Simply click "I will invite my own teammates" when prompted in the bottom right corner after choosing the last option (either game type or difficulty).

7 Use Riot Points. Riot Points, which are purchased with real money and viewed at the top right of the screen next to your name, are used to buy new champions (other than the rotating free champions), new appearances or skins for your champions, or boosts (which increase the rate at which you earn Influence Points).

8 Use Influence Points. Influence points are the other type of in-game currency, except that they are earned by playing games. These can be used to permanently unlock champions, purchase Runes, or purchase additional Rune Pages.

It's highly suggested that you don't build any runes until you have unlocked several champions due to the high costs. However, if you must buy runes for any reason, start with level 1 runes.