League of Legends requires excellent reaction times, deadly precision and tremendous amounts of communication. As League gains more and more similarities to a sport, it makes sense that players should have a warm-up routine to get the blood pumping and digits moving. Here are some of the best warm-up techniques you can use to increase your chances of netting your team a win at City Champs, where you can represent your city in live matches against rivals from around the country.

Warm up your hands  

Most athletes have a specific warm-up regime they like to follow to help them get into the zone and keep their body ticking over until the main event. You wouldn’t run a marathon without doing a few stretches and the odd star jump, so make sure you warm up your hands before each match. Many pro players warm up their hands and reaction times by playing another game before they unleash their skills onto the Rift. Playing rhythm games like "Osu!: provides great ways to warm up your digits and help with the timing and accuracy of your clicks. We’re aware that rhythm games aren’t for everyone, but try to play a game that requires good precision and fast reaction times. Counter-Strike is a good example and playing a few rounds will be enough to get your blood pumping and reaction times functioning to their optimal level.

Watch replays of your previous games

It’s important to get in the habit of watching replays of previous games, especially if you really want to start improving your skills. By watching past games you can pinpoint exactly where things went wrong and reflect on mistakes. It’s also important to watch top teams in other regions in order to know how to play the map in terms of pick/ban, objectives, vision, rotations and such. This is a good habit to get into, especially at City Champs where you will be part of a fully functioning team. Also check out various pro streams, but don’t just copy what the best players and teams do; instead try to understand why they do them. Adapt what you have learned to suit your own play style and watch other regions to learn their approach to the game. You can then use this information to come up with new strategies or plan ways to counter popular team comps. 

Practice in training mode

Yup, it’s as simple as that. If you’re looking to practice your skillshots, last-hitting, kiting and flashing, you’re best off booting up League’s practice tool. League’s practice tool is essentially a gym where you can go to brush up on your champion mechanics and pathing. Being able to test things like wall flash points or whether you can solo dragon with a certain item build, without wasting hours in custom games, is one of the best ways to warm up. As League gains more and more similarities to a sport, it makes sense that there’s a place where both rookies and pros can hone their skills. Having an endless supply of mana and constant flashes allows you to get creative with your plays, but just make sure you are more reserved with these abilities in your actual games.

Discuss your strategies with your team

Talk through your upcoming games with your team so everyone knows what's what. This may sound simple, but you’d be surprised how many players treat League of Legends like it’s a solo experience. You and your team are all playing at City Champs for one reason, and that’s to claim a spot at the final and win the tournament for your city. It doesn’t matter whether you huddle round and discuss your strategies in person or use the game’s chat; just make sure you’re actively participating in your team’s ideas. Acting like a fully functioning team will make performing with those around you that much easier. Chances are most of you will have never met one another and it can be rather daunting to play with those you’ve never met, but you can break down these barriers by simply talking things over. If you think you have a game-winning strategy that could help your team don’t go unheard, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Go over your itemisation possibilities

Make sure you have the most optimal build for every champion you’re planning to play at City Champs. Look at how other players build your champion and see how you could possibly adjust it to your playstyle. Don’t feel obligated to copy the top Korean builds, but make sure you are familiar with them. Having this knowledge will allow you to either use these builds yourself or counter them with your own unique itemisation. It’s important that you adapt and build around what your team needs, as well as paying close attention to the main threats on the enemy team. Being prepared to change your build is a good habit to get into, especially in higher divisions where teams are constantly changing their items based on those around them. By heading to City Champs with several builds for each champion, you’ll have an edge over those who refuse to deviate and adapt.

Test your might at City Champs

Head over to the Super League LoL events page where you can purchase your Online Qualifier ticket. Once you’ve purchased your City Champs ticket, you will be placed in one of the four tiers based on your personal solo queue ranking. Be sure to use these warm up tips to increase your chances of snagging yourself a win during your six qualifying matches. Only the top players will have a chance to represent their city, so put on your best performance. If you don’t make the cut, you be able to play Challenge Matches as a reinforcement to help earn points for your city.