Hey guys, Maleok here with a look into a few of the uglier details of League of Legends. This week we will be having a very necessary chat about toxicity on the Rift, and the sheer impact it makes on play. There is nary a single person who hasn't heard the term "toxic" at one point or another, however there are just as few people who handle it properly. Hopefully this article gives some insight into how I think it should be looked at and ultimately handled.

Toxicity is never worth it. Ever.

Let me open with a very frank statement; You will lose more games if you are toxic. However, there is more to toxicity than that so let me explain further. First of all, most players in the community play the game for one of two reasons; First to play with friends, second, playing to win. The latter is usually the case in ranked play. This is important to remember because toxicity has the ability to change this focus for the worse no matter what you play for. This is apparent when the main focus should be winning the game, but more importantly having fun. When you or someone else is toxic, the focus is removed from anything else and more often than not is shifted onto responding to the toxicity. There is never a viable reason to rage or flame at another person ever, and thus there is very little logic involved, so arguing with the person is just pouring oil on a flamer (literally).

Don't follow Keyori's example. It never works.

The many faces of toxicity and how to know if you are doing it.

This one may seem self explanitory but it is worth going over. Here is a short list of things that can constitute being toxic. It goes without saying that these habits should be avoided.

- Not ganking a lane due to lack of a leash.

This one is just immature. Seriously? The person went to the bathroom and the game started so he missed your leash, get over it. Not ganking because of a missed leash or other similiar "offense" is just going to make you both angry and potentially get a carry very behind because of your five-year-old attitude and neglect of them. Ganks are more important than your ego in these cases.

- Blaming your jungler for losing your lane.

Winning lane is your responsibility and that is final. Many people don't know this but the actual purpose of the jungler was originally not for ganking friendly lanes but for utilizing the gold of jungle camps for your team's benefit. Even if you are getting camped by the enemy jungler, there are counter measures you can take through deep wards and playing back. Also simply asking the jungler politely for help will often work. However, consider that even if he stays in the jungle until teamfighting phase, he is still fulfilling the job of the role.

- Swearing in ANY negative capacity at your teammates.

This one is obvious. Cursing at a teammate is the absolute sure-fire way to get a response which in turn pulls your teammates focus away from the game. Congratulations, you just drastically decreased your chance of winning by making your team mad at you. Helpful. Just don't do it, that is all there really is to be said about this one. Nothing gets the blood pumping more and nothing makes your teammate want to see you lose quite as much.



- Denying a carry a buff because they assume that they are getting it.

I mentioned before that ganking was not the original purpose of junglers. That is fine if you are a farming jungler, however there are very very few situations (after 1st blue buff) where you should deny your mid laner blue buff or your mid game ADC the red buff. So if you see the mid laner walking towards the blue buff you were hoping to take, don't smite it out from under his nose, that just causes problems for both of you.

- Any form of abandoning a teammate to die, usually to make a point or spite someone.

This is usually what happens after the toxicity of the game has gone on for too long. Also it can be considered the "nail in the coffin" move if you choose to do this. Making the childish choice to leave someone to die after you have told them they are bad or if they recently tried to defend their honor/skill is the worst thing you could do. It will prove no points, win you no friends, and certainly no games. Act your age.

- Retaliating to a flamer by matching their language and intensity. Even in defense of a person.

If you leave this page with one thing learned, I hope it's this: never ever try and argue with a flamer and NEVER yell back. This is feeding the fire and the stupidity between you both, and you are more likely to focus on out-typing them than you are on surviving. Never message back, and if you have to respond say it out loud and not ingame.

All of these above listed things and many many more can be considered toxic. Also it's worth remembering that none of this is going to help. Think of it like smoking, it might not kill you right away but it sure as hell can and definitely isn't good for you. So keep the concious mind that you are setting yourself up for defeat more often than not if any of these things are your fallback response towards petty quarrels.

Trust me. This wakes you up.

How can you fight through toxicity if it isn't you.

Knowing how to deal with toxic people is probably just as important, if not moreso, than understanding what toxicity is. This is absolutely critical and is often very easy. The only real road blocks that prevent people from shutting down toxicity is adrenaline or pride. Most people would rather defend their honor against someone who really just wants to see them react. If that is the case everything you say to them ends up being useless typing. So if you are ever on the recieving end of toxicity here are a few things that you can do.

- Mute them person as soon as you can.

The biggest advice I can possibly give is too remove any chance of you getting angry at a person. That is to say angrier than they might have already made you. The sooner you mute the person, the sooner you can put your focus on winning and NOT typing back to them. This one is simple, but many are too prideful to just shut up and focus.

- Don't go to All-Chat to plead your case.

No. One. Cares. Seriously the last place you are going to find support is the enemy team. Always assume that they are purely out for victory, whether or not your emotional state is good. More often than not the enemy doesn't give a single damn about who is flaming on your team and will poke you even more to put you on tilt. A rule of thumb is that All-Chat is completely non-essential, you don't need it turned on.

- Don't take the aggressor's side. Try and help the victim.

The best way I think to snuff out the problem is to stay out of it. Mute the person who is doing the trash talking. If it's directed at you then ignore it, if it's directed at a teammate then advise them to mute the person as well. If your teammate actually does mute the aggressor I promise that they will indeed play better. Being a possitive influence and drawing the attention away from the toxicity might have just restore your odds of winning.

In conclusion, remember that morale is half the battle when it comes to winning. But remember there is no better way to lower it then being toxic. It is something that can be fought through, but don't be part of the problem. I hope that you were able to take something useful from this now that we are in an environment where we aren't cursing at one another! Happy hunting on the Rift and good luck Summoners! Don't be toxic!