Every melee champion in the game has some method of closing the gap towards a ranged champion - it's a necessity built into each champion's kit. Simply because they can deal damage without taking damage, ranged champions by nature have a strong edge when fighting, so every melee champion is equipped with some way of closing the distance (or at the very least dealing damage from range, i.e. Mordekaiser). This can range from traditional hard gapclosers (think Xin Zhao's Audacious Charge, or Akali's Shadow Dance), self-buffs involving movement speed (Hecarim's Devastating Charge, or Udyr's Bear Stance), or CC/debuffs on the enemy, slowing them down to catch up (such as Olaf's Undertow, or Trundle's Pillar of Ice). Many champions have multiple kinds or a mix of these abilities, and there are many different variations in between; they all have a number of different kinds of uses, but a fundamental function of each of them is to gap-close.

In this article, we'll be covering one particular situation in which you can maximize the effectiveness of your gap-closing abilities: when you've gotten a flank on an enemy or have already closed the distance in some other fashion. This principle is most applicable to hard gap-closers, but the same concepts apply relatively similarly to the other kinds of distance closing abilties as well. Let's jump right into it.

The prototypical example to illustrate this concept is when you've come around for a gank. You're playing Xin Zhao (a very standard melee champion with 1 hard gap-closer, very effective in his range of influence), and have looped around the enemy mid laner who's pushed up heavily to your team's turret. Your first instinct is to immediately use your Audacious Charge ability to start the gank - but let's hold on for a moment.

If you're close enough and have a good position on the opponent, there's no need to use your gap-close. You can simply walk up to them and use your other abilities. You have your Three-Talon-Strike to CC the oppponent while your mid laner deals damage as well. Then, after your opponent makes an escape attempt, you can use your E to stay in range and deal more damage.

Let's consider the original line of play - you come in for the gank, and immediately use Audacious charge to gap-close and slow the enemy. Depending on what champion the opposing laner is playing, this could be ok...but most likely they'll use an escape ability (or flash) and they'll get away. Sure, a flash burned is a great gank, but there's the potential for more in this situation. If the champion you're against is already in melee range, i.e. in your domain of influence, there's no need to use your precious distance closing capabilities just yet.

Udyr is a unique Melee champion that has a 'soft', spammable gap-closer - his Bear Stance MS boost.

You can simply wait for them to make a move (i.e. use an escape ability, or flash), and then gap-close to keep them in your range. This line of play really puts them in a pinch. Will they continue to hold on to their escape ability and keep taking your autoattacks and other damage abilities, or will they use an escape knowing that you have a gap-close still unused to stick onto them?

Now you may be thinking: "But using my gap closer at the beginning of the engage puts more damage down faster - it can also set up my opposing laner!" This is certainly true...and in some cases this is the right move, espcially if you really just need to frontload all the damage and/or get to the fight quickly to keep a teammate from dying. But most of the time, holding on to your gap-close when given the chance allows you to deal more damage overall, as you'll be sticking on to them and applying more autoattacks, etc. for a greater duration of time if they use an escape. For Xin Zhao, you'll be forgoing the additional cooldown reduction on your E if you use it after Three Talon Strike, but it's certainly worth it if you can stick on your opponent and land more autoattacks. If you use your gap-closer to initiate, they know that you can no longer chase and can make a clean getaway with their own mobility skill.

Hecarim is one of the few Melee's in League of Legends who has two gap-closing abilities, and can chase very effectively.

Another illustration of this principle is in the 'suprise' bush camp scenario. if you're camping in a bush, waiting for an unsuspecting chump to walk in, you can get much more damage down and maximize your chance of getting a kill if you are patient with your movement ability. Allow your opponent to walk into the bush, laying down as much damage as you can. When they flash or dash away, follow up with your gap-closer.

By being patient and forcing your opponent to use his/her movement ability first, you can drastically increase your chances of picking up a kill. Think of it in terms of managing the range between you and your opponent. Let's assume you're up against a standard champion played in the midlane, who typically has an escape + their summoner spell flash; you have your own gap-closer + flash. Since your opponent is ranged, you will have to use your gap-closer to fight-> they can use their escape -> you can follow with flash -> then they use their flash. This sequence ends with both champions at the same distance, ranged vs melee. For example, when ganking an Ezreal:

--- > --- > --- >

But if you can start the fight already in melee range, the sequence is even (and more likely, in your favor). Melee range -> They use an escape -> you gap-close -> they flash -> you flash: the result of this sequence is that you're in melee range every step of the way. And since you're a melee champion, you likely have better base stats with which to fight and trade autos.

These same principles apply to champions with the other 'kinds' of gap closers. There's no need to lead with Trundle Pillar if they're next to you - hold on to the ability until they're out of the range of your autoattacks. Pop Highlander and run at your opponents with Master Yi - when they flash away, THEN use Alpha Strike to close the distance (notice how you're using your ultimate as a movespeed-based gapclose as well).

As a closing note, keep these kinds of sequencing patterns in mind whenever you're attempting a gank, lane roam, or a chase. Think ahead about how your opponents will use their abilities, and plan ahead how you're going to use yours. Something to think about - melee champions with two gapclosers are extremely sticky - think Jarvan IV, Master Yi, and Vi: what are the movement-ability sequencing patterns for these champions against, say, Ezreal when he's in melee distance to start? What about when he's at range?

Again, almost everything in League of Legends is situational. If you need to lock your opponent down so that your team can catch up and lay down damage, lead with your Trundle Pillar (or cc ability, gapclose, etc.) But in skirmish situations, consider holding on to your movement ability for more value later on, rather than to frontload damage immediately. Be thinking about how you can maximize the effectiveness of your champion's kit!

That's all for today, I hope you enjoyed the article. If you'd like to discuss anything League, have comments/feedback on this article, or just want to say hi, feel free to tweet me @k0nduit (with a zero instead of an 'o') and I'll get back to you.

Until next time.

konduit

Are you into fantasy leagues? Then check out AlphaDraft and put together your allstar lineup!