Why Your Solo Queue Team Keeps Losing Elder Dragon Fights
Elder Dragon is the most brutal, game-ending objective in League, but if you’re stuck Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, or low Plat, odds are your team throws every Elder contest—either by rushing in blind, fighting down numbers, or forgetting to play for vision. If you’ve lost a winnable game because of one botched Elder fight, this guide will show you exactly how to set up, secure, and use Elder Dragon as your win button.
Why Elder Dragon Is the Ultimate Coin Flip in Low Elo
Here’s where most teams go wrong:
– Everyone rushes Elder without vision, gets caught in river or pit
– Ignoring lane pushes, showing up late and losing tempo
– Fighting 4v5 or split, feeding picks before Elder even spawns
– Randomly burning sums, ultimates, or just flipping it for Smite
– Not resetting or recalling when enemy’s prepping vision
Elder isn’t like other dragons—any team that gets it becomes a one-shot machine. Losing Elder often means losing the entire game.
H2: Elder Dragon Fight Guide for League of Legends
H3: Step-by-Step Elder Dragon Execution
1. **Track Elder Spawn and Plan Early**
– Elder comes after Soul (or as a late timer). Watch for its timer in the scoreboard, and start prepping vision at least 90 seconds ahead.
– Ping “Elder in 1:00” to get your team focused.
2. **Set Up Deep Vision**
– Drop Control Wards and sweep the river, jungle entrances, and both pixel brushes.
– Don’t let enemy set up vision first—they get free picks on anyone facechecking.
3. **Push Relevant Waves Before Elder**
– Mid and bot lanes need to be shoved so enemy is forced to respond or loses tower pressure.
– Avoid contesting Elder when waves are crashing into your base or side lanes.
4. **Group As Five—No Greedy Solo Plays**
– Elder fights are almost always full 5v5. Don’t split for farm or side lane unless you have TP and your team communicates.
– Ping for grouping and recall together. Staggered arrivals equal free picks for the enemy.
5. **Position for Picks and Flanks**
– Stack your engage champs in river bushes or lane brush—don’t sit in pit unless you have vision and full HP.
– Flank threats: If you have someone (Rakan, Camille, Kha’Zix) able to threaten a flank, coordinate in chat or ping their route.
6. **Check Enemy Ultimates, Summoners, and Timers**
– If enemy has key alts (Amumu, Malphite, Orianna, etc.), play spread and bait their cooldowns before fully committing.
– Track enemy jungler’s Smite and recall timing.
7. **Play For the Turn—Don’t Flip Elder Dragon**
– If you chunk enemy or catch a pick, finish Elder with numbers advantage.
– Never start Elder while enemy jungler is alive and can enter pit. Peel, zone, or kill them before committing.
H3: Common Elder Fight Mistakes
– Rushing river/pit without vision, feeding picks before contest
– Ignoring lanes—enemy gets free push and towers while you scramble for Elder
– Fighting split or down numbers—someone is always left behind
– Starting Elder with enemy jungler alive and full vision—classic Smite flip and throw
– Not pinging or recalling together, leading to greedy deaths and tilted teammates
H3: Real In-Game Examples
Example 1: Your team pushes mid/bot, sweeps river, sets pixel brush traps. Enemy ADC facechecks, gets deleted by Nautilus—5v4, Elder is secured.
Example 2: Enemy shows up with no vision, gets flanked by Camille/Kha’Zix, loses two before fight starts. Elder is uncontested, and your team closes out the game.
Example 3: Your jungler recalls as Elder spawns, team fights 4v5, enemy gets Elder and turns the game instantly. Always sync resets and group ahead of time.
H3: Champions That Excel in Elder Fights
– Engage: Nautilus, Rakan, Leona, Alistar
– Flank: Camille, Kha’Zix, Akali
– Vision: Thresh, Pyke, Bard
H3: How Winning Elder Dragon Flips Games
– Elder buff = execute mechanic. You can one-shot enemy carries and tanks with almost any combo.
– Winning Elder turns any deficit into an instant push for Baron/Nexus
– Sets up comeback chances—even teams behind can win with well-timed Elder plays
– Losers rarely recover; one teamfight ends the entire game
Quick Recap
– Elder fights are won with deep vision, wave pushes, and grouping for picks—not random flips
– Ping Elder timers, prep river vision early, and never show up split or blind
– Secure with numbers, chunk enemy, and zone their jungler before starting Elder
Do This
– Push mid/bot waves pre-Elder, drop Control Wards and sweep river/jungle
– Group as five, position for picks/flanks, and avoid pit stacking
– Play for turn/pick—never flip Elder with enemy jungler/vision alive
Stop Doing This
– Contesting Elder 4v5 or showing up after enemy sets river vision
– Rushing pit with no lane pressure or staggered recalls
– Starting Elder while enemy jungler is alive and can Smite steal
Focus On This Next Game
– Track Elder timer and plan vision, wave, and grouping ahead
– Communicate your plan for picks or flanks to secure numbers advantage
– Convert Elder win instantly into Baron or Nexus push
Elder fights decide games in solo queue. Learn to set them up, and start closing out wins without coin-flipping your late game. This is what separates real climbers from hard stuck.
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