- All roles
Spacing is standing just outside the reach of the enemy's attack and key spells, and tethering is keeping that gap as they move, as if you were joined by a rope of fixed length. It forces them to waste cooldowns or walk into your poke without ever touching you.
What it is
Every champion has a threat zone: the reach of their basic attack plus the reach of the spells that hurt you, such as a hook, a pull or a gap closer. Outside it you are safe. At the edge of it you are safe and still close enough to punish. Spacing is choosing that edge on purpose instead of drifting forward or backward.
Tethering is the moving part. The enemy steps forward, you step back by the same amount. The enemy steps back, you step in. Your distance stays fixed, so they cannot force a fight and cannot walk away from one. To find the edge you need ranges: your own attack range, theirs and the reach of their key spells. Ranges are measured in game units. Dashes such as Fizz's Urchin Strike travel a fixed distance, so you can stand just beyond it.
The goal is to make the enemy spend something. A gap closer used on nothing, a hook that misses, a shield thrown on a minion: each leaves a window where you can trade for free. This differs from the Mana and Cooldown Trading guide, which is about the clock, and from the Spacing and Threat Ranges guide, which is the ADC version. Here the skill is the footwork that creates the bait.
How to do it
- Learn their reach
Before the first wave arrives, look up the enemy's attack range and the reach of their gap closer, hook or pull. Hover their abilities in the Practice Tool or read the champion page. Keep a note of the one number that matters most, usually the longest-reach spell that locks you down.
- Stand one step outside that reach
Put your cursor on the enemy and keep yourself a small margin outside the longest threat. If they have a fixed-distance dash, a margin beyond that distance means the dash cannot hit you. Standing slightly closer is how you lose trades you never meant to take.
- Mirror their steps
Every time they walk forward, walk back to keep the gap. When they step back, step in. Use move clicks, not stops: stopping lets them close the distance before you react. Keep sideways and diagonal steps in the mix, so a straight line does not give them a clean line for a skillshot.
- Punish the spell that gets used
If they spend their gap closer on you at full range, they are now exposed. Step out, take a free auto or a spell, and keep going. A missed hook or dash is your cue to walk in. The mid-fight moment is when the enemy has no reply left.
- Use minions as cover
Many skillshots stop at the first enemy they touch. Keep a minion between you and their line when you can, and let their poke hit the minion instead. If they walk forward to take a last hit, you are already at the edge and can step in.
- Check your retreat
Tether only where you can keep backing off. A wall, the fog or a turret behind you ends the dance. Keep an exit toward your tower so a mistake costs one step, not a fight.
Watch it
What to watch for: From 6:21 the video covers spacing, followed by tethering at 8:14 and input buffering at 9:25.
Video: The ONLY TRADING GUIDE You'll EVER NEED - League of Legends — Skill Capped Challenger LoL Guides
Common mistakes
- You stand at the edge of your own range, not theirs. They have a longer dash and hit you first. Learn their reach, not only yours.
- You walk straight back every time. They follow, and a skillshot hits you down the line. Mix sideways steps.
- You step in after landing one hit. You are now inside their reach for the reply. Hit and go back to the edge.
- You tether into a corner. When the wall ends the retreat, the fight starts on their terms. Watch what is behind you.
- You chase them when they back off. That puts you under their wave or tower. Return to your own line.
Practice drill
- In the Practice Tool, add a melee dummy that you control or a bot, and try to keep the same gap for a full minute while walking. Success is never being hit and always being within a few steps of range.
- In a custom game against a bot lane, play the first levels without trading at all except when the enemy has spent a spell. Count how many free hits you get.