- Mid
- Bottom
Trading parallelism is mirroring your opponent's position along an imaginary line parallel to the lane, so that whenever they stop to last-hit a minion you are already in range to hit them. It turns every enemy last hit into a free poke window.
What it is
To last-hit, a champion has to stand still through the attack windup. The attacker must stay in place until the attack launches, and a different command interrupts it. If the enemy gives a new order to dodge, the minion survives and they lose the gold. So at the moment a minion is about to die, your opponent has two bad choices: finish the swing and take your hit, or cancel and lose the farm.
Parallelism is how you make sure you can punish that moment. Picture a line running along the lane, level with the enemy champion. If you step forward or back so you stay level with them as they move, your distance to them stays about the same. When they step up to a minion, they step into your range, and you are already there. If you drift ahead you take pressure; if you fall behind they take the minion and your poke arrives late.
This is the lane-long positioning idea, different from the Trading on Last Hits guide, which is the single punish at the instant of the animation. It also applies to a mid mage with skillshots and an ADC with autos. Remember that hitting an enemy champion with a basic attack, or with most targeted abilities, draws nearby enemy minions onto you, so choose spots where the wave cannot reach you.
How to do it
- Choose your line
Pick a spot beside your own wave, roughly level with the enemy champion and just outside their reach. From there you can step into poke range in one or two movements. In mid lane this is usually your side of the wave; in bot lane it is beside your minions, away from the enemy ranged minions.
- Move when they move
When the enemy steps forward to farm, step forward the same distance. When they step back, step back. Keep clicking short moves rather than stopping, so you never end up behind or ahead. Your cursor should stay near their champion model, not on the minion line.
- Read the minion health bar
Watch the enemy minion that is nearly dead. When it is close to dying and the enemy champion is facing it, they will begin their attack. That animation is your cue. A ranged champion's projectile leaving, or a melee champion's swing, is the moment they cannot answer.
- Poke in the animation
Use your longest-range spell or a single auto the moment they start the last hit. As a mage in mid, throw the skillshot that reaches them; as an ADC, attack once. Land one hit, not a chain, so the attack timer does not leave you standing in range.
- Step back before the minions turn
Right after the hit, move back out of range of the enemy minions. If your poke triggered them to target you, the wave will walk toward you, and the damage should cost you less than the poke dealt.
- Keep your own last hit
Do not give up CS for poke. If your minion is dying at the same time, take the farm first or choose a different window. Poke that costs you a wave is a bad trade.
Watch it
What to watch for: From 5:36 the video covers parallel trading, followed by real game examples at 7:00.
Video: The Complete Guide to Trading as ADC - League of Legends Guide — Skill Capped Challenger LoL Guides
Common mistakes
- You stay at max range from the lane line. The enemy takes the minion and you are too far to hit. Stay level.
- You step ahead of them to get a hit in. You are now closer to their wave and abilities. Mirror, do not lead.
- You attack twice. Your second windup leaves you in range for a response. One hit, then back.
- You poke before they commit. They can dodge and still last-hit. Wait for the animation.
- You ignore minion aggro. A poke from inside their wave gets you hit; choose your line outside it.
Practice drill
- In the Practice Tool or a custom game, stand level with a bot opponent and farm for five minutes. Every time they last-hit, poke once. Success is a poke on at least two of every three last hits while taking no damage from minions.
- Watch a replay of your own lane and count the times the enemy last-hit with you out of range. Each one is a missed window; note where you were standing.