League of Legends is one of the most popular multiplayer games on the planet, and this beginner's tutorial walks you through everything you need to go from zero to your first real match. Whether you have never played a MOBA before or you are coming from a similar game, the steps below cover installation, champion selection, map knowledge, the HUD, CS farming, and how to close out a game for victory.
What you need before you start
League of Legends is completely free to play. You need a Windows or macOS PC, a stable internet connection, and a free Riot Games account. All champions can be unlocked with in-game currency earned by playing — no purchase is required to be competitive. The tutorial below takes you from a blank PC all the way to understanding how a full match is won.
How to get started in League of Legends
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Step 1: Download and install League of Legends
Head to leagueoflegends.com and click Play Free Now. Create a free Riot Games account, download the Riot Client, and run the installer. The client will download and install League of Legends automatically. The initial download is roughly 22 GB, so allow some time on slower connections. Once installed, log in to the Riot Client and click the League of Legends tile to launch the game.
The official site lets you create an account and download the Riot Client in one flow. -
Step 2: Choose your first champion
League of Legends has over 160 champions, each with a unique kit. As a new player you do not need to own them all — the Riot Client offers a free weekly rotation of 10 champions for everyone to try. When choosing your first champion, aim for straightforward roles: a Fighter (top lane) or a Tank (jungle or top) tends to be easiest because they are durable and their abilities are less reliant on precise aim. Examples of beginner-friendly champions include Garen, Ashe, and Amumu. Avoid highly mechanical champions such as Zed or Yasuo until you are comfortable with the basics.
Pick a role that suits your playstyle — Jungle or Top are usually the most forgiving for new players. -
Step 3: Learn Summoner's Rift
Every standard League of Legends match is played on Summoner's Rift, a square map split into three lanes and a jungle. The two teams — Blue (bottom-left) and Red (top-right) — each have a Nexus at their base. Destroy the enemy Nexus to win. The five roles and their usual positions are: Top (long isolated lane — tanks and fighters), Jungle (roams the map, kills camps, helps lanes), Mid (short central lane — mages and assassins), Bot or ADC (bottom lane duo — marksman and support), and Support (protects the ADC, provides vision). Two major objectives sit in the river: Dragon (grants elemental buffs) and Baron Nashor (empowers your whole team and minions).
Knowing where each lane and objective sits on the map is the foundation of every decision you make. -
Step 4: Read the HUD — health, mana, abilities and gold
The HUD (heads-up display) runs along the bottom of the screen and gives you every critical stat at a glance. On the left is your champion portrait and two bars: the green Health bar (HP) and the blue Mana bar (MP). In the centre sit four ability icons labelled Q, W, E and R — press those keys to cast each ability. A grey countdown on an icon means it is on cooldown. On the right you will see your current Level (1–18) and your Gold total. The minimap appears in the bottom-right corner; check it constantly so you always know where your allies and visible enemies are. Press Tab at any time to open the scoreboard and see kills, deaths, assists and CS for every player.
The HUD tells you everything about your current state — health, resources, abilities, level and gold. -
Step 5: Last-hit minions to farm gold (CS)
Gold is what lets you buy items, and most of it comes from last-hitting minions — you only earn gold for a minion kill if you land the killing blow. This mechanic is called CS (Creep Score). Do not auto-attack minions freely; instead, watch the minion's health bar and time your attack for when the bar is very low. A score of 75 CS or above at 10 minutes is a solid early goal for beginners. Consistent CS is often more valuable than chasing kills, because a 75+ CS lead can be worth more gold than two or three kills. While farming, watch your positioning — stay back when the enemy trades aggressively and step up to last-hit when it is safe.
Strike the minion on its killing blow — only last-hits give you gold to spend at the shop. -
Step 6: Group up, take objectives, and destroy the enemy Nexus
After the laning phase (roughly the first 15 minutes), the game transitions to teamfighting and objective control. Group with your team when Dragon or Baron Nashor spawns — taking these gives your squad powerful buffs that make pushing easier. Once you have a gold and item advantage, push a lane together to destroy an Inhibitor. This causes powerful Super Minions to spawn, which relentlessly push toward the enemy base. Finally, focus the Nexus Towers and then the Nexus itself. The moment the Nexus explodes, you win. Remember: a coordinated team that contests objectives almost always beats five players each trying to solo-carry.
Group with your team, destroy inhibitors, and focus the Nexus — that is how every League game ends.
Tips for new League of Legends players
- Play the tutorial mode first. The in-game tutorial covers movement, attacking, and abilities in a safe environment before you face real opponents.
- Start in Co-op vs AI mode. Playing against bots lets you practice CSing and ability timing without the pressure of losing rank.
- Stick to one or two champions. Deep knowledge of a small pool beats shallow knowledge of many. Master one before expanding.
- Use pings, not chat. Press G to open the ping wheel and communicate positions or dangers quickly without typing. Pings are faster and less distracting.
- Die less, not more. Every death gives your killer gold and experience. Surviving in a bad position is often better than over-extending for a kill.
- Watch the minimap every few seconds. If an enemy champion disappears from the minimap, assume they are heading to your lane or a nearby objective.
Common beginner mistakes to avoid
Spending all your gold on one big item
Return to your base (press B to recall) whenever you have enough gold for a meaningful item component. Sitting in lane with 2,000+ gold while taking damage is wasteful — use your shop.
Ignoring the minimap
Most unexpected deaths for new players happen because an unseen enemy roamed from another lane. Glance at the minimap every few seconds and ping your teammates when you notice an enemy missing.
Fighting without vision
Walking into the jungle or river without placing wards is extremely risky. Support players should buy and place Control Wards at key chokepoints; all other roles should use their free ward trinket (the yellow starting item) regularly.
Frequently asked questions
Is League of Legends free to play?
Yes. League of Legends is completely free to download and play. You earn in-game currency (Blue Essence) just by playing, which you can spend to permanently unlock champions. Cosmetic skins are available for purchase but never affect gameplay.
How many players are on each team in League of Legends?
A standard League of Legends match is 5v5 — five players on each team. There is also a smaller rotating game mode called ARAM (All Random All Mid), which is also 5v5 but uses a single lane.
What is the best champion for beginners?
Simple, durable champions are best for learning. Garen (top lane) and Ashe (bot lane / ADC) are commonly recommended because their abilities are straightforward and they are hard to accidentally misuse. The game also includes a dedicated Starter Bundle of beginner-friendly champions.
How long does a League of Legends game last?
A typical match runs between 25 and 40 minutes, though games can end earlier if one team dominates or longer if both teams are evenly matched. ARAM games tend to be shorter, averaging around 20–25 minutes.
What does CS mean in League of Legends?
CS stands for Creep Score — the number of minions and jungle monsters you have killed and received gold for. A high CS total indicates consistent farming, which translates directly into gold, items and a stronger champion.
Ready to play?
League of Legends has a steep learning curve, but it rewards every hour you invest in understanding it. Start with the six steps above — install the client, lock in a simple champion, learn the map, practice your last-hitting, group for objectives, and go for the Nexus. Everything else — item builds, advanced mechanics, ranked play — builds naturally on top of those basics. For the full champion list and official patch notes, visit the official League of Legends website. Good luck on the Rift.
