As a Viktor main, you may find yourself struggling in the early game, constantly being pushed under your tower and out-poked by your opponents. However, with the right strategies and mindset, you can turn the tables and start dominating your lane from the get-go. In this post, we’ll explore some valuable tips and insights shared by the community to help you master Viktor’s early laning phase.

Understand Viktor’s strengths and weaknesses


Viktor has one of the longest ranges in the early game, thanks to his laser ability (E). However, he lacks significant waveclear until he upgrades his Hexcore item. Understanding these characteristics is crucial for playing to your strengths and mitigating your weaknesses.

Focus on dodging and positioning


As the renowned player Faker once said, “You can’t do damage if you’re dead.” Prioritize dodging your opponent’s abilities and mastering your positioning. Stay outside the range of their spells and harass them with your long-range E. Once dodging becomes second nature, start focusing on landing your own abilities while avoiding damage.

Utilize trading stance


The concept of “trading stance,” popularized by the content creator Phoxong, is essential for winning trades in lane. Position yourself in a way that allows you to trade effectively with your opponent while minimizing the damage you take in return. This requires a deep understanding of your champion’s range and the enemy’s abilities.

Adapt to different matchups


The way you approach the early game depends on your opponent. Against champions with strong waveclear or all-in potential, focus on farming safely and avoiding unfavorable trades. Against weaker laners, look for opportunities to poke them down and zone them away from the minion wave.

Manage the wave and your mana


Autoattack the wave to maintain lane equilibrium and prevent the enemy from pushing you under your tower. You can also try to hit both the enemy champion and the minion wave simultaneously with your E to conserve mana and apply pressure. If you successfully poke down your opponent, you can zone them off the wave and force them to take a bad recall or risk dying.

Consider running First Strike and Minion Dematerializer


Some community members suggest running the First Strike rune for extra gold generation and Minion Dematerializer to help with waveclear. By using Dematerializer on melee and caster minions, you can improve your ability to thin out the wave and gain priority. The extra gold from First Strike can help you reach your item spikes faster.

Don’t always prioritize kills


As Viktor, you have limited kill pressure in the early laning phase unless your opponent makes significant mistakes. Instead of focusing solely on getting kills, aim to generate an experience and CS lead through effective trading and wave management. By outfarming and outleveling your opponent, you’ll be better positioned to impact the game later on.

Practice, review, and adapt


Mastering Viktor’s early laning phase takes time and practice. Continuously review your gameplay, identify your mistakes, and adapt your playstyle accordingly. Don’t be discouraged by losses; instead, use them as learning opportunities to improve your skills.

Remember, even if you find yourself under your tower, it’s not the end of the world. Learn how to manipulate the wave to create a slow push and apply pressure on your opponent. If you’re having a bad time improving your skills and ranking, you can consider some cheap elo boost. As you improve your farming, trading, and wave management, you’ll find yourself gaining early leads and setting yourself up for success in the mid and late game.

By incorporating these tips and insights from the community, you’ll be well on your way to mastering Viktor’s early laning phase and dominating your opponents. Keep practicing, stay patient, and trust in your ability to scale and carry the game. With dedication and perseverance, you’ll soon find yourself climbing the ranks and achieving victory with Viktor.