Climbing faster in League of Legends usually means shrinking to one to three core champions and learning matchup limits deeply — not chasing stats-site counters you cannot execute. Small pools free attention for waves, objectives, and map timing. Coach Me on thatswhy.gg is also cleaner when the champion stays still long enough for a Recurring Habit to mean something.
| Approach | What You Get | What You Lose |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean (wide pool, stats-site counters) | Occasional “good” draft on paper | Reset matchup knowledge every game; noisy Coach Me reviews |
| Puddle (1–3 cores + one fallback) | The 5% edges: timers, all-in thresholds, wave traps | You will not have a theoretical answer to every lock-in |
| Puddle + Coach Me on your mains | A Recurring Habit that is actually yours | Still have to queue the rule — mastery is reps, not a report |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many champions should I play to climb?
One to three core champions plus at most one fallback for bans or bad drafts. The puddle climbs. The ocean looks impressive in champ select.
- Is counter-picking worth it in solo queue?
Only if you can execute the pick. Comfort with mastery beats a theoretical counter. You brought a win-rate graph to a fistfight if you first-timed the “counter.”
- Why does a small pool help review?
Consistent champions make it easier to separate matchup mistakes from real habits. Coach Me, We’ve Seen This, and Why Am I Losing? all get louder when you are not swapping kits every game.
- How should I use thatswhy.gg with a small champion pool?
Search your Riot ID and Coach Me your mains — not the one-off pocket pick. Read the Recurring Habit. On Coach, We’ve Seen This flags the same death on the same champ. Five analyzed SR losses unlock Why Am I Losing? Excuse Me, Coach? if you still think the matchup is “unplayable.”