This guide shows how to build League of Legends lineups with the free LoL lineup optimizer. It is for DraftKings classic and showdown. If you are new to the optimizer, read the lineup optimizer guide for every sport first.
LoL Roster Rules
| Game type | Salary cap | Roster |
|---|---|---|
| DraftKings classic | $50,000 | CPT, TOP, JNG, MID, ADC, SUP, TEAM. Max 4 per team. At least 2 games. |
| DraftKings showdown | $50,000 | 2 CPT and 2 FLEX |
The CPT scores 1.5 times the points. The TEAM slot scores for team results such as wins and objectives.
Set Up the Build
Select "DraftKings - Classic" or "DraftKings - Showdown" and then the slate. The slate sets the game type.
The position buttons filter the pool by "TOP", "JNG", "MID", "ADC", "SUP" and "TEAM".
Mode Does Most of the Work
In the LoL optimizer, only four things change the build. They are the mode, "Randomness", "Min Unique Players" and the stack rules in "Rules". "Randomness" and "Min Unique Players" are on the "Build" tab. The other tabs do not change the LoL build.
| Mode | Randomness | Max exposure | Unique players |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | None | 100% | 1 |
| GPP | 8% | 60% | 3 |
The optimizer opens in "Cash" mode. Click "GPP" for tournaments. To change the GPP values, open "Advanced Settings" and edit "Randomness" and "Min Unique Players" on the "Build" tab.
How DraftKings Scores LoL
| Player stat | Points |
|---|---|
| Kill | +3 |
| Assist | +2 |
| Death | -1 |
| Creep score (CS) | +0.02 each |
| 10 or more kills or assists in a game | +2 |
| Triple, quadra, penta kill | +2, +5, +10 |
| TEAM stat | Points |
|---|---|
| Tower | +1 each |
| Dragon | +2 each |
| Baron | +3 each |
| First blood | +2 |
| Win | +2 |
| Win in under 30 minutes | +2 |
A series can also end early. In a best-of-three or best-of-five, the winning side gets a bonus for each game that it did not have to play. Each player gets +20 and the TEAM slot gets +15 for each game not played. A 2-0 sweep in a best-of-three pays this bonus once.
Kills and assists give most of the points. A team that wins a fight gets kills for one player and assists for the others. So players on the same team score together.
Which Positions Score Together
We measured the DraftKings points of each position on about 2,600 pro games. The table shows how closely two positions on the same team score together. A value of 1.00 means they always rise and fall together. A value of 0 means no link.
| Pair on the same team | Correlation |
|---|---|
| ADC and SUP | 0.86 |
| JNG and SUP | 0.84 |
| MID and SUP | 0.81 |
| ADC and JNG | 0.79 |
| JNG and MID | 0.79 |
| ADC and MID | 0.76 |
| TOP and JNG | 0.75 |
| TOP and SUP | 0.75 |
| TOP and MID | 0.73 |
| TOP and ADC | 0.72 |
ADC and SUP have the strongest link. They play the same lane, so they take part in the same fights. The support links closely with every teammate because the support gets assists all over the map. TOP has the weakest links. The top laner often plays alone on one side of the map.
Players on opposite teams move in opposite directions. The opposing pairs in our data range from -0.33 to -0.51. The two supports have the most negative link at -0.51. When one team wins the fights, the other team gets few kills and many deaths.
| Position | Average DK points per game |
|---|---|
| ADC | 27.8 |
| MID | 26.2 |
| JNG | 26.0 |
| SUP | 21.0 |
| TOP | 20.6 |
ADC scores the most on average because the ADC takes the most kills and the most CS. The support scores less, but its strong links make it a good second piece of a stack.
Stack a Team
A team that wins a game gives points to all five players. A team that loses gives few points. For tournaments, stack one team for this reason.
- A two-player stack: ADC and SUP from the same team. This pair has the strongest link.
- A three-player stack: add the JNG or the MID. Both link closely with the ADC and the SUP.
- A four-player stack: four players or three players plus the TEAM slot. The maximum is 4 from one team, and the TEAM slot counts toward the 4.
- Avoid players from the team that faces your stack. Their scores move against your stack.
Put the CPT on the team that you stack. The CPT scores 1.5 times the points, so the CPT gains the most when that team wins.
Click "Rules", then "+ Stack". Set "Stack at least" to a number such as 3 or 4. Leave "on" at "Any team", or select one team. You can also check "Bring-back from opposing team". Click "Save Rule".
"Apply to" sets the share of lineups that follow the rule. A value of 100 applies it to every lineup.
LoL Strategy by Contest Type
Cash games
- Stay in "Cash" mode. Use players from the teams that are most likely to win.
- Put the CPT on a likely winner. ADC, MID and JNG score the most, so they make the best captains.
Tournaments
- Stack one team. A 4-player stack from one match and 3 players from the other match follows two winning teams.
- Use 0 players from the opponent of your main stack. In our data, opposing players move against each other.
- Use a lower-owned team with a real chance to win as a second stack. This gives you leverage when the favorite loses.
- An uncommon captain makes your lineup different. Keep the captain on the team that you stack.
- Short slates make many lineups look the same. Raise "Min Unique Players", or leave some salary unused.
Build and Export
Lock or exclude two players to meet the DraftKings rule. Then click "Optimize". The lineups show below the pool. Each card shows the CPT at the top. The exposure panel in the sidebar shows the share of each player.
A Simple LoL Plan
- For cash games, stay in "Cash" mode and build one lineup.
- For tournaments, click "GPP" and add a stack rule of 3 or 4 from one team.
- Raise "Min Unique Players" for large multi-lineup builds.
- Check the starting rosters before the first game.
Find more League of Legends tools on the LoL DFS hub. Then go back to the lineup optimizer guide hub for the other sports.
DFS contests use real money. Only play what you can afford to lose. 21+. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.