We Need to Ward Deeper

"Knowledge is power"

-Francis Bacon

Actions speak just as loudly as wards do

Ever since ward limits have been introduced in the beginning of Season 4, having a single person illuminate the entire minimap with vision is no longer possible. With a maximum restriction of 3 stealth wards and 1 vision ward placed at a given time, summoners can no longer afford to mindlessly place wards in the fog of war. Instead, you have to make a conscious effort to gain the most effective vision control with limited wards. Not only is placing wards crucial for vision, but where they're placed is the difference between gathering minimum and maximum information about the map. In this overview, we will discuss the placements and advantages of warding, namely deep warding.

 

Strolling in the deep

Note: Ward placements can be mirrored and is not limited to blue side.

Deep wards placed into red buff jungle as blue side

Deep wards placed into blue buff jungle as blue side

Deep warding involves placing wards deep inside the enemy jungle. Granting vision within enemy territory keeps track of jungler movements from camp to camp and possible roaming paths throughout the jungle. By having this knowledge, your team can process this information and be able to assess which areas are safely accessible for roaming or counter jungling and/or have adequate time and preparation to countergank or contest jungle buffs.

Red Buff Jungle Wards 

Defensive stealth or vision wards are usually placed and found in this brush. By placing a vision ward inside, not only are you clearing vision of the area, but it also ensures that you are able to safely advance further to place more deep wards without danger. It reveals multiple pathways an enemy can take which gives you enough information to figure out whether someone is going top or mid lane.

A ward placed into the raptor brush offers vision of the enemy jungler clearing the raptor camps. Knowing this gives you the opportunity to counter jungle their wolves or gromp safely or gank bottom lane without the danger of a countergank. If you plan to track the enemy jungler's movement, it gives you enough time to prepare a countergank in the top or mid lane. This ward can also indicate whether a jungler has transitioned across mid lane from bottom side jungle to topside jungle or vice versa.

When placed properly at the very edge of the brush overlooking the red buff, the ward should reveal the small red buff camps.  This ward is particulary effective when placed before the red buff spawns (assuming you have a vague idea of the timer) because gives you enough time to coordinate with your teammates to contest it. However, if things do not go as planned, you will be alerted early enough about incoming danger since there is sufficient vision surrounding the area.

For further jungle control, a ward can be placed over the Krug walls so that you can also survey whether or not the camp is being cleared and if the enemy jungler will commit to ganking top lane. This allows you to counter jungle elsewhere or react in time to countergank top lane.

 

Blue Buff Jungle Wards

Similar to the raptor brush ward, the wolves brush also monitors jungle movement across the mid lane from bottom side jungle to topside jungle and vice versa. Although it does not directly overlook the wolf camp being cleared, it will catch the direction the jungler is heading afterwards if the jungler is in the vicinity of the ward's vision range.

Not only does this ward serves it purpose of revealing many paths of entry, it overlooks both blue buff and the gromp. The vision granted is incredibly effective as it sets up an opportunity to contest the blue buff especially when the enemy jungler is attempting to pass the blue buff off to their mid laner. Identical to how the Krug ward operates, it gives you freedom to counter jungle elsewhere safely or respond quickly enough to countergank.

Alternatively, you can place a ward over the wall to provide better security over mid lane without risking entering to deep into enemy territory to gain vision.

Conclusion

Proper ward placements are more important than ever before ever since the introduction to ward limitations. Having the power to violate your opponent's privacy by simply placing deep ward vision gives you access to vital information. For 75 gold, a 3 minute surveillance of part the enemy jungle can offer enough information to change the outcome of a gank. Feel free to explore different deep ward placements as they are not limited to just the ones listed above. It's time to go deep.