The Route That Sets Up a Level Two Gank

The route begins with a leash from the bot lane on Red Brambleback. Lee Sin smites Red immediately, not to save time on the buff alone, but to stay healthy enough to skip a potion and move directly to Raptors. He kites the Red buff toward the Raptors camp, auto-attacking between steps, so that by the time the buff dies he is already walking toward the next camp. Instead of clearing Krugs, which would take too long and leave him on the wrong side of the map, he kills Raptors with a combination of Sonic Wave and auto-attacks. The Raptors camp gives him level two, and because he kited the camp toward the river side, he is already close to the mid lane ramp. This route is not random. It is chosen because it keeps him near mid lane, where the enemy mid laner is most likely to be pushing for an early level two. He sacrifices Krugs and a faster level three in exchange for a gank that can create first blood before the enemy jungler has even finished their second camp. The route also leaves him close to the river scuttle if the gank fails, so he can recover tempo instead of falling behind. In the clip, the Lee Sin player checks his mid laner's wave position while clearing Raptors, sees that the enemy mid is overextended, and begins moving toward the river. He does not ping excessively; he simply walks into the fog of war and waits for the right angle.

Why the Timing Window Is So Narrow

The level two gank is one of the most explosive plays in League of Legends, but it only works inside a tiny window. In a solo lane, the enemy mid laner reaches level two after the first wave and one melee minion of the second wave, usually around 2:20 to 2:25. A jungler who clears Red and Raptors can arrive in mid lane around 2:15 to 2:20, which means the gank must be launched almost the moment the Raptors die. If the jungler is three seconds late, the enemy mid laner may already have level two and a second ability, which can be enough to trade back or escape. If the jungler is too early, the wave may not be in the right position, and the enemy mid laner can simply walk back to tower before the jungler arrives. The window is also narrowed by vision. Most mid laners place a ward in the river brush around 1:30, and that ward lasts long enough to spot a level two gank. The jungler must either path around the ward, sweep it with Oracle Lens, or time the gank so the enemy is distracted by a cannon minion or a trade. Finally, the enemy jungler's position matters. If the enemy jungler started on the same side of the map, they can collapse on the level two gank and turn first blood into a double kill for their team. The perfect level two gank is therefore not just a mechanical play; it is a race against minion timers, ward timers, and the enemy jungler's clear path. In the clip, every one of those factors lines up: the enemy mid is pushing, the river brush is unwarded, and the enemy jungler is spotted bot side. That is why the play looks effortless even though it is incredibly fragile.

The Execution: Pathing, Vision, and Ability Order

The execution starts with ability order. Lee Sin takes Sonic Wave (Q) at level one to clear Red and Raptors faster, then takes Tempest (E) at level two. He does not take Safeguard (W) because the gank needs damage and a slow, not a shield. As he leaves Raptors, he walks through the river ramp and hugs the wall, staying out of the mid lane's vision cone. He checks the river brush with a quick step, and because the enemy mid laner placed their ward earlier in the lane brush instead of the river brush, he remains unseen. The enemy mid laner is pushing toward the blue side tower, so Lee Sin approaches from behind, cutting off the retreat path. He waits for the enemy mid to step forward for a last hit, then launches Sonic Wave from fog of war. The Q lands, and instead of immediately recasting it, he walks forward and uses Tempest to slow the target and reveal them. He auto-attacks to apply Red buff, then holds the second Q until the enemy mid laner flashes toward their tower. The moment they flash, he recasts Q and follows them, landing directly on top of them. His mid laner follows up with their own abilities, and the enemy mid laner dies before they can reach the tower. Lee Sin does not chase further; he walks back into the river, takes a quick look at the scuttle timer, and resets his position. The perfect part of the execution is not a flashy mechanical outplay. It is the patience to hold Q2 until the Flash comes out, the pathing to avoid the ward, and the discipline to leave the lane immediately after the kill instead of trying to push the wave or dive a full-health tower.

How to Replicate It Without Throwing Your Jungle

The level two gank is a high-risk, high-reward play, and the fastest way to throw your jungle is to force it when the conditions are wrong. First, only attempt it on champions with strong early gank tools: Lee Sin, Elise, Jarvan IV, Xin Zhao, Twitch, or Rek'Sai are good examples. If you are playing a farming jungler like Karthus or Lillia, a level two gank will usually cost you more than it gains. Second, check the lane before you finish your second camp. If your mid laner is under their tower or the enemy mid is freezing near their tower, skip the gank and take Krugs or move to the other side of the map. Third, communicate with a single ping and a short message. Your laner needs to know you are coming, but they also need to keep the wave in a gankable spot. If they hard-push the wave, the enemy mid will hit level two early and retreat before you arrive. Fourth, respect vision. If you see the enemy mid laner ward the river brush, either start Oracle Lens and sweep it before entering or take a longer path through the lane alcove. Fifth, have a recovery plan. If the gank fails, do not linger in the lane. Walk to scuttle, clear your remaining camps, or invade the enemy jungler's opposite side if you know where they are. If you die during the level two gank, you will likely lose both scuttle crabs and your entire top-side jungle. Finally, remember that the perfect level two gank is not about ego. It is about timing. In the clip, the Lee Sin player succeeds because he treats the gank as a calculated investment, not a coin flip. He arrives at the exact moment the enemy mid is vulnerable, lands the key ability, holds the follow-up until Flash, and leaves before the enemy jungler can respond. That is what makes it perfect: not just the kill, but the lack of any wasted movement, vision, or time.