ARAM Etiquette: The Unspoken Code

If you've played a lot of ARAM, you may have noticed that players here are less serious, silly even. There exists an unspoken code that many follow, even if they are not aware of it. ARAM players are not here to sweat, they're here for ~20 minutes of whimsy. However, breaking one of these codes can be like activating a sleeper agent, that player full of merriment will do everything in their power to annihilate you for daring to interrupt their fun. As a seasoned player who has seen this etiquette evolve, I have decided to make this list of them in order to help newer players not make these mistakes and hopefully bring a little more amusement into their ARAM games.

Flashy Dance to Start

The first and most important code as it's the easiest to break by not knowing is the flashy dances at the beginning of the game.

When you've loaded in and the minions have yet to spawn, you may see a player standing in the middle dancing. You may think "oh an easy mark" or "they're bait" however they are just performing the first ritual of fun. This is not Summoners Rift, there is no such thing as a cheese invade, and winning the first fight doesn't have a massive impact on the rest of the match.

Your goal should not be to attack them, in fact if you have auto attack enabled in your settings you should turn that off as it will always interfere and break etiquette. Your goal should be to join in.

Start dancing with Ctrl/3 or otherwise spamming any of your emotes and get as close as you can to the middle and/or the enemies. Then, if you see any person use their summoner flash, you are required to use yours as well. If you perform correctly the whole lobby will know that you are there for fun and truly belong in ARAM. Once the minions start duking it out, the game begins in earnest.

Never End on First Push

This code is fairly straightforward, do not end the game at the first opportunity to do so.

ARAM players are not here to win, blowing up the enemy nexus ends the fun for everyone. When the towers fall and the nexus remains exposed, do nothing, do not destroy it. You can set up next to their fountain to fight them as they spawn or otherwise start goofing around.

I have a personal code when it comes to ending in general, after I get to their nexus for the 2nd time I will get within attacking distance then perform an entire recall animation. If I am able to stand still channeling for the duration of the back animation then I will start to attack the nexus.

NEVER Take Exhaust

The exhaust summoner spell is just unfun for everyone.

Always Ping Before Grabbing Health

The health relics are a limited resource in ARAM, everyone on your team wants them so make sure to ping them and get your teams attention before grabbing them. If a teammate is heading your way, wait a few seconds to grab it as well so they can actually make it.

No Build Shaming

This is ARAM, people can build whatever they want on whoever they want. Who cares if the Sion has a Phantom Dancer, let them have their fun.

I personally love building the wackiest things in ARAM, imperial mandate E max Trundle is my favorite.

Be Generous in Champ Select

ARAM is by nature a random game mode, some games can genuinely be over in champ select. If someone's trying to trade the champion you have, it's best to just let them have it. Either they main the champ and you just gave them a key to success, or you just defused a potential issue down the line.

Sometimes you may be rewarded with a skin boost, be sure to properly thank anyone who spends real money on your one match.

FEED THE POROS

You are given Poro Snacks in your trinket slot, use them. Each snack makes the Poro grow - after 10 the Poro will explode into more.

The Poro population needs us to do our part, do not let the cuties go hungry.

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Always Take Your Marks

If you brought snowball/mark, and you've landed it. TAKE IT. Most games have too much standing around and nobody wants to engage, throwing the snowball means you have the desire to engage.

If it lands taking it will not only do more damage & start a fight, but also the cool-down gets reduced so you can snowball more. Land it, Take it, Profit.