Turret Plating in League of Legends: Turn a Lead Into a Win

In League of Legends, the outer turret in each lane is covered in plates during the early game. Each plate you knock off gives gold, and the plates stay only until a set time, after which they fall away. Taking plates is one of the clearest ways to turn a small lane advantage, such as a kill or a won trade, into gold that matters for the whole game. And plates are only the start: a lead has to be turned into objectives to win.

How turret plating works

• Outer turrets have plates in the early game.
• Each plate destroyed gives gold, shared between the champions who helped take it.
• The plates fall away at 14 minutes; after that the turret is worth its normal gold only.
• Early on, turrets take less damage when several enemy champions are near them, so a lone champion takes plates more easily than a group in the first minutes.

Because of the time limit, the early minutes are when plates matter.

When to take plates

• After a kill or when your opponent recalls: the lane is empty, and every second hitting the turret is gold.
• When your wave is pushed into their turret: your minions tank the turret's attacks while you hit it.
• When the enemy jungler is seen elsewhere: you can stay longer under their turret.

Don't take plates when:

• The enemy jungler could be near and you have no vision.
• Your wave is gone: the turret will target you.
• Your health is low.

Plates and lane leads

A kill gives gold once. Using the time the enemy is dead or recalling to take one or two plates doubles the value of that kill. The best laners turn every advantage into plates, then into pressure.

From plates to objectives

Plates are gold, but the game is won by objectives. With a lead:

1. Push your advantage into the map: help your jungler at dragons or other early objectives.
2. Take the turret itself when the plates are gone and the enemy can't defend it.
3. Group with your team for bigger objectives once outer turrets fall.
4. Use vision to keep control of the areas you've won.

A team that takes plates but never turns them into objectives often throws its lead.

An example after a kill

You kill your lane opponent at the seventh minute, and the enemy jungler was just seen on the other side of the map. Your wave is about to reach their turret:

1. Let your minions arrive first so the turret targets them.
2. Hit the turret while your wave tanks, taking a plate, maybe two.
3. Back with that gold before the enemy returns to lane, and buy your item.

One kill became a kill, two plates and an early item. Your opponent comes back behind in gold and level, and your next trades are easier.

Roles and plates

Top and mid laners often have the clearest windows for plates. Bot lane plates are worth the same, and a lane with two champions can take them fast after winning a fight. Junglers can help a lane take plates, though they should watch the timer for their own camps and objectives.

When you are behind

If the enemy is taking your plates:

• Clear the wave before it reaches your turret, so they have no minion cover.
• Ask your jungler for help; an enemy hitting plates is far from safety.
• Don't trade badly trying to stop them; a small loss is better than dying and losing more plates.

Common mistakes

• Hitting plates with no vision while the enemy jungler is missing.
• Forgetting plates after a kill and walking back too early.
• Taking plates but never helping your team at objectives.
• Dying under a turret for one more plate.

For the habits that turn small edges into wins, see our League of Legends roaming guide.

Frequent questions

What is turret plating in League of Legends?

Extra plates on outer turrets during the early game; each plate destroyed gives gold.

When do turret plates fall off?

At 14 minutes. After that, outer turrets are worth their normal gold only.

Is it worth taking plates after a kill?

Usually yes, if the enemy jungler isn't near. It turns a kill into more gold.

How do I stop the enemy from taking my plates?

Clear waves before they reach your turret, ask your jungler for help and avoid bad trades.

RP codes on Mas4Games

Plates are gold you earn. For champions and skins, Mas4Games sells League of Legends RP codes for accounts of the Türkiye server. The code is shown on your order's page and sent by e-mail, and the help center has live support.