League of Legends
What Is a Freeze in League of Legends?
Holding the minion wave in place near your own tower, so you farm safely while the enemy laner is denied gold.
What does freezing the wave mean?
To freeze is to keep the minion wave stuck in one spot, usually just outside your own tower’s range, by only last-hitting and letting the enemy wave stay slightly bigger. You farm safely close to home, while the enemy laner has to walk far forward, where your jungler can punish them, or give up farm and experience.
How to set up a freeze
- Let the wave come to you. A freeze works when the enemy wave is pushing toward your side.
- Keep the enemy wave slightly bigger, usually by around three or four caster minions, so it keeps pressing on your minions without crashing into your tower.
- Only [last-hit](term:last-hitting). Any extra damage to the wave moves it forward and breaks the freeze.
- Hold the spot, standing between the wave and the enemy laner so they cannot reach the minions safely.
Why freezing works
- Denies the enemy: they lose gold and experience every wave they cannot reach.
- Sets up ganks: to farm, they must walk deep into your side, where your jungler can gank them.
- Keeps you safe: you farm near your tower and far from enemy ganks.
Example
A top laner with a kill lead freezes the wave in front of their tower. The enemy laner, already behind, loses two full waves rather than walking up. When they finally step forward, the jungler arrives from the side and the lane snowballs further.
How to break a freeze
Ask your jungler to help you push the wave, use a fast clear to thin the wave, or recall and come back with items. Sometimes the best answer is to accept the lost wave and play elsewhere, for example by roaming.
Freeze and wave management
Freezing is one tool of wave management, alongside slow pushes and fast shoves. Knowing when to freeze and when to push is one of the biggest skill gaps in laning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my freeze keep breaking?
Usually because your wave is too big, or you hit minions with abilities or extra attacks. The enemy wave must stay slightly larger for the freeze to hold.
When should I not freeze?
When you need to roam, recall or join an objective. A freeze ties you to your lane, so pushing first is better if you want to leave.