LoL Vision Guide: Where to Ward, Control Wards and Vision Score (2026)

Vision decides fights before they happen: the team that sees the jungler coming dodges the gank, and the team that controls the river takes the dragon. It's also the cheapest way to climb — a 75-gold Control Ward often does more than a 3,000-gold item. This guide covers every ward and trinket on patch 26.21, what changed in 2026 (support Control Wards, Faelights, the Stealth Ward recharge), where to ward in each phase of the game, and how vision score is counted. Checked 2026-10-25.

Every ward and trinket

Item	Cost	How it works
Stealth Ward	trinket	2 charges; each ward lasts 90–120 s (average champion level), 3 health; recharge 210–90 s by level (26.3)
Control Ward	75 gold	Carry 2, one on the map per player; reveals and disables enemy wards and traps; 4 health; lasts until killed
Oracle Lens	trinket	From level 1; reveals and disables hidden wards and traps around you for 8 s (26.1); 2 charges, 160–100 s
Farsight Alteration	trinket	From level 9; places a 1-health visible ward up to 4,000 range away; 198–99 s

Destroying an enemy Stealth Ward gives 10 gold and no experience. Farsight wards don't count toward your ward limit and last until they're killed — but enemies can see them, and they have 1 health.

The support item and 2026's vision changes

Supports carry the team's extra vision. The support item starts as World Atlas (400 gold); earn 400 gold with Shared Riches to upgrade to Runic Compass, then 800 more for Bounty of Worlds; charges refill at the shop. Runic Compass holds 3 ward charges and Bounty of Worlds 4 ward charges.

1. Patch 26.1 · January 2026Faelights and support Control Wards

   Since 26.1, a ward placed on a Faelight becomes a superward: +25% vision radius, a bonus vision region for 45 s and +25% vision score. Control Wards cost supports 40 gold after their quest, with two stored in the role quest slot; Oracle Lens sweeps for 8 seconds.

2. Patch 26.3 · February 2026Wards from minute one

   Supports start the match with Control Wards in their role quest slot, and the Stealth Ward recharge became 210–90 s by level.

3. Patch 25.S1.1 · January 2025New ward runes

   Sixth Sense, Grisly Mementos and Deep Ward replaced the old ward runes in Domination.

Where to ward, phase by phase

The objective timer tells you when the next spawn is — that's when your wards should be in place.

How vision score works

The official wiki describes vision score as 1 point per minute of ward lifetime you provide, plus 1 per minute of enemy ward lifetime you deny — less for redundant or pointless wards. Two practical rules follow: a ward in a useful spot that lives long earns more than three wards stacked in one bush, and clearing enemy wards counts as much as placing your own. Since 26.1 a ward on a Faelight earns 25% more score.

• 3Stealth Wards per player on the map
• 75 ga Control Ward (40 g for supports after their quest)
• 8 sOracle Lens sweep
• +25%vision on a Faelight ward

Vision runes in Domination

Vision habits for every role

1. Buy a Control Ward every back.

   75 gold is the best value in the shop when it's in the right bush.

2. Use your trinket on cooldown.

   A charge sitting full is vision you didn't place.

3. Swap to Oracle Lens when it helps.

   Supports and junglers usually switch after the first items; laners keep the Stealth Ward longer.

4. Ward before you need it.

   A minute before the objective, not when the fight has started.

Help with vision and macro

• Map control: 1-on-1 coaching — from $22.00 an hour.
• Read next: climbing as support and objective timers.