Build priority without donating Charm

0:00–~14:00, or until the first tower/plate pressure changes lane assignments; act on crashed waves and visible cooldown windows.

Start by choosing whether the lane wants priority or a safer wave. If Q can hit the wave and the enemy without exposing you to an all-in, build a crash before recalling or moving. Keep Charm for the opponent's committed approach or movement ability, because its value is highest when it converts their action into your burst window. Use W's brief movement burst to adjust spacing, not as permission to fight inside a larger enemy wave. Your early transition is a completed crash into a recall, river move, or objective setup; if behind, collect safe CS and XP, use Q for controlled clear, and stop contesting center lane when the enemy has the stronger wave.

Lane

Trade around Charm and the wave

If the first waves are contested and your mana is healthy, use Q to threaten the enemy's last hit while keeping Charm for their dash or committed trade; then retreat before the enemy wave overwhelms you. If you cannot establish a safe angle or the opposing wave is larger, take the CS and preserve mana for the next clear instead of forcing a short trade with no purpose.

With Ahri

• Play around Ahri's wave state: if she has priority and the enemy mid is catching under tower, move with her toward a visible river play instead of starting a separate fight. If she lands Charm and you are within follow-up range, commit damage immediately; her pick window is valuable because it can create numbers for the next objective.
• Give Ahri information before she enters fog. If the next objective is 60–90 seconds away, help crash the nearby wave and sweep the approach so she can threaten Charm without face-checking. If the team is behind, stand close enough to punish anyone who chases her after a missed Charm or spent Spirit Rush.
• Treat her as a burst-and-reset contributor, not your only frontline. If Ahri is ahead, let her create the first target while you control the enemy's response; if she is behind, protect her while she clears and look for a counter-engage rather than asking her to dash into the front line.
• When Ahri secures a takedown and gains another Spirit Rush recast, follow her next target only if the route remains visible and the enemy cannot collapse first. If the first kill does not create a safe continuation, help her disengage and bank the numbers advantage on a tower or objective.