Early: earn the angle before you spend the engage

0:00–about 14:00, especially level-2 races, wave crashes, and first objective setup windows

Build a lane state that gives you an approach angle rather than forcing every cooldown. During the first waves, respect the level-2 race: if your duo reaches level 2 first and the enemy is exposed, threaten Q/W with ADC follow-up; if you are behind the race, give up dangerous last hits until both kits are online. Build Trample stacks by damaging enemy champions when they must walk up, and value Triumphant Roar charges from controlled trades and nearby deaths. Transition when a crash creates a recall or visible roam; if behind, preserve experience and wait for the enemy to overextend instead of diving through a large wave.

Lane

Engage only when the follow-up is already present

If the enemy duo is within Q range, your ADC can follow within one screen, and the wave is not heavily against you, threaten Q into W displacement rather than walking forward without a target. If your ADC is recalling, low on mana, or the enemy wave is large, hold the engage and use your presence to deny access to the next last hits.

With Alistar

• If Alistar is near you and his Q/W are available, play close enough to damage the target he displaces, but do not stand in front of him and remove his approach angle. Mark the target after the knock-up or knockback rather than expecting him to finish the kill alone.
• If he leaves lane after a crash, push the next wave or hold a safe position until he returns; his roam is strongest when the ADC does not lose a full wave for it. If he begins objective setup, arrive with him instead of entering the river first, because his value rises when he can see the engage angle and you can follow.
• If Alistar uses Unbreakable Will to enter, spend your damage during the window and then disengage when the resistance ends unless the enemy is already losing the fight. If he is peeling instead, attack the diver he displaces and let him keep the enemy away from your carry.
• If he is behind, do not demand a miracle engage into a prepared five-on-five. Let him hold a choke, protect the scaling player, and convert an enemy mistake or cross-map trade; his threat can still deny access even when his initiation cannot kill.