Early: win access, not a blind all-in

0:30–14:00, especially the first two waves, each crash, and the first dragon setup 60–90 seconds before spawn

Start by deciding whether your duo can contest the level-2 race. If your wave can move first, use Radiant Volley to help crash and threaten Solar Snare when the enemy steps up; if their engage is stronger, preserve health and accept a small CS loss rather than taking a full wave trade. Use Searing Brilliance attacks on last-hit moments, not into minion aggro. After a crash, recall for mana and return before the bounce becomes a fight. Your transition is a first safe reset with E and Rebuttal available for the next lane window.

Lane

Lane: build a safe spell-and-wave lead

If the first two waves can be pushed without exposing your duo to an all-in, then use Radiant Volley to establish a crash and take the level-2 race; if the enemy duo reaches level 2 first or has a stronger engage, then give up the last dangerous minions and preserve health until your next safe wave. After a successful crash, recall or move only while the enemy is forced to catch the wave.

With Mel

• If Mel has Solar Snare available and is positioned behind you, then hold enemies inside its center or slow zone instead of scattering after the first hit; her damage becomes more reliable when one target remains accessible long enough for Overwhelm to build. Do not expect her to start a fight from the front—create the first safe access point so she can follow.
• If you are the support, then shape the wave around Mel's mana and cooldown windows: help her crash before a recall, threaten the enemy when E is ready, and avoid taking random trades while Rebuttal is down. When she has a marked target near an objective, protect her route to that target rather than chasing a separate low-health enemy.
• If Mel is ahead, then play for picks and siege around her root zone instead of forcing a blind 5v5. Sweep and hold a choke 60–90 seconds before the objective; if she lands E, collapse on the marked target and convert the death into the dragon, Baron, tower or wave that made the setup worthwhile.
• If Mel is behind, then give her safe mid or side-wave access and use your frontline to buy time for repeated spell hits. A teammate should not demand that she face-check river or dive first; if the enemy starts an objective without vision control, help her fire E from the approach and trade the objective when the contest cannot be won.