In MOBA games like Onmyoji Arena, the objective is always simple and straightforward: Destroy the enemy base before they can do the same to you. However, as a team-based game where players engage in 5v5 matches, the approach is often more complicated than it sounds.

Specifically, since the map is divided into three lanes that separate each of the teams’ bases, players must distribute themselves on each lane to engage against the enemy. And it’s this distribution that complicates matters, as there are variables like hero matchups, as well as the player’s personal skill that can either make or break their strategies. And regarding the three different lanes, there are certain nuances and differences in play style that you must consider when it comes to playing your lane correctly. 

With that being said, in this guide, we’re going to talk about how to properly play the middle lane, going over the basic objectives of playing in this lane, as well as sharing a few brief tips and tricks to outplay your enemy here, and possibly lead your team to victory. Keep in mind, however, that the tips in this guide are provided assuming a standard distribution of one top, one mid, two in bot, and one jungler on each team.

Middle Lane Basics

Like its name implies, this lane is positioned smack dab in the center of the map, dividing it diagonally from each base. At its sides lie both halves of the jungle, with the river running perpendicular across the middle of the lane, further dividing the jungle into four quadrants. This location belies one of the most important attributions of the middle lane; the fact that it’s closer to everything than any other lane. In this sense, more than simply trying to farm without paying attention to anything else, it’s the mid player’s responsibility to stay on top of what’s happening both in top and in bot, as well as in their jungle, and lend help if possible.

To aid in these added responsibilities, the mid lane is almost always a solo lane, which means that players can farm freely and level up quickly, at least much faster than those in the bottom lane. This ease of farming also means that the heroes in mid will also be more geared than the rest, and their destructive potential is quite greater, especially when considering that the characters that often go in this lane are Mages or other Shikigami with tons of burst damage, to facilitate ganking.

For all the reasons mentioned above, it’s not uncommon for those who go mid to essentially snowball their team to victory since, just like the junglers, they can facilitate kills by ganking. And though many of the mid heroes frequently rely on their skills and can’t become hard carries because of it, they can power up to the point where they can easily nuke any enemy from full health with just a single burst.

In short, the mid lane is one of the most important, both in terms of personal farming, as well as when supporting their teams via ganking and other assistance. Regardless, the same principles that apply elsewhere are also valid here: Players must focus on farming minions while blocking the enemy’s farm, and must refrain from pushing the turret too early in order to maximize gains from farming. The only difference here is that, just like the junglers, the middle lane is expected to gank the other two lanes whenever possible.

Middle Lane Shikigami

In Onmyoji Arena, the Shikigami who belong in mid are frequently only Mages, since they have the burst damage necessary to unleash powerful and effective ganks. However, as long as the character in question has lots of burst damage, and maybe some CC or movement abilities, they can probably thrive in mid as well.

With that being said, here are some of the best Shikigami for the middle lane in Onmyoji Arena: 

• Maestro (Mage)
• Momiji (Mage)
• Hana (Support/Mage)
• Menreiki (Mage)
• Shiranui (Mage/Ninja)
• Kiyohime (Mage)

Tips For Winning the Middle Lane

Playing the middle lane is not difficult, though it requires a bit more coordination with your teammates than in other lanes. Here are a few tips and tricks you can use to improve your chances of winning the lane. 

• Keep Your Eyes Always on Top, Bottom, and Your Jungle

As the person located in the middle, you’re always going to be the one closer to any other place in the map than anyone else, except for maybe the jungler since it’s their job to roam the map. Regardless, thanks to this position, you’re always going to be the one who can rush to anyone’s aid when needed. 

Download Onmyoji Arena on PC

Download Onmyoji Arena on PC

Even when things are calm, a proactive mid player could arrange ambushes on top or bottom to help snowball their team to victory. This leads to our next point.

• Gank Whenever Possible

It’s easy to get caught up in the farming game when playing in the mid lane. After all, one of the most important parts of outplaying your enemies is farming faster than them so that you can level up and gear yourself faster. In fact, prioritizing your farm is the best way to play in both the top lane, as well as in bot, as a hard carry.

However, the responsibilities of the mid lane go beyond simply farming. Sure, while obtaining gold and preventing the enemy from doing the same is important, ganking lanes and snowballing the ones who are supposed to carry the team is also a vital task. In this sense, if you’re winning in your lane and manage to make the enemy retreat to heal, you can use this downtime to gank another lane. Be careful, though, as your enemy can also do the same.

• Farm, Farm, and Farm Some More

This applies to every single lane, though its importance cannot be overstated, which is why we mentioned it just now and we’re listing it here separately as well. 

It is well-known that the team that has the gold advantage by the end of the laning phase is very likely to end up winning the match. And the best way to get gold in this game is by learning how to last hit and farming minions. Sure, you could technically get more gold by eliminating enemy Shikigami, but this is always risky and your enemies will often escape you, whereas minions are everywhere and infinite.

For this reason, one of the most important parts of the middle lane, particularly since it’s a solo lane, is to maximize your farming by last hitting minions, while trying to prevent your enemy from doing the same.

The middle lane can be some of the most fun you’ll ever have in Onmyoji Arena, particularly since the Shikigami you will frequently choose for here are Mages that can nuke everything to bits. And there are seldom things as satisfying as bursting an enemy from 100% to 0% HP in a heartbeat. 

Hopefully, with the beginner tips in this guide, you’re ready to take to the field and play the middle lane.