If you’re a newcomer to League of Legends, especially one coming from another MOBA like Smite, you might be surprised by the relatively low usage of Cleanse—a summoner spell designed to remove crowd control effects. As a former high-level Smite player, you may naturally expect Cleanse (akin to Purification Beads in Smite) to be a staple pick, especially when facing CC-heavy comps. So why isn’t it?
Let’s break it down.
1. Cleanse Is Used—But Only in Specific Roles and Situations
In higher ELOs, Cleanse sees regular use, especially among ADC players. This is primarily because ADCs are the squishiest champions on the map and the most susceptible to being chain-CC’d and instantly deleted.
However, other roles are often “locked out” of taking Cleanse due to necessity:
- Top and Mid usually need Teleport for map pressure and lane management.
- Jungle is tied to Smite.
- Supports generally prefer Ignite or Exhaust to win lane or peel, and they can purchase Mikael’s Blessing for a targeted Cleanse effect instead.
This leads to a situation where only ADCs consistently have the “option” to take Cleanse, and even then, it’s a situational pick.
2. Timing and Utility: Cleanse Is a High-Skill Spell
Unlike Purification Beads in Smite, Cleanse in LoL only removes certain types of CC, namely:
- Stuns
- Roots
- Slows
- Taunts
- Fears
- Charms
- Blind
It does not work on:
- Knockups
- Suppressions
- Displacements
This limited applicability means you have to:
- Recognize the type of CC
- React with perfect timing
- Still avoid dying afterward
That’s a tall order for many players, especially in low to mid ELO, where decision-making and reaction times are still developing. And if you mistime Cleanse, it’s often a wasted spell with no value. In that light, Barrier or Heal feels more forgiving—guaranteed impact during a fight, rather than the gamble of avoiding one.
3. Tenacity Is Not Immunity
It’s worth noting: Cleanse provides 75% tenacity for 3 seconds after use, which means future CC durations are reduced. This is a nice touch, but not equivalent to immunity, and definitely not a game-turning reset like Beads into an aggressive counterattack.
In LoL, once you’re caught, you’re often dead—especially without mobility or peel. That makes Cleanse feel less impactful than it might in a Smite scenario where fights are more fluid and spaced out.
4. LoL’s Meta Rewards Proactive, Not Preventative, Spells
Summoner spells like Ignite, Exhaust, and Barrier offer direct combat value, either helping you win trades or survive burst. Teleport enables map presence and strategic pressure.
By contrast, Cleanse is purely reactive—it only becomes valuable if you get hit by a clensable CC and if you react appropriately. That’s a niche scenario compared to the reliable power of other summoners.
5. Alternatives to Cleanse Already Exist
Many champions and items offer built-in CC mitigation:
- Tenacity from items like Mercury’s Treads
- Spell immunity or resets from items like Zhonya’s Hourglass or Quicksilver Sash (QSS)
- Peeling from allies (e.g., Lulu ult, Janna tornado, etc.)
- Mobility abilities to dodge CC entirely
This redundancy makes Cleanse feel somewhat redundant or overly specialized outside of specific matchups (e.g., facing Ashe + Fiddlesticks + Twisted Fate).
6. In Pro Play and Higher ELO, Cleanse Has a Place
Despite all this, Cleanse isn’t “bad.” In organized play or higher ELO, where team comps are tailored and CC chains are a serious threat, Cleanse shines. It’s a proactive choice to counter specific champions or strategies—e.g., negating a Twisted Fate gold card or dodging a Sejuani engage.
But in solo queue or casual play, that same preparation and coordination just isn’t there. Players favor tools with guaranteed value over situational insurance.
Conclusion: Cleanse Is Powerful—but Not Popular
To sum up:
- Cleanse is niche and skill-reliant
- Its value is hard to measure in casual play
- Other summoners offer guaranteed returns
- It’s especially relevant to ADCs and high ELO players
So no, you’re not wrong to feel surprised. If you’re coming from a game like Smite where Beads were meta and expected, LoL’s more rigid summoner system and champion design make Cleanse less of a must-have and more of a strategic luxury.
But don’t discount it entirely. In the right hands, in the right matchup? Cleanse can absolutely flip a fight.
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