How does an expert player use 'zoning' to control a specific area on the map during a game?

Zoning is the strategic act of controlling or denying an opponent access to a specific area on the map. An expert player uses this technique to establish an invisible, yet highly effective, boundary that dictates enemy movement and actions. The primary mechanism for expert zoning is the creation of a credible threat: positioning their character or deploying abilities in a way that would inflict significant punishment if an opponent enters the zoned space. This threat leverages the player's damage potential, crowd control abilities, or even just their mere presence as a powerful deterrent. For example, standing at the edge of a valuable objective with a high-damage ability ready forces an enemy to either avoid the area or risk taking heavy damage, effectively denying them access. Expert players possess a deep understanding of their character's and their opponent's ranges, cooldowns, and resource pools, allowing them to precisely identify the boundaries of their threat and when to extend or retract it. They constantly assess the map, anticipating enemy movements and resource availability, to decide where and when to establish control. This often involves denying opponents vital resources like experience points or gold, preventing them from accessing strategic chokepoints, or securing objectives such as capture points or monster camps. Vision control, through placing wards or destroying enemy vision, augments zoning by allowing the player to see enemies approaching the contested area and react accordingly, strengthening the perceived threat. By consistently applying this pressure and denying space, expert players create a significant positional advantage, force unfavorable engagements, and subtly manipulate the flow of the game to their team's benefit.