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Top Lane Mains... Why do you do it?

RIPxMidnight·2/17/2016, 11:34:25 PM·152 votes·18,868 views

I'm genuinely curious. What motivates you to play top lane? Is it driven by your champion pool? Is there something about the role that calls out to you?

Top lane feels like the most frustrating role on the map. It very rarely feels like the true 1v1 that it could be, but instead is dependent on pressure from jg/mid to secure kills or blow sums that will lead to kills later in the game. There's nothing worse than trying to farm under tower all game while your own jg seems to forget that top lane exists all together.

I main jungle and always attempt a lvl 3 gank top lane if it looks even remotely possible that at the very least I can burn an enemy flash, because I understand how easy it is to snowball from the slightest advantage.

So Top Lane mains, I want to get inside your head. Why do you prefer that role?

EDIT: Wow! Thanks everyone for the outpouring of response and insight. To think that this thread was being down-voted when I first made it.

Follow-up question: Who are some safe Top Lane picks? Champions that won't fall off hard if they don't get ahead early or can safely farm/scale up even when facing a lot of enemy pressure?

386 Comments

HayRoss2/18/2016, 3:43:11 AM101 votes

Many reasons:

  1. Rarely do people blame you for their own problems: "omg lee y dont u gank?" "gg lulu didn't get any vision" "omg vayne y didn't u follow up?" "fuk u zed no ping mia" What is the top lane equivalent of that? Nothing. Nobody expects shit from you

  2. Large amount of diversity. Squishmasters to full tanks, AD, AP, Mobile, slow as fuck. All kinds of shit

  3. I don't have to give half a shit about you nerds down there

  4. Jungle invasions are like going to an outdoor movie. Pull up the folding chairs and bust out the popcorn, and watch "Jungle Invasion 3: Return of Lee sin"

  5. You don't have to rely on anyone else

  6. Vision changes hurt you significantly less than other roles

And more, what other questions can I answer?

Dunkrius2g2/18/2016, 3:57:47 AM37 votes

Darius http://imgur.com/YT19SDD

Melledoneus2/18/2016, 1:51:04 AM23 votes

Three reasons why I play top.

  1. Shenpai.
  2. Being the tank/bruiser of the team is fun, because although you rely on your carries this is the perfect meta for them. Peel for them and you win.
  3. Because bot lane is crowded, mid lane is a highway for ganks, and jungle... well, I don't really have that many junglers to play besides Vi. Also because top lane is relaxing. When you get the hang of it.

People always wonder about Gangplank Fiora Tryndamere these three and wonder how I live with it. The answer? I've played the matchups so many damn times I learned how to mess with the heads of the enemy players. You have no idea how many times I've baited Fiora into going for a vital before pulling back and punishing her hard. Or when I auto that barrel GP is about to detonate in my face, giving me ample time to jump on his face. Or how many times I bait Tryndamere into attacking me near my turret just for me to get him low enough to be scared to fight me. It's mind games, yes, but once you find your place in the jigsaw puzzle you're set.

Now, if only people would stop playing Graves top lane...

DorkunedAuras2/18/2016, 1:30:31 AM18 votes

Honestly, top feels like a "battle of advantages" lane. Mid is all about reaction time and direct outplay or die. Bot is annoying, dependent on some idiot you got paired with. Jungle is all about macro play, deciding each moment what the best move is. But top really feels like you're outplaying the opponent on a much broader strategic level instead of simple reaction times.

Most champions in top lane are melee bruisers/tanks (if you play vayne/quinn/teemo top, go die in a fire). These champions have decent damage and good tankiness early, so they're not going to insta-kill each other early. As a result, you end up looking for little advantages constantly. Because it's an island, you usually have only yourself to rely on for winning the lane. It's a pure 1v1. Every little advantage you can eek out sticks because there's little else they can fall back on. In mid you play aggressive and dodge their skillshots. Because top has few of those flying around, it's all about positioning right to win every trade possible. Frequently in high elo, those trades never actually happen as both top laners know at all times who will win an trade in a given situation, and the losing party avoids it. In low elo, it's more fun because they don't actually avoid every fight possible.

Essentially, top is about setting yourself up to win every 1v1 situation possible through tactical play and intelligent trading. Poke doesn't exist, you will almost always take damage back in any situation. It's just a matter of skill and tactics. That's fun to me, it's the purest lane, with heavier consequences due to lethal mistakes meaning you have to go back to lane still 1v1 with the enemy now really scary, but depending on your champion, rarely completely dooming the lane. You just have to be smarter. (as opposed to those midlaners who just have to dodge things to win trades. Maybe more mechanical skill, but less tactical skill).

Voluug132/18/2016, 3:50:46 AM18 votes

Pure, unbrindled spite.

I picked counterpicks to the champion I most hate, Riven. And its the most deliciously sadistic and humillating counter:

Taric

I mean I am not a Top main, but my top main is Taric.

Skorpio2/18/2016, 12:58:59 AM18 votes

Top is my second role, jungler being first. But it's due to champion pool. Hecarim and Sion are easily two of my favorites. Top and jungle are where most bruiser types get played so that's where I go.

Spicy Rice2/18/2016, 1:22:30 AM15 votes

I enjoy top for 2 reasons.

First, there is a huge variety of champs you can play top. Sure, they might not be meta, but literally every champ can work top if you have the proper skill.

Secondly, it is the place where i feel like im having a skillful match. Jungle is too dependent on your team not feeding too fast. Botlane is decided by supports and how much your adc trusts said supp. Midlane is too crowded, with literally everyone having the ability to roam mid at a moments notice.

Toplane is different. For the most part, its just you, and your enemy. You win or lose depending on who can capitalize on whos mistakes harder. To me, thats exetremly fun. Im not depending on the hope that my labe isnt invaded or hoping my lane partner doesnt fuck up. Ita jsut me, and tge enemy, and the better player will win (except vs ryze and or irelia. Screw those guys)

Tuumr2/18/2016, 2:51:37 AM15 votes

I like to be alone. The toxicity of the other players feel more distant when I'm far above, watching their failures and giving first blood to the enemy Fiora.

3ofGot40ve2/18/2016, 10:51:42 AM15 votes

I would give a longer response but I'm still stacking Nasus

Bladerunner77772/18/2016, 2:35:14 AM14 votes

Top lane is where all of the manly men settle their disputes. There's no room for your squishy mages and puny assassins

SirHeavyScrotum2/18/2016, 4:31:25 AM14 votes

It's as close as it gets to a "1v1 me bro" lane, and we kind of like the challenge of the extreme snowbally-ness. It's eat or be eaten and we like it like that.

Shadow Hazard2/18/2016, 4:04:49 AM9 votes
  • Mid and bot are death zones
  • Champ pool is more favorable
  • I enjoy being more self reliant

Although this current meta it is becoming much more stressful to be top lane, a lot of the top end champs are really annoying to deal with, becoming less outplay into pray for mistake.

weeaboomer2/17/2016, 11:58:58 PM7 votes

I only used to main it due to irelia. She was a nice choice for me to climb elo and with tp, that's even more pressure around the map. At the same time, i kind of hated it. Laning against full tanks was meh. It's pretty easy to get ganked up there having to deal with two routes. Playing a champ with no mobility up there? that ward is most likely not going to save you.

At the same time, that tp pressure meant a lot. A 5 man brawl happening bot side? You can turn that around, furthering snowballing your team. You also have the option of roaming mid. I found the lane to be highly influential in the way games turn about. If your top laner lacked pressure compared to your enemy, things would look pretty ugly.

DepressedAhri2/18/2016, 12:02:34 AM6 votes

My favorite champions to play are top laners.

Wyrmblade2/18/2016, 3:15:11 AM5 votes

In mid I have to play against assassins every single game. In jungle the champion pool is fucking tiny. In ADC I have to play an adc and have the entire map after my ass. In support the pool of fun champions is tiny and I have to build two-three items before I can even start real items.

Top's the only one left, it's got the least impact on the game so I can mostly just sit around spamming emotes at the enemy laner and wait for my team to win the game.

Aheadatime2/18/2016, 4:45:28 AM4 votes

I play Renekton pretty exclusively in the top lane. If enemy picks him before me, I just lock Malphite or Vladimir and play stupidly passive.

Top lane is just very fun. It's all dependent on your skill and map awareness. Rewarding when you get ahead. Challenging when you don't. Can carry games. Can build tank and support my team if they're carrying me. Most of all it expands my game knowledge. I know tons of matchups, and how to counter tons of champions. Which abilities have long CDs, how to play around certain abilities, when to all-in vs. when to respect, etc. I have a better understanding of map awareness and global presence now. Also, I have enough faith in my own play that jungler has one less lane to worry about now.

Tons of reasons man. It's just really fun up there.

Serika Zero2/18/2016, 8:32:29 AM4 votes

Why do you do it?

Fiora 1v5 carry games Akali tank, my new bae Diana because Fiora counter Vayne because item 3053 and item 3156 are OP atm

I enjoy ruining other's people fun. And what's more bullshit than a Fiora barely tanking damage and doing true damage to everyone? Akali taking no damage because she heals it all back up while killing any squishy in 2-3s Diana because I need to make the enemy Fiora cry tears of joy due to how much she becomes my bitch in lane. And who doesn't love facing a Vayne in top lane? ;)

Maximum Morde2/18/2016, 11:31:06 AM4 votes

I'm drawn to top lane cause it gives me the most chances to kill Teemos and Rivens.

bulletbear2/18/2016, 4:47:52 AM4 votes

we dont have to deal with the bullshit of Zed, Talon, ahri, akali, katarina, Fizz, Leblanc, annie. im sure I missed a few people who are not very fun to play against. Not to say top is perfect though.

YouPoro2/18/2016, 4:34:52 AM4 votes

Ryze Riven Irelia Fiora Tryndamere 1 v 5 cuz can't trust solo queuers