Toplane Has never come back since season 2

Ahristocats·Feb 12, 2017·29 votes·2,544 views

all those bruisers viable in high elo at the same time other tanks were viable and ranged top laners

https://youtu.be/71DXypTg8AU?t=748 ranged champions weren't obnoxious and you could destroy them

Atma was removed Wota (Aura 110 AP and 40% spell vamp) was removed armor and mr items all nerfed

The current state of toplane is ranged champs+tanks, a year ago it was jayce+kennen+gnar+gp+rumble, the year before that it was juggernauts+gnar, the year before that again it was shyvana and mundo, 2013 it was ryze/jayce/kennen/lulu/elise OR zac/renek/jax before their nerf

since season 2 top lane never saw diversity, its role has been turned from "second carry that is as impactful as an adc(not more not less)" to "play tanks or some ranged champs like swain and jayce else enjoy being useless

it has never comeback, you never had bruisers+mages+tanks+other champs like jayce viable at the same time

32 Comments

RexSaurFeb 13, 201710 votes

Ever since they made tanks do bruiser level of dps/damage they've seen less play.

Like why play any bruiser over maokai?

FalconPawwwwnchFeb 13, 20179 votes

Amen

Back then ranged ADs wouldn't duel bruisers either but still being really important to teams

Shit like karthus was actually good

And supports didnt' do more damage than solo laners

AhristocatsFeb 13, 20171 votes

according to riot, the E damage nerf on maokai is enough

let's hope it's true

RalanrFeb 13, 20171 votes

Considering they removed the landing damage, I'd say it's at least something to bring him down.

Best princess EUFeb 12, 20175 votes

Shyvana seriously? she was one of the most picked champ of darien how could you forget her

Gnart Even CloseFeb 13, 20174 votes

I like Juggernauts + Gnar, but I'm a little biased...

flashes Level 7 Gnar mastery

Sire HippingtonFeb 13, 20174 votes

Same with the jungle, it had alot diversity in S2, and then in S3, Lee got the indirect wardstep buffs via wardstone and elise was released, and since then the reign of absurd earlygame junglers never ended as top tier jungler for some reason were balanced around haveing fast and sustained clears with powerfull ganks, strong dueling and atleast decent escape...

doublelift fgFeb 12, 20173 votes

same with adc

the Corki Ezreal meta was the begining of the end, after that botlane never had diversity i don't know how it ended up with those 2 champs but before we had kog/ez/corki/vayne/ashe/graves/urgot/sivir, the only unviable adcs back then were tristana and miss fortune, (and varus if we want to count him)

all of them were nerfed except ashe

Sire HippingtonFeb 13, 20171 votes

MF was perfectly viable, she even was used in S2 worlds, same with tris.

RebonackFeb 13, 20171 votes

[{quoted}](name=doublelift fg,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=EVdX4Jsi,comment-id=0002,timestamp=2017-02-12T22:12:57.499+0000)

same with adc

the meta was the begining of the end, after that botlane never had diversity i don't know how it ended up with those 2 champs but before we had kog/ez/corki/vayne/ashe/graves/urgot/sivir, the only unviable adcs back then were tristana and miss fortune, (and varus if we want to count him)

all of them were nerfed except ashe

IIRC that was back when Corki's Q still had a blind and Ezreal's W has an attack speed slow, right? No one could duel them and they could disengage at will.

FalconPawwwwnchFeb 13, 20171 votes

Corki's blind was removed after season 1

Ezreal's AS slow was removed after season 2

DepressedAhriFeb 13, 20171 votes

It was Ezreal and Corki (And Lucian later) Because those abused Iceborn Gauntlet.

SammystormFeb 13, 20173 votes

Alright lets break that list down real quick because you don't remember season 2 very well.

Fiora Was garbage before her rework (AKA season 2) she was an ult bot that was absolute trash.

MonkeyKing literally was like never played. He got bullied out too hard kind of like he does now.

LeeSin Wasn't really played in season 2 except for a few games mid and a few jungle but definitely not top.

Gangplank Like fiora he was trash before his rework. He literally wasn't played in competitive ever.

Irelia Was a very good pick.

Jax Was like Irelia and competitive top laner

Shen Was very competitive and a must pick or ban for a long time. However he was very much flex season 2. He flex between jungle and top.

JarvanIV A great pick but only played in the jungle.

I don't really remember seeing renekton much but he was very dominant in season 3. Not sure about him.

Garen Was garbage in competitive play. He still kind of is.

Rumble Was played and was very good. Much like he is now.

Olaf Was a top tier top laner yes.

Singed Was only played casually never really in competitive.

Vladimir Was still more of a mid laner in season 2. He transitioned more to top later by season 3 if I remember right.

Chogath He was played top quite a bit and with some success.

Malphite Was a top tier jungler not a top laner. He became a top laner in a later season.

So out of the champs you listed only Irelia Shen Jax Rumble Olaf were competitive top laners. I would also add Jayce . However not all of them were played consistently. Much like now. I bet if you took an in depth look at season 6 top laners you would find much more variety then you think there was.

Season 2 worlds we had these champs picked or banned in top. Jayce XinZhao Olaf Irelia Vladimir Jax Darius (by dyrus and got dumpstered by azubu frost. I still remember how bad TSM was in this game) Chogath Yorick Shen Nidalee Singed Riven Total of 13

Season 6 worlds we had Jayce Ryze Rumble Poppy Kennen Gnar Vladimir Trundle (I believe he was top not 100% sure) Ekko Irelia Maokai Fiora Kled Nautilus 14 if you count trundle. The crazy thing is that their were about twice as many games in season 6 as season 2 for worlds.

Sources: http://lol.gamepedia.com/2016_World_Championship/Champion_Statistics http://lol.gamepedia.com/Season_2_World_Championship/Picks_and_Bans/Bracket_Stage

jaymc1130Feb 13, 20171 votes

{quoted}

Season 2 worlds we had these champs picked or banned in top. (by dyrus and got dumpstered by azubu frost. I still remember how bad TSM was in this game) Total of 13

Season 6 worlds we had (I believe he was top not 100% sure) 14 if you count trundle. The crazy thing is that their were about twice as many games in season 6 as season 2 for worlds.

Sources: http://lol.gamepedia.com/2016_World_Championship/Champion_Statistics http://lol.gamepedia.com/Season_2_World_Championship/Picks_and_Bans/Bracket_Stage

Not such an accurate representation of diversity when you leave out details and not even all that accurate generally for season 6 worlds.

S6 worlds was Poppy Jayce

And if they were banned or team comp was specificity designed for it we saw Kennen Rumble Gnar .

With everything else being a trial pick, specific counterpick, or specialized strategy pick. These were very rare.

Most of the third group was also terribly unsuccessful. It was pretty defined by two champions and then 3 that could be played if you got forced into it by a pinch.

Not real diverse.

SammystormFeb 13, 20171 votes

The OP left out a bunch of details as well. If we are talking about simple diversity more champs were played in top during season 6 worlds. Season 2 had a bunch of trial picks as well. Most of the time we saw Jayce . By far the most pick champ in top lane season 2. I think season 6 and season 2 were similar enough in terms of diversity to counter act the op's point that top lane is a mess compared to season 2. Not to mention Jayce was meta warping in season 2. Like poppy in season 6.

jaymc1130Feb 13, 20171 votes

{quoted}

The OP left out a bunch of details as well. If we are talking about simple diversity more champs were played in top during season 6 worlds. Season 2 had a bunch of trial picks as well. Most of the time we saw . By far the most pick champ in top lane season 2. I think season 6 and season 2 were similar enough in terms of diversity to counter act the op's point that top lane is a mess compared to season 2. Not to mention Jayce was meta warping in season 2. Like poppy in season 6.

Which champ did both seasons have in common?

Hmm.

SammystormFeb 13, 20171 votes

Jayce has been a problem for a very long time.

DealthFeb 13, 20172 votes

Lee Sin was played top in Season 2, I know that because I played Lee Sin top often in S2, and Voyboy was considered one of the best Lee Sin tops.

SammystormFeb 16, 20171 votes

I guess I missed him. I don't ever remember seeing him played top. Must have been watching the wrong games.

AhristocatsFeb 13, 20171 votes

Fiora was picked in pro by soaz and darien GP was picked in pro by darien and other toplaner, he was rushing atma+warmog+trinity force, they nerfed a lot(take a look at nerf history) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVB_c0Omgfo

Garen was i think the only garbage toplaner with darius singed was picked by dyrius

MALPHITE PICKED IN JUNGLE AND NOT TOP HAHAHAHHAA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZQUWT796Gs note: this was at the begining of season 2 and afterward malphite saw multiple nerfs

LeeSin was top tier toplane lmfao, his W gave him armor, he had as slow, his sustain was so busted because lifesteal cost 400 gold, his damage was broken and he was lee sin anyway he also could shield a minion to deny creeps look at voyboy

MaeDoSanFeb 12, 20172 votes

mid has always been the main carry since 4

AhristocatsFeb 12, 20171 votes

Rammus

DracocrashFeb 13, 20172 votes

One would think when the number of champions in a game increases, the diversity would increase as well.

But quite frankly, the more champs they release, the more the number of viable champs reduces.

LemurMonsterFeb 13, 20172 votes

Leave my Gnar alone. he has been nerfed to a point he is no longer picked anymore. His early game has been gutted on a game that now last only like barely 20 minutes making him useless on this meta.

Besides.. Juggernauts where the worst... No one liked that class when riot put them in release....

SammystormFeb 13, 20172 votes

I don't remember what season 2 you remember.

I remember Jayce

sssssyyyyyzzzFeb 12, 20171 votes

The game has also evolved 3000x and is not the same way as it was in the slightest a diamond player in season 1-2 is a gold player at best now days with how open knowledge is about the game and how many years have passed. You cant have everything viable at once as well thats just terrible logic. Some champs are only in the meta due to other champions being in the meta. You clearly have no idea what your talking about.

AhristocatsFeb 12, 20173 votes

i'm talking about the meta itself, which used to have x10 more picks than right now?

Big LincolnFeb 12, 20171 votes

tbh i liked juggernaut top meta the most. they're the only class that makes tank champs actually have to do something in lane besides passively soak up CS until they can brickwall you with stats, and they themselves get countered by range and poke, and a handful of mobile champs that can juke around them easily. I have obvious bias because I love juggs but w/e

granted I've only been playing since preseason 4, i don't really know what the 'golden age' was relative to older players

Papa AndreiFeb 13, 20171 votes

I joined in at the Juggernaut patch, and for me from watching pro players and streamers, ye its always been almost a drinking/betting game on who will end up toplane

blueberrypancakeFeb 13, 20171 votes

I started in season 4, and literally the only way some noob couldn't get smashed top lane by renekton was by farming under tower with shen. Top lane in season 4 was pretty cancer. Renek, Jax, Trundle, Mundo, Shyv, and then Ali and Ryze towards the end. If you want to play anything else it would have to be a specific counter (Heimer into Renek by copenhagen wolves comes to mind). Basically it was the lane where the most OP shit went (from at least a noobs perspective)