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Somebody explain top lane to me please?

windwolf777·3/31/2015, 6:29:18 PM·1 votes·1,011 views

Ok, so I read that a good top lane champ should have at least most of the following of "sustain, the ability to trade damage, a strong 1v1 or dueling capability, tools to escape, strong poke, burst, CC, and the ability to keep on a target". So what exactly makes them a good top lane and what is that lane for? I also read that top is basically an island and that "both opponents know that they're probably not going to get help. And that's why I love top lane. Just a 1v1, based on both players skills. And even when I lose top lane I can enjoy it knowing I got outplayed" (I don't remember the quote exactly but it was something along those lines. Either from this board or reddit. I think it might have been called something like, "Shoutout to all my toplane mains" or something.

I know this question may seem stupid, but I am really curious about why. I know that bot is the adc supp main because of dragon, I know mid is for the scaling mage/assassin so the mage can get farm, or the assassin can roam to either top or bot, (and help with dragon if needed), but I don't really have a good grasp on top.~~ And I know that anything can work too~~ (I stand corrected), but just want a basic explanation of top.

8 Comments

Sailor Mint3/31/2015, 6:42:34 PM5 votes

Right now top lane is populated by bruisers (original inhabitants), "mid lane rejects" and tanks who got chased out of the jungle.

Discard the notion of skill based matchups or honor. It's a complete mess.

  • Bruiser lanes are a skill based snowbally hell, sometimes.
  • Tank and mage lanes generally devolve into a farmfest.
  • Uneven ranged vs melee lanes are an exercise in patience and humility (for the oppressed melee).
  • Teleport is your salvation and reason for existing.

It doesn't really matter what you play top, just identify what you're picking into, and adjust accordingly.

Enkidusmurf3/31/2015, 6:44:40 PM3 votes

Tough question to answer. Top lane isn't quite as meta-bound as adc or supp. There are a lot of champs you can pick that do a lot of different things. From what I've seen, there isn't really a list of things you must have in order to play top. It depends on two things: The matchup and what your team needs. So, if your jungler is Sejuani, your ADC is Corki, your mid-laner is Orianna, and your support is Braum, it might be a good idea to take someone who does a bit more damage or gives your team options in the late game. If your jungler is Shaco, your mid is LeBlanc, and your support is Soraka, you probably need to take something tanky so you have a front line in team fights.

The goal is usually to push down the tower and then help across the map with Teleport. Or to just push forever and kick your lane opponent's teeth in with ignite. (The second is kind of boring and annoying, but it does have its purposes.)

The late game is usually what you have in mind in top lane, though. It's an incubator for tanks like Maokai or Sion, fighters like Irelia, initiate-heavy mages like Lissandra or Kennen, or splitpushers like Yi or Jax. Anti-tanks like Trundle are also an option.

TehNACHO3/31/2015, 6:34:02 PM2 votes

{quoted}

And I know that anything can work too.

This is probably the misconception that's throwing you off.

Not everything can work top in all situations. The point of Top Laners is that you can defend yourself for an extended period of time all by yourself. Vayne and Quinn top for example are perfect for facing against a champion with low engage potential (Garen, Olaf), but tend to crumple like paper against anyone that can leap on them quickly and lock them down.

Lsuvsfar4/1/2015, 1:11:38 AM2 votes

Top lane is basically just another lane, except few top laners can carry a game and so junglers usually find ganking top less important. However, top laners are very diverse.

First of all, you have champions like Garen, Darius, and Sion. All of these champions are built tanky. While they can be poked down (unless you are a good sion, in which case you can stomp 95% of top laners), late game they provide good CC and they can terrorize squishy champions.

Then, you have top laners like Teemo, Ryze, and Lissandra. They help carry late game as mages, and just poke the hell out of the slower moving tanky champions. Also, they usually force tanks to either build magic resist or get wrecked. This can be bad for the tank if he also has to deal with an ap mid, jung, and the adc.

Finally, you get to the fast moving assassins such as riven, rengar, yasuo, and random mid lane assassins that switch to top. These assassins often get countered by tanky champions, but if they can get a few good ganks in and start roaming mid, they can usually help carry hard.