Why I take Smite top lane.
Recently I've been trying it out with Shyvana and Shen and it's absolutely amazing. Not for the laning advantage, which is great, but late game.
- Counter jungling is no longer just the junglers responsibility.
- Buff control is now in the hands of a laner in addition to the jungler.
- Dragon and Baron now have a larger place; it is no longer a matter of "pick off their jg and they can't secure".
Last nights game was a great example. As Shen I was getting bullied out of lane by Garen, but my response? Steal their jg's farm, get bot lane fed, deny dragons. Late game my team fight presence was greater than Garen's gold lead so our team cruised to a very simple victory as they couldn't get to Quinn or Brand with any success.
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so I get 20% damage reduction from my passive and 20% damage reduction from my passive once I hit Level 6. In lane that's broken. Add Yorick's sustain and the true damage on-hit and you get the dueling god!