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Top lane is probably the least fun to play

HateDaddy·Dec 21, 2016·89 votes·7,164 views

I don't know why I continue to torture myself with this role.

I can get camped/dove repeatedly by the enemy jungler without any help from my team and when my opposing laner shows up and turns out to be fed, I'm just the feeding boosted 1/5/0 top laner even though I did nothing wrong. I can't even bother explaining my teleport is down because I had to use it to get back to lane or I'd miss 2 1/2 waves worth of EXP, which is far more important than any petty amount of gold I could acquire.

It's just a frustrating role man. It's the only role where the enemy jungler can say "I'm removing you from the game" and you actually get removed from the game. You don't get to play, roaming isn't an option because everything is warded. The jungle mobs are off limit because you're the feeder, blah blah. And it's easily the most abdanonable role in the game. Like, why do I continue to play this shit? I like a challenge, I like the feeling of a 1v1 style lane but it's never ever that. And the moment I ask for some help or expect it, I'm the bad guy?

I don't know, this role is fucking dumb. We have basically no impact on the game outside of TP plays or meat shielding. It's either play extremely broken shit or play brain dead tanks that offer almost no carry potential unless fed because all you can do is zone control and most people in this game have no idea how to correctly utilize that asset and even if they did, it doesn't matter because the enemy jungler got first blood so now they're 13/2 and can easily jump into our team and kill both our carries even if it is blatant suicide.

I'm extremely butt-hurt right now, I hate this role. We rarely get anything nice. I'm gonna start maining support and jungle, they get the good shit every season even when they don't need it and mechanical skill isn't required for the roles.

199 Comments

Best princess EUDec 21, 201668 votes

when my top lane is 0/5, somehow i can still win the game

when my adc is 0/5, it's just impossible

top lane has 0 impact on the game, and yet people say that adc is the role offering the least carry potential because of "5 man gank botlane" lmfao

HateDaddyDec 21, 201621 votes

[{quoted}](name=Sanji fanboy,realm=EUW,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=eg9xQsXg,comment-id=0003,timestamp=2016-12-21T16:19:18.798+0000)

when my top lane is 0/5, somehow i can still win the game

when my adc is 0/5, it's just impossible

top lane has 0 impact on the game, and yet people say that adc is the role offering the least carry potential because of "5 man gank botlane" lmfao

Your top laner can also be 5/0 but get out carried by basically every other role if the enemy has it fed. Like fuck, even supports with no farm have more impact because they babysit the best scaling role, have busted itemization and get decent gold gen. Like seriously, why do I play this shit?

Best princess EUDec 21, 20164 votes

{quoted}

Like seriously, why do I play this shit?

i also don't understand you, why would you play top?

why any toplane main would play top? you know it's not thanks to you that you will win so why, what i mean by this is that you still need other conditions to win, meanwhile when i'm lucian i don't need my toplane to do well EVERYTIME.

one time toplane players will realise it and stop playing toplane

RalanrDec 21, 201634 votes

Because a lot of the champions we like are balanced around functioning in top.

Malicious MetalDec 21, 201622 votes

This.

TTK DreadnoughtDec 21, 20168 votes

couldnt agree more.

Blue Moon WolfDec 21, 20162 votes

Exactly. a lot Champs can do okay in 2-3 roles, but there will always be the one they do best cause their mechanics are better suited for it. For quite a few of us, that role is top lane.

Only Play DariusDec 22, 20164 votes

I wouldn't mind it Riot letting toplaners function in other roles. How is it fair that Quinn/Kennen/Kayle etc. can function in 2/3 lanes and still be among the highest winrate toplaners?

TTK DreadnoughtDec 21, 20162 votes

just finished a game as illaoi. 23/5/12.

we lost

Rogue BlitzwolfDec 21, 20164 votes

Played a Shen game went 12/0/24 lost so feelsbadman. Also the main reason we lost if you cant land a skillshot, don't play ezreal. He went 0/15/2. He also afked, and so on and so forth. My mid, and jg did pretty meh. Jg went 9/12/2. The other went 8/10/5. The support did well for having a lousy adc, she went 8/8/14. Don't quote me on the scores this game was a while ago. I just remember it because of how good I did in lane, and we still lost. I even the first couple of kills. I realized to late that the ezreal had fed the enemy twitch.

TTK DreadnoughtDec 21, 20164 votes

just finished 3/0/8 nautilus top against jayce.

All i built this game item 3512 item 3117 item 3026

Jayce ended 0/4/1 our ADC finished 16/3/6.

Guess why we won. lol.

#adcs

MelledoneusDec 21, 20167 votes

Nautilus and Sion are the tanks in top lane that are lane bullies. They have it easier than most.

GayFluffyUnicornDec 21, 20164 votes

Nautilus a lane bully? Have you ever played him against decent opponents?

Malicious MetalDec 21, 201612 votes

I got a 62% ranked win rate with Nautilus. He's my second most played champion.

He IS a lane bully under the right circumstances. He has insane base damages and his trading patterns is extremely strong.

MelledoneusDec 21, 20168 votes

You heard it from the metal man himself.

JuliénDec 21, 20164 votes

You haven't seen a 800 stacks Nasus

Spicy RiceDec 22, 20163 votes

I have. I've also seen said nasus kited to oblivion and die

TalisidDec 21, 20168 votes

{quoted}

I don't know, this role is fucking dumb. We have basically no impact on the game outside of TP plays or meat shielding.

You're definitely under rating the pressure and frustration a good split pusher can bring to a team. Or even just shoving up your lane and roaming.

Not that this makes being camped any more fun but I feel like top lane has more impact on the game than you realize.

I think you should also consider that bot lane is not exactly a ton of fun right now either, what with the constant 4 man bot roams and having to deal with an extreme lack of communication from your lane mate. At least top lane never has to be like "why is the entire enemy team tower-diving me during the lane phase?" every game.

RalanrDec 21, 20169 votes

If you're playing a good splitpusher then sure. But if you're playing a champion that's better used for teamfights, then top lane just feels like a pointless lane.

TalisidDec 21, 20162 votes

I have to feel like if you're not playing a pusher or duelist in the top lane and you're also not playing a tank that can waveclear really fast then you're probably playing a pretty poor top laner.

RalanrDec 21, 20163 votes

Honestly even playing a tank isn't that satisfying because I feel like I have to abandon my lane if I want my team to actually win fights.

TTK DreadnoughtDec 21, 20161 votes

nautilus, sion.....

RalanrDec 21, 20163 votes

Again, I feel like I have to abandon my lane. Especially on Nautilus given how slow he is when roaming (even with his Q).

I'm almost always fighting someone who can really push my tower. So leaving to help my team gives them the chance to get tower first blood. I don't like doing that.

NoPaxtDec 21, 20167 votes

(1) Stop wasting your TP to get back to lane, unless you are going to make a play. Other lanes manage the walk back just fine. Your TP should be saved to make plays in other areas of the map, not to continue farming.

(2) The enemy jungler can only remove you from the game if you allow it. If you are getting camped, that's a good thing. That means your jungler can get a pick in another lane and help push it. It's a team game, sometimes your role is to suck it up, draw attention to your self, and struggle early so the rest of your team can win their lanes. Also ward more, by a sight stone if you have to, and stop getting picked. The jungler only stays because you're easy prey.

(3) It's not a 1v1 game. Your impact can be stalling out top lane and not letting their carry get fed.

(4) Not getting killed is ore important than getting the kill, learn to play safe and when to take advantage.

(5) Jungling takes more skill than top, if you can't manage your lane, how do you expect to manage your jungle and 3 lanes?

(6) Support takes skill, more skill than other lanes, and you get less recognition for all the plays you make. Just by reading your post, I would guess that you're an attention hungry wanna be star that can't handle being responsible for your own bad play. Now you think you can just play a role where you're responsible for everyone's mistakes? As a support main, I say good luck with that...

WoonStruckDec 21, 201618 votes

(6) Support takes skill, more skill than other lanes

Lol.

NoPaxtDec 21, 20163 votes

You can lol, but it's tue

five oh tree Dec 21, 201610 votes

Support is widely regarded as the easiest role. Not that it's easy, but it's easier than all others. You believe whatever you need to so you can sleep at night though.

NoPaxtDec 21, 20162 votes

People who think that tend to believe that supports just babysit the ADC all game, and Supports that play that way have an awful impact on the game...

WoonStruckDec 21, 20168 votes

I don't think you'd be bronze if you understood this game as much as you think you do.

You think you know more than the diamond player here? Like really?

Pretty sure HateDaddy knows more than you about support.

NoPaxtDec 21, 20162 votes

He knows how to whine and cry, that's for sure....

As for me, I started rank too soon, and got smashed hard. Learned how to play better last season, and now have to climb. Judging me thoughts by my rank is stupid, just because Im learning to play doesn't mean I don't understand the game...

PermabannedGarenDec 21, 20169 votes

[{quoted}](name=Stark of Wrath,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=eg9xQsXg,comment-id=000c000000000000000000000000,timestamp=2016-12-21T17:57:16.397+0000)

He knows how to whine and cry, that's for sure....

As for me, I started rank too soon, and got smashed hard. Learned how to play better last season, and now have to climb. Judging me thoughts by my rank is stupid, just because Im learning to play doesn't mean I don't understand the game...

No, but it's easy to bash your sissy rank when you immediately come into the thread insulting the OP and their game ability despite the fact that you are in bronze five.

TheGr8WhiteDDec 21, 201612 votes

Support is easiest to play at an acceptable level, but its hard to master the most optimal ward vision, how to carry your lane, knowing 2v2 matchups instead of 1v1 matchups. You have to understand your role as well as the adc role to know when you win fights and when not to.

Malicious MetalDec 21, 201617 votes

Not a single lane takes skill tbh.

It's all muscle memory and knowing when to press for objectives and go for kills/trades.

Support is largely dependent on the champion.

A brain-dead monkey can play Soraka, standing in the back and pressing W

RalanrDec 21, 201611 votes

Muscle memory is why Yasuo and Riven mains hate Poppy.

HateDaddyDec 21, 201616 votes

[{quoted}](name=Stark of Wrath,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=eg9xQsXg,comment-id=000c,timestamp=2016-12-21T16:37:53.069+0000)

(1) Stop wasting your TP to get back to lane, unless you are going to make a play. Other lanes manage the walk back just fine. Your TP should be saved to make plays in other areas of the map, not to continue farming.

I don't know if you noticed but just teleporting to a fight once it starts is dead (for good reason). The delay on the channel gives too much time for the enemy to disengage and often times, if the enemy ports back, you're forced to port back as well or fall behind significantly in EXP.

(2) The enemy jungler can only remove you from the game if you allow it. If you are getting camped, that's a good thing. That means your jungler can get a pick in another lane and help push it. It's a team game, sometimes your role is to suck it up, draw attention to your self, and struggle early so the rest of your team can win their lanes. Also ward more, by a sight stone if you have to, and stop getting picked. The jungler only stays because you're easy prey.

So in short, when you get removed from the game, you have to depend on your team to carry you. Yup, sounds like a really fun role.

(3) It's not a 1v1 game. Your impact can be stalling out top lane and not letting their carry get fed.

How am I going to stall out top lane and at that same time, not allow their carry to get fed lmao...

Are you just saying things because you think it sounds smart.

(4) Not getting killed is ore important than getting the kill, learn to play safe and when to take advantage.

I've played the role for 5 seasons, i have forgotten more about the role than you'll ever know. I can be playing safe and freezing then get dove 3 times in a row. I realize you don't see competent junglers in your elo, but even in half competent elos, that's a thing.

(5) Jungling takes more skill than top, if you can't manage your lane, how do you expect to manage your jungle and 3 lanes?

It's more impactful and requires a better understanding of global pressure but mechanically speaking, no it doesn't.

(6) Support takes skill, more skill than other lanes, and you get less recognition for all the plays you make. Just by reading your post, I would guess that you're an attention hungry wanna be star that can handle being responsible for your own bad play. Now you think you can just play a role where you're responsible for everyone's mistakes? As a support main, I say good luck with that...

No it doesn't. It's the least mechanically demanding role in the game and every preseason, it gets the most busted items. It's a pretty thankless role to be sure but it's still far less demanding than a solo lane role while having relatively comparable impact, easily more impactful than top lane.

And you know what, I'm not even bitching about my team or anything along those lines. I'm expressing the frustration of a role, I'm not making excuses. It's clear that you're some bad support main mad that I said "support is easy mechanically" and you ignored everything else I said while expressing your thoughts that make it painfully obvious you don't have a clue what you're talking about.

NoPaxtDec 21, 20162 votes

(1) You don't have to TP into vision. (2) You cannot carry every game, be a team player in a team game. (3) You stalling doesn't mean that you're feeding, it means that you are starving two champs that are sharing XP and gold while you are gaining full XP and gold.... That's how you win a 2v1 without kills on either side.
(4) Your rank doesn't mean shit, you're whining about a solvable problem. Fix it. (5) Every champ has different mechanics, mechanical complexity is a state of practice not existence. Stay practiced on your champ(s) and they stay easy to use. (6) Supports aren't babysitters, they are the play makers.

WoonStruckDec 21, 20167 votes

Supports rarely make plays, outside of aggressive vanguards. They mostly deny plays.

Preventing something is much easier than making some; being reactive will always be easier than being proactive because there's little risk.

FLASH FLIP CTRL6Dec 21, 20165 votes

"I'm 1/5 and I did nothing wrong"

Sorry but you probably did something wrong

LXIIDec 21, 20167 votes

If you're over extending and trying to fight someone then dying to ganks or just 1v1's then yeah, you're doing something wrong. If you're playing under turret because you know you can't 1v1 but they show up 2 or 3 deep and get a good dive on you that's not really "your fault". You can't do anything about that other than leave before they even show up and surrender your turret... which will also get you flamed.

Raven RedeemedDec 21, 20165 votes

"brain dead tanks that offer almost no carry potential" Um, what? I had a 66% win rate with Sion last season and he was tied for my most played champ. I usually didn't get fed but instead focused on getting my carries fed by setting up kills for them. But if you don't find top fun, you should switch roles because the point is to have fun :) Also "brain dead", Sion, I see what you did there.

redniwediSDec 21, 20164 votes

Didn't anyone ever tell you to not post online when angry?

Not that any of your points are invalid or anything, it's just a good idea to post when you're calm.

HateDaddyDec 21, 20165 votes

{quoted}

Didn't anyone ever tell you to not post online when angry?

Not that any of your points are invalid or anything, it's just a good idea to post when you're calm.

I'm calm, just in need of some preparation H

BhagswagDec 21, 20164 votes

Disagreed. Top is extremely impactful in my opinions. Champions like Gnar or Nasus are super dangerous when the game gets going. Then we have Shen, who can save anyone he wants to.

HateDaddyDec 21, 201611 votes

{quoted}

Disagreed. Top is extremely impactful in my opinions. Champions like Gnar or Nasus are super dangerous when the game gets going. Then we have Shen, who can save anyone he wants to.

Nasus sucks late game

TheSequelsRBadDec 21, 20168 votes

Yeah, but if he has a decent laning phase his mid-game is freaking broken.

MordehuezerDec 21, 20163 votes

It's because the jungle has too much influence on the lane. It's completely free to gank top lane, you can go there any time you want and spend as much time there as you want and the only way you get punished for it is if the enemy jungler does dragon or maybe picks up some kills bot lane. It needs to be riskier to gank top lane(Or any lane for that matter). Kills should stop giving EXP(At least to junglers) So that they risk falling behind in levels and maybe make it a lot worse to leech EXP than it is now.

Currently it's insanely hard to snowball top lane because you risk dying to a gank any time you show aggression, meanwhile the jungle is the easiest roll to snowball in the game. It's just dumb as fuck how little control you have over the game in top and that you give people on the enemy team so much control over you by even going to that lane. And to all the people who say you need to save your TP to make plays around the map, A: Why can't I make plays from my lane? and B: Think of how that makes the other lanes feel when they are getting cheesed by teleport every game.

General Esdeath Dec 21, 20163 votes

I had a guy on my team praise me for going 6/2 on Riven and then he calls me a boosted feeder next game as I go 1/5 on Darius after being dived by 3 people 2 times. We're the new jungle :^)

ZedexDec 22, 20163 votes

Top lane's changed, who would have thought.

I'm not sure what this thread was supposed to accomplish besides upvotes. Theres no suggestions, just complaints and crys of anguish because you can't win.

Yeah, ranged champions are lame to play against as a top laner. Be like the rest of the player base and adapt instead of instantly turning to this cesspool of circlejerks and unskilled players(myself among them!) that has the audacity to call itself a forum.

If you want a real discussion about top lane, and how you can possibly fix(or change) your style, go to the League of Legends subreddit.

These boards are not good for balance discussions, and its certainly not good for venting your frustrations (come to think of it, complaining on the internet is a terrible way to vent, because people are going to disagree with you/piss you off and make you more angry then you previously were.)

Sahn UzalDec 21, 20161 votes

I played a bunch of GP mid games again, and I'm considering staying there. It's just that I know all my matchups in top, so I feel comfortable there...

DracocrashDec 21, 20161 votes

IDK, I find GP mid quite trashy.

He can't roam at all, and an important part of being mid is having acess to top lane and bot lane, and being able to help them.

Ofc, he has his ult to help lanes, but its cooldown is quite sizable and can be used to a similar degree from top lane as well.

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