Hecarim moving to top lane?

Triple Fiver·Mar 10, 2015·2 votes·424 views

So it seems Hecarim has recently seen some action in competitive play after a long absence and for whatever reason is now a top laner, wasn't he one of the few dedicated jungle champions? Is this just another sign of the current state of the jungle, well lets just say it's not pretty. If suddenly a guy like Hecarim can pop up top lane, what does that say about top lane meta? Silly I know obsessing about the meta, but I was just wondering what are your thoughts on Hecarim.

3 Comments

ValyrianBladeMar 10, 20152 votes

If you're wondering, hecarim top has around a 53% win rate in Platinum +. Hecarim jungle is very slightly below 50%.

Hecarim has been a viable top laner for a while actually (even in season 4). He's also perfectly viable mid (waveclear, he was a solid pick against zed for example).

As has been said, teleport is really strong on him as he can get to fights with his e. I've even seen some high ranking junglers start taking smite+teleport instead of smite+ghost.

To be fair though, I think he should be a niche pick top. I've played him top when I get stuck there, I can't handle laning against ranged champions or darius with him and that's all I ever see. I definitely think he'd do well against the typical melee tops though.

SmokingPuffinMar 10, 20151 votes

Hecarim is very similar to Maokai. He's really really really good at teleporting into teamfights. Since that's pretty much what competitive teams ask of their top laner, no surprise he's showing up there.

As it happens, the sustain buffs they made with the intention of making him survive the new brutal jungle turn out to make him amazingly sustained in lane.

Lost In TimeMar 10, 20151 votes

Nothing new.

Hecarim top has been under the radar for months, I'd almost argue even since he's been shoved out of the jungle. His level 1 (and if he hits 2 first while harassing with Q) is a sure way to firstblood against most melee's and Ghost/TP is an acceptable summoner spell combination for top lane. Now he can just abuse Homeguard TP since he isn't running smite.