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The Top Lane Meta

Kotex··1 votes·1,372 views

Hello all. I've been wanting to talk about this topic for a while now. As a top-lane main on this account i want to discuss how versatile truly is the top lane meta right now? Mages seem to be the rule even more so than ever i mean, and I've even been seeing some top ADCs. It seems to me like top is becoming even more of a wildcard lane for just whatever the person or the team comp wants or needs more of.

But how much of a wild card is it really? By that I'm asking exactly where is the line seemingly drawn at how flexible the top lane can be for what is considered atypical of the lane's meta. What would you get laughed at , raged at, and kicked out for taking to the top lane? Where is the thin line really drawn at what could and shouldn't be in top lane? I personally believe that just because something didn't particularly work out the first time doesn't necessarily mean it never could.

  • How would Azir fair as a top mage? He has great split push and decent or better TP ganks with his ultimate. I also very much enjoy playing him.

  • Would a Ziggs top work for a team composition? Now don't get me wrong i know Ziggs should in most or all cases be mid because of his sidelane ultimate assistance but having a Ziggs in a game at all especially if it goes late could be a worthwhile asset if you already have a heavy and comp and need some heavy ap poking and could probably serve well bullying out some traditional top laners. Really just throwing that out there more or less.

  • Caitlyn top is something that I've played against once or twice and it it made a rather abounding impact in the game perhaps in fair part of it being a curve ball or two.

  • Most have argued Quinn is of the worst ADCs and not a the ADC anyone would choose to have in a serious bot duo. But in a 1 v 1 she puts in work. Bulk her up with some defense as a top fighter (mitigating her diving head first into the enemy team) and she can brawl with the best of them and output a lot of damage with Harrier. With a TP and her ultimate she can port bot, kill secure and be back to split top in a blink.

  • AP bruiserFizz top? Sounded cool in theory to me. It probably wouldn't be much difference though against another mage top though. But i mean itemized for more frontline brawling than full on ap deleter.

  • Annie top is another thing I've seen work to a great degree on most occasions. Most I've seen build tanky ap such as item 3027 , item 3116 , item 3157 and I've always been a lover of Annie anyway. I've had more flops than successes with it but i have made some noticeable impacts with it enough to catch an eye.

These are just some of the ideas. Also keep in mind I'm just sharing my thoughts for the sake of friendly conversation and all that, i am aware that a lot of these have their pros and cons, but everything does right?

6 Comments

FHMarshy1 votes

The only champ I haven't seen in top lane that you've mentioned above is Cait. I've see quinn, azir, ziggs, fizz and annie top to quite some success in the top lane if they choose the right opponents to go into.

Caitlyn, however in my personal opinion, would not work. Most top laners have some form of cc and some form of gap close, to which Cait is really vulnerable to. Her only form of escape except her summoner spells is her E, which has a long cool down.

I'd say cait top will be extremely squishy and vulnerable to ganks.

Kotex1 votes

{quoted}

The only champ I haven't seen in top lane that you've mentioned above is Cait. I've see quinn, azir, ziggs, fizz and annie top to quite some success in the top lane if they choose the right opponents to go into.

Caitlyn, however in my personal opinion, would not work. Most top laners have some form of cc and some form of gap close, to which Cait is really vulnerable to. Her only form of escape except her summoner spells is her E, which has a long cool down.

I'd say cait top will be extremely squishy and vulnerable to ganks.

I said the exact same thing the first time i played against it, and this particular caitlyn was just so professional at placing her snare traps and nets i was destroyed by her. It really does work believe it or not. I suppose it depends on your proficiency with caitlyn as well as the match up you vs her with. But this player was particularly good in a 1 v 1 top with her. He TP ganked, he split push and he was so hard to gank or catch because again his traps and nets were just so on point. It was the sexiest thing i ever saw lol

FHMarshy1 votes

Haha, she might just be a really good cait who counters whoever you were playing. But I can already imagine how hard her time would be against someone like Panth, Nasus, Jax, Rengar, Jayce....etc haha

NoFunWithNunu1 votes

every champ has a chance in any lane, its all bout your team beign ok with that and you knowing what to do, hell i even lost against jungle nami because my jungle op lee sin didnt know how to play lee, nami landed every bubble and good ults from FoW

AFK Push1 votes

You might just be the reason a lot of people hat top lane (ranged adc's and mages). Anyways, I still prefer actual bruisers and tanks, just because in this game anymore there might be one tank on the team besides me (might), which is usually the support. Which means that for the team itself, it would be selfish of me to pick a squishy carry top lane, especially in teamfights.

Kotex1 votes

{quoted}

You might just be the reason a lot of people hat top lane (ranged adc's and mages). Anyways, I still prefer actual bruisers and tanks, just because in this game anymore there might be one tank on the team besides me (might), which is usually the support. Which means that for the team itself, it would be selfish of me to pick a squishy carry top lane, especially in teamfights.

What? o.o How am i the reason people hate top lane? Also im simply discussing the top lane meta as it is, and asking to hear what other people think about how flexible the top lane meta has become now that it includes mages, and occasionally ADCs as well as traditional bruisers and tanks. Thats all and i think i clearly expressed that as well. Nowhere did i imply that mages and ADCs should be the preferable choice over bruisers and tanks, nor was i implying bruisers have fallen out of the meta, or that i personally play any of the champions i listed above in the top lane. lol

I WAS however thinking of adding them to my top champion pool after hearing people's thoughts about the topic for the reasons i mentioned above--the top lane meta now offers that sort of flexibility even more now than ever before. But it is simply just a thought.

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