Does melee even belong in lanes anymore?

Velthios·11/7/2016, 9:21:02 AM·4 votes·883 views

So this all based off my personal experience across a few accounts (each specializing in a "class"). From what I've seen, melee doesn't really have a place in lane, except for tanking. It would really be more easy to balance if EVERYONE were ranged. To back that up, let's look at some statistics. I use champion.gg so results may vary.

Let's look at bot lane first, since everyone knows it's the most important lane. Obviously, all ADCs are ranged (might be a clue right there, hm?). As for support they're all either ranged or tank, depending on what you consider Blitz. (A walking Q bot, but that's not the point).

On to middle lane. The top 10, in winrate and performance, are all ranged expect for GP. He's technically melee, but plays mostly like a ranged chanp with his Q and E.

Now top lane, which is supposed to be THE lane for melee. Several melee do well here, but often struggle vs ranged laners. Yas, Illaoi, Nasus, and Irelia struggle for control vs ranged laners like Quinn, Kayle, GP (kinda), Jayce, and Kennen.

As for jungle, this is where melee actually shines. Almost certainly because they don't have a ranged laner beating their face in. Also because AP jungling is mostly awful.

So overall, it looks like lanes are completely dominated by ranged and melee get to take the jungle since they cant be bullied out of it (usually).

Is there a way to fix this? Are melee laners like Garen, Aatrox, Trynd, etc just broken or obsolete? Is it learn to jungle or be useless? Why must it be this way? Why does RIOT insist on HELPING the ranged champions? (it's only going to get worse with new masteries imo) Should melee adapt to be pseudo-ranged like Gangplank?

Leave any answers or comments, I'd love to see what people have to say, ESPECIALLY RIOTERS HINT HINT.

6 Comments

Requiemsfire11/7/2016, 9:59:29 AM2 votes

Irelia is one of the strongest anti-carry champions and when there's a ranged champion in the opposition that is where they generally thrive.

A Doorknob11/7/2016, 11:25:45 AM2 votes

Sounds like you just need to learn to play different champs or play champs better. Have more patience. Garen can easily take out ranged champs. You just have to change tactics that you usually wouldn't use. It's called adapting. You think Boxerpete made it to Challenger elo with trynd without ever laning ranged champs? We all have to adapt. Were the ranged unit you're up against extremely OP I'd understand, but most are not. You think mages enjoy Zed/Yasuo? No but our mid laners have learned to adapt. Kudos to them.

Fairyfleur11/7/2016, 2:19:39 PM2 votes

Irelia has no problems with ranged champs?

SirLapse11/7/2016, 9:54:35 AM1 votes

Garen, Trynd, and Aatrox are known for being kited. Volibear too for that matter if we're going to talk about the topic.

And yet, Fiora , Riven , Akali , Ekko , Kled , Trundle , Renekton , Pantheon , MonkeyKing , and Yorick have ALL seen success in top lane. These are champions with plenty of carry potential. Gangplank also counts as a melee because his laning phase consists mostly of proc'ing his passive or farming with Q, and yet Aatrox also uses his E to poke and CS with.

I'm not sure what you're smoking with saying Yasuo and Irelia struggle vs. ranged, they will dive them the moment that the ranged person gets a bit cocky. Illaoi and Nasus aren't even supposed to be at their best in lane phase.

Do some research at least.

Volcanuz11/7/2016, 2:39:57 PM1 votes

Irelia, Riven, Kha(yes he can solo top or support in rare cases), Talon, Zed, Ekko...

Just to name some who still have incredible melee focus along with some skill bases skills to supplement damage needed to get shit done.

The real issue is the whole gap close. Some who don't have this do seem... outdated or just out right boring/useless. Nasus for instance lacks a gap close, even at times his super slow feels weak compared to other melee gap closes, seeing as though they can use it to still escape Nasus's slow.

Making everything ranged would make the game so much more difficult for ADC class. It would cease to exist for more bruiser based roles in that slot if it were to happen (which i would freaking never happen).

What i think you are having a issue with is the new POTM champs like Kennen and gnar top who smash most melee based champions in the top lane bar a few of course. Which you just need to ban them ore learn how to beat them.

MLDzXnRRR11/7/2016, 2:41:35 PM1 votes

Irelia can lose lane in the early levels (pre lvl 3-4) vs ranged, if she manages to die, because she can't kill anyone without getting killed by the minions. Yasuo is ok vs ranged top unless it's Vayne, Kalista or Kindred.