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I need some tips for toplane

V Khat·7/10/2016, 11:28:08 PM·1 votes·639 views

I got a few questions.

What the hell am I doing in toplane?

Pretty much this, I'm losing my lane, turret is low, my CS is really low and I died once. (I play from behind so I don't feed my laner, try to CS). When I usually see the other toplaner leave I often push my lane by taking down the mage minions first and shove it down under the turret, if I have damage I stay under the turret, if I don't I stand behind he turret and tank and kill the enemy minions cause most of the time I don't have a full item and I essentially feel that I can't help my team, but to die the second I try to tank, so I find it that pushing my lane is the best.

What to do in case I'm behind. I've been thinking is it possible to build ZZ'Rot Portal and/or Banner of command first to get some pressure in my lane against whoever I'm laning against?

I have determined that even though I get a gank from my jungler I should play safe in my lane? I mean getting a kill would be great, even an assist, but is it worth it if they get a kill or worse two kills? So I'm insecure with certain champions that can regen a lot of health (Darius/Vlad), so I don't really think about commiting, should I commit as well?

If I'm ahead I like to shove the lane and gank other lanes. Get either a single damage item or a tank item (sunfire cape for pushing my own lane faster). Or what you would suggest?

I mostly play Taliyah, however if I'm playing with a team I play Zac cause of his utility and hard CC. Taliyah I build her different than a tank obviously, though I do try to get my turret. This is something if my botlane is not doing so well, but I destroyed the enemy turret, should I tell them to switch lanes so they can farm freely? Or just keep pushing?

I got more doubts and other things, but these should do for now.

9 Comments

Godhri7/10/2016, 11:53:22 PM2 votes

Don't play it safe. Don't play it aggressive. Both leaves you vulnerable. Play it like you know it.

[slayer-pantheon-thumbs]

Good Luck.

rtbf2216514127/11/2016, 12:20:02 AM1 votes

You may need to freeze lane for starters... Also not overextend and under extend. Letting minions and champions attack your tower is a no no.

DeathBurst7/11/2016, 1:00:41 AM1 votes

Hum, my first tip would be to not play Taliya top, but that's not very helpful. I think she has pretty bad match-ups against most meta top laners, but I'm not really sure. Also, I play mostly Tanks/Juggernauts myself, so my advice may not apply for a Mage.

Your first and foremost priority is DON'T DIE. Playing safe, giving up a few CS and waiting as you described in your OP is perfectly fine. Sometimes, you gotta get carried, but knowing how to make you light enough of a burden is already good.

Your second priority is getting your core stuff so you can get that baseline utility and not be totally useless. I don't think ZZ'rot is a good item for Taliya, and Banner of Command is not totally horrible, but I think you still need a Rylai much more than that, and some source of mana/mana regen. If you play a Tank, that can be Frozen Heart/Iceborn Gauntlet for that CDR+Mana+Tankyness that allows to spam your CC. If you're a Juggernaut, that can be that Black Cleaver whose shred will help your team, depends on your champion, really, but don't go on a stupid build path just because you lost. Losing means you should go for the defensive parts of your build first, maybe a Deadman before a Black Cleaver, something like that. It doesn't mean you should go for a totally different build, though. So just farm as well as you can (WITHOUT dying) and get that core stuff.

Your third priority, while you're playing catch-up, is limiting the impact of your opposing laner. And if you can't fight them / can't follow them (or you'll be ambushed), that mostly means communicating with your team. Try to ward your side of the map, ping when he's missing, etc. It's not too much of a problem losing your lane and being behind, but it's a real big problem if your laner starts roaming and snowballing other lanes too.

And finally, play for objectives, not for kills. That's always true, but that's especially true when playing from behind. Getting kills is hard when you are already behind, so don't chase without vision, and focus on taking towers and pushing waves. Leaving your tower alive deny a bit of gold/XP to your enemy, but destroying it gives you a lot of gold and also global gold for all your team.

flyingbaklava7/11/2016, 2:26:00 AM1 votes

It's hard to give suggestions on ways to improve without being able to see your games. I am a Diamond level solo lane Zac one trick who would be more then happy to give you some suggestions. I run a stream monday to friday showcasing how to play Zac in mid and top lane. On Friday's, I do 1 or 2 coaching games for Zac players who have a replay where they feel like they could improve and I go over every way they can improve both laning and teamfighting. Stop by on Friday around 1pm PST with a replay and I would be happy to give you some serious advice as we go over it together (twitch.tv/flyingbaklava). Granted, I can only really help you with Zac, but you will find that many things translate well to other characters.