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Why does everyone think Zac is just a jungler?

TetsuTeito·2/21/2018, 8:15:09 PM·13 votes·2,771 views

I'm a Zac top main. I win most of my lanes with him. However, in a lot of my games I get a "Zac top?" from one of my teammates, frequently followed by a "Zac's a jg champ" or "Zac doesn't top". I wouldn't even be making this discussion if it didn't happen so frequently. It can be a little tilting sometimes, especially when it gets to the point where a teammates bans your main so you can't play him top (yes, it has happened. Just now actually). Why has this become a thing? Zac is a perfectly fine top laner. He has the tankiness, sustain, cc, and wave clear for it (weak wave clear early game, but improves going into mid game). If I lose a game as Zac top, it's either because my team fed way too hard (Had a game where I ended at an unfortunate 8/6 because team had completely fed jinx who ended at a 25/3), my team doesn't understand basic league concepts like grouping and focus (again, see above example), or I got countered very hard and lost my early game, which in those cases I usually ask for help from my jungler and they end up escalating it by feeding my top more kills (bronze life, yo). I digress. Zac top is a thing, people. I don't know where this whole "he only jgs" thing came from. However, I'd like to know from other people why this is the way it is. Why are people so stuck on Zac being just a jungle?

22 Comments

Audhulma2/21/2018, 8:24:32 PM18 votes

It's not that he's incapable of laning, it's that he has one of the largest engage ranges in the game, making him a very efficient initiator. He's great for ganks, dives, CCing and repositioning his enemies, he has natural sustain, and all of these things mean his was quite literally built to be a jungler. It's his most effective role. Again, it's not that he can't lane, it's that he's better for his team as a jungler.

Ixoziel2/21/2018, 8:26:31 PM9 votes

Going top with him is a huge waste of his insane gank potential. I could understand going top with someone like Shyv who generally has the goal of farming early anyway, but the whole reason that Zac is picked in competitive is his long-range ganks which he can perform very early.

Unrefõrmed2/21/2018, 9:26:22 PM8 votes

Because his kit is best suited for the jungle and roaming. That's like asking why people say Tahm Kench is just a support. His kit is best suited for that role.

If he's a "perfectly fine" top laner, why do you have a 44% winrate with him?

redniwediS2/21/2018, 8:26:59 PM6 votes

A lot of people can't identify the qualities needed to be a good top laner. People think Rengar and Shaco are good up there because they shit on "some" matchups, even though they only win if their opponents are stupid.

Zac isn't built around his opponents being stupid, he makes plays and can zone properly. He has the tools needed to play from behind, and when push comes to shove he can brawl. His kit makes him into a fantastic top laner.

TwitchInMyPants2/21/2018, 8:53:21 PM2 votes

Mute and move on, lots of people are meta slaves that think the second you step out of your role you're trying to int. Zac top is more situational but his ability to cc and sustain makes him a pretty safe laner to use and you can often have a lot of presence on him. He's unlikely to kill his opponent but you don't really need to do that to be strong as Zac, if you get into fights with TP and a good amount of CDR you can be quite productive as a main tank.

Also I like how everyone goes into "But hes better at jungle" as if that prevents a champion from using their kit elsewhere. If you have a jungler and you're the toplaner, what's preventing you from denying Zac from the enemy team and guaranteeing your team an extra tank? People are usually using pre-selected roles, unless top/jg are competing for the same champion effectiveness compared between roles doesn't matter. Just because Ezreal was better in Jg than ADC for a period doesn't mean a guy on that patch picking Ezreal ADC is trying to int. Tons of champs can do multiple roles and there's always going to be a "best" role because every role has different needs. But that doesn't matter, what matters is how that pick contributes to the game you're currently playing.

Vapor Wave Vibes2/21/2018, 9:16:30 PM2 votes

Get out of bronze with zac top

NotSid2/22/2018, 11:38:02 AM1 votes

His problem when laning is with how they changed his blob spawns. They tend to land in places that's easier for the enemy to squash them than it is for Zac to pick them up. In the jungle, he doesn't have to worry about this. Then there's the fact that his E is one of the best non ult ganking abilities in the game, and in lane it's very situational as to when you can pull one off and be useful.

Can he lane? Absolutely. Is that his best position? I wouldn't say so, but if you have a jungle on your team who could compliment your lane Zac well, then go do it.

50000000000000002/21/2018, 10:41:41 PM1 votes

Zac being a better jungler than a top laner is kinda irrelevant. The OP is picking a top laner, not jungler. If the jungler isn't picking Zac, then your team isn't getting a jungle Zac, regardless of whether you're getting a top Zac. What really matters is if Zac is a good top laner, or at least if the top laner is good with Zac in top lane.

RainbowIcee2/21/2018, 11:26:08 PM1 votes

Because meta sheep, this is what people that play a certain role with a certain champion get and then the irony comes when a streamer or pro does it and everyone starts doing it and you feel annoyed [slayer-jinx-unamused]

I'm just glad a few of my gimmicks didn't catch on.

ISOzHell2/22/2018, 12:24:29 AM1 votes

{quoted}

I'm a Zac top main. I win most of my lanes with him. However, in a lot of my games I get a "Zac top?" from one of my teammates, frequently followed by a "Zac's a jg champ" or "Zac doesn't top". I wouldn't even be making this discussion if it didn't happen so frequently. It can be a little tilting sometimes, especially when it gets to the point where a teammates bans your main so you can't play him top (yes, it has happened. Just now actually). Why has this become a thing? Zac is a perfectly fine top laner. He has the tankiness, sustain, cc, and wave clear for it (weak wave clear early game, but improves going into mid game). If I lose a game as Zac top, it's either because my team fed way too hard (Had a game where I ended at an unfortunate 8/6 because team had completely fed jinx who ended at a 25/3), my team doesn't understand basic league concepts like grouping and focus (again, see above example), or I got countered very hard and lost my early game, which in those cases I usually ask for help from my jungler and they end up escalating it by feeding my top more kills (bronze life, yo). I digress. Zac top is a thing, people. I don't know where this whole "he only jgs" thing came from. However, I'd like to know from other people why this is the way it is. Why are people so stuck on Zac being just a jungle?

I think he'd be a dam good sup.

Taric the Gay2/22/2018, 1:30:42 AM1 votes

I saw Zac support a good amount of the time. He can jungle, top and support as far as I am concerned.

http://www.auplod.com/u/pdolua802d6.png

shicky972/22/2018, 4:45:55 AM1 votes

I have no problem with it as long as you're capable of holding your own with him in lane. I break out Taric top every once in a while and he is surprisingly effective as well.