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Laning in the current meta

Rux100·9/3/2015, 8:51:04 AM·1 votes·733 views

From what I've observed through meta, mid-laners often (not always) choose a champion that has a weak early game and strong late game (Ezreal, Veigar, Ryze) or simply a squishy (Katarina, Lux, Ahri), and the Top lane is reserved for either tanky champions, champions who can perform successful ganks, or both.

Now WHYYYYYY shouldn't these roles for lanes be switched? If a champion such as Veigar has such a weak early game, why put him in a position that allows him to be ganked from two sides? Should he not go top lane? Top lane is a solo lane just like mid lane, its got the same CS opportunity except for the travel distance I suppose, but seeing as how all minions spawn and cover ground at the same time I don't see how this is terribly significant.

If mid-lane is what matters late-game, should we not fight w/ our tanks there in early game? Harder to gank, easier to defend your mid, and your early-game-baddie can go top and have only one side to be ganked from. He can just ward that side and be good to go.

The only arguement I can think of is that if your early-game-baddie should be attempted for a gank in the top lane, it would take incredibly longer for ADC and Sup to get there. Does this really make ALL of the difference? I mean, the meta would change wouldn't it? the mid-laners traditionally have Ignite and flash; if they switch to top, they would replace ignite w/ heal, and the ADC or sup would switch one of their respective summoner spells w/ teleport. The mid tank would probably use less ignite and more barrier or heal since his/her purpose would be defending the mid-lane from disaster.

Comments? Please be nice. I'm not in ranked like many of you, I'm just sharing some thoughts.

4 Comments

BluePolarizer9/3/2015, 9:47:38 AM1 votes

top laner is longer so if you get snowballed on there's no turning back. that means you cannot make even 1 mistake. mid is much more forgiving because it is short.

also, most mids are much stronger gankers than tops and being mid gives them a chance to help other lanes.

Cheeseyoger9/3/2015, 6:01:19 PM1 votes

Mid lane definitely has the benefit of shorter lanes, so when you do get ganked turret safety is closer by. Other than that, it may simply help dragon control to have your mage/assassin closer to the pit for either taking it quickly or collapsing on reckless opponents and picking them off/cleaning up.

Collapsing on jungle invades shouldn't chance much since you'll still have at least one damage lane close by.

You could perhaps jungle invade to assassinate mage top laners coming for blue-side blue buff easier since the river entrance is right there. But then, purple team would be cut off from blue buff almost entirely by the distance. Likely this would lead to manaless champions benefitting from red buff like zed, katarina, and yasuo being picked up on purple side.

Certainly some current top laners would fair badly against getting shoved in and poked by a mage in mid lane, but some would be alright---especially if they just outlasted the enemy's early game mana pool.

I don't know. Nothing seems irresolvably bad about putting current mid laners up top.

Kiharon9/3/2015, 11:13:24 PM1 votes

Along with the other mentioned reasons, most current mid-laners do well with blue buff. The mid lane is the only one guaranteed to be adjacent to blue buff, and even when you are on the blue team where top is also adjacent, it is much easier to get to blue buff from mid than top.

Rux1009/19/2015, 8:18:48 AM1 votes

So to sum it up, the mid-laner is the mid-laner BECAUSE: 1, mid-laners have good gank potential, therefore need them close; 2, because of their weak early they need their turrets closer to retreat to; 3, 90% of midlaners need blue buff and they get easy access; 4, since their early game is so weak, being in top lane would allow a lot more bullying and not as much help.

GG. Thank you for all input. Can some of you list some decent mid-laners? The only midlaners I currently own that are viable are Ryze, Lissandra (i like her top lane), akali (also play her top), and annie (suck at annie, but refuse to sup as her). If anyone plays a midlaner that isnt exactly meta but they make it work, plz list!! I love trailing off the meta and doing something noone ever see's :)