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Is there anything that makes Nocturne outright unviable in lane?

PutThe3dgeD0wn·12/20/2014, 11:49:12 PM·2 votes·1,480 views

As in, trollpick-unviable. At the moment I mostly play Normals and probably wouldn't be trying this in Ranked unless it turned out to work really well for certain matchups.

I've become fairly experienced with Nocturne in the jungle; know his kit in and out, know how to build him strategically. An idea I've been wanting to try out recently is Nocturne in mid or possibly top lane; AD assassin for mid (maybe throw in a strong amount of lifesteal), and split-pushing bruiser for top.

It is possible to find guides and videos on lane Nocturne, and I think I've seen one or two of those featured Ranked matches you can spectate in which someone brought him top lane. So I know there are at least some people out there who try it. (This would be excluding the niche case of Lane Nocturne being a strong counterpick to Twisted Fate)

I am aware that the two main arguments against the idea are his passive, and his mana limitations. That said, I'd think if you were careful about your autos and positioning you could avoid having the passive hit too many minions. I would also think he has good trading potential thanks to his spellshield. And if your jungler lets you have most of the blue buffs, that would circumvent his innate mana problems.

Is there anyone who still pulls this off?

15 Comments

Incognonymous12/21/2014, 4:13:05 AM1 votes

Sorry, bud, but the way this game is headed basically all melee without non ultimate gap closers and hard CC are unviable in lane. Top lane is being invaded by ranged cancer who you will never actually get in AA range of. Mid has AD assassins, sure, but all with high mobility and CC of some measure. Could you lane with him? Absolutely. I just don't think the payoffs going to be that great.

MrPerson1012/22/2014, 12:55:31 AM1 votes

He's easily outscaled in the mid-game, loses his already weak gap close if you simply sidestep it (it happens to be a ridiculously slow skillshot as well) has zero cc no real escape can't trade 1v1 early against most if not all tops.

Nitrogenic7N12/22/2014, 1:30:07 AM1 votes

If you were strictly playing as a 1v1 comp, yes nocturne could be played in lane. Once you've improved a bit you learn that champions one would like to play, for the fun of playing 1v1, don't help the team as much as other champions. Nocturne doesn't fill any specific roles that someone who could do the exact thing as him does.

Jax for instance has a dodge, and a stun for multiple people on the enemy team instead of just fearing one of them. The dodge makes up for not having a spell shield, as well as the tankiness his ult gives him late game. He also has a gap closer that isn't a one time use in a team fight, and if a fight lasts enough will use it up to three times. Jax is also a better split-pusher because of his attack speed passive which goes higher than even Nocturne's double which requires him to be hit by a spell.

EDIT: Now that being said, could it work? Of course it could, someone could go ADC Annie, or Fiddlesticks with justification and win games simply because they are better players, or the enemy team comp is bad.

EstebanElGuapo12/22/2014, 1:41:58 AM1 votes

If you were playing midlane against someone with poor waveclear you could go tear/manamune for mana issues and just push with Q to enemy turret and then help ur jungler invade enemy jungle, place wards and then go steal the jungle if wards show jungler is not there and you've pushed out. Or roam to enemy bottom/top after pushing if a good gank presents itself. You are more forgiving to ward placement due to the ult, and can use Q to get out of mid and back quicker making roam easier. You'd be pushing your waves then playing as a secondary jungler type.

Bledwings12/22/2014, 2:08:44 AM1 votes

no gapcloser so gets kited in lane

FantasySniper12/22/2014, 3:26:48 AM1 votes

If they can burst him out or even harass him, you're going to lose the lane.

Otherwise, if you can push extended trades to take advantage of your kit, go for it. Don't forget to roam once you hit 6.

bunglyfe12/22/2014, 5:35:20 AM1 votes

nocturne could be fine in lane BUT as you stated with his passive and his steriod he auto pushes the lane.

its not that he isnt viable, just less favourable than other champions. First champion that comes to mind that would have a similar lane phase is darius. Darius, like nocturne auto pushes the wave during the trades, but his trades overall would be better. Darius has no real escapes, nocturne does have his E and Q for OK escape tools, but still not something that would save you everytime without good warding.

I feel like noc is a solid pick top, he just fits better in the jungle and would be a less rewarding pick and have a tougher time than most other choices

Logical Yasuo12/24/2014, 2:50:09 PM1 votes

I did it once and won lane against a jax but i timed my spell shield correctly and out farmed him.