How to Play Top Lane in League of Legends

Are you looking to become a top-tier top lane player in League of Legends? If so, you’ve come to the right place! In this guide, we’ll go over every aspect of what it takes to play top lane in LoL, from the basics of the role to the advanced strategies that make top-tier players stand out. Read on to learn how to play the top lane like a pro.

Introduction

The top lane is the most isolated lane in League of Legends. This means that the champion in this lane will have to deal with more pressure from the enemy team, and will need to be able to hold their own in a 1v1. A good top laner should be able to play aggressive when needed, and also pull back and play defensively when the situation demands it.

The Role of the Top Laner

The top laner’s role is to keep the enemy top laner in check, pressure them in lane, and also help your team through strategic plays in the early and mid game. Top laners are usually the tankiest champions on the team, and as such they should be able to soak up a large amount of damage. They should also be able to put out a lot of damage, while still being able to stay alive in teamfights.

Top laners should also be able to pressure their lane in order to gain an advantageous position. This can be done by either pushing the lane hard and try to take turrets, or by playing safe and farming minions as much as possible. The goal is to gain an advantage in gold and experience, so that you can be more effective in teamfights in the mid and late game.

Build Order

The build order for a top laner is dependent on the champion you are playing and the matchup. Generally speaking, it’s best to focus on building defensive items and tank stats such as armor and health. This will help you stay alive in the lane, and also make you more durable in the late game. You may want to add in some offensive items such as a Blade of the Ruined King or a Last Whisper to increase your damage. It is also important to get wards and control wards in order to gain vision control of the map and set up your team for advantageous fights.

Favored Matchups

While there are no hard and fast rules for what champions are favored in the top lane, there are certain matchups that make it easier for top laners to win. For example, tanky champions with a lot of crowd control are favored against mages and assassins, as they can outlast them and force them out of the lane. On the other hand, champions that can deal high burst damage are favored against tanks, as they can burst them down before the tanks can react.

Tips for Playing the Champion

When playing the top lane, it is important to know how to play your champion effectively. This means knowing your champion’s abilities and how to use them in different matchups. It is also important to be aware of the enemy team’s composition, and to know how to use your abilities in order to survive and deal damage at the same time. Finally, it is important to be aware of your surroundings and to be prepared for ganks from the enemy jungler.

Team Composition

When playing top lane, it is important to understand the team composition your team has and what roles everyone is playing. The top laner should be aware of who is playing in the other lanes, and should be looking to set up plays with them. This can be done by warding key areas and pushing the lane in order to set up advantageous fights for the whole team.

Ward and Vision Control

The top laner should also be aware of the warding and vision game. It is important to ward around your lane and also in key areas of the map in order to gain an advantage in teamfights. Vision control can also be used to set up ganks or plays in other lanes. Having an understanding of the vision game is essential in order to gain an edge in the top lane.

Conclusion

Playing top lane can be a challenging, but rewarding experience. Having a strong understanding of the role and its responsibilities is key to becoming a top-tier top laner, as is an understanding of team composition, warding, and vision control. With these tips and strategies, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the top lane in League of Legends.