When it comes to dominating the top lane in League of Legends, the selection of the right champion can make all the difference. These juggernauts command the battlefield with their unmatched strength, resilience, and ability to outlast their opponents in extended skirmishes. From the indomitable Aatrox to the enigmatic Vladimir, the top lane is a sanctuary for champions who thrive in the heat of battle.
Aatrox is a force to be reckoned with, wielding a colossal greatsword that carves through enemy defenses with ease. His passive, Deathbringer Stance, grants him enhanced lifestealing based on his missing health, allowing him to sustain himself even in the most intense engagements. Additionally, his ultimate ability, World Ender, transforms him into a destructive whirlwind that decimates nearby enemies, making him a formidable threat in team fights.
In the realm of dark and cunning, Vladimir reigns supreme. As a master of hemomancy, he manipulates blood to restore his own health and inflict devastating damage upon his foes. His Crimson Rush ability grants him burst mobility, allowing him to engage or disengage at will. When combined with his Blood Transfusion passive, which heals him for a percentage of his damage dealt, Vladimir becomes an unstoppable force, draining the life from his enemies while simultaneously bolstering his own.
The Unkillable Juggernaut: Darius
Darius, the Hand of Noxus, is a formidable top laner known for his oppressive lane presence and devastating ultimate ability. With his innate tankiness and potent damage, he excels at dominating opponents and crushing enemy defenses.
Darius’s early game is particularly oppressive thanks to his Q ability, Decimate. This ability deals significant physical damage and stacks a Bleed effect on the enemy, which deals additional damage over time. Combined with his passive ability, Hemorrhage, which further amplifies his damage on bleeding targets, Darius can quickly rack up kills in the laning phase.
As Darius levels up, he becomes even more difficult to deal with. His W ability, Crippling Strike, slows enemies and reduces their attack damage, making them easy prey for his relentless pursuit. His E ability, Apprehend, pulls a single enemy towards him, setting up potential kills or devastating combos with his ultimate ability.
Darius’s ultimate ability, Noxian Guillotine, is one of the most feared abilities in League of Legends. This ability deals massive true damage to an enemy based on the number of stacks of Hemorrhage they have. With his passive ability, Darius can quickly stack up Hemorrhage, allowing him to execute squishy targets or severely weaken tankier opponents.
Darius’s strengths lie in his exceptional dueling potential, relentless pursuit, and game-changing ultimate ability. However, he lacks mobility and is susceptible to crowd control, leaving him vulnerable to ganks or teams with strong disengage. Nonetheless, in the right hands, Darius can be an unstoppable juggernaut, crushing enemy defenses and securing victories for his team.
Strengths:
- Oppressive lane presence
- Devastating ultimate ability
- Exceptional dueling potential
Weaknesses:
- Lack of mobility
- Susceptible to crowd control
- Squishy in the early game
The Iceborn Colossus: Volibear
Volibear, the demi-god of true ice, is an exceptional top lane champion renowned for his unmatched tankiness and devastating crowd control abilities. His unique kit grants him incredible survivability, allowing him to engage in extended brawls and disrupt the enemy team.
Advantages:
- Exceptional tankiness with high base health and defensive abilities
- Powerful crowd control through his Q, E, and R abilities, enabling him to lock down multiple enemies
- Strong early-game presence, allowing him to dominate the lane and secure kills
Matchups:
Volibear excels against matchups where he can sustain and outdamage opponents, such as Darius, Mordekaiser, and Garen. However, he struggles against ranged champions who can kite him, like Vayne, Kayle, and Quinn. His lack of mobility makes it difficult for him to chase down champions who can disengage quickly.
| Strong | Weak |
|---|---|
| Darius | Vayne |
| Mordekaiser | Kayle |
| Garen | Quinn |
The Grandmaster at Arms: Fiora
Lunge (Q)
Fiora’s Lunge is both an advance and a retreat simultaneously. It allows her to strike an enemy, gaining movement speed toward them while avoiding slows. This is excellent for closing gaps or repositioning in the middle of a fight. The ability makes Fiora very slippery, making it difficult for opponents to pin her down.
Riposte (W)
Fiora’s Riposte is one of the most iconic abilities in the game. It allows her to deflect an incoming ability, stunning the caster and dealing damage. However, the ability has a short window of activation, making it difficult to use effectively against fast-moving projectiles or abilities that have already been cast. Riposte is a great tool for disrupting enemy combos, protecting herself from high-damage abilities, and even setting up ganks.
Bladework (E)
Fiora’s Bladework is her bread and butter. This ability grants her a burst of attack speed and allows her to strike the same target four times in quick succession. The final hit deals bonus damage and vital damage, which ignores a percentage of the target’s armor. This makes Fiora extremely deadly against tanks and other champions with high defense. Bladework is also great for pushing towers and clearing waves quickly.
| Passive | Effect |
|---|---|
| Duelist’s Dance | Fiora gains movement speed when near enemy champions. |
| Vital | Fiora can strike a vital spot on an enemy, dealing bonus damage. |
| Grand Challenge | Fiora gains movement speed and tenacity when near multiple enemy champions. |
The Maelstrom of Thorns: Malphite
Origins and Background
Malphite is an ancient colossus born from the molten heart of Valoran. As a conduit of the earth’s primal energy, he roams the surface with unwavering determination, seeking to protect the innocent and crush the wicked.
Gameplay Overview
Malphite excels in the top lane as a formidable tank. His abilities allow him to control the battlefield, disrupt enemies, and soak up immense damage. With his crowd control abilities and powerful ultimate, he can turn the tide of team fights in an instant.
Abilities
Granite Shield
Malphite’s passive grants him a protective shield that absorbs damage and reduces incoming magic damage. This shield becomes stronger as Malphite levels up, making him exceptionally durable in extended engagements.
Seismic Shard
Malphite hurls a shard of earth at a target, dealing damage and slowing them. This ability is a reliable poke tool that allows Malphite to harass opponents and control their positioning.
Thunderclap
Malphite charges forward, damaging nearby enemies and knocking them up. Thunderclap is an excellent crowd control tool that can disrupt enemy formations and set up kills.
Unstoppable Force (Ultimate)
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Unstoppable Force | Malphite charges through enemies, dealing damage to all those in his path and stunning them on impact. This ultimate is a powerful engage tool that allows Malphite to initiate team fights or peel for his allies. |
The Shadow of the Colossus: Illaoi
Illaoi is a formidable champion in the top lane, known for her ability to control the battlefield with her tentacles and unleash massive damage through her ultimate. Here’s a detailed guide to playing Illaoi effectively:
Laning Phase
In the laning phase, Illaoi excels at zone control with her tentacles. By placing tentacles around her minion wave, she can harass opponents attempting to farm. Use the tentacles to pull enemies towards you, creating opportunities for auto-attacks and Q damage. Remember to position your tentacles strategically to maximize their impact.
Teamfights
Illaoi’s ultimate, Leap of Faith, is a game-changer in teamfights. Upon activation, Illaoi leaps onto an enemy, summoning tentacles that slam down around them. Each tentacle does massive damage and reveals the enemy’s location. Illaoi can then channel her ultimate to repeatedly slam the tentacles, dealing additional damage and potentially killing multiple targets.
Positioning
Effective Illaoi gameplay revolves around positioning and target selection. Prioritize leaping onto high-value targets, such as carries or engage champions. It’s crucial to position yourself properly to maximize the number of enemies affected by the tentacles. Avoid getting caught in the midst of the enemy team, as this can lead to a quick demise.
Itemization
Illaoi’s itemization path varies depending on the game and matchup. Core items include Sterak’s Gage, Black Cleaver, and Spirit Visage. Sterak’s Gage provides Illaoi with additional health and damage, while Black Cleaver reduces the armor of nearby enemies. Spirit Visage enhances Illaoi’s healing and survivability. Situational items include Trinity Force, Death’s Dance, and Thornmail.
Matchups
Illaoi excels against melee champions who rely on auto-attacks, such as Darius and Fiora. Her tentacles can zone out these champions and prevent them from reaching her. Illaoi struggles against ranged champions, particularly those with poke abilities or high mobility. Champions like Vayne and Kennen can kite Illaoi and avoid her tentacles, making it challenging to deal damage.
| Strong Matchups | Weak Matchups |
|---|---|
| Darius, Fiora, Garen | Vayne, Kennen, Lucian |
The Celestial Combatant: Aurelion Sol
Early Game
In the early game, Aurelion Sol is a lane bully. He can poke his opponents with his Q, “Starsurge,” and his W, “Celestial Expansion.” He can also use his E, “Voice of Light,” to slow his opponents and make it easier for him to hit his abilities.
Mid Game
In the mid game, Aurelion Sol’s power spikes. He will have more items and levels, which will make his abilities more powerful. He can also start to roam the map and help his team with objectives.
Late Game
In the late game, Aurelion Sol is a scaling champion. He will have a lot of damage and tankiness, and he will be able to carry team fights. He can also use his ultimate, “Falling Star,” to deal massive damage to a single target or group of enemies.
Laning Phase
Aurelion Sol is a strong laner who can bully his opponents. He can use his long range and powerful abilities to poke his opponents and force them to farm under tower. He can also use his W to zone his opponents and make it difficult for them to get close to him.
Team Fights
Aurelion Sol is a powerful team fighter who can deal massive damage to multiple enemies. He can use his Q and W to poke the enemy team from a safe distance, and he can use his E to slow the enemy team and make it easier for his team to follow up. He can also use his ultimate to deal massive damage to a single target or group of enemies.
Tips
| -Aurelion Sol is a powerful champion who can be a bully in lane and a carry in team fights. | -Aurelion Sol’s abilities have a long range, which allows him to poke his opponents from a safe distance. |
| -Aurelion Sol is a scaling champion who becomes more powerful as the game goes on. | -Aurelion Sol’s ultimate is a powerful ability that can deal massive damage to a single target or group of enemies. |
The Harbinger of Storms: Lillia
Lillia is a shy and curious fawn-like being who wields dream magic and resides in the Ionian forest of vast flora and peculiar creatures.
Jungling Specialist
Lillia excels in the jungle role due to her exceptional mobility and area-of-effect damage, allowing her to quickly clear camps and gank lanes. Her [W] Bloom Toss lets her dash and throw a blooming flower that damages nearby enemies, while her ultimate ability, [R] Dream-Laden Bough, is a potent crowd control that slows enemies and deals damage over time.
Top Lane Influence
In the top lane, Lillia utilizes her ranged attacks to harass opponents and control lane priority. Her [Q] Swirlseed lets her throw a projectile that damages enemies in a line, providing her with excellent poke and wave clear. Her [E] Watch Out! Eep! grants her a movement speed boost and a shield, making it challenging for enemies to engage on her.
Number 7: Item Build for Top Lane
When playing Lillia top, consider the following item build:
| Item | Effect |
|---|---|
| Liandry’s Anguish | Provides Ability Power, Health, and a burn effect on abilities. |
| Zhonya’s Hourglass | Grants Ability Power, Armor, and an active ability that stasis Lillia for a short duration. |
| Rabadon’s Deathcap | Increases Ability Power by a significant amount. |
| Void Staff | Reduces enemies’ Magic Resistance. |
| Rylai’s Crystal Scepter | Provides Ability Power, Health, and slows enemies hit by abilities. |
| Demonic Embrace | Grants Ability Power, Health, and damage over time effects on abilities. |
| Boots of Lucidity | Reduces cooldown of abilities. |
The Rock-Solid Defender: Shen
Shen, the Eye of Twilight, is an unstoppable force in the top lane, providing unmatched defense and unparalleled map control. With his solid kit, Shen excels at protecting his team and pushing objectives, earning him a place among the most formidable champions in the top lane meta.
Abilities
Shen’s abilities are tailored towards team protection and objective control:
- Twilight Assault (Q): Shen dashes forward, dealing damage to enemies hit and gaining bonus attack power.
- Feint (W): Shen feints an attack, slowing enemies and taunting them to focus on him.
- Spirit’s Refuge (E): Shen conjures a barrier around a target ally, shielding them from damage and granting tenacity.
- Shadow Dash (R): Shen enters the spirit realm, gaining increased movement speed and the ability to dash to any ally with his ultimate, even across the map.
Teamfights and Objectives
Shen’s strength lies in his ability to protect his team during teamfights and push objectives effortlessly. His ultimate, Shadow Dash, allows him to teleport to allies anywhere on the map, providing instant protection and disruption during teamfights. Additionally, Spirit’s Refuge provides his allies with a shield and tenacity, making them more resilient and less vulnerable to crowd control.
Itemization and Runes
Shen’s itemization typically focuses on tankiness and utility. Items such as Sunfire Aegis, Randuin’s Omen, and Spirit Visage provide him with exceptional resistances and teamfight survivability. Runes like Grasp of the Undying and Aftershock enhance his durability and damage output in melee combat.
Laning Phase
Shen’s laning phase is characterized by strong defense and wave control. His Q, Twilight Assault, allows him to farm safely and harass enemies with its low cooldown. However, he may struggle against champions with extended range or mobility.
Counters
Shen’s primary counters include champions with high burst damage or mobility. Champions like Quinn, Gnar, and Pantheon can exploit his vulnerability to ranged attacks and burst damage during the laning phase. Additionally, hypercarries like Vayne and Kayle can outscale Shen in the late game, making it challenging for him to protect his team from their relentless damage.
Synergies
Shen synergizes well with champions that benefit from his protection and crowd control. Champions like Yasuo, Zed, and Akali can utilize his W and E to engage or disengage during fights, maximizing their damage output and survivability.
Conclusion
Shen stands as one of the most reliable top lane champions, offering exceptional defense, map control, and objective-taking capabilities. His ability to protect allies and push objectives seamlessly makes him a valuable asset to any team composition, establishing him as a top pick in the current meta.
The Blade of the Ruined King: Viego
Viego, the Ruined King, is a formidable champion who brings unique abilities to the top lane. His kit revolves around his possession mechanic, allowing him to take control of fallen enemy champions and temporarily gain their abilities.
Early Game:
Viego’s early game is centered around farming and controlling waves. Use his Harrowed Path (Q) to clear minions and harass opponents. His Spectral Maw (W) provides a brief shield and heal, helping him sustain in skirmishes.
Mid Game:
As Viego reaches mid-game, his possession ability becomes more impactful. Coordinate with your jungler to gank enemy lanes and take control of key champions. Use Viego’s possession to initiate fights or escape dangerous situations.
Late Game:
In the late game, Viego transforms into a hyper-carry capable of devastating team fights. His Sovereign’s Domination (R) grants him bonus damage and movement speed, making him a challenging target to escape. Seek out enemy carries and possess them to turn the tide of battle.
Strengths:
* High burst damage and mobility
* Unique possession mechanic
* Can snowball out of control with early kills
Weaknesses:
* Susceptible to crowd control
* Relies on hitting his Q to engage
* Can be countered by champions with high mobility or anti-heal effects
Runes:
| Rune | Effect |
|---|---|
| Conqueror | Grants bonus attack damage and healing |
| Triumph | Heals Viego on takedowns |
| Legend: Alacrity | Increases Viego’s attack speed |
| Last Stand | Boosts Viego’s damage when low on health |
Item Build:
* Divine Sunderer
* Blade of the Ruined King
* Death’s Dance
* Wit’s End
* Spirit Visage
The Eternal Wanderer: Yorick
Yorick is a champion in League of Legends who is known for his powerful split-pushing abilities and ability to control the battlefield with his summons. Yorick’s abilities revolve around summoning ghouls and Maiden of the Mist, who work together to siege towers and push lanes. He is an excellent choice for players who enjoy playing top lane and want to have a significant impact on the game.
Abilities
- Mourning Mist: Yorick’s passive ability allows him to create a pool of mist around his summoned ghouls. Enemies who enter the mist are slowed and dealt damage over time.
- Undying Assault: Yorick’s Q ability summons ghouls that attack his opponents. Ghouls can be used to damage towers and push lanes.
- Dark Procession: Yorick’s W ability allows him to create a wall that blocks enemy movement and traps them inside. Enemies trapped inside are slowed and take damage over time.
- Eulogy of the Isles: Yorick’s E ability grants his ghouls a temporary health boost and increased attack speed.
- Mist Walkers: Yorick’s ultimate ability, Maiden of the Mist, is a powerful summon that joins Yorick in battle. Maiden deals high damage to enemies and can tank a significant amount of damage.
Playstyle
Yorick is a split-pusher who excels at pushing lanes and taking towers. He is typically played in the top lane, where he can use his abilities to farm minions and control the lane. Yorick’s strength lies in his ability to create pressure on multiple lanes at once, forcing the enemy team to respond to his pushes. By keeping the enemy team on their toes, Yorick can create opportunities for his team to secure objectives or take fights.
Runes and Itemization
- Runes: Yorick benefits from runes that enhance his durability and split-pushing capabilities. Some common choices include: Conqueror, Demolish, Bone Plating, and Overgrowth.
- Items: Yorick’s itemization focuses on items that grant him health, damage, and tower-taking capabilities. Some core items for Yorick include: Trinity Force, Sterak’s Gage, Titanic Hydra, and Death’s Dance.
Matchups and Weaknesses
Yorick is a strong champion in the top lane, but he does have some weaknesses. Champions with consistent damage output or high burst damage can be tough for Yorick to deal with. Additionally, Yorick can struggle against champions with strong crowd control abilities.
Strong Matchups:
| Champion | Reason |
|---|---|
| Garen | Yorick’s ghouls and Maiden can outdamage Garen’s spin |
| Nasus | Yorick’s summons can help him keep Nasus from farming |
| Malphite | Yorick’s ghouls can push Malphite away from his minions |
Weak Matchups:
| Champion | Reason |
|---|---|
| Darius | Darius’s high damage output can overwhelm Yorick |
| Riven | Riven’s mobility and burst damage make her a difficult matchup for Yorick |
| Jayce | Jayce’s ranged poke and burst damage make him a threat to Yorick |
Best Champions for Top Lane
When it comes to dominating the top lane in League of Legends, there are a few key champions that stand out from the rest. These champions offer a wide range of abilities, from tanky bruisers to high-damage carries, so there’s sure to be a pick that suits your playstyle. Here are five of the best top lane champions in the current meta:
- Darius: Darius is a melee juggernaut who excels at dealing high burst damage and controlling team fights. His Hemorrhage passive stacks on enemies, increasing their damage taken and slowing them. His Decimate ultimate deals massive damage to a single target.
- Fiora: Fiora is a mobile duelist who uses her passive to parry enemy attacks and deal additional damage. Her Lunge and Riposte abilities allow her to engage and disengage quickly, making her a difficult champion to pin down.
- Camille: Camille is a versatile bruiser who can both engage and peel for her team. Her Hextech Ultimatum allows her to lock down multiple enemies or escape dangerous situations. Her Precision Protocol and Tactical Sweep abilities provide her with mobility and damage.
- Jayce: Jayce is a ranged hybrid champion who can switch between a hammer and cannon form. His Acceleration Gate provides his team with movement speed and terrain manipulation. His Shock Blast and Thundering Blow abilities deal high damage and can be used to control team fights.
- Shen: Shen is a tanky split pusher who excels at teleporting around the map and helping his team. His Shadow Dash and Spirit’s Refuge abilities allow him to save teammates from danger or initiate team fights. His Divine Intervention ultimate grants him a shield and allows him to teleport to an allied champion.
People Also Ask
Who is the easiest top lane champion?
The easiest top lane champion for beginners is generally considered to be Garen. He has a simple kit, high base damage, and a sustain passive that makes him easy to play and difficult to kill.
Who is the best counter to Darius?
One of the best counters to Darius is Fiora. Her passive allows her to parry his abilities and deal additional damage, making her difficult for him to deal with. Camille is another good option, as her mobility and engage potential allow her to outplay Darius.
Who is the most broken top lane champion?
Fiora is often considered to be the most broken top lane champion in the current meta. Her passive gives her too much damage mitigation and her mobility makes her difficult to catch. She can also split push effectively and take on multiple opponents at once.
