Top lane is one of the most influential roles in League of Legends. The right top laner can carry their team to victory, while the wrong top laner can quickly feed the enemy team and lose the game. With so many different champions to choose from, it can be hard to know who the best top laners are. However, there are a few champions that consistently stand out from the rest. These champions are all strong laners and can easily snowball their lead into a win. If you’re looking for a champion to carry you to victory, look no further than these top laners.
One of the best top laners in the game right now is Darius. Darius is a powerful lane bully who can easily dominate his opponents. He has a strong early game and can quickly snowball his lead into a win. Darius’s kit is filled with crowd control and damage, making him a terror in team fights. If you’re looking for a champion to carry you to victory, Darius is a great choice. Nevertheless, Darius falls off late game compared to other top laners which makes it crucial to close out the game as fast as possible.
Another great top laner is Fiora. Fiora is a duelist who excels at taking down enemy carries. She has a strong laning phase and can easily win trades against most opponents. Fiora’s kit is filled with mobility and damage, making her a dangerous threat in team fights. If you’re looking for a champion to carry you to victory, Fiora is a great choice. In addition, she scales well into the late game which makes her even more of a threat as the game progresses.
The Unstoppable Juggernaut: Darius
Step into the realm of League of Legends and encounter Darius, the fearsome and relentless top lane menace. This brutal warrior commands the battlefield with his devastating axe, Noxian Guillotine, and an unyielding determination to crush his foes.
Darius’s strength lies in his relentless pursuit of blood and the accumulation of Noxian Might stacks. Each successful auto-attack or ability cast grants him stacks, empowering his basic attacks and increasing his threat level. With every kill or assist, Darius unleashes a devastating bleed effect on his target, marking them for death and draining their life essence.
But Darius’s dominance doesn’t end there. His ultimate ability, Noxian Guillotine, is a swift execution that can obliterate foes in a single, decisive strike. When his target falls below a certain health threshold, Darius channels his inner fury and hurls his axe with deadly precision. This devastating move not only eliminates his opponent but also restores a portion of his health, ensuring his longevity in the fray.
| Ability | Description |
|---|---|
| Noxian Guillotine | Execute an enemy below a certain health threshold, restoring a portion of your health. |
| Decimate | Deal damage and pull enemies toward you. |
| Crippling Strike | Slow and wound an enemy, stacking Noxian Might. |
| Apprehend | Pull an enemy toward you and apply a slow. |
The Tidal Wave of Power: Malphite
Malphite is a colossal titan that stands tall as the protector of his people, the Ascended. Unshakable and unwavering, he fights to preserve the balance between the realms of life and death, embodying the stoic strength of a living mountain.
As a top laner, Malphite excels at disrupting enemy team compositions and setting up massive team fights. His Seismic Shard grants him unparalleled wave clear, allowing him to control the lane and put pressure on his opponents.
Strengths
- Exceptional wave clear with Seismic Shard
- Unmatched team fight presence with Unstoppable Force (Ultimate)
- Durable due to his high armor and petrification from Granite Shield
- Easy to execute combo with Ground Slam and Thunderclap
Detailed Analysis of Seismic Shard
Seismic Shard is Malphite’s signature ability, allowing him to dominate the top lane with ease. It grants him:
| Level | Damage | Cooldown |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60 | 9 |
| 5 | 105 | 7 |
| 9 | 150 | 5 |
With its low cooldown and high damage, Seismic Shard enables Malphite to quickly clear minion waves, push towers, and harass enemy champions. Additionally, it can be used to zone opponents and control the lane, making him a formidable presence in the top lane.
The Crimson Reaper: Riven
Abilities
Riven is a highly mobile fighter with a diverse skill set. Her passive, Broken Wings, enhances her auto attacks with a dash, providing mobility and damage. Her Q ability, Ki Burst, releases three damaging waves in a fan shape, ideal for clearing waves and harassing enemies. Her W ability, Valor, grants her a shield and empowers her next two auto attacks, boosting her damage output and survivability. Her E ability, Blade of the Exile, dashes to a target, dealing damage and knocking them up, setting up for further combos.
Laning Phase
Riven excels in the laning phase due to her mobility and trading potential. She can quickly dodge enemy abilities and get close for short trades using her Q and W abilities. Riven’s level 3 power spike is particularly strong, as she can combine her dash, shield, and auto attack enhancements to burst down enemies with ease. With her passive, Broken Wings, she can effectively chase down fleeing opponents or escape ganks.
Team Fight Role
In team fights, Riven’s primary role is to disrupt and burst down high-value targets. Her mobility allows her to flank enemies and isolate carries. Her ultimate, Wind Slash, releases three massive shockwaves that damage and knock up enemies. Riven can skillfully use her combos and mobility to dive into the enemy backline, take out priority targets, and create chaos for the opposing team.
| Riven’s Playstyle | |
|---|---|
| Strengths: | High mobility, strong trading potential in lane, excellent burst damage against high-value targets |
| Weaknesses: | Squishy and vulnerable to crowd control, relies on skillshots for damage |
The Shadow of the Night: Camille
Camille is a master of precision and elegance, a deadly duelist who can effortlessly outmaneuver and outclass her opponents. Here’s a breakdown of her strengths and abilities:
Strengths
Abilities
| Ability | Description |
|---|---|
| Precision Protocol | Camille throws a grappling hook and damages enemies on hit. The hook can be used to pull Camille towards an enemy or a terrain feature. |
| Tactical Sweep | Camille spins and damages nearby enemies, gaining movement speed. If she hits multiple enemies, she slows them. |
| Hookshot | Camille fires a hookshot to a target location, pulling herself towards it. She gains a shield upon arrival and can extend the range of the hookshot by reactivating it. |
| Hextech Ultimatum | Camille stuns an enemy champion and creates a protective barrier around herself, preventing enemies from entering. After a short delay, the barrier explodes, damaging and knocking back enemies inside. |
Synergies and Counters
Camille synergizes well with champions who can provide crowd control or engage potential, allowing her to easily lock down and burst down enemy carries. She is strong against melee champions and tanks due to her mobility and dueling power. However, she struggles against champions with high burst damage or disengage abilities, and she can be vulnerable to crowd control and focus fire.
The Mountain of Steel: Ornn
Ornn, the primal fire elemental, is a top laner known for his tankiness, crowd control, and area-of-effect damage. His ability to craft masterwork items during the laning phase provides him with a unique advantage.
Passive: Living Forge
Ornn can craft three masterwork items during the laning phase, which enhance his core items. These items grant additional stats, such as health, armor, or bonus damage. Ornn’s passive allows him to become a formidable tank or damage dealer, depending on the items he chooses to craft.
Q: Volcanic Rupture
Ornn breathes fire in a cone-shaped area, dealing damage and slowing enemies. He can also briefly dash after casting the ability. Volcanic Rupture is a reliable engage and disengage tool, allowing Ornn to set up ganks or peel for his allies.
W: Bellows Breath
Ornn releases a shockwave that knocks back and damages enemies, prioritizing champions. If he charges up the ability, it becomes a ranged attack with increased range and damage. Bellows Breath is a powerful crowd control tool that can interrupt enemy abilities or displace them from their positions.
E: Searing Charge
Ornn charges forward, dealing damage and reducing armor to any enemies he hits. If he hits an immobilized enemy, the target will take increased damage. Searing Charge is a potent gap closer and a great tool for setting up combos with his other abilities.
R: Call of the Forge God
Ornn launches a massive elemental at a target location, damaging and knocking up enemies in a large area. If the elemental hits a wall, it will split into two smaller elementals that continue to damage enemies. Call of the Forge God is an exceptional team fight ultimate, providing huge area-of-effect damage and crowd control.
| Masterwork Item | Bonus Stats |
|---|---|
| Sunfire Cape | +200 Health, +20% Bonus Health, +50% Attack Speed |
| Thornmail | +200 Armor, +10% Health Regen, +10% Grievous Wounds |
| Abyssal Mask | +200 Ability Power, +10% Cooldown Reduction, +100% Mana Regen |
The Blade’s Edge: Yasuo
Yasuo is a versatile and highly skilled swordsman known for his swift movements and decisive strikes. With his exceptional swordsmanship, he wields the power to dominate the top lane, slicing through opponents with precision.
Laning Phase
Yasuo excels in the laning phase due to his passive, Way of the Wanderer, which grants him increased movement speed towards stunned or knocked-up enemy units. This passive enables him to engage in short trades, weaving in and out of combat to harass opponents while maintaining a safe distance.
Crowd Control
Yasuo’s crowd control abilities are a major asset in team fights. His Wind Wall, a passive ability, blocks all incoming projectile attacks, including auto-attacks, skill shots, and turret fire. This ability makes it incredibly difficult for ranged champions to deal damage to Yasuo, especially in close-range combat.
Mobility and Outplay Potential
Yasuo’s mobility is unparalleled, allowing him to maneuver around the battlefield and outplay opponents with ease. His E ability, Sweeping Blade, grants him a short dash forward, which can be used to chase down enemies, dodge skill shots, or escape ganks. Additionally, his Ultimate, Last Breath, deals massive damage to a single target while knocking them up. This ultimate can be devastating when combined with crowd control from his teammates or by knocking up enemies himself with Sweeping Blade.
Wind Gathering
Yasuo’s gameplay revolves around his resource bar, Wind Gathering. Each time Yasuo casts an ability, he gains a stack of Wind Gathering. At two stacks, Yasuo’s next basic attack becomes empowered, dealing bonus physical damage. At three stacks, Yasuo’s ultimate, Last Breath, is unlocked.
| Wind Gathering Stacks | Bonus |
|---|---|
| 1 | None |
| 2 | Empowered Basic Attack |
| 3 | Last Breath Unlocked |
The Master of Elements: Gnar
Gnar is a unique champion in the top lane, with a complex kit that rewards skilled play. He is a ranged champion in his Mega Gnar form, has a dash to engage and disengage, and his ultimate is one of the best tools for team-fighting in the game.
Abilities
Gnar’s passive, Hyper, allows him to transform between his Mini and Mega forms. His Mini Gnar form is small and agile, with access to fast movement speed, a short dash, and a boomerang toss. His Mega Gnar form is large and powerful, with access to slow-moving smash, a targeted leap, and a powerful ultimate.
Laning Phase
Gnar is a strong laner in both forms. In his Mini Gnar form, he can harass opponents with his boomerang toss and disengage with his dash. In his Mega Gnar form, he can trade blows with his smash and leap to catch fleeing enemies.
Team Fighting
Gnar is a great team fighter in both forms. In his Mini Gnar form, he can kite opponents with his boomerang toss and dash. In his Mega Gnar form, he can engage with his leap and ultimate, and deal significant damage with his smash.
Matchups
Gnar has a strong matchup against many top laners. His ranged attacks in Mini Gnar form can harass melee opponents, and his leap and ultimate can help him outplay ranged opponents.
Counters
Gnar struggles against champions with disengage. Champions with mobility can kite him in his Mini Gnar form, and champions with crowd control can interrupt his engage in his Mega Gnar form.
Itemization
Gnar is a versatile champion that can build a variety of items. Some popular items on Gnar include Trinity Force, Sterak’s Gage, and Dead Man’s Plate.
Runes
The best runes for Gnar vary depending on the matchup. However, some popular choices include Conqueror, Grasp of the Undying, and Phase Rush.
The Feral Predator: Warwick
Warwick is a fearsome top laner who excels in extended trades and ganking. His tenacious nature and potent sustain make him a formidable opponent in the laning phase.
Pros:
- Excellent sustain through Blood Hunt and Eternal Thirst
- Powerful ganking potential with Blood Scent and Infinite Duress
- High damage potential with low cooldowns
Cons:
- Vulnerable to crowd control
- Mana-intensive abilities
- Somewhat predictable playstyle
Ability Overview:
| Ability | Effect |
|---|---|
| Blood Hunt (Passive) | Grants Warwick bonus move speed towards enemies he recently damaged |
| Jaws of the Beast (Q) | Dash to an enemy, causing damage and applying Grievous Wounds |
| Infinite Duress (E) | Leap to an enemy and suppress them, causing damage over time |
| Eternal Thirst (W) | Heals Warwick over time and marks enemies with low health for bonus damage |
| Blood Scent (R) | Reveals enemy champions with low health on the map and grants Warwick bonus damage to them |
Champion Strategy:
Itemization:
Warwick benefits from items that enhance his sustain and damage output. Core items include Divine Sunderer, Titanic Hydra, and Sterak’s Gage. Wit’s End is also a valuable option for mixed damage and magic resist.
Laning Phase:
In the laning phase, Warwick focuses on controlling the wave and maintaining pressure through constant harassment. Use Blood Hunt to chase down enemies, and Eternal Thirst to sustain through extended trades. Look for opportune moments to engage with Jaws of the Beast and Infinite Duress.
Teamfight Strategy:
During teamfights, Warwick’s primary role is to dive the enemy backline and disrupt their carries. Use Blood Scent to locate vulnerable champions, then engage with Infinite Duress and Jaws of the Beast. Focus on applying Grievous Wounds and isolating high-priority targets.
The Celestial Charger: Kayle
Kayle is a ranged top laner known for her late-game scaling and divine blessings. Her kit boasts excellent wave clear, sustained damage, and team-wide utility.
Early Game
Kayle has a relatively weak laning phase due to her short attack range and susceptibility to ganks. However, her AoE damage with Q – Reckoning and E – Righteous Fury is effective against minion waves.
Mid Game
As Kayle reaches level 6, her Ultimate R – Divine Judgement transforms her into a ranged hypercarry. She gains bonus attack speed, range, and protection, making her a formidable threat.
Late Game
In the late game, Kayle’s Divine Judgement grants her near-immortality and empowers her team. Her Q now pierces targets, dealing devastating AoE damage, while her E reduces their armor and magic resistance. Additionally, her passive, Divine Ascent, grants her movement and attack speed buffs.
Itemization
Kayle benefits from items that enhance her attack speed and survivability. Core items include Nashor’s Tooth, Riftmaker, and Zhonya’s Hourglass. Other situational items include Guinsoo’s Rageblade, Archangel’s Staff, and Void Staff.
Runes
The primary runes for Kayle are Precision and Inspiration. Essential runes include Fleet Footwork, Presence of Mind, Alacrity, and Coup de Grace.
Skill Leveling Order
Max Q – Reckoning first for wave clear and sustain. Then prioritize E – Righteous Fury for damage and armor reduction. Level W – Celestial Blessing as needed.
Synergies
Kayle pairs well with supports who can provide crowd control and peel, such as Leona or Nautilus. She excels in compositions with multiple sources of AoE damage, allowing her to amplify their effects with her Divine Ascent.
Counters
Kayle struggles against champions with strong early game pressure or crowd control. Examples include Darius, Garen, and Malphite.
Tips
| 1. Prioritize farming in the early game. |
| 2. Use Divine Judgement strategically to engage or peel. |
| 3. Abuse the attack speed and range bonuses from Divine Ascent. |
| 4. Build a Nashor’s Tooth to maximize Divine Ascent’s effectiveness. |
| 5. Split push when possible to create map pressure. |
The Iceborn Colossus: Jax
Jax is a versatile top laner known for his ability to switch between offensive and defensive playstyles seamlessly. With his unique kit, he can dish out massive damage while also absorbing heavy punishment.
Jax: The Iceborn Colossus
Jax’s lore revolves around his legendary status as a formidable warrior. Hailing from the Freljord, Jax is a renowned duelist and strategist. He wields a powerful lamppost as his weapon, which he uses to crush his enemies with relentless fury.
Stats and Abilities
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Health | 624.48 |
| Mana | 234.44 |
| Attack Damage | 57.88 |
| Armor | 31.54 |
| Magic Resist | 32.1 |
Passive: Counter Strike: Jax’s passive ability, Counter Strike, allows him to instantly dodge the next basic attack and stun the attacker for 1.25 seconds. This ability is crucial for countering enemy auto-attacks and setting up for trades.
Q: Leap Strike: Jax leaps to a target location, damaging nearby enemies. If he lands on an enemy champion, the damage is increased and he gains a stack of his ultimate ability, Grandmaster’s Might.
W: Empower: Jax charges his lamppost, increasing his attack speed and each third hit dealing bonus magic damage. Empower is a powerful tool for increasing Jax’s damage output in extended fights.
E: Counterstrike: Jax activates his lamppost as a defense mechanism, blocking incoming damage and reflecting it back to the attacker. This ability is highly effective for turning around ganks and protecting himself from enemy burst damage.
R: Grandmaster’s Might: Jax’s ultimate ability grants him bonus health, armor, and magic resistance. Additionally, it increases the damage of his ultimate by 50% for each stack of Grandmaster’s Might he has. This ability turns Jax into a formidable force in the late game.
Best Top Laners in the Game
The top lane is one of the most important lanes in League of Legends. It’s where the game’s tanks and bruisers go to duke it out, and where the early game can be won or lost. With so much at stake, it’s important to know which champions are the best top laners in the game. Here are a few of the best:
- Darius
- Malphite
- Riven
- Shen
- Tryndamere
These champions are all strong in the early game, and they can all carry their teams to victory. If you’re looking for a top laner who can dominate their lane and help their team win, then one of these champions is a great choice.
People Also Ask
Who is the best tank top laner?
Malphite is the best tank top laner in the game. He has a strong laning phase, and he’s incredibly difficult to kill in team fights. His ultimate, Unstoppable Force, is one of the best crowd control abilities in the game, and it can be devastating when used correctly.
Who is the best damage top laner?
Riven is the best damage top laner in the game. She has a high skill cap, but she can deal massive amounts of damage if played correctly. Her ultimate, Wind Slash, is a powerful multi-target ability that can delete entire teams in a matter of seconds.
Who is the best split push top laner?
Tryndamere is the best split push top laner in the game. He has a strong laning phase, and he can quickly push down towers with his ultimate, Undying Rage. Once he gets a few items, he can become virtually unstoppable, and he can easily 1v2 or even 1v3 opponents.
