League of Legends, typically releases around four to five new champions every year, and if you play the top lane, knowing the best characters for the role is essential. Much like other MOBAs, the top lane is a solo lane where you will need to take on enemies and gain a lead by farming as much as you can. You will also be needed to take part in teamfights to challenge Tanks and general crowd control.

In a normal League of Legends match, players will be divided into teams of five, with two players in the bottom lane, one in the middle lane, one in the jungle, and one in the top lane. With more than 160 champions, it’s hard to know which one to choose for which lane, especially for new players. Even seasoned League players can struggle to choose a champion, especially when champion builds are subject to change.

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When first loading a League of Legends match, you’ll be prompted to select a champion to play as. Each League of Legends match lasts roughly 30-45 minutes, though it’s not uncommon for a match to last longer. If you're going top lane, then you’re going to want to choose between a bruiser, tank, or duelist. To make it easier on you, here’s a tier list of the best champions for top-lane and how they rank:

S+

Headshot of League of Legends Nasus.
Headshot of League of Legends Mordekaiser
Headshot of League of Legends Malphite
Headshot of League of Legends Aurora
Headshot of League of Legends Aatrox

Nasus

Mordekaiser

Malphite

Aurora

Aatrox

S

Headshot of League of Legends Urgot
Headshot of League of Legends Warwick
Headshot of League of Legends Poppy
Headshot of League of Legends Yorick
Headshot of League of Legends Gwen

Urgot

Warwick

Poppy

Yorick

Gwen

Headshot of League of Legends Kennen
Headshot of League of Legends Sett
Headshot of League of Legends Dr. Mundo
Headshot of League of Legends Garen
Headshot of League of Legends Camille

Kennen

Sett

Dr. Mundo

Garen

Camille

Headshot of League of Legends Illaoi
Headshot of League of Legends Irelia
Headshot of League of Legends Volibear
Headshot of League of Legends Renketon

Illaoi

Irelia

Volibear

Renekton

A

Headshot of League of Legends Zac
Headshot of League of Legends Cassiopeia
Headshot of League of Legends Kled
Headshot of League of Legends Olaf
Headshot of League of Legends Wukong

Zac

Cassiopeia

Kled

Olaf

Wukong

Headshot of League of Legends RIven
Headshot of League of Legends Ornn
Headshot of League of Legends Tryndamere
Headshot of League of Legends Vladimir
Headshot of League of Legends Quinn

Riven

Ornn

Tryndamere

Vladimir

Quinn

Headshot of League of Legends Vayne
Headshot of League of Legends Darius

Vayne

DaCho'Gath

B

Headshot of League of Legends Shen
Headshot of League of Legends Pantheon
Headshot of League of Legends Sylas
Headshot of League of Legends Cho'Gath
Headshot of League of Legends Gangplank

Shen

Pantheon

SK'Sante

o'Gath

Gangplank

Headshot of League of Legends Kayle
Headshot of League of Legends K'Sante
Headshot of League of Legends Teemo
Headshot of League of Legends Akali
Headshot of League of Legends Yasuo

Kayle

K'Sante

Teemo

Akali

Yasuo

Headshot of League of Legends Udyr
Headshot of League of Legends Xin Zhao
Headshot of League of Legends Heimerdinger

Udyr

Xin Zhao

Heimerdinger

C

Headshot of League of Legends Rumble
Headshot of League of Legends Trundle
Headshot of League of Legends Varus
Headshot of League of Legends Singed
Headshot of League of Legends Skarner

Rumble

Trundle

Varus

Singed

Skarner

D

Headshot of League of Legends Lucian
Headshot of League of Legends Smolder
Headshot of League of Legends Sion
Headshot of League of Legends Tahm Kench
Headshot of League of Legends Jax

Lucian

Smolder

Sion

Tahm Kench

Jax

Headshot of League of Legends Gnar
Headshot of League of Legends Jayce
Headshot of League of Legends Yone
Headshot of League of Legends Gragas
Headshot of League of Legends Fiora

Gnar

Jayce

Yone

Gragas

Fiora

Nasus and Aatrox are popular picks that many players in LoL choose for the top lane. Though less common, top laners also have fun playing as Lucian, Jayce, or split-laner like Garen, all of whom have their own advantages. For example, Wukong’s Ultimate is Cyclone, which knocks enemies up and deals physical damage every 0.25 seconds while also granting Wukong invisibility and movement speed, as shown in the video by VenoMystic

Best Top Lane Tips

Help Your Team For Success

A screenshot of League of Legends gameplay, with the HUD across the bottom while players battle above.

There's a lot to learn when starting League of Legends. Champion selection is a personal choice. If you want a better chance at winning, choosing a champion from the S+ or S will be your best bet. If you’re playing to have fun, choose any top lane champion from the list above.

Top Lane is about setting your team up for success through ganks and tower dives, but don’t get ahead of yourself. Top lane is vulnerable for team attacks, especially early on. Avoid pushing too far too early, and place wards in any bushes you see.

Top lane can be isolating – after all, you’re going up there alone, but it won’t be for long. If you have an excellent Jungler, you'll get frequent visits. Expect the same from the enemy team, and make sure you’re prepared.

Don’t be afraid to wander away from your lane to help your team out when needed. Being in the top lane also gives you easy access to the Baron Nashor, which spawns in the Baron Pit after 20 seconds.

Keep an eye on the map and ping often to let your team know when enemies disappear into the jungle.

Regardless of who you choose to play, be sure you know your champion’s abilities and buy items specific to your champion's build. If you’re playing a bruiser, focus on defense and damage.

Tanks should buy items that build armor and regenerate health. to farm minions, especially early on. Since League of Legends' top lane is a solo lane, you’ll get to farm all your minions, giving you more XP and helping you level up faster.

Video Credit: VenoMystic/YouTube

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Your Rating

League of Legends
Released
October 27, 2009
ESRB
T for Teen: Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
Developer(s)
Riot Games
Publisher(s)
Riot Games
Engine
Proprietary
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Franchise
League of Legends

Platform(s)
PC, macOS