Shaping Up the Top Lane: Spring 2017 Champion Tier List

Overview

With the first week of competitive play completed from the 5 major regions (LPL, LMS, LCK, NALCS, and EULCS) completed, it's time to take a look at the state of top lane. While the champions are ranked into tiers, the order that the champions appear in the tier are not in a specific order.  

Tier 1 Champions: The Best of the Best

 Camille - the Steel Shadow

Camille is currently the only top lane champion to be 100% picked or banned in competitive play. Throughout the 5 major regions, she has only been picked 6 times. With her high mobility and powerful dueling potential, teams around the world clearly see that Camille means business. Camille currently sits at a 67% win rate, only dropping 2 games.

 Maokai - the Twisted Treant

Probably the strongest top laner to consistently make it past the banning phase, Maokai rules the top lane. Maokai offers everything a top laner could ask for, damage and tanky stats. His ultimate allows his team to survive longer, while he locks down enemies with his immense crowd control. There’s a reason that Maokai has the highest pick rate for top lane so far.

 Jayce - the Defender of Tomorrow

Jayce is a high damage flex pick, which means he can go to two different lanes. Jayce excels since he no longer needs to buy Tear of the Goddess. Jayce can switch from melee to range with his ultimate Transform. This allows him to pressure melee lane opponents with his ranged form, while being able to go all-in with his melee form. His Acceleration Gate allows Jayce to move quickly, as well as increase the damage, range, and speed on Shock Blast.

Tier 2 Champions: Strong Picks, if Tier 1 Champions Are Unavailable

 Poppy - Keeper of the Hammer

Poppy is a utility tank that returns to the top lane meta. Once a top pick in Season 6, Poppy joins us again as an immortal tank. In lane, she has insane pressure with her power to stun and secure kills. While teamfighting, Poppy can target an enemy and separate them from their team. Poppy can also use Keeper’s Verdict to zone enemies from objectives or keep her team safe from danger.

 Rumble - the Mechanized Menace

Rumble is a magic damage Yordle who can tank a lot of damage. His Area of Effect Flamespitter is a great tool to zone enemies that try to get near Rumble. While laning, you should be able to space yourself from your opponent using Scrap Shield and Electro-Harpoon.  Rumble’s purpose in a teamfight is to land his ultimate, the Equalizer. The Equalizer, when landed, can obliterate a team within seconds.

 Nautilus - the Titan of the Depths

When people hear Nautilus, they can only think of one thing, the Crowd Control King. Nautilus has four abilities that produce crowd control which is a much-needed trait for a tank. While you might not solo kill your lane opponent, with jungle assistance, you can lock down the enemy with ease. With your Dredge Line, you can hook an enemy and use your other abilities to secure the kill. Your ultimate is a targeted knock-up that travels to the target. Used correctly, you can knock-up multiple opponents, allowing your team to execute their attack.

 Shen - Eye of Twilight

‘A blast from the past, Shen returns to the top lane meta. Shen is a super tank who is plain annoying to lane against. Running on Energy, Shen doesn’t have mana problems like other top laners. Shadow Dash allows Shen to Taunt any enemy who is in his direction, which can help your teammates target said champions. Shen’s strongest toll is his ultimate, Stand United. Stand United shields an ally champion and teleport to that champion’s location. This gives Shen a way to join teamfights, letting him split push other lanes.

 Fiora - the Grand Duelist

Fiora is strong fighter who has high carry potential. Fiora can easily take any opponent on 1v1. With Riposte, Fiora can parry and stun an opponent if she gets hit by any crowd control. Fiora’s ultimate is Grand Challenge, which shows all their vitals and granting her movement speed. Once she kills the enemy targeted with Grand Challenge, a Victory Zone appears that heals all ally champions for 2 seconds. This is a great tool to use to heal up after a 1v1, or to heal your team in the middle of a teamfight.

Tier 3 Champions: Used in Specific Situations.

 Kennen - the Heart of the Tempest

Kennen is a ranged ability power attacker who can move at the speed of light. Kennen harasses melee range champions out of lane, due to his auto attack amplifier, Electrical Surge. Kennen’s true power stems from his teamfighting. Slicing Maelstrom, his ultimate, is a large Area of Effect spell that can hit all 5 members of the enemy team. Used with other champion abilities, Kennen and his allies can make quick work of their enemies.

 Singed - the Mad Chemist

Singed has recently come into the light again as a counter to Maokai and Poppy. The reason he counters these two champions is very simple, they can’t kill him. Singed can use Poison Trail to discourage opponents from chasing him. If someone chooses to chase Singed, he can use Mega Adhesive and Fling to get out of the situation. Although Singed’s teamfighting capabilities aren’t the best, he is a very strong split-pusher.

 Trundle - the Troll King

Another top lane monster from Season 6, Trundle still shows his strengths against tanks. While Trundle can sustain well in lane, he hasn’t made it into many competitive games. With crowd control like Pillar of Ice, Trundle can block enemies or separate a target from their team. The reason Trundle is known as a tank killer is his ultimate, Subjugate. Subjugate steals the life from an enemy champion, while healing Trundle in the process. During this ultimate, Trundle steals 40% of the target’s armor and magic resist, making it near impossible to slay this troll.

 Kled- the Cantankerous Cavalier

Kled is a unique champion to say the least. He is an attack damage fighter who specializes in skirmishes. With his partner Skaarl, Kled receives a different move set compared to when Skaarl is not with him. While Kled relies on Courage and not mana, he still feels too weak compared to other top laners. However, this hasn’t stopped players from picking him. As an uncommon laner, opponents might not know how to deal with this Noxian General.

Conclusion

The first week of competitive League of Legends was a wild ride. Throughout all 5 regions, there were 20 unique picks for the top lane. There may have been 20 different champions to hit the top lane, but only a handful were noteworthy.  This list shows the meta of the top lane, which seems to be tanky, damage dealers. So far, the most feared champion in the top lane is Camille, due to her high dueling power. The top lane meta is sure to evolve, and hopefully we’ll see more unique picks for the top lane.

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