The Role of Top Lane: Split-Push, Tank, and Bruiser
1. Split-Push:A split-pusher's primary goal is to keep pressure on a side lane (usually top or bot). With the Teleport summoner spell, they can quickly rejoin their team if a fight breaks out. Split-pushers are usually strong duelists who force the enemy to send more than one player to stop them. This creates a numbers advantage elsewhere on the map that your teammates can exploit. However, in my experience, split-pushing is unreliable below Gold 4.
2. Tank:
A tank's role is to frontline in fights, absorb damage, and protect the backline with crowd control (CC) abilities. Tanks initiate teamfights and create openings for damage dealers while peeling threats away from your carries. Your main job as a tank is to ensure that your team’s damage dealers stay alive and can deal damage safely.
3. Bruiser:
Bruisers are hybrids between split-pushers and tanks. They can handle dueling in a side lane but can also provide a frontline presence when needed. In teamfights, bruisers can choose to dive the enemy backline or peel for their own carries, adapting to the situation. They’re often part of a triple threat composition, where the Top, Mid, and ADC all have high kill potential, making it hard for the enemy to focus on just one.
General Advice for Top Lane:
- Pick According to Your Elo: At lower ranks, it’s generally more effective to play Tanks or Bruisers (avoid going full damage builds).
- Play for Lane Priority: Aim to go even or win your lane. Keep your Teleport ready to assist other lanes or influence key fights.
- Absorb Pressure: Take damage and attention away from your carries so they can perform at their best.
- Top Lane Snowballs Hard: Since top lane is a melee 1v1 matchup most of the time, a lead can quickly snowball out of control. If you gain an advantage, you can dominate your lane by manipulating minion waves effectively.
Last edited:
