Why YOU SUCK at TOP LANE (And How To Fix It) - League of Legends

Summary

In this guide, Hex, a multi-season challenger player, explains why many struggle with Top Lane in League of Legends and offers simple, effective strategies to improve. The key focus is on the importance of Wave Control over trading. Hex debunks the myth that trading is paramount and emphasizes the critical skill of managing waves. By understanding concepts like push leads, cheater recalls, and bouncebacks, players can dominate their lane and gain significant advantages early in the game. The guide also highlights advanced tactics for mid and late-game scenarios, ensuring a comprehensive approach to mastering Top Lane.

Takeaways

• 🎯 Winning your lane is the key to success in Top Lane.
• 🔄 Top Lane isn't just about trading; it's heavily reliant on wave control.
• 😬 Top Lane is the most unforgiving role, with high stakes for mistakes.
• 🌊 Proper wave control is crucial due to the melee vs. melee nature of the lane.
• 📈 Getting a push lead at level one is essential for early dominance.
• 🔄 Cheater recalls provide a significant advantage by letting you return to lane with better items.
• 📚 Understanding wave rebounds helps in planning aggressive or defensive plays.
• 🏰 Knowing when to crash waves and set up recalls can neutralize bad matchups.
• 🧠 Using slow pushes strategically can prevent opponents from gaining an advantage.
• 🔁 The game plan involves alternating slow pushes, crashes, and recalls to maintain control and gain leads.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the guide presented in the script?

The guide focuses on teaching players how to improve their performance in the Top Lane role in League of Legends, emphasizing the importance of wave control and providing strategies to win the laning phase.

Who is the presenter of the guide and what are his credentials?

The presenter is Hex, a multi-season Challenger player and a long-time teacher at Skillcap, who has created a popular course on climbing the ranks as a top laner.

Why is wave control considered the most important skill for top laners according to the guide?

Wave control is crucial for top laners because it directly impacts the ability to farm safely and contest trades without taking unnecessary damage, and it can completely swing a matchup based on wave positioning.

What is the significance of the 'cheater recall' strategy mentioned in the script?

The 'cheater recall' is an early game strategy that allows a player to gain an item advantage and full health/mana by recalling during the enemy's distraction with the wave, and then freezing the lane to force trades upon return.

What should a top laner do if they do not get the push lead at level one?

If a top laner does not get the push lead at level one, they should play safe, take minimal damage, and wait for the wave to crash at level two to start looking for potential trades once they are level three.

How can a top laner use the 'bounce back' concept to their advantage?

A top laner can use the bounce back concept to create a slow push in their favor after an enemy crashes a wave into their tower, allowing them to build up a big wave and look for aggressive trades or play safe depending on the matchup.

What is the recommended action for a top laner when they have a big minion lead and the enemy is pushing their wave towards the tower?

The top laner should crash the wave to build up a big wave off the bounce back, neutralizing the lane and setting up a potential recall timing to get an item advantage.

What is the primary goal for a top laner during the early game?

The primary goal for a top laner during the early game is to get the push lead on the first wave by auto attacking the minions, setting up potential level two all-ins or a cheater recall for an item advantage.

How does the guide suggest handling a situation where the enemy top laner has a stronger early game?

In such a situation, the guide suggests taking minimal damage, focusing on last-hitting minions until level three, and then looking to play aggressively into good matchups or maintain a minion lead in bad matchups.

What is the recommended strategy for a top laner when they have won the laning phase?

After winning the laning phase, a top laner should look to push waves into the enemy's tower, creating pressure and forcing responses from the enemy team, while also looking for opportunities to roam and impact other lanes or objectives.

What changes in the game dynamics around levels 7 to 9 that affect the strategies taught in the guide?

Around levels 7 to 9, champions typically unlock stronger wave clear abilities, freezing becomes less effective due to less punishing consequences of giving up CS, and players have more items and mobility to roam, making hard pushing and creating pressure more important.