Alright, so I’ve been grinding away at this top lane thing in League for a while now, and let me tell you, it’s a whole different beast up there. I mean, I used to be a mid-lane main, thought I was hot stuff, you know? But top lane? It’s a whole other level of brutal.
So, I started by just jumping in with some of my usual champs, figuring I could just outplay people like I did in mid. Yeah, that didn’t work out too well. Got stomped pretty hard a few times. Turns out, trading patterns and matchups are way more important up here. You can’t just rely on flashy plays.
Then, I decided to get a little more serious. Watched some high-elo top lane streamers, you know, the usual suspects. Tried to copy their builds, their runes, everything. It helped a bit, I guess, but I was still getting wrecked more often than not. Felt like I was just mimicking without really understanding.
Next, I hit the practice tool. Spent hours just practicing last hitting, trying to get that perfect CS score. My fingers were cramping, man, but it was worth it. Getting a good early gold lead is crucial, especially when you’re up against some of these tanky monsters.
- Spent hours on wave management.
- Learned when to push, when to freeze.
- Figured out how to set up ganks for my jungler.
That was a game-changer. Suddenly, I wasn’t just getting pushed around. I was controlling the lane, dictating the pace of the game. It was a good feeling.
Matchups, Matchups, Matchups
But even with all that, there were still certain matchups that just felt impossible. Darius, Renekton, you name it. So, I dug deeper. Started reading guides, forum posts, anything I could find on specific matchups. Learned about their power spikes, their cooldowns, how to play around their strengths.
And then, it finally clicked. I started winning those tough matchups, or at least going even. I understood when to be aggressive, when to back off. It wasn’t about outplaying them mechanically, it was about outsmarting them. Knowing when to take a good trade, when to just farm up, when to call for that sweet, sweet jungle gank.
It’s been a long and bumpy road, but I’m finally starting to feel comfortable in the top lane. I’m not saying I’m some kind of god now, far from it. But I’m not getting rolled over every game anymore. I’m actually making plays, carrying my weight, and sometimes even carrying the whole damn team. It’s a good feeling, man. A real good feeling.
So yeah, that’s my top lane journey so far. Still a lot to learn, but I’m definitely on the right path. Maybe one day I’ll even be worthy of that “S Tier” title. Who knows?
