League of Legends: 10 Best Tank Toplane Champions

Tanks are a cornerstone of almost every team composition in League of Legends, providing durability, crowd control, and front-line presence. Often, the responsibility of playing a tank falls to the top laner. Tanks in the top lane offer a stable and rewarding experience, combining solid laning potential with excellent late-game scaling. Additionally, for new players, tanks are often more forgiving and easier to master compared to other roles like bruisers.

With a wide variety of tank champions available, it can be challenging to choose the right one. In this article, we’ll highlight the 10 best tank top laners you should try in ranked games. Let’s dive in and explore these powerful picks!

#10: Malphite

Malphite, the Shard of the Monolith, is a formidable tank top laner known for his exceptional durability and crowd control. His passive, Granite Shield, provides a substantial shield that regenerates after a brief period, allowing him to absorb significant damage during trades. His Q ability, Seismic Shard, enables him to poke enemies from a distance while stealing their movement speed, granting him both offensive and defensive utility. Malphite’s W, Thunderclap, enhances his auto-attacks, making him a threat in extended trades. His E, Ground Slam, deals area-of-effect damage and reduces the attack speed of enemies hit, making it particularly effective against auto-attack-reliant champions. Malphite’s ultimate, Unstoppable Force, is a game-changing ability that allows him to dash forward and knock up all enemies in its path, serving as a powerful initiation tool in team fights.

Malphite excels against attack damage (AD) champions due to his ability to stack armor and mitigate physical damage. However, he may struggle against champions with consistent poke or true damage. Overall, Malphite’s straightforward kit and impactful ultimate make him a solid choice for players seeking a reliable tank in the top lane.

#9: Ornn

Ornn, the Fire below the Mountain, is a formidable tank top laner renowned for his exceptional crowd control and unique ability to forge items during gameplay. His passive, Living Forge, allows him to craft items without returning to base, providing a significant advantage in sustaining lane presence and adapting to various situations. Ornn’s Q ability, Volcanic Rupture, creates a fissure that slows enemies and forms a pillar, disrupting enemy positioning. His W, Bellows Breath, grants him a shield and deals damage over time, applying the Brittle debuff, which enhances subsequent crowd control effects. The E ability, Searing Charge, enables Ornn to dash forward, knocking up enemies if he collides with terrain or his Q pillar. His ultimate, Call of the Forge God, summons a massive elemental that slows and knocks up enemies, serving as a powerful initiation tool in team fights.

Ornn excels against champions who rely heavily on auto-attacks and have limited mobility, as his crowd control and durability can effectively neutralize their threats. However, he may struggle against champions with high mobility or consistent poke damage. Overall, Ornn’s unique kit and ability to enhance his team’s items make him a valuable asset in any team composition.

#8: Maokai

Maokai, the Twisted Treant, is a resilient tank top laner renowned for his crowd control and sustain. His passive, Sap Magic, allows him to periodically heal upon landing basic attacks, enhancing his durability in prolonged engagements. The Q ability, Bramble Smash, deals damage and knocks back enemies, serving as an effective tool for disrupting opponents. Twisted Advance (W) enables Maokai to become untargetable and swiftly root a target, facilitating both engages and escapes. His E, Sapling Toss, deploys saplings that act as wards and explode upon enemy contact, providing vision and zoning capabilities. Maokai’s ultimate, Nature’s Grasp, sends forth a wave of brambles that root all enemies in their path, offering substantial control during team fights.

Maokai excels against champions reliant on mobility, as his crowd control can effectively hinder their movements. However, he may face challenges against poke-heavy champions who can harass from a distance. Overall, Maokai’s versatile kit and sustain make him a reliable choice for players seeking a durable and impactful top laner.

#7: Sion

Sion, the Undead Juggernaut, is a formidable tank top laner renowned for his exceptional crowd control and durability. His passive, Glory in Death, allows him to briefly return to life upon death, gaining significant attack speed and lifesteal, enabling him to deal substantial damage before succumbing. His Q ability, Decimating Smash, charges up a powerful swing that knocks up and damages enemies, serving as a potent tool for both wave clear and crowd control. Soul Furnace (W) provides Sion with a shield that can be detonated to deal area-of-effect damage, enhancing his survivability and damage output. His E, Roar of the Slayer, fires a shockwave that slows and reduces the armor of enemies, facilitating engages and trades. Sion’s ultimate, Unstoppable Onslaught, propels him forward at increasing speed, knocking up and stunning enemies in his path, making it an excellent initiation tool for team fights.

Sion excels against champions who lack mobility, as his crowd control can effectively disrupt their positioning. However, he may struggle against champions with high mobility or consistent poke damage. Overall, Sion’s robust kit and team fight presence make him a reliable choice for players seeking a durable and impactful top laner.

#6: Poppy

Poppy, the Keeper of the Hammer, is a resilient tank top laner known for her exceptional crowd control and ability to disrupt enemy mobility. Her passive, Iron Ambassador, allows her to throw her buckler, dealing bonus damage and granting a temporary shield upon retrieval, enhancing her trading potential and durability. The Q ability, Hammer Shock, smashes the ground, dealing damage and creating a delayed explosion for additional area-of-effect damage, making it effective for both wave clear and skirmishes. Steadfast Presence (W) grants Poppy increased movement speed and a passive resist to enemy dashes, while activating it creates a zone that stops enemy dashes and deals magic damage, serving as a powerful tool against mobile champions. Her E, Heroic Charge, enables Poppy to dash to a target, stunning and damaging them if they collide with terrain, facilitating aggressive plays and crowd control. Poppy’s ultimate, Keeper’s Verdict, charges up a hammer strike that knocks enemies far away, allowing for strategic disengages or isolating key targets.

Poppy excels against champions who rely heavily on dashes and mobility, as her W can effectively negate their engage or escape attempts. However, she may struggle against ranged poke champions who can harass from a distance. Overall, Poppy’s robust kit and ability to control the battlefield make her a reliable choice for players seeking a durable and impactful top laner.

#5: K'Sante

K’Sante, the Pride of Nazumah, is a formidable tank top laner known for his exceptional durability and crowd control. His passive, Dauntless Instinct, enhances his basic attacks to deal additional max health physical damage after using abilities, bolstering his trading potential. The Q ability, Ntofo Strikes, slams his weapon, dealing damage and slowing enemies; after two strikes, the third casts a shockwave that pulls enemies. Path Maker (W) charges up, reducing incoming damage and granting crowd control immunity, then dashes forward, knocking up and stunning enemies. His E, Footwork, provides a dash that shields K’Sante and allies, offering mobility and protection. K’Sante’s ultimate, All Out, shatters his weapons, dealing damage and knocking back an enemy; upon collision with terrain, it displaces them over a wall and empowers K’Sante’s abilities while reducing his defenses.

K’Sante excels against champions who rely heavily on mobility, as his crowd control can effectively disrupt their movements. However, he may struggle against poke-heavy champions who can harass from a distance. Overall, K’Sante’s robust kit and team fight presence make him a reliable choice for players seeking a durable and impactful top laner.

#4: Warwick

Warwick, the Uncaged Wrath of Zaun, is a versatile top lane champion known for his exceptional sustain and dueling capabilities. His passive, Eternal Hunger, grants bonus magic damage and healing on basic attacks, enhancing his durability during trades. The Q ability, Jaws of the Beast, allows Warwick to lunge at enemies, dealing damage and healing himself, making it effective for both engaging and sustaining in lane. Blood Hunt (W) increases his attack speed and movement speed towards low-health enemies, enabling him to chase down opponents or escape precarious situations. His E, Primal Howl, provides damage reduction and, upon reactivation, fears nearby enemies, serving as a potent crowd control tool. Warwick’s ultimate, Infinite Duress, suppresses and damages a targeted enemy, facilitating ganks and securing kills.

Warwick excels against champions who lack sustain, as his healing allows him to outlast opponents in extended trades. However, he may struggle against ranged champions who can poke from a distance. Overall, Warwick’s robust kit and adaptability make him a strong choice for players seeking a durable and impactful top laner.

#3: Shen

Shen, the Eye of Twilight, is a versatile tank top laner renowned for his global presence and protective abilities. His passive, Ki Barrier, grants a shield after casting an ability, enhancing his durability in trades. The Q ability, Twilight Assault, summons his spirit blade, empowering his next three attacks to deal bonus damage based on the target’s max health; if the blade collides with an enemy champion, these attacks deal increased damage and slow the target. Spirit’s Refuge (W) creates a zone around the spirit blade, causing allied champions within to dodge all incoming basic attacks, providing significant protection in skirmishes. His E, Shadow Dash, enables Shen to dash forward, taunting and damaging enemies in his path, serving as a potent crowd control tool. Shen’s ultimate, Stand United, allows him to shield an allied champion from anywhere on the map and teleport to their location, offering unparalleled support and map presence.

Shen excels against champions who rely heavily on basic attacks, as his W can effectively negate their damage output. However, he may struggle against champions with high burst damage or consistent poke. Overall, Shen’s unique kit and global presence make him a reliable choice for players seeking a durable and impactful top laner.

#2: Cho'Gath

Cho’Gath, the Terror of the Void, is a formidable tank top laner known for his exceptional crowd control and scaling durability. His passive, Carnivore, restores health and mana upon killing units, enhancing his sustain in lane. The Q ability, Rupture, causes the ground to erupt at a target location, knocking up and slowing enemies, serving as a potent tool for both engagement and disengagement. Feral Scream (W) unleashes a cone of silence, damaging and preventing enemies from casting abilities, effectively disrupting opponents in skirmishes. His E, Vorpal Spikes, empowers his basic attacks to release spikes, dealing area-of-effect damage, aiding in wave clear and trades. Cho’Gath’s ultimate, Feast, allows him to devour enemies, dealing true damage and granting him increased size and health upon a successful kill, contributing to his late-game tankiness.

Cho’Gath excels against champions who lack mobility, as his crowd control can effectively disrupt their positioning. However, he may struggle against champions with high sustain or poke damage. Overall, Cho’Gath’s robust kit and scaling potential make him a reliable choice for players seeking a durable and impactful top laner.

#1: Dr. Mundo

Dr. Mundo, the Madman of Zaun, is a resilient tank top laner renowned for his exceptional health regeneration and crowd control resistance. His passive, Goes Where He Pleases, allows him to periodically resist the next immobilizing effect, losing current health instead, and dropping a chemical canister that he can pick up to restore health and reduce the passive’s cooldown. The Q ability, Infected Bonesaw, hurls a cleaver that deals magic damage based on the target’s current health and slows them, serving as a potent tool for both harass and engage. Heart Zapper (W) causes Dr. Mundo to electrocute himself, dealing persistent magic damage to nearby enemies and storing a portion of damage taken as grey health; upon reactivation, he deals a burst of damage and heals for his grey health if an enemy is hit. His E, Blunt Force Trauma, passively increases attack damage based on missing health and can be activated to swing his “medical” bag, dealing physical damage that scales with missing health; if the target dies, they are swatted away, dealing damage to enemies they pass through. Dr. Mundo’s ultimate, Maximum Dosage, grants him bonus health, increased movement speed, and significant health regeneration over a duration, enhancing his durability and chase potential.

Dr. Mundo excels against teams with heavy crowd control, as his passive allows him to shrug off immobilizing effects. However, he may struggle against champions with high burst damage or grievous wounds application. Overall, Dr. Mundo’s robust kit and exceptional sustain make him a reliable choice for players seeking a durable and impactful top laner.

Conclusion

Tank champions in the top lane provide a solid foundation for any team, offering durability, crowd control, and consistent late-game scaling. From the unstoppable resilience of Dr. Mundo to the global impact of Shen, these champions shine in their ability to absorb damage and lead engagements. Champions like Ornn and Malphite bring game-changing team fight potential, while others like Poppy and K’Sante offer unique tools to counter mobility-heavy compositions.

Each tank on this list brings its own strengths and playstyle, making them versatile picks for climbing the ranked ladder. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the role, mastering one of these champions can help you dominate the top lane and turn the tide of any game. Choose your favorite tank, build up your defenses, and carry your team to victory!