League of Legends: 8 Best Beginner Tips For Top Lane

The top lane in League of Legends is a battleground for fighters, bruisers, and tanks, offering some of the most intense 1v1 duels in the game. For players who enjoy testing their skills in isolated combat, the top lane provides a unique and rewarding challenge.

However, as one of the most independent roles, it requires a solid understanding of its mechanics and responsibilities. Heading into this role without preparation can lead to frustration, so arming yourself with knowledge is key to success.

In this guide, we’ll cover 8 essential tips to help beginner top laners master the fundamentals, thrive in the laning phase, and make an impact on the game. Let’s dive into the strategies that will set you up for victory in the top lane!

#8: Secure the Level 2 Advantage

In the top lane, just like in mid, players gain full experience from minions, allowing them to reach level 2 after clearing all six minions in the first wave and one melee minion from the second. This timing is crucial, as level 2 often marks a turning point in early trades and can determine control of the lane.

Reaching level 2 before your opponent gives you access to an additional ability, creating opportunities to go all-in, poke aggressively, or zone the enemy off their minions to deny gold and experience. Conversely, if your opponent is likely to hit level 2 first—especially if they’re playing a strong early-game champion—it’s wise to play defensively and wait for your chance to counter later.

Understanding and leveraging the level 2 power spike can help you secure an early lead, dictate the pace of the lane, and gain momentum for the rest of the game.

#7: Should You Take Ignite or Teleport?

The debate between Ignite and Teleport for top laners has been around as long as League of Legends itself, and both options are viable depending on your playstyle and matchup. However, your choice should reflect your game plan for the lane and the overall game.

Ignite is a strong option for aggressive champions who have kill pressure in lane and want to dominate early. It adds extra damage and healing reduction, making it ideal for snowballing against opponents. If you’re confident in your ability to secure kills and maintain pressure, Ignite can help you build an early lead.

Teleport, on the other hand, is a safer and more versatile choice, especially for champions who struggle in the laning phase or prefer to scale. It allows you to quickly return to lane to minimize missed farm and gold. Beyond the laning phase, Teleport is invaluable for split-pushing, joining teamfights, contesting objectives, or setting up game-changing flanks on champions with impactful ultimates like Kennen.

While some players experiment with alternative setups like Ghost or taking both Ignite and Teleport, beginners should prioritize Flash for its utility and safety. For those new to the role, Teleport is generally the more forgiving and team-oriented choice, while Ignite is better suited for players looking to dominate their lane early.

#6: Adapt Your Resistances to Your Opponent

As a top laner, you’ll often spend most of the laning phase in direct combat with your opponent. To increase your survivability and gain an edge, it’s wise to build armor or magic resistance based on the damage type of the champion you’re facing.

Start by tailoring your runes in champion select, adding armor or magic resist depending on whether your lane opponent primarily deals physical or magical damage. This can be further reinforced during the game by purchasing boots that provide the appropriate resistance, such as Plated Steelcaps for physical damage or Mercury’s Treads for magic damage and crowd control reduction.

If the enemy jungler’s damage type matches that of the opposing top laner, the incentive to stack resistances becomes even greater, as you’ll likely face ganks during the laning phase. By building the right defensive stats, you can better withstand trades, survive ganks, and maintain a stronger presence in the lane. Adjusting your resistances to suit the matchup is a simple yet effective way to gain an advantage in the top lane.

#5: Assist Your Team with Rift Herald

While top laners often have limited involvement with early Dragons due to their distance from the pit, they can play a key role in securing the Rift Herald. Found in the Baron pit during the first 20 minutes of the game, Rift Herald provides a powerful advantage when used effectively.

The first Rift Herald spawns at the 8-minute mark and is particularly valuable, as its charge can be used to destroy turret plates and generate extra gold before plates disappear at 14 minutes. While junglers can solo Rift Herald, your support as a top laner can make the process faster and safer.

Push your wave into the enemy tower to give yourself time, and use wards to secure vision around the pit. By joining your jungler, you not only speed up the Herald’s capture but also deter any enemy attempts to contest the objective. This proactive teamwork can help secure a major advantage for your team in the early game, setting the stage for success.

#4: Stay Vigilant for Early Ganks

Early ganks are a common threat for top laners, as junglers often begin their clear on the bottom side of the map and path upward. Once they’ve cleared their top-side camps, they’re in a prime position to set up a gank in the long and often overextended top lane.

To avoid falling victim to an early gank, keep in mind that you’re most vulnerable around the 2:40 mark. Use this knowledge to your advantage by placing an early ward to spot potential threats and playing cautiously. Avoid pushing too far up the lane, as the long distance to safety makes escaping a gank much harder.

However, while you’re staying alert for enemy junglers, don’t forget that your own jungler might be planning to gank your lane. If you have crowd control abilities, use them to set up an opportunity for your jungler to secure a kill or apply pressure. By balancing caution with readiness to capitalize on your jungler’s support, you can navigate the early game effectively and avoid unnecessary setbacks.

#3: Tanks Are Always Valuable

Unlike some champions who rely on dominating their lane to stay relevant, tanks bring inherent utility to their team with their crowd control, durability, and supportive abilities. While a strong laning phase—securing farm, picking up kills, and denying your opponent—will help you become tankier and give your team an advantage, tanks remain useful even if they struggle early on.

This makes tanks an excellent choice for beginner top laners who may find themselves falling behind in lane. Their natural resilience and ability to disrupt enemies in teamfights mean they can still make a significant impact, even after a tough early game.

If you’re playing a tank and find yourself behind, focus on grouping with your team for fights and objectives as the game transitions to the mid and late stages. By using your crowd control to peel for carries or initiate fights, you’ll contribute meaningfully to your team’s success, regardless of your individual performance in the laning phase. Tanks offer a forgiving and team-oriented playstyle, perfect for new top laners looking to learn the role.

#2: Extend Your Impact Beyond Top Lane

While the top lane is often humorously referred to as an “island” in the League of Legends community, it’s far from isolated when it comes to influencing the game. Top laners have multiple opportunities to make their presence felt across the map, and doing so can greatly improve their team’s chances of winning.

One of the most straightforward ways to impact other lanes is by using Teleport. In the early game, you can teleport to friendly towers to assist teammates in need, while after 14 minutes, Teleport can be used on minions or wards to set up strategic flanks during fights. This allows you to join critical skirmishes or objectives quickly and efficiently.

Roaming to the mid lane or invading the top side jungle with your allies are also great ways to apply pressure. To do this effectively, push your wave into the enemy tower first, creating space and denying the opposing laner gold and experience. Champions like Shen excel at influencing the map, thanks to his global ultimate that shields an ally and teleports him directly into the fight.

By timing your roams, Teleport usage, and map-wide plays strategically, you can turn the tide in other lanes and have a meaningful impact on the outcome of the game. Top laners who go beyond their lane often provide the edge their team needs to secure victory.

#1: Master the Art of Split Pushing

Split pushing is a powerful mid-to-late-game strategy, often utilized by top laners to pressure the enemy team. The tactic involves pushing a side lane and threatening turrets or inhibitors while your team focuses on objectives, teamfights, or applying pressure elsewhere. This forces the enemy to either respond to you and lose control of the map or ignore you and sacrifice key structures.

While split pushing requires a strategic approach, beginners should keep these key principles in mind:
• Time Your Pushes Wisely: Only split push when your team is applying pressure elsewhere, such as contesting objectives or fighting. Pushing alone while your team is recalling or farming will leave you vulnerable to a collapse without any counterplay.
• Split on the Opposite Side of Objectives: Always push the lane furthest from the currently contested objective. For example, if Baron is up, focus on pushing the bot lane. This divides the enemy’s attention, forcing them to choose between defending against you or contesting the objective. Having Teleport ready can help you quickly join your team if needed.
• Ward for Safety: Vision is critical when split pushing. Place wards in enemy jungle entrances or along paths where enemies are likely to approach. This ensures you have enough time to retreat when they come to shut you down.

By mastering these fundamentals, you can become a split-pushing powerhouse, creating constant pressure and forcing the enemy team into difficult decisions. Over time, you’ll learn to perfect this game-changing strategy and lead your team to victory.

Conclusion

Mastering the top lane in League of Legends is a rewarding journey, filled with intense 1v1 battles and opportunities to impact the game. By following these beginner tips, you’ll develop the skills needed to hold your own in this isolated lane, from managing early trades and defending against ganks to influencing the map through split pushing and teamfighting.

The top lane is a test of patience, strategy, and adaptability. Whether you’re playing tanks, fighters, or ranged champions, understanding your role and how to maximize your strengths will set you up for success. With practice and these tips in mind, you’ll become a reliable force in the top lane, ready to carry your team to victory.