The list of the best top lane champions in patch 10.6 is influenced by the nerfs aimed at Darius, Garen, and other top lane champions, along with changes to the Teleport summoner spell. Below are the names that promise to dominate the meta in the near future that players should know and utilize:
1. Kled
Kled has received a lot of attention from players in recent patches, mainly due to his strong laning ability and his capability to inflict Grievous Wounds on opponents without needing to build the Butcher’s Knife item. Kled’s laning strength comes from his ability to poke enemies with Bear Trap on a Rope (Q) and his ability to sustain in lane by using Violent Tendencies (W) to regain health through his passive, Skaarl, the Cowardly Lizard.
This laning power allows Kled to efficiently split push while still being useful in team fights if he opts for Teleport combined with Chaaaaaarge!!! (R). Once he infiltrates the enemy’s backline, Kled can use Joust (E) to close the gap and ensure he takes down the enemy carry.
2. Sett
Sett continues to be one of the most viable top lane picks in Season 10, even after receiving multiple nerfs. His ability to utilize the Hydra and the Conqueror rune is nearly unmatched, allowing him to deal tons of damage during the laning phase as well as in mid-game team fights. Sett can also serve as a sturdy shield with the shielding from Haymaker (W) and isolate enemy carries with Showstopper (R).
With the nerfs to the Teleport summoner spell in patch 10.6, Sett’s early game strength will help him quickly outshine his opponents. At the same time, it also allows him to become a lurking threat with head-on Teleport plays in late-game team fights, as this summoner spell now has a cooldown of only 4 seconds.
3. Shen
Shen is another champion that greatly benefits from the changes to the Teleport summoner spell. He can easily turn the tide of team fights in the mid-game thanks to his ultimate, Stand United (R), which allows him to shield allied champions and intervene in fights from anywhere on the map. In the late game, he can continue to go anywhere with Teleport and his ultimate, meaning he can freely split push to apply pressure and be ready to return to assist teammates whenever necessary to contest major objectives.
Additionally, Shen can use Flash and Shadow Dash (E) to lock down enemy carries, allowing his team to easily secure kills. The utility in Shen’s kit only makes him stronger in the top lane, with Spirit’s Refuge (W) blocking incoming basic attacks aimed at him or nearby allied champions, while Twilight Assault (Q) can slow down opponents if the Spirit Blade hits on its return.
4. Janna
With the recent nerfs and buffs to Sona and Soraka, Janna has emerged as the next buff support champion to dominate the top lane, even making several appearances in professional tournaments in previous patches. Like all other support champions, Janna has a significant Gold advantage, allowing her to fall behind in several dozen minion stats compared to opponents while still quickly reaching her power spikes.
Janna’s popularity in the top lane mainly stems from the fact that almost all other champions struggle against her annoying poke in the early game and her healing and shielding capabilities in the late game. Unless other top lane champions can become more balanced in all stages of the game, support champions like Sona, Janna, and Soraka will continue to be viable alternatives in the current top lane meta.
5. Darius
Darius would be rated higher on this list if he hadn’t received nerfs in patch 10.6. Increased mana costs for Crippling Strike (W) and Apprehend (E) will pose significant challenges for Darius players, while the reduction in bonus damage from W makes his early game a bit weaker.
Darius’s kit remains incredibly strong compared to other top lane champions right now. His ability to use Crippling Strike (W) to reset basic attacks and quickly activate Conqueror makes him hard to defeat in the early game, especially if the opponent is a tank champion. In the late game, combining his passive, Hemorrhage, with Noxian Guillotine (Q) allows Darius to use his ultimate multiple times in quick succession, turning him into an unstoppable chopping machine.