Recently, a topic on the FMKOREA forum has sparked a fierce debate within the Korean League of Legends community, presenting a list of the top laners in history. Among the top 5 names, we can easily recognize some very familiar names: TheShy, MaRin, CuVee, Nuguri, and Smeb.
However, what’s noteworthy is that according to the author of the vote, if ranked specifically, he would choose TheShy as the greatest top laner in history, with Marin in second place. This choice has received quite a number of votes, but it has also come with heated discussions about “why TheShy is ranked above Marin?”
In terms of titles, Marin holds more than TheShy, with 2 LCK championships in 2015, 1 World Championship compared to TheShy’s 1 LPL Spring 2019 and 1 World Championship in 2018. However, TheShy maintained his peak performance for a longer period (over 2 seasons in 2018 and 2019), while Marin only “burst into flames” in 2015.
Regarding other aspects, a large number of Korean gamers believe that Marin is a versatile player, but TheShy is the one who brought the carry top playstyle to new heights. Simply put, Marin can “dance to any music”—from carry, tank, buff to teleport usage, all scoring 9/10, while TheShy, despite not having such versatility, scores 10/10 for his carry top playstyle, especially when he uses marksmen champions in the top lane.
Analyzing further, the author of the vote presents the argument: “Marin can play well in carry top matchups, but he doesn’t always dominate the laning phase. Meanwhile, TheShy completely controls this phase. When using fighter or marksman champions, TheShy always opts for an aggressive playstyle and consistently wins his lane against opponents.”
Because of this, many LoL fans believe that TheShy has set a perfect standard for the carry top playstyle.
Some opposing views argue that if one only evaluates TheShy as a better top laner than Marin based solely on his exceptional carry skills, it is “foolish.” One of the top criteria for assessing a superstar is whether they can adapt to every meta. Marin, although he only shone in a single season, did so in a year when Riot released many major updates that constantly changed the meta.
Marin used Maokai over 30 times throughout 2015 and only lost once, but at that year’s World Championship, he switched to playing carry champions and only played tank once in the entire tournament, amidst the rise of anti-tank champions like Darius and Fiora following Riot’s major summer update that year. This shows Marin’s perfect adaptability to the constant meta shifts—something his supporters argue that TheShy lacks.
Furthermore, at SKT, Marin was the captain, the one making calls, meaning he had to take on the roles of overseeing the map and reading the game. Managing so many roles while still dominating all other top laners of his time proves Marin’s greater influence and stature compared to TheShy.
Of course, the debate over “who is better” will never end, as everyone has their own criteria and personal feelings, mixed with emotional factors, when evaluating players. Moreover, Marin and TheShy belong to two different generations, making comparisons even more… nebulous.
Ultimately, LCK fans have every reason to be proud, as both of these legendary top laners hail from South Korea.