As a top laner, picking the right champion is only half the battle. Equally important is the build you choose to maximize your champion's strengths and minimize its weaknesses. Here are three different build paths for three different types of top lane champions.
Tank Build for Tanks
For tanks like Maokai, Ornn, and Sion, the goal is to soak up as much damage as possible while still being a threat to the enemy team. The best starting item is Doran's Shield, which gives low-cost health regeneration and blocks some basic attacks. The core items for any tank build are Sunfire Cape and Spirit Visage. Sunfire Cape deals AoE damage around you and gives you plenty of armor to survive enemy auto-attacks. Spirit Visage makes your self-healing abilities more potent, allowing you to stay in lane and regen any damage you may take from minions.
In terms of boots, Mercury Treads are generally the best option because they reduce the duration of crowd control (CC) effects, which are a tank's worst enemy. Finally, finish with any tank item that provides health, armor, or magic resist based on the enemy team composition. Famous examples include Dead Man's Plate, Randuin's Omen, Thornmail, and Adaptive Helm.
Fighter Build for Bruisers
For bruisers like Jax, Renekton, and Darius, the goal is to deal significant damage while also being relatively tanky. A fighter build typically starts with either Doran's Blade or Long Sword and three health potions. Blade as a starting item grants you more early game damage and sustain, while Long Sword can be used towards building a larger item.
The core items for a fighter build are Trinity Force and Black Cleaver. Trinity Force gives you a bit of everything, making it a fantastic buy on champions who can use all of its stats well. Black Cleaver gives you damage, cooldown reduction, and a powerful stackable shred effect that makes you deal more damage to armored opponents. When it comes to boots, Ninja Tabi or Mercury Treads are the best choices depending on the enemy team's composition. Finish the build with any other fighter items, such as Sterak's Gage, Titanic Hydra, Death's Dance, and Guardian Angel.
Hybrid Build for Ranged Top Laners
For ranged top laners like Vayne, Quinn, and Teemo, the goal is to harass the enemy while staying as safe as possible. A hybrid build will allow you to deal both physical and magical damage while maintaining a safety distance. These champions typically do not rely heavily on mana, making Doran's Blade a great starting item, which provides added Attack Damage and also helps with early sustain. Starting with Blade will provide early power and some life on-hit, which makes it a great start for any ranged AD champion.
The core items for a hybrid build are Guinsoo's Rageblade and Blade of the Ruined King. Both items make you a hybrid threat, dealing both physical and magical damage. Guinsoo's Rageblade gives you bonus physical and magical damage on every third attack, while Blade of the Ruined King lets you steal health from enemies and shred their armor. As for boots, Movement Speed Boots or Mercury Treads are the most popular options. For additional damage, finish the build with Nashor's Tooth, Wit's End, or Hextech Gunblade.
No matter which build path you choose, make sure that it suits your play style and the champion you're playing. Experiment with different items and see what works best for you. With enough practice, you'll be dominating the top lane in no time.
