Tank Top Damage: Outperforming Ap Mid?

Tanks are tough melee champions who sacrifice damage for powerful crowd control. They are not designed to kill opponents but to disrupt them and divert focus to themselves, allowing them to lock down targets and remove threats from their allies. Tanks are particularly effective against assassins and mages due to their ability to absorb burst damage. However, their lack of mobility and continuous damage puts them at a disadvantage against fighters and marksmen.

AP champs, on the other hand, are mages or supports who rely on their abilities to deal damage or support their team. They typically have low resistances and health pools but can output high burst damage.

So, should a tank top do more damage than an AP mid? It depends on the specific champions and team compositions. Tanks are generally not designed to deal high damage, but some champions that fall into the tank category, like Malphite, can deal significant damage with an AP build. On the other hand, AP champions like Kennen and Cassiopeia can be effective in the top lane and may have more burst damage than some tanks. Ultimately, the effectiveness of each champion depends on a variety of factors, including team composition, item builds, and player skill.

The advantages of an AP Malphite build

AP Malphite is a powerful option for players looking for a tanky AP champion with strong engage potential. Here are some advantages of building AP on Malphite:

High Damage Output: AP Malphite has access to some of the best ability power scalings in the game. His abilities, particularly his ultimate "Unstoppable Force," can deal massive damage to enemies, making him a tactical nuke in team fights. With the right items and runes, AP Malphite can one-shot squishy targets and be a significant damage threat.

Lane Bully: In the early game, AP Malphite can be a lane bully in many matchups. By taking the Arcane Comet rune, Malphite can poke his opponents down with his Q ability, "Seismic Shard." This allows him to chunk their health and set up all-in engages or force them to back off. Malphite's high base damage also lets him pick up early kills if his opponents underestimate his damage.

Engage and Disengage: Malphite's kit provides excellent engage and disengage tools for his team. His ultimate, "Unstoppable Force," allows him to initiate fights or turn them around. With proper positioning and timing, Malphite can lock down priority targets or create space for his team to escape. Additionally, his Q ability slows enemies, further enhancing his ability to engage or peel for his teammates.

Flexibility: AP Malphite has the flexibility to adapt to different team compositions and playstyles. While he can be a lane bully in the early game, he can also provide strong frontline presence and initiate fights for his team. If your team already has sufficient frontline champions, AP Malphite can opt for a more damage-oriented build with items like Luden's Echo and Rabadon's Deathcap to maximise his burst potential.

Strong Teamfight Presence: AP Malphite's abilities and high ability power scalings make him an excellent teamfighter. His ultimate can affect multiple enemies and deal significant damage in team fights. Additionally, his Q and E abilities provide him with area-of-effect damage and crowd control, making him a disruptive force in team fights.

Overall, AP Malphite is a versatile and powerful option that can provide both damage and engage potential for your team. His ability to bully in lane, initiate fights, and deal high amounts of damage makes him a threat in the top or mid lane.

Kennen as an AP top-lane pick

Kennen is a flexible League of Legends champion with a variety of viable builds. While he can be built as AD, AP Kennen is considered the most basic and easiest to use. This build is most effective in the mid lane but can also be used in the top lane.

AP Kennen is a ranged fighter with low base attack damage. This makes harassing opponents in the early game quite difficult. However, his passive, Mark of the Storm, combined with his W, Electrical Surge, can help compensate for this weakness. Electrical Surge's passive will help you more easily trigger Mark of the Storm's three-charge stun. This stun is crucial for effective trading and can be used to set up all-ins.

Kennen's Q, Thundering Shuriken, combined with his passive auto-attack, can be used to quickly stun an opponent from range. Another effective combo is to use your empowered auto-attack, followed by E, W, cancel E, auto-attack, and then Q. This will allow you to stun, attack, and get off some quick auto-attacks before your opponent can react, thanks to the attack speed buff from Electrical Surge.

For summoner spells, Flash is a must-have for AP Kennen. For your second spell, you can choose between Ignite, Teleport, Ghost, or Heal, depending on your playstyle and the situation.

When it comes to items, Hextech Rocketbelt or Night Harvester are great choices to engage in fights. Sorcerer's Shoes will boost your movement speed and ability power. Other good items include Rabadon's Deathcap, Void Staff, Zhonya's Hourglass, and Morellonomicon.

AP Kennen excels at poking opponents and has strong late-game team fight potential due to his high damage ultimate. His ultimate, Slicing Maelstrom, provides him with armour and magic resistance, making him surprisingly tanky. Additionally, his E, Lightning Rush, gives him excellent mobility and helps him escape dangerous situations.

Overall, AP Kennen is a versatile and powerful pick for the top lane. He has strong poke, excellent mobility, and the ability to dish out high damage in team fights. With good positioning and effective use of your abilities, you can dominate the top lane and carry your team to victory.

Sylas as a pocket pick

Sylas is a mage champion in League of Legends with a unique ability to steal and replicate the ultimate abilities of other champions. This makes him a versatile and unpredictable pick in the mid lane, capable of adapting to different team compositions and situations. Here are some reasons why Sylas can be a strong pocket pick:

Versatility and Adaptability: Sylas can adapt to different team compositions and situations by stealing the ultimate abilities of his allies or enemies. This allows him to fill different roles and provide utility or damage as needed.

Strong Laning Phase: Sylas has strong laning capabilities with his ability to heal himself and deal damage to enemies. His "Kingslayer" ability allows him to dash towards an enemy, dealing magic damage and healing himself based on his missing health. This makes him durable and hard to push out of lane.

Crowd Control: Sylas has crowd control abilities that can be used to engage or disengage from fights. His "Abscond/Abduct" ability allows him to dash forward and then pull himself towards an enemy, knocking them up and creating opportunities for his team to follow up.

Team Fight Presence: Sylas can be a strong team fighter with his ultimate ability, "Hijack." By stealing and replicating an enemy champion's ultimate, he can turn the tide of a team fight by using their abilities against them or enhancing his own team's capabilities.

Countering Assassins and Marksmen: In a meta dominated by assassins and marksmen, Sylas can counter these champions effectively. His abilities allow him to engage, disengage, and absorb damage while dishing out significant damage of his own.

When considering Sylas as a pocket pick, it's important to keep in mind that he may struggle against champions with strong poke and range in the mid lane. Additionally, mastering Sylas requires understanding the ultimate abilities of other champions and knowing when to use them effectively.

Cassiopeia as a counter to melee champions

Cassiopeia is a great counter to melee champions in the mid lane. Her ability to deal damage from range and her crowd control effects make her a strong pick against melee champions who need to get close to deal damage.

Cassiopeia's kit includes a long-range poke with her Q, a movement speed boost and attack speed slow with her W, and a powerful ultimate that can lock down melee champions and set up kills. Her E ability also allows her to slow enemies' movement speed, which can be very effective against melee champions who rely on their mobility to get in range.

When playing Cassiopeia against melee champions, it is important to use your range advantage to poke them down and control the wave. You can use your abilities to farm from a safe distance and look for opportunities to trade with the enemy laner. By poking them down and controlling the wave, you can create opportunities to all-in and pick up kills or force them to back, giving you a gold and experience lead.

Additionally, Cassiopeia's ultimate can be used defensively to peel for yourself or your teammates if the enemy team tries to engage. This can be especially effective against melee champions who need to get close to deal damage, as you can keep them at bay with your crowd control and kiting abilities.

Overall, Cassiopeia is a strong counter to melee champions in the mid lane due to her range, crowd control, and kiting potential. By poking them down, controlling the wave, and looking for all-in opportunities, you can create a significant advantage for yourself and your team.

Heimerdinger as a counter to the top lane role

Heimerdinger is a powerful pick for the top lane role, with his turrets and high damage output allowing him to counter a variety of champions.

Heimerdinger's kit includes the deployment of turrets, which can deal significant damage to enemies while slowing them. His Hextech Micro-Rockets allow him to unleash a barrage of rockets that converge on a target location, dealing magic damage to enemies. His CH-2 Electron Storm Grenade ability stuns and slows enemies, while his UPGRADE!!! ability empowers his next basic ability, giving him additional damage and utility.

Heimerdinger's passive, Hextech Affinity, grants him bonus movement speed when near allied turrets or his own turrets, allowing him to roam and position effectively.

When playing Heimerdinger in the top lane, it is important to maximise the use of his turrets. Place them in strategic locations to zone out enemies and control the wave. His turrets have a large sight radius, providing vision control for your team. Combine this with warding to deny the enemy gank opportunities and create a safe space for your team to operate.

Heimerdinger's high damage and utility make him a strong pick against melee champions that rely on auto-attacks, such as Fiora, Camille, and Irelia. His turrets and stun can also counter champions with dashes, like Yasuo, by zoning them out and disrupting their mobility.

When building Heimerdinger, focus on items that enhance his abilities and provide a balance of damage and durability. Items such as Liandry's Torment, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, and Zhonya's Hourglass are excellent choices.

Heimerdinger's skill order typically prioritises maximising his turrets first, followed by his W and E abilities. This ensures he has strong wave clear and zoning potential throughout the game.

Heimerdinger is a versatile champion that can be adapted to counter a variety of top lane champions. His unique kit allows him to control the lane and provide utility for his team, making him a strong pick for the top lane role.

Frequently asked questions