Returning player after a hiatus: Is this 4-champion pool viable for Toplane, or will I get punished too hard?
Hello everyone!
I’ve been away from League for a few months now. I used to be a Normal Games player, mostly flexing between Mid, ADC, and Support (my highest masteries are Lux, Ahri, and Jhin).
Lately, I’ve been wanting to come back, but with a fresh start. I’ve always loved the design and gameplay of juggernauts like Darius, Garen, Sett, and Mordekaiser, but I developed a massive "Toplane trauma." Years ago, in my first-ever match Top, I faced an Akshan who completely destroyed me, and I never queued for the lane again.
Now, I want to face that fear and finally give these characters a try. However, I have a few concerns:
- COUNTERPICKS: Can I comfortably blind pick or rely exclusively on this 4-champion pool, or will I get absolutely obliterated by counterpicks? In other lanes, I played ranged champions and could farm safely, but I know Top is a different, much more punishing lane.
- THEORY AND PRACTICE: I actually have a decent theoretical understanding of Toplane fundamentals (wave management, recall timings, etc.) because I used to watch a lot of educational content creators like AloisNL. But I’ve never actually applied them in-game.
- QUEUE ANXIETY: This and my champion pool are my biggest hurdles right now, but I'm willing to work on them.
Do you think this pool is solid enough for a beginner in the lane? Any tips on how to survive the ranged/counterpick matchups with these specific champions?
Thanks in advance for everyone willing to help!