Imagine starting in League of Legends, ready to conquer Summoner’s Rift. The top lane calls, but with 160 champions, it’s hard to know where to begin. Worry not, we’ve picked the best top lane champions for beginners in LoL. These champions are easy to learn, helping you get started without stress.
Do you remember Garen from 2010? He quickly became a hit with new players. His straightforward gameplay makes him a top choice for beginners. But Garen’s not the only champion for newbies.

This guide will show you the top 5 easy champions for League of Legends beginners. From the mighty Demacian warrior to the undead juggernaut of Zaun, these champions will help you build a strong foundation in League of Legends.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Top lane is an ideal starting point for new League of Legends players
- Tank champions are often recommended for beginners due to their forgiving playstyle
- Garen, Dr. Mundo, and Malphite are among the easiest top laners to learn
- Each champion offers unique strengths and playstyles to suit different preferences
- Mastering basic mechanics and wave management is crucial for success in the top lane
Understanding the Top Lane Role in League of Legends
The top lane in League of Legends is a great spot for new players. It offers a mix of challenges and chances to learn the game’s basics. Let’s explore why it’s perfect for beginners and look at some top lane champions to learn from.
Why Top Lane is Perfect for Beginners
Top lane is often quiet, giving you room to work on your skills. You can practice last-hitting minions, trading with your opponent, and managing waves. This quiet time is great for learning League of Legends’ core mechanics.
Core Mechanics of Top Lane
As a top laner, you’ll need to master several key skills:
- Last-hitting minions for gold
- Trading damage with your opponent
- Managing minion waves
- Using teleport for map presence
Common Top Lane Strategies
Top laners use strategies like split-pushing, scaling for late game, or supporting their team with tankiness. Champions like Garen,
Nasus, and
Malphite are great for new players. They have simple kits that help you improve your gameplay.
“Top lane is where champions become legends. It’s the perfect place to start your journey in League of Legends.”
Success in the top lane comes from patience and practice. Start with easy champions, focus on improving your skills, and you’ll be a pro in no time!
What Makes a Champion Beginner-Friendly
Choosing the right champion is crucial for new players in the top lane. The best champions for beginners have traits that make them easy to learn and play. They help you understand the basics without feeling overwhelmed.

Easiest top laners have simple kits with few skill shots. This lets you focus on positioning and timing, not complex combos. Champions like Garen and
Malphite are perfect examples. Their abilities are straightforward and easy to use.
Forgiving playstyles are another key feature of beginner-friendly champions. These champions often have built-in sustain or tankiness. This means you can make mistakes without being punished too harshly. Dr. Mundo and
Maokai are great examples, with abilities that help them heal or absorb damage.
Clear roles in teamfights also make a champion easier for new players. As a beginner top laner, you want to know your role in group battles. Tanks like Malphite are great here, with obvious engage tools that can change the fight’s outcome.
Lastly, passive abilities that don’t require active management are a big plus for newcomers. Nasus‘s Soul Eater is a great example. It gives him lifesteal without needing any input. This lets you focus on last-hitting and trading without worrying about complex ability timings.
“Top lane is where champions become legends. It’s the perfect place to start your journey in League of Legends.”
Best Top Lane Champions for Beginner
Choosing the right champion is key for new players in League of Legends. The top lane has many champions that are easy to start with. They help you learn the basics and stay competitive. Let’s look at some top picks for beginners.
Garen: The Might of Demacia

Core Build:
Berserker’s Greaves
Stridebreaker/
Trinity Force
Dead Man’s Plate
Force of Nature
Black Cleaver
- Mortal Reminder/
Death’s Dance
Runes:
- Primary:
- Precision:
Conqueror and
Triumph,
- Legend:
Tenacity and
Last Stand
- Precision:
- Secondary:
- Resolve:
Second Wind,
Unflinching
- Resolve:
Strengths:
Garen excels as a beginner-friendly champion due to his straightforward yet effective kit. His passive healing allows him to stay in lane through difficult matchups, providing forgiveness for trading mistakes. The absence of mana or energy management lets new players focus entirely on positioning and trading fundamentals.
His Q-E combo delivers reliable damage while being simple to execute, making him excellent for learning trading patterns. The true damage ultimate provides clear kill windows and helps develop execution timing.
His W’s damage reduction and tenacity make him surprisingly durable, allowing players to survive situations that would punish squishier champions.
Weaknesses:
Despite his strengths, Garen struggles significantly against ranged champions who can kite him and deny his passive healing. His predictable gameplay pattern makes him easy to counter at higher levels of play, where opponents can anticipate his engage attempts.
The reliance on his passive healing can be exploited by opponents who understand how to keep him damaged and deny regeneration. Without any hard crowd control beyond his silence, Garen can struggle to lock down mobile targets or make game-changing plays in teamfights.
His lack of gap closers beyond Q makes him vulnerable to being kited in teamfights.
How to Play:
As a beginner with Garen, focus on utilizing your passive healing between trades. Start each trade with Q to silence the enemy and prevent retaliation, followed by spinning with E while staying close to them.
After trading, back off and let your passive heal you up. In lane, use bushes to break vision and zone enemies from CS. Save your W for when you expect incoming burst damage or heavy trades – timing this well can be the difference between winning and losing an all-in.
Your ultimate deals more damage the more health the enemy is missing, so use it as an execute when enemies are below 25-30% health. In teamfights, try to flank the enemy backline rather than running straight in, as you can be kited easily.
If you can’t reach the carries, peel for your own backline by punishing anyone who dives them. Remember that your E shreds armor, making you more effective against tanks, and your Q breaks slows, allowing you to escape bad situations.
Dr. Mundo: The Madman of Zaun

Core Build:
Sunfire Aegis/
Turbo Chemtank
Mercury Treads/
Plated Steelcaps
Warmog’s Armor
Spirit Visage
Thornmail
Anathema’s Chains
Runes:
- Primary:
- Resolve:
Grasp of the Undying,
Demolish,
Second Wind,
Overgrowth
- Resolve:
- Secondary:
- Inspiration:
Magical Footwear,
Approach Velocity
- Inspiration:
Strengths:
Dr. Mundo’s greatest asset is his incredible survivability and self-sustaining capabilities. His passive ability to resist crowd control makes him an excellent choice against CC-heavy teams, while his ultimate provides massive healing and movement speed when needed most.
The champion thrives in extended fights where his health regeneration can shine, making him incredibly forgiving for newcomers who might take bad trades. His Q provides safe farming and poke potential from range, allowing players to stay relevant even in difficult matchups. As the game progresses, Mundo becomes increasingly difficult to kill, often requiring multiple enemies to take him down, which creates space for his team to secure objectives.
Weaknesses:
Mundo’s early game presents significant challenges, as he struggles with health costs on abilities and vulnerability to aggressive laners. His reliance on healing makes him particularly susceptible to Grievous Wounds, which can severely impact his effectiveness.
The lack of hard crowd control in his kit means he can’t create plays for his team, making him somewhat team-dependent. Mobile champions can kite him effectively, especially in teamfights where he might struggle to reach priority targets. His all-in potential is also quite telegraphed, making it easier for coordinated teams to counter his engages.
How to Play:
When playing Dr. Mundo, your early game revolves around safe farming with Q and staying healthy. Don’t be afraid to give up some CS in difficult matchups – you outscale most champions naturally. Use your Q to last hit from a safe distance, particularly against ranged matchups or aggressive laners.
Your passive lets you ignore the first CC ability used on you, so position aggressively when it’s up. Save your ultimate for when you’re at around 50% HP during fights – this maximizes the healing while still keeping you healthy enough to survive burst damage.
In teamfights, you serve as a massive distraction – run at the enemy carries and force them to deal with you while your team follows up. Your W provides tenacity and deals damage to nearby enemies, so activate it when diving into fights.
Remember that you can use Q to farm jungle camps efficiently between waves, helping you maintain CS even when pushed out of lane. Don’t be afraid to tower dive once you have your ultimate, as your massive health regeneration makes you excellent at prolonged dives.
Malphite: Shard of the Monolith

Core Build:
Sunfire Aegis
Plated Steelcaps
Frozen Heart
Thornmail
Force of Nature
Warmog’s Armor
Runes:
- Primary:
- Resolve:
Grasp of the Undying,
Shield Bash,
Second Wind,
Overgrowth
- Resolve:
- Secondary:
- Inspiration:
Biscuit Delivery,
Time Warp Tonic
- Inspiration:
Strengths:
Malphite’s power lies in his ability to completely shut down AD-based teams while providing game-changing engage potential. His passive shield helps him survive lane phase, while his Q provides reliable poke and movement speed manipulation.
The armor scaling in his kit naturally makes him tankier as the game progresses, and his E provides excellent wave clear while reducing attack speed of enemies. His ultimate is one of the most impactful abilities in the game, capable of turning teamfights single-handedly and creating opportunities for his team.
The simplicity of his kit allows players to focus on macro play and timing rather than mechanical execution
Weaknesses:
Early mana management can be challenging for Malphite, often forcing careful ability usage and potential early recalls. He struggles significantly against AP-heavy teams and champions, as his armor scaling becomes less relevant.
His ultimate, while powerful, can be predicted and dodged with proper positioning or mobility spells, potentially leaving him vulnerable. Before level 6, Malphite has limited kill pressure and can be bullied by many top lane matchups.
His reliance on ultimate for playmaking means he can be relatively ineffective when it’s on cooldown.
How to Play:
Early game with Malphite focuses on surviving until level 6 while maintaining CS with E. Use your passive shield wisely by backing off when it’s down and trading when it’s up. Q is your main trading tool, but be mindful of mana – start Corrupting Potion to help with sustain.
Once you hit 6, look for ultimate opportunities, but don’t force them – a missed ultimate severely reduces your impact. In lane, use Q when your Comet/Grasp is up for maximum trading potential. During teamfights, you have two main approaches: either initiate with R on multiple priority targets, or peel for your carries by ulting divers.
Against AD-heavy teams, rush Frozen Heart and watch your damage soar due to armor scaling. Ward deeply when pushing as you lack escape tools. Remember that your E reduces attack speed, making you especially effective against auto-attack-based champions.
In late game, look for flanks with your ultimate rather than engaging head-on, as it’s harder to dodge when you come from fog of war.
Maokai: The Twisted Treant

Core Build:
Sunfire Aegis/
Evenshroud
Mercury Treads
Thornmail
Spirit Visage
Abyssal Mask
Warmog’s Armor
Runes:
- Primary:
- Resolve:
Aftershock,
Demolish,
Conditioning,
Overgrowth
- Resolve:
- Secondary:
- Inspiration:
Biscuit Delivery,
Cosmic Insight
- Inspiration:
Strengths:
Maokai’s kit provides exceptional utility and survivability, making him a reliable frontline presence. His passive healing rewards good positioning in fights and helps sustain through the laning phase. The point-and-click nature of his W makes him excellent at setting up ganks and locking down priority targets.
His saplings provide both vision control and zone control, making him valuable for objective control and team coordination. In teamfights, Maokai excels at both engaging and peeling, with his ultimate providing massive zone control and his Q offering consistent crowd control.
Weaknesses:
Maokai’s effectiveness is heavily gated by his mana costs, particularly in the early game where he can quickly run out of resources. His damage output is relatively low, making it difficult to secure solo kills or split push effectively.
Early game bullies can deny him farm and delay his item spikes significantly. His reliance on teammates for follow-up damage means he struggles in situations where his team falls behind. The telegraphed nature of his engage patterns can make him predictable against experienced players who can counter-engage or disengage effectively.
How to Play:
Success with Maokai comes from understanding your role as a setup tank. In lane, use saplings to control bushes and zone enemies from CS – place them in brush for maximum damage. Your passive heals you when you cast spells near enemies, so try to trade when it’s available.
Use W to lock down enemies for guaranteed sapling hits or jungle ganks, but be careful as it puts you on the other side of the target. Q is your main trading and wave control tool – use it to disrupt enemy positioning and cancel dashes.
In teamfights, you can either engage with W on a priority target or peel for your carries with Q and R. Your ultimate is best used to zone enemies in jungle corridors or to cut off escape routes – don’t try to hit it from max range as it’s easily dodged.
When setting up for objectives, place saplings in key pathways 30-40 seconds before the objective spawns. Remember that your W makes you untargetable briefly, which can be used to dodge crucial abilities or tower shots.
Nasus: The Curator of the Sands
Core Build:
Divine Sunderer
Mercury Treads/
Plated Steelcaps
Frozen Heart
Spirit Visage
Thornmail
Gargoyle Stoneplate
Runes:
- Primary:
- Resolve:
Grasp of the Undying,
Demolish,
Second Wind,
Overgrowth
- Resolve:
- Secondary:
- Precision:
Triumph
- Legend:
Tenacity
- Precision:
Strengths:
Nasus possesses one of the strongest scaling potentials in the game through his Q stacking mechanic, making him a ticking time bomb that enemies must respect. His built-in lifesteal provides excellent sustain once he gets some levels, allowing him to stay in lane and continue scaling.
The point-and-click nature of Wither makes him extremely effective against auto-attack-based champions, while also serving as a powerful tool for catching out priority targets.
His ultimate provides significant combat stats and size increase, making him a formidable duelist and teamfight presence. The simple nature of his kit allows players to focus on farming and macro play rather than complex mechanics.
Weaknesses:
Nasus’s early game is notably weak, making him vulnerable to aggressive laners and jungle pressure. His lack of mobility and reliance on farm makes him susceptible to freeze tactics and deny strategies. Coordinated teams can effectively kite him in teamfights, preventing him from reaching priority targets despite his Wither.
His effectiveness can be severely diminished if denied stacks early, as his scaling is directly tied to his ability to farm Q. Without flash, he can struggle to impact teamfights effectively, often being forced into a split-pushing role. His predictable playstyle can be countered by experienced players who understand wave management and freezing techniques.
How to Play:
Playing Nasus requires patience and understanding of wave management. Your early game focuses entirely on stacking your Q on minions – aim for at least 150 stacks by 15 minutes. Start with E against ranged matchups or heavy harassers to help with wave control and farming from range.
Use Wither defensively early game to escape ganks or prevent all-ins. Don’t be afraid to give up early CS if it means staying healthy – you’ll make up for it later with Q stacks. Once you have Sheen and level 6, you can start trading more aggressively.
Your ultimate gives you massive combat stats – use it early in all-ins rather than as a last resort. In teamfights, Wither the most fed auto-attacker and either peel for your carries or dive the enemy backline depending on team composition.
Split pushing becomes a strong option once you have around 300 stacks – force enemies to respond to you while your team takes objectives. Remember that Q works on towers, making you an excellent objective taker. Against tough matchups, start Doran’s Shield and take Second Wind to maximize sustain.
Champion | Difficulty | Key Strength |
---|---|---|
![]() | Easy | Sustain and Damage |
![]() | Easy | Tankiness |
![]() | Easy | Engage Potential |
![]() | Medium | Crowd Control |
![]() | Medium | Late-game Scaling |
Essential Top Lane Mechanics for New Players
Mastering top lane mechanics is crucial for climbing the ranks in League of Legends. Success depends on last-hitting minions, trading well, and managing waves. These skills are the base of a strong laning phase.
Wave management is key. Learn to freeze, slow push, or fast push based on the game situation. This control lets you set the lane’s pace and prepare for good trades. Players with higher Creep Scores per minute tend to win more games.
Map awareness is essential. Watch the mid lane and be ready to roam when it’s time. Use pings to alert your team about enemy positions and threats. Good communication can change the outcome of a team fight.
- Practice last-hitting to improve your gold income
- Learn wave management techniques
- Develop map awareness and communication skills
- Understand power spikes and cooldowns

Know your champion’s power spikes and play around cooldowns. This knowledge helps you pick the right time to engage or play defensively. Defensive play can lead to more kill opportunities as enemies often underestimate cautious players.
As you get better at these mechanics, you’ll be ready for the late game. Your improved laning phase will make you a strong top laner in team fights.
Building Your Champion: Item Paths and Builds
In League of Legends, choosing the right items is crucial for success. Your build can greatly affect your early game and snowball chances. We’ll look at key items for different champions and how to adjust for various matchups.
Core Items for Tank Champions
Tank champions like Maokai and
Malphite focus on being tough. Their main items usually include:
Sunfire Aegis: Boosts armor and deals damage to nearby enemies
Thornmail: Reflects damage back to attackers
Spirit Visage: Increases healing and magic resistance
Essential Bruiser Items
Bruisers like Darius and
Garen are popular in today’s game. Their typical builds start with:
Trinity Force: Enhances damage and movement speed
Divine Sunderer: Provides sustain and armor penetration
Situational Items Guide
Adjusting your build for matchups is key. Against teams with lots of AP, use Mercury’s Treads for magic resistance. Facing AD teams? Go for
Ninja Tabi. Being flexible with your items can change the game.
As you get better, understanding item builds is more important. Watch the enemy team’s setup and adjust your items. With time, you’ll know the best builds for any matchup.
Laning Phase Strategies and Wave Management
Mastering the laning phase is key for top lane champions in League of Legends. For beginners, learning wave management can help you outplay opponents. Let’s explore some essential strategies to dominate the top lane.
Basic Wave Control
Wave control is crucial for top lane champions. There are three main types:
- Freezing: Keeping minions close to your tower
- Slow pushing: Building a large wave
- Fast pushing: Clearing enemy minions quickly
Minions start at 1:05 and reach the middle of the lane 32 seconds later. Every third wave has a cannon minion. After 20 minutes, cannon minions appear every second wave.
Trading Fundamentals
Effective trading is vital for beginners. Focus on:
- Cooldowns: Attack when enemy abilities are on cooldown
- Minion aggro: Avoid drawing minion attention
- Power spikes: Use your champion’s strengths
Having a level advantage in the first 3 levels can greatly benefit your trades.
Ward Placement
Proper warding is key for top lane success. Place wards in the river and tri-bush to avoid ganks and control the lane. This is crucial for aggressive champions.

Wave Management Technique | Advantage | Best Situation |
---|---|---|
Freezing | Denies enemy farm, sets up ganks | When ahead in lane |
Slow pushing | Creates pressure, allows roaming | Before objectives spawn |
Fast pushing | Quick tower damage, enables backing | When needing to recall or roam |
By mastering these strategies, you’ll improve your top lane game. Practice with beginner-friendly champions to enhance your skills and climb the ranks.
Matchup Understanding and Counter Picks
Mastering your role in League of Legends is all about knowing your champion’s strengths and weaknesses. In top lane, this is even more important. You’ll face champions like Aatrox,
K’Sante, and
Singed, each with their own challenges.
Tools like Mobalytics can help you learn matchups and counter strategies. Let’s look at some popular picks and how to handle them:
Nasus: A late-game monster. Deny him farm early to slow his scaling.
Jax: Excels in duels. Avoid extended trades and focus on short bursts.
Malphite: Has one of the easiest kits. Watch for his ultimate in team fights.
Fiora: Strong split-pusher. Ward well and communicate with your team.
Remember, counter-picking isn’t everything. Mastering one champion can be more effective than always trying to counter. Focus on learning a few champions deeply rather than spreading yourself thin.
Adapting your playstyle based on matchups is key. Against ranged tops like Quinn or
Vayne, play safe and wait for ganks. Versus tanks like
Ornn, focus on farming and scaling. Understanding these dynamics will boost your success in the top lane.
Conclusion
The top lane stands as a unique battleground in League of Legends, offering new players an excellent starting point for their journey. Through our exploration of beginner-friendly champions like Garen, Dr. Mundo, Malphite, Maokai, and Nasus, we’ve unveiled a path that combines accessibility with powerful gameplay potential.
These champions aren’t just easy to play – they’re stepping stones to greatness. Each offers distinct advantages:
- Garen provides a perfect balance of damage and durability
- Dr. Mundo teaches the art of sustain and resilience
- Malphite demonstrates the impact of well-timed engages
- Maokai showcases the power of utility and crowd control
- Nasus reveals the rewards of patience and scaling
Remember, success in the top lane isn’t just about champion mastery. It’s about understanding wave management, timing your trades, and making strategic decisions that impact the entire map. These fundamentals, combined with the forgiving nature of tank champions, create an ideal learning environment.
As you grow comfortable with these basics, you’ll find yourself naturally expanding your champion pool and taking on more challenging matchups. The skills you develop in top lane – from wave management to teleport plays – will serve you well throughout your League of Legends career.
Whether you dream of becoming the next unstoppable force in solo queue or aspire to be the reliable tank your team needs, the top lane offers endless possibilities. The champions we’ve discussed provide the perfect foundation for your journey from rookie to veteran.
So take that first step. Pick up Garen, master the basics, and begin your ascent. The top lane awaits, and with these tools at your disposal, you’re well-equipped to make your mark on Summoner’s Rift.
Remember: Every pro player started somewhere, and many began right where you are – in the top lane, learning the fundamentals that would eventually make them legends. Your journey begins now.
FAQ
Why is top lane considered good for beginners in League of Legends?
Top lane is perfect for new players. It’s usually quiet, letting you focus on basic skills. You can practice last-hitting minions and trading with others without distractions.
What are some easy top lane champions for new players?
Easy champions for beginners include Garen, Dr. Mundo, Nasus, Maokai, and Tryndamere. They have simple moves and forgiving play styles. This makes them great for learning the basics.
What makes a champion beginner-friendly?
Champions for beginners have simple moves and forgiving play styles. They have built-in health and clear goals. Their abilities are easy to use and don’t need constant attention.
What are the core mechanics I should focus on as a new top laner?
New top laners should focus on last-hitting minions and trading well. Wave management, map awareness, and roaming are also key. Learning to use teleport and warding properly is important too.
How important is wave control in top lane?
Wave control is very important in top lane. It includes freezing, slow pushing, and fast pushing waves. Mastering these can give you a big advantage and control the game’s pace.
What are some common strategies for top laners?
Top laners often use split-pushing, teleport plays, and scaling for late game. Champions in top lane can be hypercarries, support-style, or split-pushers.
How can I improve my matchup understanding?
To get better at matchups, use tools like Mobalytics. Practice different matchups and watch for power spikes and cooldowns. This will help you understand trading patterns.
What’s the role of a top laner in team fights?
In team fights, top laners often start the fight or protect carries. Your role changes based on your champion and the game’s state. It’s key to know when to start, how to protect, and when to split push.