Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Gwen's base splash art for League of Legends.
Image via Riot Games

AP top laners prevail following massive item overhaul for LoL’s 2024 season

Suddenly, top laners have become assassins.

Although League of Legends players have long remained vocal about the fluctuating strengths of mages and ability power items within the game over the last several years, nobody seemed to be prepared for the major meta shift that would welcome them in the 2024 season.

Recommended Videos

In just the first two days of the new season, champions that build AP items have completely outclassed their AD lane counterparts—particularly within the top lane, where champions that have struggled to coexist with others have begun to flourish. This massive meta overhaul stems not only from the removal of Mythic items from League as a whole but from a number of new and revamped AP items that have unlocked the potential of various champions.

The splash art for Singed, a mad scientist that carries a vial of poison on his back, spilling it wherever he goes.
If you’ve seen Singed a lot lately, it’s because he’s finally enjoying his meta spotlight. Image via Riot Games

Many of these AP top lane champions are enjoying the newfound power in Riftmaker, now the only item remaining in League that provides champions with omnivamp—on top of synergizing well with other fighter and bruiser items thanks to the bonus AP it gives for bonus health. Others have benefitted immensely from new items like Stormsurge, which has become a must-have for mages looking to not only take down tanky foes but assist in teamfights with extra area-of-effect damage.

While the likes of Jax, Aatrox, Fiora, Riven, and Darius continue to shine in the top lane, new and returning challengers like Gwen, Singed, Rumble, Kennen, and even Teemo have received considerable increases to their pick, win, and ban rates that may continue as players continue to dissect Patch 14.1. According to data from OP.GG and U.GG, Teemo alone has jumped from a 50-percent win rate to a 55-percent win rate thanks to the new items in his arsenal—though he’s also enjoyed the changes to the Summoner’s Rift terrain.

Members of the League community have voiced their sentiments on how “overtuned” these items are for top laners in particular, leading some to worry about the state these champions will be in after the items are inevitably nerfed—once more leading to an imbalance in power between AP and AD top laners. But due to the lane overlap that many of these items have (as Riftmaker is one of the sole items reserved for AP fighters in the top lane), balancing them will not likely be an easy feat as mages in the mid lane, bot lane, support role, and even AP jungle champions will be impacted negatively.

Riot Phroxzon, the lead gameplay designer on League, announced yesterday that a micropatch would be reaching the live servers within the coming days, though he did not indicate exactly what it would entail other than to address “balance outliers.” Should AP top laners be affected, there’s a chance we will see yet another top lane meta shift—for better or worse.


Dot Esports is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Ethan Garcia
Ethan Garcia
Ethan Garcia is a freelance writer for Dot Esports, having been part of the company for three years. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Magazine Journalism from Syracuse University and specializes particularly in coverage of League of Legends, various Nintendo IPs, and beyond.