With LoL esports entering the midway point of the 2025 season, here are the best top laners of recent times, ahead of the second international tournament of the year, the Mid-Season Invitational.
Ranking | Player | Current Team |
---|---|---|
1 | Zeus | Hanwha Life Esports |
2 | Kiin | Gen.G |
3 | Bin | BiliBili Gaming |
4 | TheShy | Invictus Gaming |
5 | 369 | Top Esports |
6 | Canna | Karmine Corp |
7 | Kingen | Nongshim RedForce |
8 | Flandre | Anyone’s Legend |
9 | Bwipo | FlyQuest |
10 | Myrwn | Movistar KOI |
If there is a top laner you need to keep your eyes on from the LEC, it’s MKOI’s Myrwn. While he might not be the best top laner in terms of raw mechanics, he has made a name for himself for being creative with his top lane picks. It can be a big bonus, especially now that Fearless Draft is being applied across all competitions, pushing him above veterans like BrokenBlade in terms of raw impact.
After a decent 2024 campaign, he has now helped MKOI get to the top of the LEC by winning the 2025 Spring Split, entering a new category of players who have been able to take domestic glory.
Bwipo was already the undisputed No. 1 top laner when it came to the North American scene and this year has been no exception. The guy is still heads and shoulders above the rest of the LTA North competition, with only SR Fudge coming closer, given his recent form.
Known for his analytical approach and attention to detail, the guy has stepped up across several aspects of his gameplay and is increasing his synergy with the team over time. His champion continues to be unpredictable, but it will come in handy when FlyQuest needs to pull a rabbit from the hat. We’ll have to see how he will fare once he gets on the international stage.
Predicting Anyone’s Legend as one of the top teams in the LPL was probably unthinkable at the start of the season but here we are. He might not be the flashy top laner pulling off incredible plays, but you know Flandre will bring in consistent gameplay and easily adapt to the needs of the team.
For someone who has been bouncing around rosters over the past few years, it’s looking like a renaissance story for someone who has been chasing international glory since his first world championship in 2021. He will now get his chance at MSI as one of the best top laners in the LPL.
Kingen is also another top laner who has been regaining his form after a disappointing 2024 season. Playing for Nongshim RedForce (NS), he was one of the main reasons why the team ended in the top half of the LCK so far this season.
With how the top lane meta has revolved around high-impact champions, Kingen was able to put some strong carry performances, including a memorable 2v1 play on Rumble. While he might not beat the best LCK tops, he is a player to keep an eye on for the second half of the year.
There were some concerns when Canna was picked up by Karmine Corp, but the move has paid off so well for the French team. If KC was so dominant for the majority of the year was also thanks to Canna’s ability to create significant gaps in the top lane, often carrying the game with his pocket picks like Jayce and Ambessa. He is probably the only one who can challenge the best top laners from the LPL and the LCK.
You know what they say: “If you can’t beat them, join them”.
If 369 used to get criticized for his inability to play carry top laners, he has been one of the most reliable players in his role for the last year or so.
He might not be your guy with the highest carry potential, but you know you are going to get a consistent player who’s able to juggle different champions with ease.
It’s just a pity now that he’s no longer considered the “weak link”, it’s his team that is letting him down. There is still half a season left, and we’ll see whether 369 will get more freedom to play around him going forward.
TheShy’s move to Invictus Gaming (IG) should’ve been a throwback, but it’s looking more and more like a rebirth. TheShy is still being TheShy, with the difference that he has got a great team to play around his main strengths.
While IG has been rather inconsistent up until lately, TheShy was always among the best in his role. Regardless of what he plays, you know he will have a high impact. And considering how Fearless draft opens up a lot of options for top lane matchups, you know this is going to be his territory.
Despite BLG not looking as dominant as in the past season, Bin is still, in my opinion, the best top laner the LPL has to offer.
His consistency and ability to play carry picks when required are what make him so valuable for a team like BLG and TheShy is probably the only one who can match him in terms of raw mechanical skill.
At this point, the only way to know his real ceiling this season is when he matches up with the Korean top laners. With Worlds 2025 going back to China, this might be the best chance to prove his worth.
For those who haven’t followed LoL esports back in the early era of the LCK, Kiin is probably one of the most individually skilled top laners of the last decade. Whenever a player makes a big difference on backmarker teams, you know he is going to be a real deal.
Kiin is the perfect representation of what I consider a balanced, all-around player. He rarely goes for crazy plays, but he will have a clean laning phase and make sure he can be impactful in every game and every teamfight. With him on the roster, Gen.G has had a lot more choices when it comes to team identity and managing win conditions.
After winning Worlds last year, it was clear that Zeus had something more than the rest of the top lane competition. Going into 2025, he is still retaining his title as the best in his role.
Despite the slow start to the season, Zeus quickly adapted to his new team and has been the additional weapon HLE needed to become a consistent title contender. Compared to Kiin, Zeus trades slightly higher volatility for better carry potential, becoming a major difference maker when the team is looking to strike. If he keeps this up, it will be tough for the rest to dethrone him in the years to come.
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