The "turtle-like" strategy has become wildly popular, with players adopting a "play it safe" approach in the top lane to withstand pressure and pushing their score from a

The unspoken truth in the Rift is that the game isn't very friendly to solo players, especially in ranked matches. In team play, when you have friends, priority is given to them. Resource allocation and support are all geared towards that close friend, leaving strangers to fend for themselves. In duo or trio play, there's an inexplicable surge of confidence, demanding that the minority obey the majority, and expecting other teammates to cooperate, stick together, and not be absent. Dominating the pace isn't the main problem; what's annoying is mindless charging that leads to everyone else's demise. The one who survives is seen as a traitor, lacking team spirit and contribution. In such a situation, what's the best mindset to adopt?

Playing support saves the most trouble. You support your teammates, silently contribute, and climb the ranks by playing as a parasite. The strategy is to keep your teammates alive. You can easily reach the required rating and climb the ranks with zero pressure. However, it lacks a sense of satisfaction. You are not a damage dealer. You can roam around and scout bushes to provide vision. You frequently provide buffs in team fights, control the opponent, and you will never be the one to kill. Instead, you will be the one to be sacrificed. You can block the opponent's advance and explore at your own risk. You have no power to fight back. The whole team will die and leave you. One person cannot do anything big. Rather than passively watching, some players choose to go to the top lane.

Top Lane: Individual Arena is a Misconception

There are many hero options for the top lane, including top-ranked heroes from the national server power rankings. The thrill of solo play definitely surpasses that of support. However, at a certain rank, there's a significant bottleneck in climbing. Is it because the heroes' power spikes have passed? The overall damage output environment has changed? Or is it simply a matter of not understanding how to play the top lane?

This lane setup gives the impression of a one-on-one situation, leading to players losing themselves in the game. When ahead, they recklessly push the lane; when behind, they get ganked, and when they tower dive, they yell and complain, blaming their teammates for being oblivious. The mid laner doesn't provide guidance, the jungler doesn't offer support, and after dying a few times, their mentality collapses, and they lose the courage to leave the tower. They feel there's no point in staying under their tower, so they abandon defense to join team fights, only to find both towers destroyed. Is it the top laner's fault for not fulfilling their role, or is it the teammates' neglect? In this fast-paced meta, turning the top lane into a solo kill arena is outdated. The isolated side is actually easier to kill. Given this, why not consider tanking and learning a defensive strategy?

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