Finding the perfect AP top laner can feel like solving a complex puzzle, especially when your team is already stacked with AD champions. The right pick not only balances damage types but also adds versatility and counters to enemy strategies—a crucial edge in competitive play.
AP top laners shine by offering consistent magic damage, strong lane presence, and impactful abilities that scale into teamfights. Champions like these bring balance to compositions overloaded with physical damage while excelling in both duels and skirmishes.
1. Kayle
Kayle shines as a late-game AP top laner with unmatched scaling potential. While her early game is frail, requiring cautious play, patience pays off immensely once she hits levels 11 and 16. At these breakpoints, Kayle transforms into a devastating force capable of carrying entire teamfights.
Her hybrid damage output makes her difficult to counter-build against, while her ability “Righteous Fury (E)” provides ranged attacks and splash damage for safe farming and poking enemies from afar. This ensures she can stay relevant even in challenging lane matchups.
Kayle’s ultimate ability, “Divine Judgment (R)”, further amplifies her versatility by protecting key allies or allowing herself to dive fearlessly into the backline during fights. For players who master Kayle’s delicate early-phase navigation, she’s one of the most rewarding AP champions in any composition thanks to her explosive late-game power.
2. Teemo
Teemo is a staple AP top laner, infamous for his relentless lane harassment and unmatched map control. His Toxic Shot (E) allows him to deal damage over time with every basic attack, while Blinding Dart (Q) neutralizes auto-attack-based champions during trades by rendering their attacks ineffective.
What makes Teemo particularly dangerous is his strategic use of Noxious Trap (R). These traps not only provide vision but also zone opponents out of key jungle paths or objectives while dealing significant magic damage upon activation—slowing enemies in the process. The ability to swiftly traverse terrain using Move Quick (W) further bolsters his kite potential and makes escaping from ganks far easier.
3. Kennen
Kennen is a top-tier AP top laner with an impressive 53.65% win rate in the Emerald+ tier on Patch 14.24, securing his spot in the S+ Tier rankings. With a consistent presence and strong pick-win potential, he also holds a respectable 51.5% win rate alongside a 1.7% pick rate, making him a reliable choice for players seeking magic damage dominance.
Known for being a counterpick specialist, Kennen excels against champions like Rumble (60.6% win rate), Garen (60.4%), and Illaoi (59.5%). His ability to outpace bruisers while punishing melee-dependent matchups gives him control over many lanes. However, he’s heavily countered by Viktor, Sion, Tahm Kench, and Ryze—players should approach these matchups cautiously or consider alternative picks.
The optimal build maximizes burst damage using runes such as Electrocute, supported by Taste of Blood, Eyeball Collection, and Ultimate Hunter. Secondary choices like Absolute Focus and Scorch enhance poke consistency during trades, while summoner spells Flash and Teleport ensure lane flexibility and map presence.
4. Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia stands out as one of the best AP top laners due to her sustained damage and scaling potential. Her unique playstyle thrives in extended fights, where abilities like Noxious Blast (Q) and Twin Fang (E) enable consistent magic damage output that overwhelms most opponents. She particularly excels against tanks and bruisers, outpacing them over time with precision.
Her passive, Serpentine Grace, compensates for her inability to purchase boots by granting bonus movement speed. This allows Cassiopeia to kite effectively and maintain control during trades or skirmishes.
What gives Cassiopeia an extra edge is her ability to counter melee champions using Miasma (W)–an area-grounding skill that prevents dashes and slows enemies drastically. In combination with smart positioning, this makes escaping or engaging nearly impossible for foes.
Her ultimate, Petrifying Gaze (R), shifts battles entirely in her favor by stunning enemies who face her head-on or significantly slowing retreating ones.
5. Gragas
Gragas shines as a versatile AP top laner, capable of adapting to various playstyles and team compositions in League of Legends. His recent buffs significantly improved his base stats and strengthened his early game, making him incredibly effective during the laning phase.
His kit offers exceptional tools for both trading and poking enemies. Abilities like Q (Barrel Roll) allow consistent harassment from range, while W (Drunken Rage) boosts sustain through damage reduction and healing after empowered attacks. On top of that, E (Body Slam) doubles up as an excellent disengage or gap closer, countering enemy engages effortlessly.
In terms of utility, Gragas’s ultimate ability, R (Explosive Cask)—with its reduced cooldown—delivers powerful crowd control by repositioning opponents during teamfights or securing crucial picks mid-game. He also boasts favorable matchups against popular champions such as Tryndamere (57% win rate) and Gnar (54.1% win rate) due to his ability to outtrade and stop them from engaging effectively.
6. Cho’Gath
Cho’Gath stands out as a dominant AP top laner, boasting a solid 51.5% win rate and sitting comfortably in the A-tier for Emerald+ on Patch 14.24. With his reliable scaling and tanky nature, he excels at pressuring both melees and ranged champions while offering significant utility in teamfights.
He performs exceptionally well against picks like Jax, Renekton, and Maokai due to his zone control with “Rupture (Q)” and sustain from “Carnivore (Passive).” However, players should tread carefully when facing counters such as Sett or Irelia, who can exploit his limited mobility.
The optimal build revolves around stacking health-heavy items including Heartsteel, Plated Steelcaps or Thornmail for defense, alongside Jak’Sho or Sunfire Aegis for additional durability. For runes, Grasp of the Undying remains the go-to pick paired with Demolish, Conditioning, and Overgrowth—delivering consistency during trades.
Lastly, Flash combined with Teleport enables seamless map coverage while maximizing kill potential post-laning phase.
7. Mordekaiser
Mordekaiser shines as one of the best AP top laners, offering a simple yet devastatingly effective kit. His sustainability in lane is bolstered by his “Indestructible (W)” ability, which grants shielding and healing based on stored damage taken or dealt. This mechanic allows him to sustain through extended trades while preparing for aggressive plays.
His ultimate, Realm of Death (R), defines his unique playstyle by isolating an enemy champion into a shadow realm duel during crucial moments. Whether eliminating vulnerable carries or neutralizing high-impact opponents in teamfights, this ability shifts battles heavily in his favor.
