If you’re seeking an innovative pick to climb up the ranked ladder, consider experimenting with a tanky top lane Nocturne build that is gaining popularity in Korea. A dedicated player known as OTP has consistently reached 950-1200LP Challenger for a year now.
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The Mastermind Behind Nocturne Top
As per a Reddit post, a Korean solo queue player has been dominating with Nocturne top for over a year, consistently surpassing 1000 LP.
The player, known as 그브충이 (geubeuchungi), currently holds 1,125 LP with 235 wins and 194 losses, maintaining a 55% win rate. Earlier this year, the player ended the first split at 967 LP.
Unlike the conventional jungle build, the top lane Nocturne build includes Stridebreaker, Frozen Heart, Kaenic Rakoorn, and Zeke’s Herald, with the final item being situational based on game circumstances and enemy composition.
While the build may seem unconventional, it leverages the versatility of the Jack of all Trades rune from the Inspiration tree to stack various stats, granting increased ability haste and attack damage as the game progresses. However, the advantages of this pick go beyond the build itself.
Strengths of Nocturne Top
Nocturne excels in top lane for several reasons. He serves as a strong blind pick in the current meta and fares well in most matchups due to his Q and spellshield, enabling him to win trades during laning. His wave clear and sustain are significant strengths, especially after acquiring Tiamat for Stridebreaker – allowing him to clear waves efficiently and gain lane priority consistently.
Securing lane priority is crucial for objective control and roaming opportunities. Nocturne’s Paranoia facilitates easy ganks in other lanes or assists in jungle invades. Additionally, his low popularity can mislead opponents into thinking he’s in the jungle, potentially setting up counter plays against the enemy jungler. For newcomers to the game, we’ve curated a jungle guide to help you get started.
Overall, Nocturne proves to be effective with a deep understanding of his strengths, particularly in the mid-game. A proactive jungle-mid duo complements his playstyle, enabling more impactful map plays.
