These Are Five Top Lane Champions To Pick Up in League of Legends Patch 26.17

Ben Boland Published 24/08/2026

League of Legends patch 26.17 is just around the corner, and with that patch comes more changes to the role. The days of ADCs in the lane are starting to be a thing of the past, with more bruisers hitting the gym before the launch of 26.17. Many top laners are receiving buffs on the new patch, while powerhouses such as Nasus and Vayne are on the chopping block, making way for newer picks.

Let’s take a look at the five top lane picks you should be playing once the latest patch hits the live servers on August 26.

Cho’Gath

In patch 26.17, Cho’Gath is receiving some strong buffs to his E and ultimate, which should bring him back into the meta. Cho’Gath has always been a solid scaling option in League of Legends, but with ranged tops and ADCs dominating the lane, there wasn’t much use for an immobile tank who can’t reliably lock up these fast-moving targets. His E is getting a damage increase, which should not only allow him to trade better, but also clear the waves against the heavy-pushing champions. As for his ultimate, his AP stats are getting a buff.

Irelia

Irelia League of Legends

When Irelia is strong in the meta, there aren’t many better than her in LoL in 2026. In patch 26.17, Irelia is getting a buff to her Q, meaning she can do more damage to minions when hitting them and champions. Irelia’s base AD ratio on her Q is going from 70% to 80%, which is a sizable increase.

Nasus

Nasus league of legends

Despite his nerfs coming in 26.17, it seems that Nasus is still going to be one of the more overpowered champions in the top lane. Who needs a ranged top laner when Nasus can just use W and run at them! According to Skill Capped, Nasus has a 52.8% win rate, which is rather impressive considering the top lane meta. While 26.17 will notably reduce his lifesteal, his damage output is still going to hit opponents like a truck.

Garen

Garen League of Legends

Despite already being an S-tier champion on 26.16, Riot is actually buffing Garen in the latest League of Legends patch. It’s always interesting when Riot does this, despite the champion already ranking amongst the best in their role without the nerf to champions like Vayne. Garen’s base AD, armor growth, W bonus resistances, and E AD ratio are all getting a buff. For new players looking to get into ranked, Garen is your champion.

Malphite

malphite league of legends

Malphite will remain one of the best picks in the top lane heading into the new patch. And with no confirmed buffs or nerfs on the horizon, we could very well see Malphite picked at the 2026 League of Legends World Championship. According to U GG, Malphite is one of the most popular champions in the lane, with a pick percentage of 6.3%, which ranks him just outside the top five. As for his win rate, Malphite ranks amongst the top 10 at 51.30%.

Image credit: Riot Games

Ben Boland

About Ben Boland

Ben is the Lead Editor at Win.gg, bringing a decade of iGaming industry experience having worked for both the operator and affiliation sides. With a formal journalism background, he is responsible for ensuring that every piece of content that we publish is relevant, accurate and well-written. In his own time, he enjoys playing video games and especially enjoys Rockstar titles, considering Red Dead Redemption 2 the finest title ever made. He has also spent a lot of time playing GTA V over the years and is fascinated by how streaming is changing the landscape of the industry.

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