According to BD Cricket stats from Honor of Kings, Lü Bu is the most commonly encountered opponent on the top lane. For many players trying to climb the ranked ladder, not knowing how to counter him can be a major stumbling block. As intimidating as he seems, however, Lü Bu is far from unbeatable—and surprisingly not even the most reliable pick in his lane.
While his pick rate is sky-high, his win rate tells a different story. Lü Bu suffers from low efficiency and a steep learning curve. During lane phases, he offers little satisfaction or momentum, especially without close-knit team coordination. Even if the game reaches the late stages where his true damage shines, he’s often unable to carry unless teammates like Zhang Fei, Niu Mo, or Yi Xing initiate battles for him.
BD Cricket analysis points out that part of his underperformance comes from the meta learning to counter him. He’s no longer a surprise—players understand his patterns and weaknesses. One key drawback is his slow wave clear. While other fighters like Sun Ce or Ji Xiaoman can clear a wave in seconds with one skill combo, Lü Bu needs to string together multiple attacks, taking five to six seconds or more. This puts him at a clear disadvantage in early lane pressure.
His ultimate, although powerful, has a long wind-up time that’s easy to dodge without crowd-control assistance. And in solo queue, team synergy is rarely perfect. As BD Cricket puts it, the gap between potential and actual impact makes Lü Bu a poor choice for solo ranked play. Heroes like Ji Xiaoman are also tough to recommend due to their complex mechanics and steep learning curves.
Instead, Sun Ce stands out as one of the strongest and most reliable top lane champions in the current meta. Once criticized for being difficult to use due to his boat-based mobility, Sun Ce now thrives thanks to map changes that expanded jungle spacing, making his navigation far easier. With a bit of practice, players can unlock his full potential, enjoying a versatile kit that provides control, mobility, and team value.
Some players argue that Nezha, with a peak ranked win rate above 54%, is a better pick. However, BD Cricket notes that Nezha’s high win rate often comes from jungling, not laning. His second skill doesn’t chain well in 1v1 duels but becomes incredibly effective in multi-enemy scenarios, where he can reset the skill infinitely. That’s why Nezha’s true strength lies in group skirmishes rather than lane dominance.
To improve his consistency, current Nezha builds lean toward full-tank jungle setups, allowing him to dive into fights and create chaos without being easily punished. As BD Cricket concludes, Nezha may shine in the jungle, but for top lane success and solo queue stability, Sun Ce remains the true king of the lane.