Precision
Conqueror
Triumph
Legend: Alacrity
Last StandGame patch 26.20Data Dragon 16.20.1
Reference patch 16.20.1
Briar Top · Normal Draft
Briar Top is a reviewed secondary lane, while Jungle remains her primary role. Bleed stacks across a minion wave can sustain her, and a charged Chilling Scream into terrain can heal while clearing or resetting the wave. Spending Chilling Scream on minions also removes her main frenzy cancel and defensive control window, while ranged spacing and Grievous Wounds reduce the sustain plan.
Reviewed secondaryStandard Summoner's Rift preparationHistorical referenceRecommendation review pending
These patches track recommendation review, build validation and item lookup separately. Updating item data does not complete a build review.
- Recommendation patch
- 16.16 Data Dragon
- Build validation patch
- 16.19.1 Data Dragon
- Item lookup patch
- 16.20.1 Data Dragon
Recommendation review pending
Runes and summoner spells
Runes and summoner spellsBriarTop
Use repeated combat and durability rather than gambling the long solo lane on one short trade.
ConquerorTriumphLegend: AlacrityLast Stand
Resolve
Bone Plating
Overgrowth
Flash
TeleportTeleport preserves recalls and side-lane access. Ignite is a deliberate pressure trade-off, not a universal upgrade.
Keep the defensive secondary runes when repeated poke or one committed trade can decide the lane.
Kit reference
Briar abilities
Ability names, descriptions and numeric fields come from Riot Data Dragon. Practical reads are independently written; the current in-game tooltip remains authoritative.
Abilities Data Dragon 16.20.1Cooldown / Cost / Range Data Dragon 16.20.1
P
Passive
Crimson Curse
What it doesBriar's attacks and abilities apply a stacking bleed that heals her for a portion of the damage it deals. Perpetually hungry, she gains increased healing based on her missing Health, but lacks innate Health Regeneration.
Practical readCrimson Curse is an automatic part of the kit involving protection or sustain and damage. Track when its condition is active instead of treating every fight the same way.
Low-health pressure
Part of this effect becomes more valuable against a target that has already lost health; it is not the same as maximum-health damage.
Protection
The protection or sustain is part of the cast's value. Compare its timing with incoming damage rather than reading only the offensive effect.
Q
Q ability
Head Rush
What it doesBriar leaps to a unit and hits enemies with The Heel Wheel (of Pain), stunning them and breaking their Armor.
Practical readHead Rush is part of Briar's Q pattern. Read its listed effect first, then track the cooldown and condition that make the next use valuable.
Cooldown13/12/11/10/9 secListed range475 units
Movement
The cast changes position or access. Account for where the champion finishes, not only where the ability begins.
W
W ability
Blood Frenzy / Snack Attack
What it doesBriar leaps forward and shatters her pillory, entering a Blood Frenzy that causes her to relentlessly pursue the nearest enemy (prioritizing champions). While frenzied, she gains increased Attack Speed and Move Speed, and her attacks deal damage in an area around her target. Briar can reactivate this ability while frenzied to take a CHOMP out of her target on her next attack, dealing additional damage based on their missing Health, and healing Briar based on the damage she deals.
Practical readBlood Frenzy / Snack Attack contributes protection or sustain and basic-attack interaction. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown14/13/12/11/10 secListed range350 units
Low-health pressure
Part of this effect becomes more valuable against a target that has already lost health; it is not the same as maximum-health damage.
Protection
The protection or sustain is part of the cast's value. Compare its timing with incoming damage rather than reading only the offensive effect.
Movement
The cast changes position or access. Account for where the champion finishes, not only where the ability begins.
E
E ability
Chilling Scream
What it doesBriar refocuses her mind, removing Blood Frenzy and channeling energy into a powerful scream that damages and slows enemies. While charging, she takes reduced damage and heals for a portion of her max Health. A fully charged scream knocks foes back, dealing additional damage and stunning those who collide with a wall.
Practical readChilling Scream contributes a slowing effect and damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown16 secListed range400 units
Maximum-health interaction
This effect references a maximum-health value. Check whether the current tooltip uses the caster's or the target's health before comparing damage or protection.
Cast commitment
This cast has a wind-up, charge or channel. Movement, interruption or a changing target state can matter before the effect completes.
Protection
The protection or sustain is part of the cast's value. Compare its timing with incoming damage rather than reading only the offensive effect.
R
Ultimate
Certain Death
What it doesBriar kicks her pillory's hemolith gemstone, marking the first champion it hits as her prey. She then beelines straight to them, fearing other surrounding enemies upon arriving at her target, and enters a state of complete hemomania. She will pursue her prey until death, gaining the benefits of Blood Frenzy as well as additional Armor, Magic Resistance, Life Steal, and Move Speed.
Practical readCertain Death is part of Briar's R pattern. Read its listed effect first, then track the cooldown and condition that make the next use valuable.
Cooldown120/100/80 secListed range12000 units
Adapt the plan
What to do when the game changes
Judge the whole lane or map state, not only personal kills. Choose the situation closest to the current game.
Ahead plan
Control the side lane without donating the lead
Lane
Hold a favourable wave, pressure the enemy away from farm and keep enough vision to survive the second opponent.
Map play
Push before moving to an objective; arrive through a known route rather than giving up the wave and your shutdown.
Fights
Use the lead to occupy space for the team. Do not chase through the entire enemy formation for one target.
Even plan
Trade around the wave and your strongest cooldowns
Lane
Keep health and minions balanced so one poor trade does not decide the lane.
Map play
Move after the wave is handled and communicate if the opposing Top laner leaves first.
Fights
Choose between front-line duty, side pressure and carry access according to the champion kit.
Behind plan
Protect experience and stop the lane from accelerating
Lane
Farm near safety, avoid repeating the losing trade and ask for help only when the wave creates a realistic window.
Map play
Do not follow a stronger opponent through unseen river. Signal the move and recover guaranteed resources.
Fights
Contribute control or pressure to the nearest safe target instead of trying to repair the score alone.
Pings, movement and objectives
Briar Top map plan
Manage the long lane before leaving it. A useful move begins with a handled wave, a visible route and a teammate who knows you are coming.
Use the side-lane lead without donating it
- Ping
- Ping Enemy Missing when the opposing Top leaves, then On My Way before a flank or objective move.
- Stay or move
- Push the wave before moving. Stay if leaving would hand several minions or your tower back to the opponent.
- Objective
- Arrive through a known route and mark whether you are front-lining, flanking or protecting a carry. Do not enter alone before the team can follow.
Make the wave create the first move
- Ping
- Use Enemy Missing early, Danger on the route they may take, and On My Way only after your own wave is handled.
- Stay or move
- Move after pushing or on a shared recall. Do not follow through unwarded river merely because the opponent left first.
- Objective
- Tell the team whether you can move before the objective starts. Approach with vision and save the cooldown needed for the first real commitment.
Protect experience and communicate the pressure
- Ping
- Ping Enemy Missing immediately and Retreat if teammates are about to meet the stronger Top laner without you.
- Stay or move
- Do not match a stronger opponent through darkness. Clear the safe wave, then group by the shortest controlled route.
- Objective
- State early if you cannot contest. If the team still fights, provide control or protection instead of attempting an isolated flank.
Objective setup
Four calls, in order
Pings create a shared plan; they do not replace checking waves, vision and who can move.
- 1Handle the wave
Push, catch or communicate the wave before leaving so the opponent does not gain a free move and free income.
- 2Signal the route
Use On My Way for the route you are actually taking and Danger where an unseen opponent may arrive.
- 3Enter together
Move through controlled vision with the Jungler or another ally instead of face-checking the objective alone.
- 4Choose the job
Decide whether you are engaging, front-lining, flanking or protecting a carry before the fight begins.
Later objectives: Repeat the same process around later major objectives: handle nearby income, communicate the route, enter through vision and agree on the fight before committing.
Use the guide
Put Briar into a real matchup
Compare a specific opponent, return to the champion overview, or choose another champion without losing the queue distinction.