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I am a Bronze I Riven Main, and I am losing lane all of a sudden

commanderAIK··2 votes·6,839 views

I am bronze I and have mained riven for a year now. I think it's safe to say that I am better than average in mechanics. I can animation cancel and I am familiar with the common combos used. Mechanics isn't really my problem here, it's game knowledge. For the past week, I have been constantly losing lane horribly as Riven. Something like this (series of losing lane so much) has never happened to me before and it's really bothering/worrying. It is affecting my ability to carry in games and satisfy myself that I can play Riven to the best of my abilities. Seeing that I have just regressed this much kills me. I will try to analyze so you can help me.

Level 1: I usually go aggressive here because Riven is very strong level 1 to my knowledge. However, is this even worth it? Most of the time one Q with AAs doesn't 1 to 100 the opponent and ends up pushing the wave to their tower, which they can sustain and hit level 3 (while I am still level 2) off of. This leads to me getting dived ultimately, if I manage to survive as they safely push the lane towards me. Should I just farm and try to hit level 2 faster instead of going in?

Level 2: Here if I get level 2 before my opponent I level up W quickly and engage in a Q-AA-Q-AA-W-AA-Q-AA combo with ignite. This used to do the trick for me and lately it hasn't been working out, and if they survive, the same problem happens as before where the lane is pushing towards them.

I feel like I always give first blood for some sort of over aggression, but it has always been my Riven playstyle to be aggressive. Does it just sometimes not work? Is it better to sometimes farm for late game?

Please, any suggestions on laning and early levels would be appreciated. I am determined to revive my abilities that I once had before as her!

34 Comments

DarkLarvitar4 votes

if you main riven and your bronze, you dont know how to play riven

commanderAIK1 votes

Who says you can't be in bronze and main Riven without knowing how to play her?

Reason 100 why it sucks to be in bronze - discrimination.

Angry Monster1 votes

its not discrimination. You should understand that you are bad. Your bottom 21%

http://www.lolsummoners.com/stats/na

yes there are people worse than you. Not that many though

commanderAIK1 votes

I feel there's a difference between "bad" and "knowing how to play riven." Yeah I know I'm a pretty awful player in general, but I am certainly more confident on my Riven play regarding mechanics and experience.

Angry Monster1 votes

Sry but if you were that good you would carry through silver in to gold. I have seen plenty of rivans just roll games off 2 kills.

commanderAIK1 votes

I can't really say you are right or wrong. I don't really play ranked that much. For one I don't play during weekdays at all, and I usually play normals when I am.

But whatever, this is more or less off-topic, and I don't really want to go into this (I am searching for help, not arguments with other players about my level).

Angry Monster1 votes

i am going to quote the important parts of the original message, which triggers the bronze issue.

I think it's safe to say that I am better than average in mechanics

Mechanics isn't really my problem here

So you never said what champs you seem to be having a problem dealing with. Every match up is a little different and some are straight counter picks(Ren), and you will not win without a major difference in skill. From what you posted you have one strategy for laning. You either fail or win early.

commanderAIK1 votes

Thanks for turning around to help me. I appreciate it.

I do tend to be over aggressive, probably at times when I shouldn't. I always thought if I beat a renekton when I am level 2 and he is still level 1, then it will increase the chances of me shutting down. However, thanks to the other fellows below this conversation, I'm beginning to realize that there are very different strategies against different laners (I can capitalize when things are off cooldown, but I'm not used to playing safe as Riven). I'm not sure why I never really saw the need to take this in to consideration only now, but maybe my MMR rose, who knows.

To answer your first question, I just started losing to everything. A katarina, Fizz, Wukong, Gnar, garen (not as surprising), etc. There's not really a specific champion that I need help dealing with, it's my laning with Riven all together.

And yes I do admit that first remark I made was kind of arrogant-sounding. I didn't really know how to word it, but isn't it natural that one who plays Riven for a year and practices her, no matter what rank they are, would be at least more skilled than average in mechanics just because they have more expeirence?

Angry Monster1 votes

And yes I do admit that first remark I made was kind of arrogant-sounding. I didn't really know how to word it, but isn't it natural that one who plays Riven for a year and practices her, no matter what rank they are, would be at least more skilled than average in mechanics just because they have more experience?

So the is not an attack. But my thought process and i am a very direct person.

People need to be aware of there skill level and realize what skill they are playing against. Your winning and losing against other low tier players. How can you say your skillful when you are measuring against other low tier players? It would be like a 1200 rated chess player beating 1000 rated players and then say they have a super deep understanding of the game. There is a saying "If someone only plays against trash then your the king of trash?"

When you are winning playing at the bottom of the skill tier, you are not necessarily winning through skill. Abuse of game knowledge or just overall power (kill advantages)happens a lot. You have to understand the nature of your champ being talked about. You get first blood and roll the lane to victory on a snowball champ. This is not super skill oriented. You are abusing another player cause your ahead. You are not playing it wrong it just not amazing or super meaningful.

So back to the advice. any champ that you are having problems against go play 10 games as that champ(bots games are fine). Learn the champ, understand the champ from the other side. Get a feel for the combos and style of them.

commanderAIK1 votes

I never took it as an attack. I was only trying to say that I'm not asking for tips on mechanics or combos on Riven. I've asked this question before and some answer I get are "you gotta learn to animation cancel with Riven. ER is a great combo because it cancels your R animation. GL bro!" Ok thanks, but I already know that, and even if I am inexperienced in mechanics as Riven (idek anymore if I am, or ever was lol), I could look up combos easily and memorize it. Getting used to it is my own problem and I don't need a written explanation for that, personally. So by saying that "mechanics isn't my problem" I'm really saying "please leave all advice to laning knowledge and leave out the mechanics."

Thanks for the advice again. It's just I'm not very happy about how some people say that ALL of bronze is full of bad people who are just trolls or have bad attitudes. I'm not one of those people, and I'm really trying to climb out without bothering anyone, but I just feel that some people just attack anyone with the rank bronze without taking into consideration that "maybe this person is just having trouble with the game and is trying his/her best to improve."

Nothing was directed at you here, it was just my over-sensitivity when it comes to that.

l Main Renekton1 votes

I don't know, a statistic that indicates a player's skill level seems like a pretty good way to determine their skill level.

commanderAIK1 votes

When did I ever disagree?

I'm talking specifically about Riven here. Statistics won't really tell you a skill level on a specific champion and the player's experience.

Epicusmaximo1 votes

So.. if Syndra goes top you pick Riven? as in you play Riven 100% of the time that is possible?

commanderAIK1 votes

Do I come off as arrogant? I have no intention to. And I mostly play normals, so yes. I have recently been learning syndra and yasuo as well, but it's mostly Riven.

Ooray1 votes

yes. but if your confident its cool I find her easy. just doge the cc

OhBoyItsaMegaman1 votes

On this account? I only see 3 Riven games in the past 30 days, and 2 of them are wins.

If you're talking about normals, that's a bad place to judge your skill level, particularly because you seem to be queuing up with 1-3 friends. Premade normals are a tremendous crapshoot. It could be anyone on the other side of that lane.

commanderAIK1 votes

Yes, I have managed to come back late game, but my point is just I need suggestions in lane. In all of those games, I gave first blood. And they were conventional top laners as well. Wukong, Garen, and Lissandra (Those are the three I remember off the top of my head).

soliznoel1 votes

I used to be a riven main, but recently i sorta feel the same way that i lost my skills with riven. IDK its started when i was losing lane to champs you should never lose to as riven ex. akali, kat, mundo. I still consider myself a riven main but i've just been playing random ass champs, because it really isn't good to play ranked as often as i do and can only play riven. I need to learn more champs before i can come back to riven. i used to play riven in all the rolez too. Didn't really answer your questions though lol.

There are champs you do play aggresive against but only when you hit lvl 2 or 3. Ex. champs like Talon Akali KatarinaYasuo you would start E to negate their poke. and at lvl 3 they can no longer fight you. These are some of riven's easiest match ups tho for the mid lane at least. I stopped playing riven top because it lacked a little diversity IMO.

Edit; riven in the mid lane i find easier because most mid lane champs cant trade with you and are too squishy compared to you ex.TwistedFate

commanderAIK2 votes

Thanks for the tips! I usually don't like Riven mid because of the poke and lack of closer bushes to drop the minion agro.

Wînter Fox1 votes

Sounds like you need to know when to play defensive. Sometimes you need to chill, farm up, level up your E, and wait for a gank or two. Garen Renekton Lissandra are just bad matchups for her, and in those cases staying alive and farming in lane is the one and only goal.

commanderAIK2 votes

Thanks for the tips! However is it sometimes worth playing aggressive towards Garen or Renekton in order to get an early lead on them to delay them outscaling you?

Wînter Fox1 votes

Riven has a great level 2 and 3 and you should make plays to go for that early lead. If you outplay them/are a better player, you'll get ahead in HP, cs, and maybe a kill. The problem is when Garen or Renekton are an equal skill level/better than you, you screw up, they outplay you, you get ganked, and/or end up behind. That's what I mean by knowing when to start playing defensive.

Renekton and Garen are never going to outscale Riven in the long run. At best they'll become late game meat shields with moderate damage. At best, Riven will be be a late game goddess of death dishing out pentas.

commanderAIK1 votes

{quoted}

Riven has a great level 2 and 3 and you should make plays to go for that early lead. If you outplay them/are a better player, you'll get ahead in HP, cs, and maybe a kill. The problem is when Garen or Renekton are an equal skill level/better than you, you screw up, they outplay you, you get ganked, and/or end up behind. That's what I mean by knowing when to start playing defensive.

Renekton and Garen are never going to outscale Riven in the long run. At best they'll become late game meat shields with moderate damage. At best, Riven will be be a late game goddess of death dishing out pentas.

The problem I have with going aggressive at level 2 all the time is I push the wave and do not get the kill. Is there I way I can stop this lane predicament from happening and still go aggressive?

UberAffe1 votes

I don't even own riven, so i really can't give you a suggestion on what to do to improve on riven specifically but just reading through your post it seems like you recognize when YOU made a mistake vs when they simply had a better match up/ mechanics. Given that I would say just continue playing, maybe record a couple games and then watch your early laning and look for places where you could have made a better decision and try to recognize those situations while you play.

Thats what I do to improve my mechanics/decision making.

Hope it helps!

commanderAIK1 votes

Thanks! With Opgg this should be rather simple.

Omiwom1 votes

The problem with level 1-3 trades for Riven are the minions. It really depends on what starting items you and your opponent have. Can you afford to attack them and suffer some minion damage? Do you have enough hp potions to sacrifice for that lane pressure? If you have fewer pots than them, you should probably farm and level shield at 2 rather than stun.

commanderAIK1 votes

Maybe I should only go aggressive pre-3 if if start long sword, my opponent is naturally squishy early (fiora or lee), and they dont have that many defensive stats.

Subject 51 votes

Riven is a champion i struggle against, because i play old school champions in the top lane-as well as champions who do not belong in the top lane. I am gold 4 keep in mind.

Take my Nautilus top for example, and my 63 armor rune page that i take against Riven while playing against her. Wait around level 2-3 usually 3 because you will not be in any sort of trouble considering you have around 4 escapes on very short cooldown plus a shield and a stun. You do not always need to use your knock up either, Rivens take a very large chunk of my HP out by Q-AA-Q-W- And Q away. Keeping the shield in case if needed of course, however you may use your knock up if your opponent is very weak and may supply no retaliation or anything of the sort. Also, if you are playing Top lane Riven, Ward. Riven is a very aggressive and powerful champion, i would like to see some nerfs personally but Riot would rather given Sona attention and kill her. A Stealth ward costs about 2-3 minions, that can save you around 250 gold from dieing and the game being a loss for your fault.

Did i help you?

commanderAIK1 votes

Yes, a lot, too, but I can't help saying that Riven doesn't need a nerf because of her low health regen and snowball dependency.

SlackerboyTC1 votes

I stopped reading at bronze

Ooray1 votes

Freeze the wave in the mid of the top lane but just last hitting. Also try and punish them every time they try to get a CS. Use your q as a gap closer. they won't suspect it Get cdr masteries!!!! I may be not even level 30. but I've beaten some people in platinum at riven

Bademeister1 votes

...I know this is an old topic, but I just found it and it really made my morning :)

Thank you OP for being funny and thoughtful, and thank you all others who replied for absolutely not getting him...

Cheers & happy Wednesday!

Valkyrous1 votes

I was the same then I saw a weakness to playing Riven in such a low elo, it's your game knowledge and how to outplay. Sure you say your mechanics are good but mechanics are just 10% of what you need. So I decided to play an easier champion that gave me everything I needed. Easy to snowball, not a high skill cap, and not a lot of concentration required. Also, you pick riven a lot even though it doesn't suit your team comp, I've seen it happen a lot so abandoning Riven allowed me to be more flexible and I was able to climb out of Bronze 5, now I'm currently climbing pretty well.

So TLDR, don't play Riven in such a low elo and play her around Gold 3~

PhDs Nuts1 votes

{quoted}

I was the same then I saw a weakness to playing Riven in such a low elo, it's your game knowledge and how to outplay. Sure you say your mechanics are good but mechanics are just 10% of what you need. So I decided to play an easier champion that gave me everything I needed. Easy to snowball, not a high skill cap, and not a lot of concentration required. Also, you pick riven a lot even though it doesn't suit your team comp, I've seen it happen a lot so abandoning Riven allowed me to be more flexible and I was able to climb out of Bronze 5, now I'm currently climbing pretty well.

So TLDR, don't play Riven in such a low elo and play her around Gold 3~

http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/diablo/images/b/bf/Necromancer-melee.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140317044617

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