Need help beating Garen as Riven!

Hi Im Abbily··1 votes·2,281 views

So I like to play Riven quite a bit--she's a really fun champion... However, when it comes to matchup against tanky champions-especially Garen-I find this game just really boring and gives me crippling depression just by being alive.

Unlike other matchups like Darius and Renekton which offers an opportunity for counter-plays, Garen is just... really dull to play against. His kit is so linear that there's only really one way to play against him, and that is to kite and kite. (pretty hard as a melee champion like Riven when he can just silence you).

Other than the few rare moments where Garen misplays (if that's even possible on Garen), he would only to get even bulkier and tankier, making the matchup ever more boring. In addition, he would still output just enough damage to kill you cough his ultimate cough, which you can't really do anything against (especially when he has multiple armour items).

So what's a fun way to play against Garen?

6 Comments

L Psy Kongroo1 votes

Garen's Q is fairly telegraphed. When you see him winding up to hit you, a quick E will block the damage and get you out of his spin range. Your cooldowns will typically be shorter than his, especially early game. Take advantage of this. You should be rushing Black Cleaver as Riven, which will help deal with his tankiness. Try to save your ult execute for after his W has worn off. After he gets enough armor, there's no real point in trying to fight him, so roam the map and snowball elsewhere.

Okamikazi1 votes

Garen's Q can also be flashed bypassing the telegraph. Try to get him to use his flash to escape a bad trade or a gank. If things aren't going well build item 3142 to help you roam. If you're team is doing well and there's nothing to roam for then you can build item 3077 to help you farm under tower until help arrives and watch the map for opportunities to use summoner 12 .

Sasogwa1 votes

Garen's Q is extremely sluggish. You can stun him as he raises he sword, do a short trade and dash out. That way, he cannot silence you and with your superior mobility you will not be in range of his E for a long time.

Asayake 5150glow1 votes

{quoted}

Garen's Q is extremely sluggish. You can stun him as he raises he sword, do a short trade and dash out. That way, he cannot silence you and with your superior mobility you will not be in range of his E for a long time.

Helll no. Right idea, but at the same time, so, so wrong.

You will not have time to do a short trade, as Garen's Q gives him more auto attack range than ur stuns range. When stunning him, his auto attack will still go through and if you stick around to do a short trade you will not be able to get away in time.

Instead, you must use the W+E doublecast, which basically casts W and E at the same time. This both stuns him and gets you away safely, while tanking his Q damage on your shield.

The rest is just knowing his damage output and knowing your own, knowing how to trade with minions, and recognizing when he outstatchecks you. If your Q is up you do not need to kite his E, especially in minions. From his Sunfire cape to your BC+DD, you will not be able to fight him (assuming he's also building other items on top of Sunfires). Once you get DD things should be ok again, and once you get LW on top of that you should be able to outstatcheck him. Should still W+E his Q though.

Note that his Q has a static cooldown of 8 seconds at all ranks. The Silence lasts 4 seconds fully maxed. Forgetting this may fuck you over.

LegenDariusGaren1 votes

I find the match up easy for Garen. 1 v 1 me and I will give you tips.

Arcus Diabolus1 votes

The key is baiting out Garen's Q. Once thats gone and he is forced to use it on a minion, all in him and be ready to back off before his Q comes back. Be SURE to rush armor pen, because Garen WILL be building Armor.

Don't bother fighting him at low health after lvl 6. You won't even get halfway through your combo before he mercs you with his ult.

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