What's going on with Riven?

ehz·Aug 25, 2018·1 votes·776 views

So I used to be pretty decent at Riven, I could manage to carry games 1v5 but these days I can barely get a lead even if I win my lane. I'm just curious has the playerbase gotten that much better? Or is Riven just weaker in comparison to champions like Irelia or the new Akali? I remember in seasons 2 and 3 Riven was so strong and she felt GOOD to play. I don't want to keep playing Riven if all I'm going to do is hold my team back. Also keep in mind I know she can be strong in some situations, and I know in the right hands she is a monster(Viper, BoxBox, etc...). But can someone just attempt to explain to me if all of this is in my head or did the game just change and Riven isn't where she used to be? Thanks in advance.

Also what do you guys build for Riven because that may be the core of my problem.

2 Comments

SugeMinPikkAug 25, 20181 votes

I think some streamer said at some point that riven's old play patterns don't work well in the current meta because of how fast fights are. His example was that Riven players like to space out their Qs such that Q is back up right after Q3, but fights don't last that long anymore.

~~Currently she rushes lethality and then builds into 40% CDR depending on what she needs. Cleaver is usually second or third. Death's dance or a second lethality item to get the 40% ~~

(edit) jk, apparently she builds cleaver first now. Then youmuu's or deaths dance. Also takes transcendence for the 40% so she can finish GA or Ravenous third

AnAggravatedPimpAug 25, 20181 votes

She's too slow on her burst so unless your animation cancels are point perfect you're gonna suffer and thanks to her going FOTM years back lot's of her kit is figured out, as in the basic AA canceling is well known enough that the trick doesn't work as well anymore. That is to say you gotta bring your A game against an opponent who only needs their B- game to go even with you.

That plus her build path being hella awkward right now means old Riven is doing kinda meh unless you're one tricking her in plat+ elo.