opinions in general are split on this mechanic. some like it but think it still needs tweaks, some dislike it and want it entirely removed.
you already mentioned, that the current set of changes garen receives on the pbe wont be the last.
going further, do you plan on removing the villain mechanic entirely, do you want to want to keep imroving and tweaking it, or are you still undecided?
Big Lincoln2 votesi don't like it, id rather have a more solid kit than unreliable steroid
oSEXYPLATYPUSo1 votesgimmick
he should be able to mark who he wants as the villain similar to kindred marking a target and against that target he should have increased movement speed towards them
Critmaster Garen3 votes[{quoted}](name=MrFawknSunshine ,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=JuvO1gjB,comment-id=0000,timestamp=2017-07-01T21:38:04.205+0000)
gimmick
he should be able to mark who he wants as the villain similar to kindred marking a target and against that target he should have increased movement speed towards them
dravens axes are a gimmick too. so are zacs blobs or illaois tentacles. just because a mechanic is gimmicky doesnt mean it has to be bad.
but youd be more in favour of tweaking it than replacing it?
oSEXYPLATYPUSo1 votesas an old school newb garen lover
i think its just a joke of a gimmick ... it really dont provide anything to his power or dominance in game.
Critmaster Garen2 votes[{quoted}](name=MrFawknSunshine ,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=JuvO1gjB,comment-id=000000000000,timestamp=2017-07-01T22:09:51.071+0000)
as an old school newb garen lover
i think its just a joke of a gimmick ... it really dont provide anything to his power or dominance in game.
well. eiter way. just interested what the rioters themselves think of the mechanic now that hes had it for two years and how they want to proceed.
oSEXYPLATYPUSo1 votestruth be told there is no way to fix garen... for him to have no resource cost to manage for abilities, simple aoe, or point and click abilities that do massive damage with lil items, high HP regen and free armor/mr and cc reduction while having an ult that is an execute with either magic damage based on missing HP of target or true damage via villain mechanic
so to fix him is to delete what we know as garen and create a new champ with his name
aka what they did to galio
Critmaster Garen2 votes[{quoted}](name=MrFawknSunshine ,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=JuvO1gjB,comment-id=00000000000000000000,timestamp=2017-07-01T22:35:26.404+0000)
truth be told there is no way to fix garen... for him to have no resource cost to manage for abilities, simple aoe, or point and click abilities that do massive damage with lil items, high HP regen and free armor/mr and cc reduction while having an ult that is an execute with either magic damage based on missing HP of target or true damage via villain mechanic
so to fix him is to delete what we know as garen and create a new champ with his name
aka what they did to galio
i dont believe that. there is a better way to handle the champion. 
rework proved that.
the buffs to garens w are exactly a step in that direction. theyre adding mechanic depth to his kit without even changing much about the ability itself.
Warlord Scrap2 votes[{quoted}](name=Critmaster Garen,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=JuvO1gjB,comment-id=00000000,timestamp=2017-07-01T21:57:59.825+0000)
dravens axes are a gimmick too. so are zacs blobs or illaois tentacles. just because a mechanic is gimmicky doesnt mean it has to be bad.
but youd be more in favour of tweaking it than replacing it?
The difference is dravens axes have clear strategies both for and against draven. Same with zacs blobs.
Garens villian is too "random". I know its not random but here me out. In laning phase to get villian on your laning oppenent he needs to get a kill whether it be on you or your jger or in a roam. This means you need to go behind to even get the bonus. Also it changes alot with a bit of randomness based on how your teams doing. Allowing you to chose a mark like kin would take up more power budget but would be a huge qol buff. Alternatively if they want to make it thematic you could choose the villian as soon as you spawn in or upon reaching lvl 6 and not change it similar to kalista's oathsworn. This would make it a tactical choice and well as allowing it to be more powerful but still have drawbacks. Wanna crush your lane opponent pick him. Your facing a late game hyper carry thats getting fed pick him. It would be a concious decision.
thecowley1 votesThe difference is dravens axes have clear strategies both for and against draven. Same with zacs blobs.
Garens villian is too "random". I know its not random but here me out. In laning phase to get villian on your laning oppenent he needs to get a kill whether it be on you or your jger or in a roam. This means you need to go behind to even get the bonus. Also it changes alot with a bit of randomness based on how your teams doing. Allowing you to chose a mark like kin would take up more power budget but would be a huge qol buff. Alternatively if they want to make it thematic you could choose the villian as soon as you spawn in or upon reaching lvl 6 and not change it similar to kalista's oathsworn. This would make it a tactical choice and well as allowing it to be more powerful but still have drawbacks. Wanna crush your lane opponent pick him. Your facing a late game hyper carry thats getting fed pick him. It would be a concious decision.
Very much this. I've started playing aram and his villian mechanic often doesn't keep pace in a team fight. I'll still be marked as villian after another teammate got a kill. This is annoying both playing against and as garren
Critmaster Garen3 votesVery much this. I've started playing aram and his villian mechanic often doesn't keep pace in a team fight. I'll still be marked as villian after another teammate got a kill. This is annoying both playing against and as garren
the villain doesnt change target while garen is in combat for him.
it would be dumb if it were to switch target, while youre on top of the villain and about to ult him.
arams are hectic and chaotic constant ranged poke fights. the garen probably damaged you as the villain recently in your scenario, or you damaged him and were considerd to be in combat with him.
thecowley1 votes[{quoted}](name=Critmaster Garen,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=JuvO1gjB,comment-id=00000000000100000000,timestamp=2017-07-01T23:57:18.574+0000)
the villain doesnt change target while garen is in combat for him.
it would be dumb if it were to switch target, while youre on top of the villain and about to ult him.
arams are hectic and chaotic constant ranged poke fights. the garen probably damaged you as the villain recently in your scenario, or you damaged him and were considerd to be in combat with him. Fair enough. I thought it was suppose to change and keep pace.
Critmaster Garen2 votesFair enough. I thought it was suppose to change and keep pace.
it does when youre out of combat with garen.
it also targets the guy on the enemy team with the most champion kills in the past 5 minutes. not necessarily the one with the most recent kill.
if you got a kill 5 minutes ago, then another fight started and you got a kill just before an ally gets a kill, its basically 2:1 and targets you.
also killing garen doesnt count towards villainy.
pigsqueaks1 votesI personally would like it replaced that instead of true dmg it is an aoe slow or stun when used on villain target
Sun Wu Ryuumoku1 votesI like the villain mechanic (i mean have a damocles edge on x champion killing ur m8), but garen kit is so poor and just adding damage isn't cool imo. Daris kit is more thoughtful