How to play against Olaf?

Siachi·Nov 19, 2014·2 votes·2,128 views

I hope this doesn't come across as a QQ thread, because I don't mean for it to be. I'm just a bad player who can't seem to win against this champ =\

Is it just the champs I'm using are ones he's strong against? Mostly my top lane champs are Gnar and Rumble (Yes, I know to former is considered OP now; feel free to laugh at me), and Olaf seems like the type of champ who's good against poke or damage over time (More attack speed at less health, built-in life steal to shurg off the poke/DoT, etc.)

And yeah, I did just lose a game against an Olaf; like I said,** I REALLY don't mean for this to come across as QQ**, but I would like some tips for future reference. Is he a lane bully that I just have to not feed early? Pick a champ with more burst damage for top?

8 Comments

thinking manNov 19, 20142 votes

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1 4m 4 n00bNov 19, 20141 votes

Pick a ranged champion and just stall out the lane since he falls off mad hard.

Avoid fighting him early and just farm/poke. If you're playing Gnar, it's a bit harder since Gnar's short range, but it shouldn't matter much late-game since Mini-Gnar will just shred him during his ult.

Who told you Olaf falls off? He does true damage....

FalconPawwwwnchNov 19, 20142 votes

Yea I guess Nunu and Darius don't fall off either because they deal true damage

FalconPawwwwnchNov 19, 20141 votes

You're having problems with Olaf lol?

Just pick a ranged champ and he autoloses

SiachiNov 19, 20142 votes

Yes, please tell that to the Olaf that went 9/0/2 against me as Gnar last game. I'd appreciate some actual advice =\

DuhRinNov 19, 20142 votes

My attempt at actual advice: Gnar is probably a bigger lane bully than olaf, though when both of their ultimates are available, Olaf should win out due to not being CC'd. Dodge his axes and don't get caught in the range of his w. Play safe until level 3-4, then start poking him... Try to get the three stacks to pop the w and use the movespeed to kite around him and dodge the q's as much as you can. If he ever ults or hits you with a q and starts running at you, just e out before he can get on you. If he tries to sit behind your minion line and bully you, just keep going for those w procs - they'll do lots of damage if you're patient and don't start a hard engage. Wait for your jungler for that, Olaf doesn't really like getting ganked. Worst case scenario, he'll use his ultimate and get out, but then you'd be able to fish for opportunities to use your own ult. If he's playing safe, just farm and toss the q at him when you can. If you hit him, go for the two extra auto attacks and force him away from the minions. Itemization-wise, I'd highly suggest Frozen mallet then bork. Frozen mallet is great for kiting him and surviving his true damage and bork boosts your damage output by a ton. I don't know too much about Rumble, but I've always felt like he's easy to bully. Probably rush mask for the life and extra dot, farm safe with the e and only all-in if you know you'll win (you probably won't outdamage him unless he sits in your ultimate)

That's all I've got -- good luck with future Olaf's ^_^

shindaiwa21Nov 19, 20141 votes

I've recently taken an interest in playing Olaf again, and I have a decent idea of his laning play patern

Both Gnar and Rumble seem like they would have decent matchups against Olaf.

In Gnar's case, I would say don't use the boomerang ultil olaf has spent his Axe, otherwise there's a good chance you'll eat one to the face when you go to grab your boomerang, and potentially get chased down before your boomerang comes back. I'd just play the ranged zoning gaming using autos and the passive. Olaf will probably OOM before he can shove you out with just axes. Use the Boomerang to disengage and proc the passive when Olaf lands an axe and tries to come in. I'd recommend starting Cloth 5 in this matchup.

Rumble: Rumbles shield gives him some innate protection from Olaf's return damage. Try to avoid trading before you have level 2 flame spitter, make sure to use your shield to mitigate Axe damage, and make sure you have your harpoons off CD to disengage should he charge at your when you use your flamespitter and shield to trade. As rumble, your kill potential post 6 is fairly low on Olaf. This is often the case in Rumble vs Bruiser matchups though, and you can probably widdle him away. Again, I'd recommend cloth 5 since Rumble is manaless, and an analogous sustain opener for Olaf will leave him OOM and force him to base first.

WooBeeWooNov 19, 20141 votes

Olaf has only one ranged ability and it kills his mana pool. Just last hit every creep and aa him when he's in range to make him want to lifesteal off the minions. If you bait and dodge his q you should never lose with gnar. If he wants to push wait for a gank. If he freezes lane then just make sure you get every minion after lvl 6 and your first item gnar should eat him alive if you kite him right.