The nature of Riven is high-risk, high-reward. She is a mobile dps machine with a stun and shield and super damage steroid at lvl 6 with a ranged execute.
How to counter Riven?
- Don't let her hard engage without using summoners.
- Survive her hard engages to deny her getting anything from it by playing safe and smart, using flash when necessary and backing to heal. Losing a few CS is much better than giving her the kill.
- Be able to trade damage with her and outsustain her (Cho'gath for instance)
- Punish her after she uses her cooldowns, but don't go too hard unless you KNOW you can kill her before her cooldowns are back up.
- Bait her into engages when your jungler is present so she can't escape.
- If your jungler is not present, last hit as much as you can without giving her trade damage.
- Play a champion who is also high-risk, high-reward and outplay her.
Champions that can have favorable matchups:
Darius until new patch comes out
Renekton
Cho'gath (silence OP)
Garen post 6
Jax?
Nasus post 6 and first/second back for items
Champions countered by her:
Gnar
Tryndamere
Nasus pre 6
Anyone squishy without an escape
Champions with a skill matchup for advantage:
Pantheon
Rumble
I could go on, but honestly I don't want to post an entire Counterpick section, this is just off the top of my head.