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Is it really ever a good idea to go for offensive masteries on Garen?

HDD Compa·8/4/2015, 6:07:22 PM·2 votes·709 views

The reason I ask is because I've been comparing my own builds against the ones listed on probuilds.net, and I was really surprised at how many of them take 21/9/0 masteries even in games where they end up building nothing but tank items. Now I don't know the full context of their choices, as I can only see their final K/D/A, total gold, and the order of item purchase. But it's still got me wondering, what would justify in prioritizing your damage over sustainability on Garen?

For me, Garen is my safe pick because even if he does end up going against a hard counter like somebody with damage-over-time abilities, it's usually not too difficult to just escape death with proper positioning and a well-timed Q. This is especially true when I go 9/21/0 masteries because I'll take Perseverance and Second Wind to make his passive healing even stronger than it is normally. (Combined with a Warmog's or Spirit Visage, I can fully heal from 1/10 HP in a matter of seconds)

I've tried going for more damaging builds with Garen before, but it never gets me very far. I seem to do far better going full tank aside from an early Black Cleaver, and I think it synergizes well with assisting my ADC late game. (that E Black Cleaver proc) But if anyone here has some input on how to effectively play Garen as a fighter rather than a tank, then I'm willing to give it another shot.

...

Garen DEMACIAAAAAAA!!!

4 Comments

BastionKross8/4/2015, 6:56:53 PM4 votes

A lot of higher elo Garen players will tell you he's a bruiser anti-carry, not a tank. He can be a tank if you build him that way, but all he's got for peel is a silence and he's got practically no engage potential. He's meant to leap past the frontline, silence the biggest enemy threat, spin on their face, and then make them explode with a sword from the heavens. Then he runs off, regenerates health, and comes back in for round two.

21/9 helps him deal enough damage to a fed mage or marksman so that he can get the job done before his silence runs out. His W will keep him very safe with it's bonus resists and damage reduction and tenacity. It may not last very long, but it'll last long enough to murder the carry and then GTFO. Go for a balance between tank items and AD/crit. You want to be able to take a hit, but don't build like you're Malphite. You're the off-tank, do some damage too.

Serevas8/4/2015, 6:10:34 PM2 votes

I think the reason you see people with the 21/9/0 masteries is because they want to get that bit of extra oomph out of Garen's kit while still building tanky.

aaronautumn8/4/2015, 6:46:21 PM2 votes

i'm assuming offensive masteries for strong early game, defensive for mid/late. since garen is kind of snowbally, a better early game does more for him in the long run.