Hey Everyone, I am LordA0 from the NA server. This guide doesn't have fancy splash art or cool video's (yet), but I promise that if you keep reading,

YOU WILL BECOME A BETTER GAREN PLAYER!!

I try update this guide frequently to make it as up to date and complete as possible. This is my first guide, with more coming soon!

Garen is a champion that is often just considered a Tank and just a tank. That is simply not true. Garen is very versatile in his roles. By utilizing all the aspects in this guide as the situation demands you will not only be able to tank effectively(if played correctly) but will will be a major threat to the enemy carry.

If played correctly Garen can be both Carry and tank.

In this guide I will be going over all aspects of the game and showing you how to be great at playing GAREN: The Might of Demacia!!

In this chapter I will go into detail about WHY I play Garen the way I do and WHY it works. I will go over EVERY aspect of this guide from Item build to summoner skills.


With Garen and a good team I prefer to have solo top and let someone jungle. I want to stress that EVERY GAME IS DIFFERENT and to be an effective player you have to be able to ADAPT.

Start with 4 Health Potions and Boots. Put your first point into Decisive Strike.

Early Game

THE MOST IMPORTANT STAGE OF THE GAME!!!

You should focus on last hitting minions and taking favorable trades with enemy champion(s). Level 2 is a game changer for any squishy champions in your lane. Put your point into Judgment and WAIT! You should position yourself by minions and time your strike to when they are going for a last hit. Tag them with Decisive Strike and follow with Judgment. This combo should take down a significant portion of your opponents health. Wait for your cooldowns to refresh and once again, when the time is right, Decisive Strike then Judgment and Ignite if they are low to secure the kill.

By now you should be at least level 3(If you haven't killed anyone yet don't worry!) put your point into Decisive Strike and focus on last hits. Try and save your Decisive Strike, as to have a quick escape if needed.

Continue to farm and harass until you have pushed the minions to enemy tower and make sure you have enough to buy a Phage/ Chain Vest/ Spectre’s Cowl/ Giant's Belt before your first back. This is the point where you have to ADAPT to who you are laning against. If most of the incoming damage taken is AP start with Spectre’s Cowl/ Giant's Belt/ Phage, If AD, Chain Vest/ Giant's Belt/ Phage(depending on how much gold you have when you back).
After your first back try and stay in lane as much as possible and take advantage of your passive when you have low health by staying behind minions(but close enough to still earn XP!). Keep last hitting! Use Decisive Strike/ Judgment combo when able.

Mid Game

After the enemy tower is down(or you notice your team/the other team ganking) you should switch lanes to assist your teammates and support them in their lanes. Use your Decisive Strike/ Judgment combo to innitiate team fights and work enemies down, using Courage when taking heavy damage or turret diving. Make sure to drop your Demacian Justice ONLY when they are low! Remember that it does more damage the lower health they are. Finish your The Black Clever/ Dead Man’s Plate/ Spirit Visage/ Boots of Swiftness when you can off the gold from champion/minion kills. When you are low health a good trick is running between lanes and pushing minions back allowing your health to regen while out of combat. Keep farming!

Late Game

This stage you should almost always be with a teammate(no matter what champion you are!) or defending/pushing back lanes. Keep using the same Decisive Strike/ Judgment combo when you can. KEEP FARMING! Build your Phantom Dancer/ Guardian Angel when you have the gold.

One thing to keep in mind while playing Garen is the fact that you are in fact NOT invincible. This can be hard to forget sometimes as you are extremely tanky.

To keep your death count down, here are a few tricks that will save your bacon.

1: Never commit to killing a champion in your lane without backup or lots of room between them and your tower.

2: WARD WARD WARD your lane. Some people think this is a waste of valuable gold that you could be spending on items, but it will save you from enemy ganks and keep you in lane longer so you have the opportunity to earn even more.

3: Travel with teammates when possible. There is power in numbers.

4: Communicate with your team!!! Whether it is a ping, or a typed message, be sure to let your teammates know your intentions(especially before going into a fight). Be sure to give enough warning so that you are accompanied into battle, or your teammates can give you a warning to back off.

5: FOCUS!!! I have found that sometimes people like to target the first champion that comes into view. Unless the other enemies are accounted for, this can lead to a failed teamfight. Be sure to keep your focus off the enemy tanks until the end of the battle. Try to target squishier champions first.

Team Work is the MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS GAME!!!!!!!!!!!

Make sure you know when to get in and out and coordinate with your team!

When fighting with your team your tactics should change. Save your Decisive Strike for heavy AP nukes like Katarina/ Annie/ Veigar(and others) or to keep someone from flashing away. You and/or the team tank should be the one(s) to initiate. Make sure that you go in and make the enemy team focus you then GET OUT! Don't fall back completely but go back in once you are taking less damage to add your DPS to your teams. The key to a successfull initiation is to get in, get focused(make the enemy team use their cooldowns), and then get out, allowing your team to focus the enemy carries. Remember YOU ARE GAREN, so stick around even if you are low health(of couse be smart and stay back) to drop your Demacian Justice when the time is right, or to save a teammate with exhaust/silence.



Also-- ******NEVER EVER TROLL YOUR OWN TEAM!****** Even if they are doing bad be courteous and keep in mind that they might just be having a bad game!

By following this guide and playing Garen often you WILL become a better LoL player! Both as Garen and with other champions as you explore your options.


Good luck and Have fun out there! Remember this is just a game!