Garen, the Might of Demacia, has emerged as one of the strongest and safest champions in the League of Legends top lane. Despite not receiving any direct buffs or nerfs, Garen’s win rate has reached 52% across all levels of play, making him a popular choice among players. His simple mechanics and all-in playstyle make him an ideal champion for new players, but recent developments have transformed him into a speedy assassin capable of decimating enemies with ease.
One of the key factors behind Garen’s rise in popularity is the Phase Rush plus Stridebreaker build. This combination, along with items like Black Cleaver and Dead Man’s Plate, allows Garen to quickly eliminate even the tankiest opponents. With his Q ability providing movement speed, Garen can engage, deal massive damage with a Q-E-R combo, and escape unscathed. This makes him a formidable splitpusher who can single-handedly threaten enemy bases.
Garen’s strength has not gone unnoticed, as he has even made appearances at the League World Championship. His ability to counter popular top lane champions like Renekton, Jax, and K’Sante makes him a valuable pick or ban in competitive play. Despite this, Garen was not mentioned in the patch preview for the upcoming League Patch 13.21, indicating that his dominance may continue for the foreseeable future.
However, it remains to be seen whether Riot Games will consider Garen’s strengths unhealthy for the game and decide to nerf him in future patches. Until then, Garen will likely remain the king of the top lane meta.
| Champion | Win Rate | Play Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Garen | 52% | Increased by over 5% |
Source: OP.GG, U.GG, champion.gg
Source: DOTESPORTS
