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Garen: A Guide to Understanding AP and AD Builds

Garen: The Ideal Champion for New Top Lane Players

Garen is a fundamental champion in the top lane and is often recommended for new players in League of Legends. What makes Garen an ideal pick for beginners? It’s simple! Garen’s abilities are easy to use, and he doesn’t require complicated combos. He also has high execute damage from his ultimate, making him a threat to opponents. Additionally, Garen is naturally tanky, making him a great choice for new players looking for an efficient and straightforward gameplay experience.

Garen’s simplicity not only makes him a good champion for new players, but he also teaches important top lane mechanics. Players learn when to go for an all-in and when to pressure their opponents, thanks to Garen’s high kill pressure in lane.

As a physical damage-dealing bruiser, Garen’s damage increases with attack damage (AD) items. However, it’s important to strike a balance between damage and survivability by building a combination of damage and tank items.

Choosing the right runes for Garen is crucial. The two main options are Conqueror and Phase Rush. Conqueror is ideal against melee champions, especially bruisers and tanks. Phase Rush is more effective against ranged champions as it provides a boost of speed, helping Garen catch and stick to enemies.

The Conqueror rune page is commonly used by Garen players, especially when facing bruisers or tanks in the top lane. The primary rune choices include Triumph, Legend: Tenacity, and Last Stand. For the secondary page, Conditioning and Overgrowth from the Resolve page are recommended.

The Phase Rush rune page focuses on movement speed and includes Nimbus Cloak, Celerity, and Gathering Storm. The secondary rune page can be either Resolve or Precision, depending on the specific matchup.

Starting with Doran’s Shield is the best option for Garen, as it provides health regen and additional health for a strong start. Early game items like Plated Steelcaps or Mercury Treads can be purchased based on the enemy’s damage type. Bramble Vest is useful against AD champions with built-in healing.

Garen’s core build starts with Stridebreaker as the mythic item. It offers the most suitable benefits for Garen compared to other options like Tri-Force or Goredrinker. Mortal Reminder is a good choice for a damage advantage, while Deadman’s Plate and Force of Nature provide tankiness against physical and magical damage, respectively. The last item can be either an aggressive option like Death’s Dance or a defensive tank item.

Garen’s simplicity and effectiveness make him a valuable champion to master. He has the potential to carry games, and even if you fall behind in lane, Garen’s natural tankiness and execute damage can still make a significant impact. So, whether you’re a new player or an experienced one, Garen is a champion worth considering for your top lane adventures.

Read More: Is Garen AP or AD? The Ultimate Season 12 LoL Guide