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Garen

The Might of Demacia

BClassic SRTopFighter · Tank
Patch 26.19 · updated 2026-09-23

Quick build

AD Bruiser

Full build
TopClassic SR21/9/0 masteries
Max
1–3
FlashExhaust

First buy

  1. Cloth Armor
  2. Health Potion, 5 of them

Out of combat Garen regenerates 0.5% of his health a second; the five potions cover the seconds inside it.

Core

  • Sunfire Cape
  • Ninja Tabi
  • Atma's Impaler

Loadout

Top · Standard AD Bruiser · 21/9/0 masteries

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Overview

Difficulty
Difficulty 1 of 10
Class
Fighter, Tank
Released
· later addition

Base stats

Health
551+96
HP regen
1.8+0.15
Attack
60+3.5
Armor
25.7+3
MR
31.25+1.25
Move speed
345
Range
125
Attack speed
0.625+2.9%

Abilities

P, Perseverance

Description

Innate: Garen regenerates 0.5% of his maximum health every second if he has not taken non-minion damage in the last 9 seconds.

Build

This build as its own page: AD Bruiser (Top)

TopClassic SR
Max
1–3
FlashExhaust

  1. First buy

    1. Cloth Armor
    2. Health Potion, 5 of them

    Out of combat Garen regenerates 0.5% of his health a second; the five potions cover the seconds inside it.

    Alternative start:
    1. Doran's Shield
    2. Health Potion

    Against auto-attack harass.

    Alternative start:
    1. Boots of Speed
    2. Health Potion, 4 of them

    35% movement speed from Decisive Strike comes in bursts. The 25 here runs all lane, which is what dodging wants.

  2. Early

    • Chain Vest
    • Giant's Belt

    Toward Sunfire Cape.

  3. Core

    • Sunfire Cape
    • Ninja Tabi
    • Atma's Impaler

  4. Late

    • The Black Cleaver
    • Trinity Force
    • Warmog's Armor

  5. Full build

    • Sunfire Cape
    • Ninja Tabi
    • Atma's Impaler
    • The Black Cleaver
    • Trinity Force
    • Warmog's Armor

Situationalswap into the late slots

  • Guardian Angel
  • Banshee's Veil

Runes & masteries

21/9/0 · Top

Standard AD Bruiser

Marks
  • 9× +1 Attack Damage
Seals
  • 9× +1 Armor
Glyphs
  • 6× +0.2 Magic Resist per level
  • 3× +1.4 Magic Resist
Quintessences
  • 3× +2.25 Attack Damage

Page total

Armor
+9
Attack Damage
+15.75
Magic Resist
+4.2
Magic Resist per level
+1.2
Summoner's Wrath (1 of 1 ranks)Summoner's Wrath1 / 1 ranksImproves the Summoner Spells Exhaust, Ignite, Ghost, Surge, Rally, and PromoteFuryFuryUp to 4 ranks+1% Attack Speed per rankSorcery (1 of 4 ranks)Sorcery1 / 4 ranks+1% Cooldown Reduction per rankButcher (2 of 2 ranks)Butcher2 / 2 ranksBasic attacks deal 2/4 bonus damage to minions and monsters
Deadliness (4 of 4 ranks)Deadliness4 / 4 ranks+0.166/0.333/0.498/0.664 Attack Damage per levelBlast (4 of 4 ranks)Blast4 / 4 ranks+0.25/0.5/0.75/1 Ability Power per levelDestructionDestructionUp to 1 rankIncrease damage to turrets by 5%
Havoc (3 of 3 ranks)Havoc3 / 3 ranksIncreases damage dealt by 0.67%/1.33%/2%Weapon Expertise (1 of 1 ranks)Weapon Expertise1 / 1 ranks+8% Armor PenetrationArcane Knowledge (1 of 1 ranks)Arcane Knowledge1 / 1 ranks+8% Magic Penetration
LethalityLethalityUp to 2 ranks+2.5%/5% Critical Strike Damage (5%/10% for melee)Brute Force (2 of 2 ranks)Brute Force2 / 2 ranks+1.5/3 Attack DamageMental ForceMental ForceUp to 3 ranks+2/4/6 Ability PowerSpellswordSpellswordUp to 1 rankDeals 5% of your Ability Power as magic damage on basic attacks
FrenzyFrenzyUp to 1 rankGrants 10% attack speed for 2 seconds after landing a critical hitSunder (1 of 3 ranks)Sunder1 / 3 ranks+2/4/6 LethalityArchmageArchmageUp to 4 ranksIncreases Ability Power by 1.25%/2.5%/3.75%/5%
Executioner (1 of 1 ranks)Executioner1 / 1 ranks · CapstoneIncreases damage dealt by 5% to targets below 50% Health

offense21

Summoner's ResolveSummoner's ResolveUp to 1 rankImproves the Summoner Spells Cleanse, Heal, Smite, Barrier, and FortifyPerseverancePerseveranceUp to 3 ranksGrants up to +2/4/6 Health Regen per 5 seconds based on missing HealthDurability (4 of 4 ranks)Durability4 / 4 ranks+1.5/3/4.5/6 Health per levelTough SkinTough SkinUp to 2 ranksReduces damage taken from monsters by 1/2
Hardiness (3 of 3 ranks)Hardiness3 / 3 ranks+2/4/6 ArmorResistance (1 of 3 ranks)Resistance1 / 3 ranks+2/4/6 Magic ResistBladed ArmorBladed ArmorUp to 1 rankDeals 6 damage to any enemy monster that attacks you
UnyieldingUnyieldingUp to 2 ranksReduces damage taken from enemy champions by 1/2RelentlessRelentlessUp to 2 ranksReduces the effectiveness of slows by 7.5%/15%Veteran's Scars (1 of 1 ranks)Veteran's Scars1 / 1 ranks+30 HealthSafeguardSafeguardUp to 1 rankReduces damage taken from turrets by 5%
BlockBlockUp to 1 rankReduces damage taken from champion basic attacks by 3TenaciousTenaciousUp to 3 ranksReduces the duration of crowd control effects by 5%/10%/15%JuggernautJuggernautUp to 3 ranksIncreases your maximum Health by 1.5%/2.75%/4%
DefenderDefenderUp to 1 rankGrants +1 Armor and Magic Resist for each nearby enemy championLegendary ArmorLegendary ArmorUp to 3 ranksIncreases bonus Armor and Magic Resist by +2%/4%/6%Good HandsGood HandsUp to 1 rankReduce time spent dead by 10%Reinforced ArmorReinforced ArmorUp to 1 rankReduce damage taken from critical strikes by 10%
Honor GuardHonor GuardUp to 1 rank · CapstoneReduces damage taken from all sources by 3%

defense9

Summoner's InsightSummoner's InsightUp to 1 rankImproves the Summoner Spells Teleport, Flash, Clarity, Revive, and Clairvoyance.WandererWandererUp to 3 ranksGrants +0.66%/1.33%/2% increased Movement Speed when out of combatMeditationMeditationUp to 3 ranks+1/2/3 Mana Regen per 5 secondsImproved RecallImproved RecallUp to 1 rankReduces the cast time of Recall by 1 second
ScoutScoutUp to 1 rankWards gain 25% increased vision range for the first 3 seconds after placing themMastermindMastermindUp to 3 ranksReduces the cooldown of Summoner Spells by 4%/7%/10%Expanded MindExpanded MindUp to 3 ranks+4/7/10 mana per levelArtificerArtificerUp to 2 ranksReduces the cooldown of activated items by 7.5%/15%
GreedGreedUp to 4 ranksGrants an additional +0.5/1/1.5/2 gold every 10 secondsRunic AffinityRunic AffinityUp to 1 rankIncreases the duration of neutral monster buffs by 20%VampirismVampirismUp to 3 ranks+1%/2%/3% Lifesteal and Spell VampBiscuiteerBiscuiteerUp to 1 rankStart the game with a regenerative biscuit that restores 80 Health and 50 Mana over 10 seconds
WealthWealthUp to 2 ranksIncreases starting gold by 40/75AwarenessAwarenessUp to 4 ranksIncreases Experience earned by 1.25%/2.5%/3.75%/5%Strength of SpiritStrength of SpiritUp to 3 ranksUp to +1/2/3 Health Regen per 5 seconds for each 400 Mana you possessExplorerExplorerUp to 1 rankStart the game with an Explorer's Ward.
PickpocketPickpocketUp to 1 rankGrants 5 gold (melee) or 3 gold (ranged) each time you basic attack an enemy champion (5s cooldown)IntelligenceIntelligenceUp to 3 ranks+2%/4%/6% Cooldown Reduction
NimbleNimbleUp to 1 rank · CapstoneGrants 3% increased Movement Speed

utility0

Skill order

Max order››
Skill order by level for AD Bruiser
Lv123456789101112131415161718
Q1Q at level 18Q at level 810Q at level 1012Q at level 1213Q at level 13
W3W at level 314W at level 1415W at level 1517W at level 1718W at level 18
E2E at level 24E at level 45E at level 57E at level 79E at level 9
R6R at level 611R at level 1116R at level 16

Matchups

Strong against

  • VeigarVeigarDecisive StrikeDecisive StrikeQActive: Garen cleanses himself of all slows affecting him and gains 35% bonus movement speed for a few seconds. Additionally, his next basic attack within 4.5 seconds deals bonus physical damage and silences his target. Decisive Strike resets Garen's basic attack timer.'s silence stops the stun-into-burst combo, and Demacian JusticeDemacian JusticeRActive: Garen calls upon the might of Demacia to attempt to execute the target enemy champion, dealing them magic damage. executes Veigar long before his stacks matter.Full matchup page
  • AnnieAnnieAnnie has to stand still to cast; a silence-into-JudgmentJudgmentEActive: Garen rapidly spins his sword around his body for 3 seconds, losing the ability to basic attack but dealing physical damage each second to enemies within range for the duration. Judgment deals 75% damage to minions and monsters. Garen is ghosted while spinning but moves 20% slower when traveling through units. Judgment can critically strike. trade wins every time her burst is down.Full matchup page
  • KatarinaKatarinaDecisive StrikeDecisive StrikeQActive: Garen cleanses himself of all slows affecting him and gains 35% bonus movement speed for a few seconds. Additionally, his next basic attack within 4.5 seconds deals bonus physical damage and silences his target. Decisive Strike resets Garen's basic attack timer.'s silence interrupts Death LotusDeath LotusRKatarina throws daggers at up to three nearby enemy Champions, dealing magic damage and applying Grievous Wounds. outright, and Katarina cannot burst through CourageCourageWPassive: Garen's bonus armor and bonus magic resistance are increased by 20%. Active: Garen reduces incoming damage and the duration of incoming crowd control effects by 30% for a few seconds. plus health regen.Full matchup page

Weak against

  • TeemoTeemoBlinding DartBlinding DartQActive: Teemo shoots a dart at the target enemy that deals magic damage and blinds them for a duration. deletes the Decisive StrikeDecisive StrikeQActive: Garen cleanses himself of all slows affecting him and gains 35% bonus movement speed for a few seconds. Additionally, his next basic attack within 4.5 seconds deals bonus physical damage and silences his target. Decisive Strike resets Garen's basic attack timer. hit and Move QuickMove QuickWPassive: Teemo gains bonus movement speed after 5 seconds without taking non-over time damage from enemy champions or turrets. Active: Teemo doubles the bonus movement speed for 3 seconds, preventing it from being removed for the duration. Casting Move Quick does not interrupt Guerrilla Warfare. keeps Teemo out of JudgmentJudgmentEActive: Garen rapidly spins his sword around his body for 3 seconds, losing the ability to basic attack but dealing physical damage each second to enemies within range for the duration. Judgment deals 75% damage to minions and monsters. Garen is ghosted while spinning but moves 20% slower when traveling through units. Judgment can critically strike. range; without Flash, Garen never touches him.Full matchup page
  • JaxJaxCounter StrikeCounter StrikeEActive: Jax enters Evasion for 2 seconds: a defensive stance that causes him to dodge all incoming non-turret basic attacks and take 25% reduced damage from all area of effect abilities sourced from champions. Counter Strike can be recast after 1 second, and does so automatically after the duration. Recast: Jax deals physical damage to nearby enemies, with the total damage increased by 20% for each attack dodged, up to a 100% increase, and stuns them for 1 second. blanks the auto-attack half of Garen's damage, and past the early levels Jax simply outscales the duel.Full matchup page
  • NasusNasusWitherWitherWActive: Nasus ages the target enemy champion for 5 seconds, slowing them by 35% and crippling them by 17.5%, both increasing every second over the duration. turns the spin into a slow walk, and Nasus outlasts Garen's early window while his stacks grow.Full matchup page
  • VayneVayneSilver BoltsSilver BoltsWPassive: Vayne's basic attacks on-hit and Condemn apply a stack of Silver Bolts for 3.5 seconds, refreshing on subsequent applications, expiring upon attacking a new enemy, and stacking up to 3 times. The third stack consumes them all to deal bonus true damage, with a minimum threshold. Silver Bolts is capped at 200 damage against monsters.' true damage ignores everything Garen builds, and TumbleTumbleQActive: Vayne dashes a fixed distance in the target direction, though not through terrain, and empowers her next basic attack within 3 seconds to deal bonus physical damage. Tumble resets Vayne's basic attack timer. kites JudgmentJudgmentEActive: Garen rapidly spins his sword around his body for 3 seconds, losing the ability to basic attack but dealing physical damage each second to enemies within range for the duration. Judgment deals 75% damage to minions and monsters. Garen is ghosted while spinning but moves 20% slower when traveling through units. Judgment can critically strike. for its whole duration.Full matchup page

Classic vs modern12 base-stat shifts

Base-stat shifts12
Base health
Classic: 551Current League: 690
Health per level
Classic: 96Current League: 98
Health regen
Classic: 1.8Current League: 8
Base attack damage
Classic: 60Current League: 69
Attack damage per level
Classic: 3.5Current League: 0
Base armor
Classic: 25.7Current League: 38
Armor per level
Classic: 3Current League: 4.2
Base magic resist
Classic: 31.25Current League: 32
Magic resist per level
Classic: 1.25Current League: 1.55
Move speed
Classic: 345Current League: 340
Attack range
Classic: 125Current League: 175
Attack speed per level
Classic: 2.9%Current League: 3.65%

Skins

  • Garen

  • Rugged Garen

  • God-King Garen

  • Demacia Vice Garen

  • Mecha Kingdoms Garen

  • Prestige Mecha Kingdoms Garen

  • Fallen God-King Garen

  • Classic Garen

History & Notes

Released 2010-04-27, part of the 2009–2013 wave Classic drew its roster from. Classic freezes the kit at patch 3.13.24; the modern game still runs its descendant. Riot's next 3 balance steps after the freeze are listed below.

Changed after 3.13

  1. V3.15
    • Judgment, No longer deals reduced damage to monsters (still reduced against minions).
    • Judgment, Fixed a bug where the first tick did not damage units.
  2. V4.5
    • Stats, Base armor increased to 23 from 19.
  3. V4.12
    • Judgment, Garen can now activate Tiamat and Ravenous Hydra active effect Crescent while spinning.
Contributors
Reio