Gangplank vs Riven
Skill matchup
Build vs Riven
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Gangplank: Essence Reaver, The Collector, Infinity Edge, Plated Steelcaps, Immortal Shieldbow, Lord Dominik's Regards, Serpent's Fang, Voltaic Cyclosword.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Riven's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Riven's abilities charge her blade, and her basic attacks expend charges to deal an additional damage.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 13s | 11s | 10s | – |
| 6 | 13s | 11s | 10s | 2m |
| 9 | 13s | 10s | 10s | 2m |
| 11 | 13s | 9s | 10s | 1m30 |
| 16 | 13s | 7s | 8s | 1m |
| 18 | 13s | 7s | 6s | 1m |
Playing as Gangplank
Tips to maximize your impact
- Chain your kegs
Build a chain with Powder Keg (E): detonate the keg farthest from your opponent, and each keg whose area touches the previous one explodes too, all the way to them.
- Last-hit with Parrrley
Last-hit minions and pop kegs with Parrrley (Q): a kill with the shot gives bonus gold, and so does a kill from a keg it sets off.
- Save your W for CC
Save Remove Scurvy (W) for a key CC rather than for healing: it cleanses all CC on you, on a 22 to 14 second cooldown.
- Bombard other fights
Cast Cannon Barrage (R) anywhere on the map to help a fight or cover an objective: each wave of cannonballs slows and damages in the area.
Playing against Riven
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Trade after her dashes
Take a trade once she has used Broken Wings (Q) and Valor (E): those are her dashes, on cooldowns of 13 seconds and 10 to 6 seconds.
- Back earlier once she hits 6
Once she hits level 6, back earlier: the Wind Slash of Blade of the Exile (R) deals more damage to enemies missing health.
- Interrupt her combo
If you have CC or a silence, use it during her combo: all her mobility comes from her spells.
Other Gangplank matchups
Patch 16.21.1