Locke vs Gwen

Locke
vs
52.8%

over 36 games

Gwen

Skill matchup

Heavy AP damageSustained DPSSplit pushHigh burst

You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.

Build vs Gwen

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Locke: Lich Bane, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Rabadon's Deathcap, Stormsurge, Mejai's Soulstealer, Dark Seal.

Starting items

Scorchclaw Pup
Health Potion

Core build

Lich Bane
1
Shadowflame
2
Zhonya's Hourglass
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Rabadon's Deathcap
5

Summoner spells

FlashSmite100%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Rabadon's Deathcap
Stormsurge
Mejai's Soulstealer
Dark Seal
Void Staff
Banshee's Veil
14.3% WR7 games
DominationDomination
Dark HarvestDark Harvest
Sudden ImpactSudden Impact
Sixth SenseSixth Sense
Treasure HunterTreasure Hunter
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Gwen's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

A Thousand Cuts (P)

Gwen's attacks deal bonus magic damage based on the targets health. She heals for a portion of the damage dealt to champions by this effect.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
36.5s22s13s–
65s22s13s2m
93.5s21s13s2m
113.5s20s13s1m40
163.5s18s12s1m20
183.5s18s11s1m20

Playing as Locke

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Nails first, then Pursuit

    Cast Ritual Nails (Q) before Ashen Pursuit (E): your hits consume the nails stuck in the target, and each extra nail adds damage.

  2. Finish them with autos

    Finish off wounded targets with autos: Silver Stake (passive) adds magic damage that grows with their missing health.

  3. Activate W as the trade starts

    Activate Soul Ignition (W) at the start of a trade: it costs you health, but at the end, you heal back part of the last damage taken, plus more based on your missing health.

  4. Save E for a kill or a gank

    Save Ashen Pursuit (E) for a sure kill or to escape a gank: it's your only instant movement, it has a 10-second cooldown, and only a takedown resets it.

  5. Save Purgatory to finish

    Save Purgatory (R) to finish: it seals marked enemies below a health threshold, and when you pick up the artifact, each sealed champion raises that threshold for good.

Playing against Gwen

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Enter her mist or wait

    To hit her during Hallowed Mist (W), walk into the mist or wait for it to fade: from outside, you can't target her.

  2. Trade before her 4 autos

    Take short trades before she lands 4 autos: each one adds a snip to Snip Snip! (Q).

  3. Get out of her needles' path

    Step out of the Needlework (R) line: she can recast it twice within 6 seconds, with three then five needles.

  4. Send two to answer her split

    Answer her split push with two players rather than alone: A Thousand Cuts (passive) heals her on every auto against a champion.

Patch 16.21.1