Poppy vs Garen
Skill matchup
Build vs Garen
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Poppy: Tear of the Goddess, Sundered Sky, Fimbulwinter, Plated Steelcaps, Iceborn Gauntlet, Sunfire Aegis, Bramble Vest, Thornmail.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Garen's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
If Garen has not recently been struck by damage or enemy abilities, he regenerates a percentage of his total health each second.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 8s | 22s | 9s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 22s | 9s | 2m |
| 9 | 8s | 19.5s | 9s | 2m |
| 11 | 8s | 17s | 9s | 1m40 |
| 16 | 8s | 12s | 7.5s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 8s | 12s | 6s | 1m20 |
Playing as Poppy
Tips to maximize your impact
- Pin your target against a wall
Position so that Heroic Charge (E) slams your target into a wall: they're then stunned and take bonus damage.
- Keep them in your zone
Keep your target in the Hammer Shock (Q) zone: the zone slows them, then explodes and deals the same damage a second time.
- Pick up your buckler
After a trade, pick up the Iron Ambassador (passive) buckler that bounced off your target: it gives you a temporary shield.
- Stop their dashes
Cast Steadfast Presence (W) when an enemy is about to dash onto you or your carry: the field stops dashes around you, and the stopped enemy is slowed and grounded.
- Send a diver far away
Charge Keeper's Verdict (R) to send away a diver or isolate their carry: the target is knocked back toward their Nexus, farther the longer you charge.
Playing against Garen
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Hit him regularly
Hit him regularly, even with a small poke: Perseverance (passive) only regenerates him if he hasn't taken damage recently.
- At range, kite him
If you're ranged, kite him: his kit has no dash, and only Decisive Strike (Q) speeds him up and removes his slows.
- Burst after his shield
Wait for the Courage (W) shield to end before your burst: the spell starts with a shield and tenacity, then keeps only a damage reduction.
- Don't stay low once he hits 6
Once he hits level 6, back instead of staying in lane at low health against him: Demacian Justice (R) deals true damage that grows with your missing health.
Other Poppy matchups
Patch 16.21.1