Zaahen vs Garen
Skill matchup
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Garen
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Zaahen: Trinity Force, Stridebreaker, Death's Dance, Plated Steelcaps, Endless Hunger, Sterak's Gage, Black Cleaver, Sundered Sky.
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 Zaahen
Tips to maximize your impact
- The Darkin Glaive, then recast
Cast The Darkin Glaive (Q) for an auto that strikes twice and heals you, then recast the spell: your next auto knocks your target into the air.
- Pull them in with your stab
Cast Dreaded Return (W) at a target out of your range: the stab damages them, then pulls them toward you for a second hit.
- Hit with the edge of your slice
Place Aureate Rush (E) so your target is at the edge of the slice: at the tip, they take bonus damage based on their max health.
- Build up your Determination
Hit champions with your autos and spells: each Determination stack from Cultivation of War (passive) gives you attack damage, and at max stacks, you can revive.
- Dive in with your ult
Cast Grim Deliverance (R) in the middle of a fight: you take less damage as you rise, then your dive heals you based on the damage dealt to champions.
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 Zaahen matchups
Patch 16.21.1