Zoe vs Garen

Zoe
vs
Not enough games
Garen
Heavy AD damageVery tankyHigh burstSustained DPS

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

Build vs Garen

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Zoe: Luden's Echo, Lich Bane, Shadowflame, Sorcerer's Shoes, Zhonya's Hourglass, Stormsurge, Horizon Focus, Rabadon's Deathcap.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Luden's Echo
1
Lich Bane
2
Shadowflame
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Zhonya's Hourglass
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot100%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Zhonya's Hourglass
Stormsurge
Horizon Focus
Rabadon's Deathcap
Void Staff
DominationDomination
ElectrocuteElectrocute
Taste of BloodTaste of Blood
Grisly MementosGrisly Mementos
Relentless HunterRelentless Hunter
SorcerySorcery
ScorchScorch
Nimbus CloakNimbus Cloak
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Garen's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Perseverance (P)

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

LevelQWER
38s22s9s–
68s22s9s2m
98s19.5s9s2m
118s17s9s1m40
168s12s7.5s1m20
188s12s6s1m20

Playing as Zoe

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Lengthen your star's path

    Cast Paddle Star! (Q) behind you, then recast it toward your target: its damage grows with the distance the star travels.

  2. Poke from your Portal Jump

    Cast Portal Jump (R) to poke from closer: you can cast your spells from there, and you blink back to your starting position 1 second later.

  3. Pick up spell shards

    Pick up the shards enemies drop after using a summoner spell or an item active: Spell Thief (W) lets you cast that spell or item once.

  4. Sleep, then wake them with a big hit

    Put your target to sleep with Sleepy Trouble Bubble (E), then wake them with your biggest hit, a long-range Paddle Star! (Q): the hit that wakes them deals double damage.

Playing against Garen

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Hit him regularly

    Hit him regularly, even with a small poke: Perseverance (passive) only regenerates him if he hasn't taken damage recently.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

Patch 16.21.1