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Recommended Items
Spells:
Ignite
Flash
Items
Ability Order
Trial By Fire (PASSIVE)
Gangplank Passive Ability
UPDATES
-Tweaked masteries from 10/18/2 => 9/18/3
2/16/2014
-Added more match ups
-Changed rune setup for a stronger early game
-Added a counter jungling section
Pros
|
+ Excellent Farmer + Multiple Ways to Build + Global Ultimate + CC removal skill |
Gangplank has the highest quality of farm top lane if played correctly. His ultimate has many strategic uses...like picking up assists/kills, helping the jungler gank, disengaging from fights, split pushing, cutting off escape routes, etc. Another notable thing about Gangplank is how he can be built. In my opinion, hes not that effective if build 100% tank, or 100% dps. However, all sorts of items can be combined to really diversify the builds in game. |
Cons
|
+ Lacks CC + Weak Early Game |
Gangplank is by no means a strong early gamer, nor a late gamer unless he is farmed. In teamfights he lacks presence unless his ultimate is used strategically and hes played correctly. |
- Greater Mark of Armor Penetration extra armor pen for late game damage, replaceable for
Greater Mark of Attack Damage for minor boost to early game damage
Greater Mark of Critical Chance 5.6% crit chance rounds up to 6%, harassing with parrrley all night to get lucky. Really wins a duel early game if you crit
Greater Seal of Armor Reduces the ad damage you take early game a lot. Feel free to substitute for
Greater Seal of Scaling Health, however I felt that armor seals were generally more useful
Greater Glyph of Scaling Magic Resist Some of the most effective glyphs for top laners, why? Because most top laners are AD. In any game you know there will be an AP top, make sure to switch these to
Greater Glyph of Magic Resists
Greater Quintessence of Attack Damage for a big boost to early game damage and easier last hits.
N O T A B L E |
sp |
M A S T E R I E S |
|


Tips and Tricks
- In a duel, auto attack then parley right after for max dps
- Don't focus too much on harassing if enemy stacks armor early game
- REMEMBER : Last hits return 50% of MP used

Tips and Tricks
- Maxing this out first gives an insane heal early game
- You can use this skill when level 3+ for a reasonable sustain in lane
- Use it to shrug off slows, stuns, taunts, heal!
- When knocked up,
allows for attacks, but no movements

Tips and Tricks
- Use it when engaging enemy team
- +MS is useful for engaging and disengaging
- Active has a wide range!

Tips and Tricks
- Lots of DPS if enemies remain in the AoE
- In team fights, toss it in the middle of the fight
- Useful for cutting off escape routes
- Can be used to score kills on low hp enemies across the map
- Don't be afraid to use
to score assists
- Good for split pushing
- By no means spam the ultimate, you will want it off CD during team fights
Now, this is a team game so lets expand from top lane. Being at top lane means we're going to be really close to the enemy's blue buff camp.
Alright so before attempting to counter their jungler, you will want to know what you'll be up against.
Alright now we'll get down to the importance of this information. Knowing their top laner/jungler will let you know how "difficult" it will be for them to finish off blue. For example, how much hp will a
lose at blue compared to a nautlius?
Assuming the jungle is someone like Nautilus, who has no hp upkeep other than the red potion and probably starts jungle with E. This means that you can probably walk in, focus down Nautilus and he will NOT have enough HP to finish off blue. How can we do this?
[*]The top laner has to be a bruiser, I'd rather not attempt this if they were like Riven, Elise, etc.
[*]The mid laner has to have a hard time assisting
-For instance, if their mid was Gragas, at level 1 with barrel he will not be a threat to you. However, a ziggs or morgana may be able to get there and land a spell on you.
Alright so lets get down to the plan.
Red = first 1:50
Blue = Right before blue spawns
Yellow = Possible ward placement if jungler is NOT starting blue

-No problem, they usually still dont suspect you to invade jungle
-If they devote to a fight, you may be able to win. Gangplank can actually beat many top laners 1v1.
-Even if you fought them, you most likely have time to recall and then go counter jungle
[*]Enemy team invades your blue/red
-You can't do much if you're on Blue team and your Blue is being invaded (3v5 split is no better than 3v5 together) Likewise if you're on Purple.

- Who is their top lane/jungler/mid laner?
- What skills do they start with? (Do any of these stun/slow?)
- What items do you predict they start with?
Alright now we'll get down to the importance of this information. Knowing their top laner/jungler will let you know how "difficult" it will be for them to finish off blue. For example, how much hp will a

Assuming the jungle is someone like Nautilus, who has no hp upkeep other than the red potion and probably starts jungle with E. This means that you can probably walk in, focus down Nautilus and he will NOT have enough HP to finish off blue. How can we do this?
[*]The top laner has to be a bruiser, I'd rather not attempt this if they were like Riven, Elise, etc.
[*]The mid laner has to have a hard time assisting
-For instance, if their mid was Gragas, at level 1 with barrel he will not be a threat to you. However, a ziggs or morgana may be able to get there and land a spell on you.
Alright so lets get down to the plan.
Red = first 1:50
Blue = Right before blue spawns
Yellow = Possible ward placement if jungler is NOT starting blue

Starting Ionian?
Same thing, just a different path.
Possible Contingency Events
[*]Meeting top laner in tribush/top river bush-No problem, they usually still dont suspect you to invade jungle
-If they devote to a fight, you may be able to win. Gangplank can actually beat many top laners 1v1.
-Even if you fought them, you most likely have time to recall and then go counter jungle
[*]Enemy team invades your blue/red
-You can't do much if you're on Blue team and your Blue is being invaded (3v5 split is no better than 3v5 together) Likewise if you're on Purple.
Nasus

Difficulty : 8/10
Tips: Most Nasus' start with a Doran's shield/pot/ward. In any case that they do, do not try to force kills early game. Aim to harass Nasus and possibly zone him. Just make sure to keep a ward up and your


Rengar

Difficulty : 6/10
Tips: In lane, you're going to want to keep him out of the bushes. This stops him from getting the "jump" on you haha. Should be a relatively easy lane as long as you deny/zone him with

Shen

Difficulty : 5/10
Tips: Really easy lane to win. Big tip is to use

Garen

Difficulty : 5/10
Tips: Garen is another easy lane. Outharass trade him using AA + Q combo.

Darius

Difficulty : 6/10
Tips:Usually a smart idea to outharass Darius early game, as you will out trade him before he gets his ultimate (

Tryndamere

Difficulty : 3/10
Tips: Too easy to win this lane. At level 1, BE SURE to start zoning him off the bat. Keep a ward in side bush (closer to baron to reveal blue path) to prevent a level 2 gank from blue. As long as you do not let him AA for bloodlust stacks, you can easily zone him using Q, and killing him if he ever initiates. Just watch out for his W. Try to turn your back, or W during shout duration. DO NOT USE

Malphite

Difficulty : 6/10
Tips: Not sure why, but I generally see two major Malphites. One, that rushes a chalice in attempts to outharass you (easy win btw). Keep his passive armor off with Q farm, and if he ever gets too close...TRADE HIM. The second Malphite is a Malphite that rushes armor, like a sunfires or rands etc. This will generally be a fight to outfarm again. You can easily beat him in gold farm, and use



Teemo

Difficulty : 5/10
Tips: Not sure why some people find it hard to play vs Teemo. Its pretty straight forward. Levels 1-3 be sure to duel him (but don't force it). If you can kill him early game, it gives you an edge before he hits level 6. Just





Nidalee

Difficulty : 4/10
Tips: Another relatively easy lane. She will generally start with Dorans, and be very easy to harass and zone with

Mundo

Difficulty : 6/10
Tips: This lane generally depends on how good the Dr. Mundo is and how tanky he is early game. If hes relatively squishy, make sure to trade him at level 1, and begin zoning if you have lane dominance. After level 2 though, be sure to avoid going head to toes with him. His E gives an insane amount of AD, even more so when hes low HP. Just be sure to use creeps to your advantage as his cleaver toss is a skill shot and focus on out farming him after level 4 if he seems too tanky to trade.
Riven

Difficulty : 6/10
Tips: After the nerf on Riven's early game. She has been a relatively easy lane to win. If Riven has taken exhaust instead of ignite, you can just punish that lane. At level 1, be sure to harass and trade her as much as possible. Just do not tank her Q and passive AA head on and she will be forced to recall. When she gets her shield at either level 2-3, start baiting her




Shyvana

Difficulty : 7/10
Tips: A pretty hard lane to win. Focus on outfarming her using auto attack and Q. Against good Shyvana, she WILL be too tanky to out trade and


Jax

Difficulty : 8/10
Tips: One of the hardest match ups you will ever face. If Jax started Doran's shield, do not even try to out trade him. Instead, just out farm him and keep a ward up in tri. Always backoff when he uses E, and use



Wukong

Difficulty : 7/10
Tips:Again two big Wukongs. Wukong will either be easy to trade and squishy...or too tanky to trade and punish you if you attempt to trade. Just make sure you do not waste mana harassing his clone, and when he uses clone or goes into a bush, it is a probable sign that he is prepare to initiate on you. Possibly with his jungler. Just remember Wukong lacks any slows/stuns, so do not be afraid to use

Renekton

Difficulty : 9/10
Tips: One of the most common top laners you will face will be Renekton. This is a relatively hard match up, not impossible though. At level 1, trading is possible. However, at level 2-3 do not attempt trades. If he goes in on you using his E, just


Aatrox

Difficulty : 4/10
Tips: Personally have not seen many Aatroxes. In any case, its another easy win as long as you watch his passive. When he goes in on your with his aerial dive,

Chogath

Difficulty : 5/10
Tips: As long as you dodge his Q, you have nothing to worry about until 6. At level 6, just be sure to keep your health pool relatively high (about 75%+) to avoid being pressured from his Q W R combo. Early game, try not to let him heal by farming with his passive.
Elise

Difficulty : 8/10
Tips: One of the harder match ups again...Her human Q and spider Q both scale off %. So rushing a sheen will allow you to out trade her. Also be sure to get a


Fiora

Difficulty : 6/10
Tips: Now this match up and either be easy, or be brutal. At level 1, Fiora will most likely take Q first. In case she takes W first, make sure to waste her shield by faking a Q harass by last hitting a creep before trading. Her W's passive gives her a TON of AD, so just be careful when trading and punish her for retreating after blowing her spells. At level 6 try not to fight her, unless you have a huge advantage, or her ignite is down. This will allow you to use

Pantheon

Difficulty : 6/10
Tips: Against Pantheon, your best bet will be to trade him early at level 1. Pantheons usually take either spear shot, or aegis first. Either way, you should be able to outtrade him at level 1 with


In any case you fail to zone Pantheon, he will probably outharass you with Q and pressure you with his aegis and W.

Irelia

Difficulty : 8/10
Tips: The strategy here depends on how Irelia plays. At level 1 your best bet is again to outtrade and zone her. She has absolutely no harass levels 1-3, and will be forced to fight you or lose cs. If you do not have a large lead on her, just focus on winning in CS, instead of forcing a kill. Her upkeep is exceptional when she gets her ultimate.
However you should be able to make a lot bigger impact in team fights with a 3k+ gold advantage.
Jarvan IV

Difficulty : 5/10
Tips: This match up will most likely be a stalemate. Most Jarvans start with a

Lee Sin

Difficulty : 8/10
Tips: With a good Lee Sin, he will probably be too tanky to trade and run circles around you. Even at level 1, trading will be disadvantageous. Just dodge his Q's and when he goes in to last hit do not get hit by his E. If you know he is squishy, you can try harassing with Q. This is a pretty hard lane to win so just focus on farming.
Yorick

Difficulty : 8/10
Tips: Another hard lane top. Yorick is pretty damn effective at making your skills not too useful. At level 1, if Yorick is too tanky to trade then you'll want to play defensive and farm with



-MORE MATCHUPS ON THE WAY. I will probably not hit every champion, so if anyone wants to know tips for a particular match up leave a comment!
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