Hey. I was Diamond in Season 2 (got no screenshots to prove it :/), in Season 3 I was Gold 1, because I stopped playing. Anyways, I was always addicted to Garen, not because he is easy to play more in his kit. I mean A GIANT SWORD FALLING DOWN FROM THE SKY?!?!? HOW COOL IS THIS?!?!?.

I take 13-17 masteries. I take 13 points in offense, because I want to get "Spell/Blade Weaving". It works out so good, because it synergizes so well with your Kit.
I take 17 points in defense, because you want to get the mastery "Second Wind" !! This mastery is actually the reason why Garen is so stronk right now.

With this Runes you're able to stay in lane like forever, because you can sustain all the poke! Most of the incoming poke of the actual meta (Shyvana, Mundo, ...) is magic damage, that's why you take MR! The helth reg. and Life Steal Runes grant you incredible sustain, and of course it is because of the "Second Wind" mastery. You also got your passive.
If you're still low on hp just sit at your tower and reg. HP until the enemy pushed his wave to you. Now you can make use of your Life Steal Quints.

I try to rush a Spirit of the Elder Lizard, it gives you nice extra farm ability and your e procs the dot. After getting boots i get Armor (Sunfire, Atmas). I don't need MR so early, because i got the MR runes. After this i upgrade my Boots to most of the time Mercury's Treads. As upgrade I choose Homeguard: to get faster out of base, Furor: to get Movespeed a each hit (in combination with phage pretty good) so i can chase an adc/apc better, or I get Alacrity to roam even more or just being faster around the map, also i can chase/rush people to DEATH! HEUHEUE. Sorry. At the end i sell my Spirit of the Elder Lizard to get DFG. You are may wondering why the f*ck am I buying Death Fire Grasp. I get it to rush an ad/apc even better, because if you use it right before your ult, your ult does alot more dmg (it's magic damage). It works very well for me just try it out!

You take Q at 1.,because you're able to trade at early stages. After getting 2 points in every skill you max W, because in combination with your runes masteries and items this is the best choice. You need the extra MR and Armor at the early/mid game stages of the game.

I mostly take Exhaust and Ghost. As Garen you're trying to rush the enemy carries so these are the best choices, you're able to chase him down without getting kited.

PROS

- strong early game
- able to rush the enemy carries down at mid and late game
- high burst
- strong spitpush abilty
- extremly good sustain
- A F*CKING GIANT SWORD FROM DA SKY!!


CONS

- no CC
- can just speed himself up/ no gap closer
- can be kited by stuns
- damge fells off later on

In Teamfight you're are zoning atleast the adc most of the time one enemy, probably the adc or apc, often with one or two bruiser/tank/support. Your should be able to handle the rest while you are killing the enemies carry.

Garen should be able to win every lane except vs ranged like Teemo (F*CKING TEEMO)!