THIS GUIDE IS STILL IN THE WORKS AND WILl BE UPDATED PROPERLY, BUT IT IS SLOWLY BEING WORKED ON, THIS PURPLE MESSAGE WILL BE REMOVED WHEN IT IS PROPERLY COMPLETED, OTHERWISE THERE ARE STILL GOOD PIECES OF HELP THAT CAN BE TAKEN FROM THE GUIDE, EVEN THOUGH IT ISN'T EXPLAINED PROPERLY.. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE, BUT I FIGURE SOME HELP IS BETTER THEN NONE, JUST TRYING TO HELP EVERYONE :)

Hi, my name is Steve and this is my first guide on Mobafire. However, as it is my first, I took alot of time making this as perfect as possible, detailed and explained as simply as possible to target a broad range of skilled players.

This guide is not a professional guide, but I do have many many years of moba experience.
I'd like you to try this build as it is a standard top bruiser build that I find works a majority of time. In this guide Garen is designed to be an Offtank designed to be played to follow the principal of 3 tank items and 2 offensive items to be able to be able to achieve your role to fullest and safest!

I've always paid close attention to other Garen players and alot the time he is played differently so I will be able to describe the pros and cons in a very simple manner :) However, this build is not the only way to play Garen, but I do GUARANTEE that with this guide and trying all other styles I do notice that my win chance with this build with with Garen increased immensely.

This build and play-style has never failed me with Garen and hope it works for you aswell! :)

Another note to add before I move on, this guide is still being updated. Sorry for some grammatical errors aswell, and it will be fixed. Any criticisms in pm's/comments will be welcome so it WILL either discussed and tested multiple times.
So I guess I'll be jumping into the guide now.

Pros
Rugged Garen is super rugged, chiseled, and so sooo Mmm..
Judgment Destroys melee top laners
Tanky
Fast
Courage stacks with tenacity
Decisive Strike so versatile
Nice base HP regen

Cons
Can be poked out of lane (eg. Jayce, Pantheon..)
Chain Vest works well against Garen
Exhaust
Knockbacks can stop you from getting kills.

I won't be explaining them all, but I will explain it super simple and what would be considered most relevant.


This spell isn't very useful on Garen as you will either be getting Merc Treads or Boots of Swiftness, combined with some of the points used in DEFENCE TREE stuns shouldn't be very effective.



Gets you out of danger, into position, escapes over walls, and gets you places in an instant. Yes Ghost does beat flash with getting somewhere quicker, but it isn't necessary as you move fast already with your Decisive Strike.



Does help you gank from teleporting into brush for a gank, but early game you want to get as much farm as possible.. As for pushing lanes this spell will always be good, but it should be left to the damage based jungler, the ADC or mid champ.



Considering you need a good start on farm you want to have this, to a. to survive a gank if need be, secure a kill, or to shut down there biggest damage dealing threats.

Greater Mark of Attack Damage (9)
This rune works with your Q, E and Black Cleaver stacks. Judgment deals 1.1 of your attack damage on top of it's 120 physical damage every 1/2 a second.. So if it channels for 3 seconds, lets just say it's gonna hurt.


Greater Seal of Armor (9)
Your an Offtank, this is going to work well with your 21 points into DEFENCE TREE and survive ganks as alot of junglers seem to be physical damage and protect you from ADC threats.


Greater Glyph of Magic Resist (9)
Protects you against AP threats and sync well with 21 points into DEFENCE TREE. Garen in general has slight problems with AP, but this will change that.


Greater Quint of Armor Penetration (3)
This combined with what I've mentioned above with the Attack Damage Marks it's going to shred through the enemies armor combined with your Mastery, Weapon Expertise.


Greater Quint of Movement Speed (0)
I would NOT recommend this, basic boots combined with your base MS is plenty.

9 points into OFFENSE for the Exhuast, small cool-down reduction for your ultimate, combined with a little attack damage boost to get Weapon Expertise to help focus champs with more damage.

21 Points into Defence. Why? The longer you survive with Garen compared to an AD Garen. Items like Visage and Sunfire benefit your passive and the fact that all your spells are melee range. The other benefits are to have Extra HP, alot of Armor, alot of Magic Resist, Reduced slows, and to top it off, Reduced Damage.

Black Cleaver does ALOT of damage when used on Garen.