Garen

This match up can go either ways. A more AD focused Garen will do you in for the first couple bouts but dies down much later when you don't care. Boils down to who's team is better, not so much which of you is better in lane phase. Better off just farming it up

Sion

Sion's Q's are...a thing. A good Silence is a solid solution, but a quick cast against you is still damage done. Not only that but his e can prove quite troublesome.

Dr. Mundo

This match up can be downright annoying against the right Mundo, but never the less, This build is a waiting game.

Malphite

The pokes from this guy....not to forget he is passively more tanky than you to start off the match, so this match up is a royal pain, On the edge of unfair, but not impossible.

Poppy

Poppy...What can be said. She has a lot going for her that Garen doesn't early game. Mind the early game engagements, because her stun can completely ruin your day.

Galio

That early game poke would normally make me say, "Hot spam batman! I can't do this." Comparatively thought, Galio's poke is a calm breeze as to what it could be. That being said, Don't to cocky and get called out or else....your gonna have a bad time.

Gragas

Gragus...Please...I don't want your booze.... #StopPokingMe. Q over E. Have a balanced playstyle here.

Yasuo

The pokes from this samuri can leave you VERY sore early game, I find if your up against him, your better off starting with your Q than your E just because a good player will not push the lane to early to hard. Later on, I laugh at him. Could trade something like Spirit Visage for Omen if you find yourself against a lot of crit. This is the only match I actually start with a cloth though, just because his Q's are so low CD.

Tryndamere

This guy...This guy is someone to be afraid of. Nearly a counter. You both suffer from early game, but he will scale a lot faster and a lot harder than Garen in this case, But you can't just let him sit there and farm. Another situation that E is better than Q.

Olaf

Anyone up here with Olaf, is up here because Poke is completely destructive against a Garen. Any other note worthy things I will mention. That being said...don't get hit. If its about lvl 6 and he misses an axe, ruin his life.

Aatrox

Poke. Lifesteal...and poke. This guy's a pain, more than he should be...beautifully however, getting spin early can really screw this guy up. Be aggressive.

Nasus

Dawg...Please stop...Your E's are annoying. After you get started, Roll right over this guy. No joke. Just be careful he's not building AP to counter you or else you may have to wait giving him that extra added time.

Darius

Now now....This match up just is not fair. Darius can walk over Garen like it was his job. IF YOU find yourself against a Darius, just cry. Stay away from this MF as long as you can. If you trade, don't let him get more than 2 hits if any on you. This is not a good match up.

Nunu & Willump

Free poke and CC. One ult to wipe away anything around him that he already slowed. A quick Q can solve this monkeys problem, but he's not someone to triffle with long

Shen

A good Shen can destroy you. However, they are far and few between. Just mind if he builds damage before tank, It could decide the match.

Heimerdinger

Those turrets bois. Getting to heim can prove to be an uphill battle. THat being said, Heims don't build defense, so once you get there, unleash everything. Waiting game, Q over E for farming purposes

Brand

Honestly....who made this champ? Rip Garen. CC'd for the whole match.

Caitlyn

Poke, cc, free crits. Keep clear unless your clear of them all. If you are, ruin her day. Q over E, but really only so you can farm safely.

Camille

Meh...It's not as bad as it could be. Just don't get called out by that ulty. Same goes for her, so.

Draven

CC, has the most DPS of any ADC, and Free movement speed for when his slows you and catches an axe. Greaaat.

Fiora

Now this is a match up to remember. A good fiora can mop up the floor with you. A bad one is...just bad. flat out. That being said however, never underestimate your opponent, especially if it's a fiora. E over Q for this one, simply because Fiora can't do sustained damage early.

Gangplank

Everything about this guy's kit screams "I will destroy top lane." But the beautiful thing is his early game. Even a tank focus Garen can outshine an early game gangplank. Get the lead, and hold it, You'll lose grip on it a little bit with time, but it'll be secured once this leaves lane phase.

Jarvan IV

Go home Jarvan, Your drunk. One of the easiest lanes I've come across. Literally just out trade him by getting cloth first and laugh as his mana gets wasted. Be aggressive, but mind the minions

Xin Zhao

A match up to remember. His passive can make you cry and his E can make you die, but everything else makes you ask why.....He even bothered. A challenge. Sweet and simple. E over Q.

Malzahar

CC.

Illaoi

Poke, free poke, and heeeyy, ima 1v5 your whole team. This is a rough match.

Gnar

Something about yordles Garen doesn't like....

Kled

Meh. He's not bad....but hes not great either. He can stay in lane just about as long as Garen can, so it gets...interestingly boring.

Jayce

-.-

Pantheon

CC, Crit, Autoblock, and a baker. Everything a top lanner should worry about. His only weakness is his ulty. Try to avoid to much conflict, but don't shy away from trading when his E is down.

Jax

Jax was higher on this list, but honestly once you get your spin theres not much jax can do agianst you. Even with a Dorans Sheild.

Shyvana

Kayle

Poke from this champion can leave you sore, that being said, look for the windows of opportunity. If they stop chasing with there E, let them farm then let them hold one or two. Rinse and Repeat

Corki

This one was hard to decide. He has a lot of poke, but his early game is weak. However, it's the only thing weak for a top laner.

Urgot

Walking Targeted poke you say? Great!

Riven

Agianst a good riven...It can be a bit sweat inducing early game. once your get started though, hit her, she'll run, but don't chase. Never chase.

Cho'Gath

This dinosaur's silence is just about if not as good as Garen's. Free knock ups and Extra health from eating minions with ulty alone. yea no, can be a problem. Most of the time tho? nah.

Wukong

Is...Is he hitting me?

Ekko

Some ekkos are afraid of Garen believe it or not, but his Q is his strongest asset against a Garen making him a formidable foe. If he's to passive tho...well you get the idea.

Teemo

Do I need to even bother with this one? The only way you'll come out on top in this match is if Teemo takes Q over E for some reason. If that's the case, be Aggressive. If hes like 95% of the rest of anyone who has ever played Teemo, wait it up bois. lvl 6 is prime time for a comeback if need be.

Ahri

Free poke and dashes. Not sure why shes top lane, but if the stars and the planets align just right, and she is, stop her early.

Kayn

This guy's early game is so pathetic it's not funny. His Q and E have laughable damage. Try to be more aggressive against him, just not full Ham sandwich. Mind jungle ganks because it can take a good amount of time to weather him down.

Nautilus

The easiest match I've ever had. Cloth or Dorans shield...Longsword. what ever makes you happy. E over Q.

Quinn

Avoid Fighting this lady as best you can. She can be found top lane a lot, but she's pretty low priority on things to do list until later, AkA lvl 5 or 6. 3 if your doing good. Past that though, she can prove quite the opponent for slow ol' Garen.

Renekton

Renekton...Cloth. all that can be said honestly. E over Q because he shouldn't have to much of DPS early game.

Yorick

Now this is a fun match up. Yorick is a great top laner. One of the best in my opinion. What most people don't know however, is his barrier is the biggest issue for garen. Trapping Garen in a barrier with minions attacking him can be very bad for garen. That analysis aside, fun match up other wise. Get that sweet spin for this guys minions when he does decide to play god and raise the dead.

Amumu

PLEASE NOTE! Any Champion's on this list is dedicated to early to mid game ratings. Late game you shouldn't have to much of a problem with anyone unless they are in the Red.

Singed

Most match ups, singed isn't an issue. However, he can prove a formidable opponent if someone know what he's doing. Poke him early but don't get bated into the poison.

Ornn

This can be a tough match up through and through. He can easily out tank and out damage you early. Don't feed or get tilted, Just try to focus on the late game. When he gets there, he's more terrifying than you in terms of how much he can soak, so come late game, stick with your adc's more, you don't want them to be called out by this guy. If your team is all AD or all AP, prepare to have a bad time.