Counters for Gnar
Champion guide
Reviewed for patch 7.3d
Champions against Gnar
Favorable matchup
Wukong vs Gnar
Reviewed for patch 7.3d
Gnar fights in two forms and the danger arrives with Mega Gnar: Wallop stuns in an area and GNAR! stuns against walls. Wukong has the tool to get out of that moment: Warrior Trickster turns him invisible, dashes him away and leaves a clone that keeps attacking.
Why Wukong works against Gnar
01
Warrior Trickster before the hit
Warrior Trickster makes you invisible, dashes you in a direction and leaves a clone that attacks, mimicking Golden Staff and Cyclone. When Gnar transforms, you leave Wallop's or GNAR!'s area and hand him the clone instead.
02
Boomerang Throw has a path
Boomerang Throw damages and slows whoever it hits and comes back to Gnar; if he catches it, it recharges sooner. Outside its path it doesn't slow you, and every throw that misses is a trade Mini Gnar can't open.
03
Cyclone punishes Mini Gnar
Nimbus Strike takes you to the target and gives you attack speed, and Cyclone spins, gives you movement speed and knocks up the enemies it hits; it can be recast shortly after. With Gnar in his small form and without Hop, it's your moment to go in.
When to attack
Go in when Gnar has just turned back into Mini Gnar or has spent Hop. When he has been trading for a while and could transform at any moment, hold Warrior Trickster and stay away from walls.
How to play Wukong
- 1In the first levels, last-hit outside Boomerang Throw's line and punish when he throws it and misses.
- 2Go in with Nimbus Strike once Gnar has used Hop: without the hop, he has fewer ways to get away.
- 3If he transforms next to you, use Warrior Trickster to leave the area and leave the clone in your place.
- 4In fights, only go in with Cyclone on Mega Gnar after he has used GNAR!.
Mistakes to avoid
- Fighting with your back to a wall when Gnar can transform: GNAR! stuns whoever hits it.
- Spending Warrior Trickster to start the trade and not having it when Mega Gnar arrives.
Playing Gnar against Wukong
If you're playing Gnar, don't transform next to Wukong while he still has Warrior Trickster: wait for him to spend it. Keep Boomerang Throw for when he comes out of invisibility and don't aim Wallop or GNAR! at the first Wukong you see, because it might be the clone.
Favorable matchup
Darius vs Gnar
Reviewed for patch 7.3d
Darius wins up close and Mini Gnar is the weak form. But Rage Gene charges when dealing and receiving damage, so every trade also brings Gnar closer to Mega Gnar. The plan: short hits with Apprehend and Crippling Strike, then back off before he transforms.
Why Darius works against Gnar
01
Apprehend against Hop
Apprehend pulls enemies in with the hook of your axe, and its passive makes your physical damage ignore part of their armor. Mini Gnar gets away with Hop: if you wait for him to spend it, the hook brings him back into your range.
02
Crippling Strike keeps him close
Crippling Strike empowers your next attack with bonus damage and a large slow. After the hook, the slow stops Mini Gnar from getting back the distance he needs to poke with Boomerang Throw.
03
The rage is his too
Rage Gene builds when dealing and receiving damage. A long trade gives you Hemorrhage stacks, but it also fills his rage, and at max his next ability turns him into Mega Gnar, tougher and with stuns. Hit, land Decimate and walk away.
When to attack
The early levels, with Gnar in his small form and Hop spent. Leave the trade before it drags on and come back once Mega Gnar has ended.
How to play Darius
- 1Approach Gnar from outside Boomerang Throw's line so you don't arrive slowed.
- 2Wait for him to use Hop to poke and answer with Apprehend and Crippling Strike.
- 3Hit with Decimate's blade: the edge deals more damage and heals you for each champion hit.
- 4If he transforms next to you, back off toward the middle of the lane, away from the walls GNAR! stuns against.
Mistakes to avoid
- Staying to stack Hemorrhage to the cap on Mini Gnar: the long fight fills his rage and you find yourself facing Mega Gnar.
- Using Noxian Guillotine to go in on Mega Gnar: you land right in the middle of Wallop and GNAR!.
Playing Gnar against Darius
As Gnar, don't give Darius trades in your small form: poke with Boomerang Throw from range and keep Hop to get away after the hook, not to go in. When you're close to max rage, take the fight then: Mega Gnar is the form where you do want melee range, and next to a wall GNAR! stuns.
Execution matters
Camille vs Gnar
Reviewed for patch 7.3d
Camille can beat Gnar with a well-timed engage: Hookshot once Mega Gnar has ended and her ultimate so he can't escape. If Gnar is near a wall and can use GNAR!, don't go in: the wall you use for your hook is the same one that turns his shove into a stun.
Why Camille works against Gnar
01
Hookshot picks the moment
Hookshot pulls you to a wall and, when you leap off it, knocks up enemy champions where you land. Against a Gnar who has just gone back to his small form, it's an engage he can't answer with Wallop or GNAR!.
02
The Hextech Ultimatum keeps him there
The Hextech Ultimatum dashes to a champion, anchors them to the area and knocks away other enemies. Against Hop's leap, it's what stops Gnar from getting away once the fight has started.
03
More attack speed since 7.3d
7.3d raises Camille's attack speed per level from 0.016 to 0.028 so her combos flow better. Precision Protocol empowers her next attack and can be recast: with more attack speed, the combo after Hookshot comes out sooner.
When to attack
The window is right after Mega Gnar turns back into Mini Gnar. While he's still in Mega form or fighting against a wall, hold Hookshot and last-hit with Precision Protocol.
How to play Camille
- 1In the first levels, last-hit with Precision Protocol and avoid long trades that charge his rage.
- 2When Gnar transforms, step away from the walls and wait for Mega Gnar to end.
- 3Go in with Hookshot on a Mini Gnar who has just reverted and follow with Tactical Sweep from the outer edge.
- 4Keep The Hextech Ultimatum for when he uses Hop to escape or when he is low.
Mistakes to avoid
- Using Hookshot on Mega Gnar near a wall: GNAR! sends you back into the wall and stuns you.
- Going in with your ultimate while Mega Gnar lasts: you give him melee range in the form that stuns.
Playing Gnar against Camille
Playing Gnar, the way to punish Camille is to transform near a wall: GNAR! stuns her against it. In your small form, keep your distance with Boomerang Throw and save Hop to leave The Hextech Ultimatum's area when it ends, not to go in.