Counters for Gwen
Champion guide
Patch 7.3a
Champions against Gwen
Favorable matchup
Fiora vs Gwen
Fiora has the tools to contest Gwen's duel: lateral mobility, Vitals and Riposte for a big chunk of damage. The mist doesn't make Gwen invulnerable to an opponent who steps inside it, but it does give her resistances.
Why Fiora works against Gwen
01
Shift the angle away from the scissors' center
The center of Gwen's first ability is the especially dangerous part. Fiora's first ability lets you threaten a Vital from the side and reposition so you don't take that whole line. Going in head-on against ready scissors wastes your mobility.
02
Riposte blunts Gwen's response
Riposte can answer scissors or a volley of needles if it lines up with the impact. Since those abilities aren't immobilizing effects, blocking them doesn't by itself turn the thrust into a stun. Against Gwen you should also weigh Riposte's attack speed slow.
When to attack
Look for a Vital when Gwen has used her first ability or doesn't have her scissors charged. If she has already used her mist, the next trade is easier to set up; don't stand still in the center to finish the duel.
How to play Fiora
- 1Watch the indicators of her first ability and attack from the side when she can respond with less damage.
- 2Use a reachable Vital to strike and move; don't walk through her whole wave to reach the one behind her.
- 3If you enter the mist, you can still interact with Gwen, but she keeps her resistances: check health and abilities before extending the fight.
- 4Save Riposte for an important hit and use your ultimate when you can circle her without taking the full needle sequence.
Mistakes to avoid
- Standing still in front of the center of charged scissors to try to hit a Vital.
- Dragging the duel out inside the mist expecting a Riposte stun you didn't set up; Gwen keeps her resistances and can deal the damage back.
Playing Gwen against Fiora
As Gwen, protect the Vital side with your positioning and keep mobility to adjust the center of your scissors. Don't feed a big burst of damage into Riposte: fake the trade and punish once she uses it. Inside the mist a nearby Fiora can still hit you, so don't rely on it as immunity to the duel.
Favorable matchup
Jax vs Gwen
Jax can deny a big part of Gwen's trade with Counter Strike and end it with a stun. He has to avoid the center of her scissors and the needles: dodging basic attacks doesn't remove her true damage or all of her healing.
Why Jax works against Gwen
01
Counter Strike lowers the value of her attack window
Gwen empowers her attacks after her third ability and uses them to charge her scissors. Counter Strike denies basic attacks during its defensive window and threatens a stun. It doesn't make scissors that were already charged disappear or automatically block all of her abilities.
02
Crowd control sets up damage and a retreat
The stun lets you land your attacks and end a trade without Gwen chasing you freely. Keep a leap target to get out if she uses her ultimate. Fighting next to her inside the mist is possible, but it doesn't cancel the resistances she gains there.
When to attack
Trade when Counter Strike is ready and Gwen has few scissor charges or has just spent them. If she starts her ultimate sequence, prioritize dodging and getting out before contesting the duel again.
How to play Jax
- 1Build your passive on minions if you can do it without stepping into the center of her scissors.
- 2Use Counter Strike during Gwen's basic-attack window and stay close enough to land the stun.
- 3Take a short trade after the stun and keep your leap to jump back to an available unit.
- 4Once she has spent her mist and scissors you can look for another window. Don't turn her active ultimate into a test of who lasts longer.
Mistakes to avoid
- Activating Counter Strike and standing still while taking charged scissors and every needle.
- Using leap and stun to go in when there's no longer a way out of the extended duel.
Playing Gwen against Jax
As Gwen, avoid wasting empowered attacks into Counter Strike and use your abilities from an angle that doesn't force you to chase his leap. If he comes in with all his defenses up, disengage until it wears off. Once Jax no longer has Counter Strike, your attack window is more useful, as long as you're not exposed to reinforcements.
Execution matters
Shen vs Gwen
Shen can limit Gwen's empowered basic attacks and contest short trades with his shield and blade. He's an answer built on containment and team utility, not a tank who should soak all of her scissors and needles head-on.
Why Shen works against Gwen
01
Spirit's Refuge answers attacks, not all damage
His second ability protects a zone from basic attacks, reducing the value of Gwen's attack window. Her scissors and needles are still threats. Blocking basic attacks also doesn't remove scissor charges she earned before the trade.
02
The blade sets up a brief trade
Pulling the blade through Gwen empowers Shen's attacks and helps contest short contact. His passive provides a shield against part of her response. Your goal is to hit and separate; stacking lots of health doesn't neutralize Gwen's health-based damage and her true-damage center.
When to attack
Look for a trade with your blade and Spirit's Refuge available when Gwen has used her first ability or has few charges. If she still has her ultimate for a long fight, keep your third ability as an exit.
How to play Shen
- 1Position your blade to pass through Gwen in a safe trade and don't walk into a big wave just to get the empowerment.
- 2Use Spirit's Refuge when she wants to answer with empowered basic attacks, while moving out of the center of her scissors.
- 3Keep your third ability to cut the fight short if there's no allied engage that justifies committing.
- 4Before using your ultimate in another lane, manage the wave: helping your team has a cost if Gwen is left free to take down your tower.
Mistakes to avoid
- Treating Spirit's Refuge as immunity to the scissors, the needles or her full ultimate.
- Leaving a huge wave to use your ultimate and gifting Gwen tower and farm without weighing what your team gains.
Playing Gwen against Shen
As Gwen, don't waste your attack window inside Spirit's Refuge. You can threaten with scissors from a favorable angle, but track where the blade is to avoid an empowered Shen trade. If he uses his ultimate away from lane, take advantage of the wave and call out that he left; don't follow him late along a route without vision.