Gwen Counters
The best Gwen counters in League of Legends patch 26.1 are Teemo, Viego, Garen, Tryndamere, Kayle. The best Gwen counter is Teemo, with Gwen having only a 42.05% win rate in this matchup. Secondary patch 26.1 Gwen counter choices are Riven, Khazix, Malphite, Nasus, Darius. Below are the top Gwen counters and matchups alongside their win rates.
A Thousand Cuts
Gwen's attacks deal bonus magic damage based on the targets health. She heals for a portion of the damage dealt to champions by this effect.
Snip Snip!
Gwen snips her scissors in a cone up to 6 times dealing magic damage. Gwen deals true damage to units in the center and applies her passive to them on each snip.
Cost:- 40
Cooldown:- 7/
- 6/
- 5/
- 4/
- 4
Range:- 450
Hallowed Mist
Gwen summons mist that protects her from enemies outside of it. She can only be targeted by enemies who enter the mist.
Cost:- 60
Cooldown:- 22/
- 21/
- 20/
- 19/
- 18
Range:- 0
Skip 'n Slash
Gwen dashes a short distance then gains Attack Speed, attack range, and magic damage
On-Hit for a few seconds. If she hits an enemy during that time, this Ability's cooldown is partially refunded.Cost:- 35
Cooldown:- 13/
- 13/
- 12/
- 12/
- 11
Range:- 400
Needlework
Gwen hurls a needle that slows enemies hit, deals magic damage, and applies A Thousand Cuts to champions hit.
This ability can be cast up to two more times, with each cast throwing additional needles and dealing more damage.Cost:- 100
Cooldown:- 120/
- 100/
- 80
Range:- 1200
- Fighter
These champions are Gwen's hardest counters in League of Legends patch 26.1. Teemo is Gwen's biggest counter with only a 42.05% win rate for Gwen. When facing these Gwen counter picks, focus on safe farming and waiting for jungle assistance. Avoid extended trades and play around your power spikes to survive difficult Gwen matchups.
Teemo
Viego
Garen
Tryndamere
Kayle
Riven
Kha'Zix
Malphite
Nasus
Darius
When facing Gwen in League of Legends, understanding Gwen's primary damage profile is essential for building effective counter strategies. Gwen deals primarily magic damage, which means prioritizing magic resist in your defensive itemization will significantly reduce Gwen's threat in fights. Top defensive items against Gwen include Mercury's Treads, Spirit Visage, Force of Nature, and Banshee's Veil. These items provide substantial magic resist stats that directly mitigate Gwen's damage output throughout all stages of the game.
From a champion selection perspective, the strongest Gwen counters are Teemo, Viego, Garen, and Tryndamere. These champions either out-trade Gwen in lane, have abilities that negate Gwen's core mechanics, or scale better into team fights. Teemo in particular exploits Gwen's weaknesses by providing consistent pressure while being difficult to punish.
Beyond item builds and counter picks, successful counter play against Gwen involves understanding Gwen's power spikes and cooldown windows. Engage on Gwen when key abilities are on cooldown, and coordinate with your team to focus Gwen in team fights before Gwen can output maximum damage. Vision control is also crucial when playing against Gwen to avoid getting caught out of position. By combining proper defensive itemization with smart champion selection and strategic gameplay, you can effectively neutralize Gwen's impact and secure victory.
Understanding Gwen's power curve is essential for effective counter play. Here's when Gwen is most vulnerable throughout the game.
EARLYEarly Game (Levels 1-6)
Gwen may look for extended trades. Avoid long fights and kite with slows. Short trades favor you against sustained damage.
MIDMid Game (Levels 7-13)
Gwen becomes increasingly tanky mid game. Focus on kiting and percent health damage. Avoid fighting in choke points.
LATELate Game (Levels 14-18)
Gwen is very durable late game. Use armor penetration or anti-tank items. Focus squishier targets first if Gwen is too tanky.
Use these actionable tips to gain an advantage when facing Gwen in lane or team fights.
- Pick Teemo or similar champions with kits that exploit Gwen's weaknesses
- Build Mercury's Treads or Hexdrinker early to reduce Gwen's damage in lane
- Track Gwen's cooldowns and engage when key abilities are unavailable
- Ward Gwen's common roam paths and ping missing immediately
- Coordinate with your jungler to gank Gwen during vulnerable windows
- Avoid extended trades where Gwen can stack sustained damage
- Kite Gwen with slows and crowd control
Gwen performs exceptionally well against these champions in patch 26.1. Hecarim is Gwen's best matchup with a 60.56% win rate. When playing Gwen into these favorable matchups, look for early aggression and lane dominance. Gwen can capitalize on these champions' weaknesses to snowball leads and carry games.
Hecarim
Lee Sin
Renekton
Gangplank
Cho'Gath
Ornn
Diana
Zaahen
Dr. Mundo
Jarvan IV
Gwen Counters - Frequently Asked Questions
Who counters Gwen?
The best Gwen counters are Teemo, Viego, and Garen. These champions have favorable matchups against Gwen and can exploit Gwen's weaknesses effectively in League of Legends patch 26.1.
What is Gwen's hardest counter?
Teemo is Gwen's hardest counter with Gwen having only a 42.05% win rate in this matchup. Viego (43.24% WR) and Garen (43.35% WR) are also strong Gwen counters.
Who does Gwen counter?
Gwen performs well against Hecarim, Lee Sin, and Renekton. These are Gwen's best matchups where Gwen has favorable win rates and can dominate lane in patch 26.1.
How do I beat Gwen in lane?
To beat Gwen in lane, pick a counter champion like Teemo or Viego. Focus on trading when Gwen's key abilities are on cooldown, and build magic resist items to reduce Gwen's damage output. Ward defensively and call for jungle assistance if Gwen gains an advantage.
What items counter Gwen?
The best items to counter Gwen are Mercury's Treads, Spirit Visage, Force of Nature, and Banshee's Veil. These items provide magic resist which directly reduces Gwen's damage. Consider building these items early if you're struggling against Gwen in lane.
When is Gwen weakest?
Gwen is typically weakest during specific power troughs between item spikes. Exploit windows when Gwen's ultimate or key abilities are on cooldown. Coordinate with your team to engage on Gwen before Gwen can set up fights on Gwen's own terms.
How do I play Gwen into counter matchups?
When playing Gwen into counters like Teemo, focus on safe farming, waiting for jungle assistance, and playing around power spikes. Avoid extended trades in unfavorable matchups and look for opportunities to scale into mid and late game.
What champions are similar to Gwen's counters?
If Teemo, Viego, or Garen are banned or picked, look for champions with similar kits that can exploit Gwen's weaknesses. Champions with crowd control, burst damage, or sustained damage (depending on Gwen's vulnerabilities) can serve as alternative counters.