Varus - League of Legends Champion
Win Rate
47.6%
Pick Rate
3.7%

Varusvs Gnar

FMarksmanMage
Patch26.3
Matches785,220
LaneAll Lanes
TierAll Tiers
Last UpdatedFeb 25, 2026
MethodologyData Methodology

Varus vs Gnar is a decisive matchup in LoL patch 26.3. Gnar wins with a 52.8% win rate (+5.6%) over Varus based on 36 games. Gnar wins the early laning phase while Varus scales better into the late game. Below you'll find the best Varus build, runes, laning stats, and strategies for the Varus vs Gnar matchup.

Varus Matchup Breakdown

Use the dropdown to select an opponent and see a detailed breakdown of how Varus performs against them. You'll get head-to-head win rates, laning stats, the best build and runes for the matchup, and early vs late game analysis — all based on real ranked data.

Compare against an opponent
Gnar - 47.2% win rateGnar(47.2%)
Varus - 47.2% win rate in this matchup
Varus
47.2% WR
VS
Gnar vs Varus matchup - 52.8% win rate
Gnar
52.8% WR

Who Wins the Varus vs Gnar Matchup?

Gnar wins the Varus vs Gnar matchup
Winner
Gnar
Matches: 36
47.2%
Win Rate
52.8%
6.5
CS / min
6.0
933
DMG / min
781
12,812
Gold / game
12,153
177
Heal / min
204
610
DMG Mitigated / min
1,115
0.9
CC / min
1.1
41.7%
Early Game WR
58.3%
50.0%
Late Game WR
50.0%

Varus vs Gnar Matchup Summary

The Varus vs Gnar matchup is a moderate matchup in League of Legends ranked play. Based on 36 recent matches analyzed, Gnar wins with a 52.8% win rate compared to Varus's 47.2%, giving Gnar a 5.6 percentage point advantage. Game phase dynamics play a critical role here: Gnar controls the early laning stage, but Varus outscales as the game goes longer. The matchup shifts dramatically depending on game length — Gnar needs to press advantages before Varus reaches their power spikes, while Varus should focus on safe farming and hitting key item breakpoints. The most significant statistical gap is in sustain, where Gnar leads by 532 HP/min — a difference that heavily influences the outcome of trades and skirmishes. While Gnar is slightly favored, Varus can absolutely win this lane through smart trading patterns and wave management. Focus on playing around your cooldowns, conceding CS only when necessary, and capitalizing on Gnar's mistakes. Understanding these matchup dynamics is essential for champion select decisions and in-game strategy when facing this lane opponent.

Varus vs Gnar Laning Phase Breakdown

Varus wins the laning phase against Gnar in League of Legends

Varus is favored during the laning phase against Gnar, winning 3 out of 5 key stat categories. Varus holds advantages in farming, damage and gold income, making them the stronger laner in this matchup.

Farming
6.5Varus
6.0Gnar
Varus edges out Gnar by 0.5 CS per minute — a moderate farming advantage that adds up to roughly 7 CS over a 15-minute laning phase. This translates to earlier component purchases and slightly faster power spikes for Varus.
Damage
933Varus
781Gnar
Varus heavily out-damages Gnar by 151 DMG/min, dominating both short trades and all-in fights. Gnar should avoid extended combat and instead focus on burst trade patterns — short engages followed by immediate disengagement — to avoid letting Varus's sustained damage advantage take over.
Economy
12,812Varus
12,153Gnar
Varus earns 659 more gold per game than Gnar, equivalent to roughly one additional component item. This economic edge comes from a combination of better farming, kill participation, and objective control, giving Varus slightly faster item completions.
Utility
0.9Varus
1.1Gnar
Both Varus and Gnar provide similar amounts of crowd control (0.2s/min difference), meaning neither has a significant advantage in locking down opponents for ganks or team fights. Lane ganks are equally effective for both sides.
Sustain
787Varus
1,319Gnar
Gnar vastly out-sustains Varus, healing and mitigating 532 more damage per minute. This massive durability gap means Gnar can absorb significant punishment and remain in lane while Varus is forced to recall. Building grievous wounds early is essential for Varus, and focusing on burst trade patterns rather than sustained fights is critical.

Best Varus Build Against Gnar

Sorcerer's Shoes is the optimal boots choice against Gnar, providing the mobility and stats Varus needs most in this matchup. The top-performing core items for Varus against Gnar are Riftmaker, Nashor's Tooth and Dusk and Dawn. This combination gives Varus an effective balance of damage, survivability, and utility for the matchup. This build performs exceptionally well, achieving a 71.4% win rate across 7 games — well above average and making it the top item path against Gnar. Adjustments may be needed based on team compositions and game state, but this build provides the strongest foundation for the Varus vs Gnar matchup.

Early Game vs Late Game

Early Game
Gnar
58.3%
+16.7% advantage
Varus early game win rateVarus41.7%
Gnar early game win rateGnar58.3%
Late Game
Varus
50.0%
+0.0% advantage
Varus late game win rateVarus50.0%
Gnar late game win rateGnar50.0%

Gnar dominates the early game (first 15 minutes) with a commanding 58.3% win rate — a 16.7 percentage point lead over Varus. This lopsided early game means Gnar can dictate the pace of the lane from level 1, controlling trades, wave state, and river priority.

Late game (25+ minutes) is equally balanced, with Varus at 50.0% win rate — only 0.0 points ahead of Gnar. Team fight execution and macro play determine the winner at this stage, not champion matchup advantage.

The power dynamics shift as the game progresses — Gnar has the edge early, but Varus gradually takes over. However, the margins are slim enough that either champion can win at any stage with the right plays. Focus on taking advantages when you have them rather than waiting for a specific game phase.

Best Varus Runes Against Gnar

Precision rune tree - Varus primary runes vs GnarPrecision
Press the Attack - best Varus rune vs GnarTriumph - best Varus rune vs GnarLegend: Alacrity - best Varus rune vs GnarCoup de Grace - best Varus rune vs Gnar
Domination rune tree - Varus secondary runes vs GnarDomination
Taste of Blood - best Varus rune vs GnarTreasure Hunter - best Varus rune vs Gnar
40.0% WR

The Precision and Domination rune setup gives Varus the best tools to compete against Gnar in this difficult matchup, compensating for the statistical disadvantages with optimal rune synergies.


Varus matchup data for League of Legends patch 26.3. The table below shows Varus's win rate, gold difference, and performance stats against every champion in the current meta. Click any champion name to see a detailed head-to-head breakdown including the best Varus build, runes, laning stats, and early vs late game analysis for that specific matchup.

Varus matchup win rates and stats in League of Legends patch 26.3
Opponent
Win Rate
Matches
CS/min
DMG/min
Gold/game
Early WR
Late WR
47.94%4366.386013,37949.8%46.4%
46.79%2816.487513,98751.6%43.0%
48.39%2796.188814,25850.9%46.8%
46.05%2156.387213,25841.7%49.6%
51.79%1956.494514,61059.5%46.5%
49.37%1586.487913,31947.1%51.1%
54.30%1516.080013,58860.3%50.0%
47.65%1496.794913,63845.3%50.0%
44.44%1446.084413,07345.5%43.6%
45.99%1376.284912,60351.4%39.7%
48.85%1316.790013,55758.0%38.7%
45.63%1036.488313,40649.0%42.6%
51.49%1016.891113,68263.6%42.1%
47.83%926.487013,12456.5%39.1%
41.76%916.390713,27943.5%40.0%
48.84%866.598012,73154.5%45.3%
52.50%806.01,00013,95451.6%53.1%
50.65%776.282212,89651.6%50.0%
49.33%756.189813,49255.3%43.2%
53.52%716.51,21111,30851.3%56.3%
40.85%715.879012,08754.8%30.0%
48.57%706.486413,78354.0%42.4%
39.68%635.91,00213,23550.0%33.3%
42.62%616.387312,57040.9%43.6%
51.79%566.289512,32247.8%54.5%
42.86%565.999412,20845.8%40.6%
38.89%546.11,02013,68032.0%44.8%
45.28%535.993511,55145.8%44.8%
40.38%526.087313,53842.9%38.7%
52.00%506.21,10712,67348.0%56.0%
48.00%506.389311,61251.6%42.1%
36.73%496.287511,83330.4%42.3%
44.90%496.697414,97445.5%44.7%
41.30%466.51,11613,32940.9%41.7%
44.44%456.01,14013,08026.7%53.3%
53.49%436.31,05612,63268.4%41.7%
58.14%436.587514,34153.3%60.7%
42.86%426.689313,80434.8%52.6%
38.10%426.596112,02550.0%22.2%
51.22%416.21,08912,94956.3%48.0%
46.34%416.386511,77542.1%50.0%
42.50%406.283313,76752.6%33.3%
34.21%386.588312,27931.8%37.5%
51.35%376.21,06113,06046.1%54.2%
43.24%376.296113,85418.2%53.9%
45.95%376.11,05712,10371.4%30.4%
47.22%366.076112,82638.5%52.2%
47.22%366.593312,81241.7%50.0%
50.00%346.388813,58155.6%48.0%
47.06%346.399312,91950.0%45.8%
42.42%336.386414,15372.7%27.3%
45.16%316.686514,12663.6%35.0%
54.84%315.889513,65863.6%50.0%
41.94%316.090713,06336.4%45.0%
46.67%306.278911,77446.1%47.1%
44.83%296.51,04914,48230.0%52.6%
75.00%286.692711,03073.7%77.8%
42.86%286.088312,26660.0%23.1%
40.74%276.190411,32764.3%15.4%
37.04%276.189913,81340.0%35.3%
48.15%275.61,19513,00460.0%41.2%
42.31%265.97999,83821.4%66.7%
50.00%266.193511,84254.5%46.7%
48.00%256.484511,20546.7%50.0%
62.50%246.385212,73858.3%66.7%
65.22%236.077811,36466.7%63.6%
59.09%226.397914,83063.6%54.5%
40.00%205.975511,52240.0%40.0%
60.00%207.092112,28650.0%75.0%
20.00%206.491812,60116.7%21.4%
55.00%206.488012,74566.7%45.5%
52.63%196.088611,30954.5%50.0%
47.37%196.888612,21233.3%60.0%
50.00%186.679611,60733.3%66.7%
50.00%186.31,01812,28550.0%50.0%
38.89%186.192213,09050.0%33.3%
52.94%176.095312,16355.6%50.0%
23.53%175.989012,62933.3%18.2%
47.06%176.287912,56771.4%30.0%
37.50%166.088512,85540.0%36.4%
18.75%166.496013,07016.7%20.0%
37.50%166.086612,59137.5%37.5%
33.33%155.485012,31128.6%37.5%
53.33%155.986111,07355.6%50.0%
46.67%156.994812,93846.1%50.0%
80.00%156.51,19612,92775.0%85.7%
26.67%156.383411,62237.5%14.3%
35.71%145.81,01713,64966.7%27.3%
46.15%136.189112,08150.0%42.9%
53.85%136.579311,51566.7%42.9%
38.46%135.777311,25357.1%16.7%
66.67%125.298611,89680.0%57.1%
58.33%126.71,21113,940100.0%16.7%
83.33%125.588311,507100.0%66.7%
27.27%115.980213,5920.0%33.3%
36.36%116.51,03813,03360.0%16.7%
50.00%105.993812,33833.3%75.0%
50.00%106.586411,28766.7%25.0%
40.00%105.181813,16225.0%50.0%
55.56%96.385612,24366.7%50.0%
77.78%96.299616,187100.0%66.7%
33.33%96.283916,0530.0%33.3%
44.44%95.391112,46525.0%60.0%
66.67%96.693613,76660.0%75.0%
62.50%85.799813,63566.7%60.0%
50.00%85.188813,356100.0%42.9%
37.50%86.493615,15850.0%33.3%
75.00%86.991913,07675.0%75.0%
57.14%76.983710,87250.0%66.7%
50.00%65.17539,83150.0%50.0%
66.67%66.699613,74766.7%66.7%
33.33%66.583213,72650.0%25.0%
50.00%64.496114,56650.0%50.0%
50.00%65.31,02611,25950.0%50.0%
20.00%56.283410,34650.0%0.0%
80.00%56.183510,808100.0%66.7%
60.00%56.085214,70450.0%66.7%
80.00%56.476410,26466.7%100.0%
100.00%52.684911,426100.0%100.0%
40.00%55.775210,44525.0%100.0%
40.00%55.31,10511,61925.0%100.0%
0.00%54.98388,7880.0%0.0%
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Varus vs Gnar - Frequently Asked Questions

How does Varus do against Gnar in League of Legends?

Gnar wins the Varus vs Gnar matchup with a 52.8% win rate compared to Varus's 47.2%, a 5.6 percentage point difference. This data is based on 36 recent ranked games in patch 26.3.

How does Varus do against Gnar in the early game?

In the early game, Gnar has the advantage against Varus with a 58.3% win rate versus 41.7%. Gnar players should look to press their lane advantage through aggressive trades and wave control during the first 15 minutes.

How does Varus do against Gnar in the late game?

In the late game, Varus takes over the Varus vs Gnar matchup with a 50.0% win rate compared to 50.0%. Varus scales better into team fights and objective contests after 25 minutes.

Who wins the Varus vs Gnar matchup?

Gnar wins the matchup against Varus with a 52.8% win rate in League of Legends patch 26.3. The 5.6 percentage point advantage means Gnar is significantly favored in this lane matchup based on 36 games analyzed.

What is the best Varus build against Gnar?

The best Varus build against Gnar includes Riftmaker, Nashor's Tooth, Dusk and Dawn with Sorcerer's Shoes. This build achieves a 71.4% win rate in the matchup. Check the matchup breakdown above for the full item path and build order.

What are the best Varus runes against Gnar?

The best Varus runes against Gnar use the Precision primary tree with Domination secondary. This rune setup achieves a 40.0% win rate in the Varus vs Gnar matchup. See the full rune breakdown in the matchup comparison above.

Does Varus counter Gnar?

No, Varus struggles against Gnar with only a 47.2% win rate. Gnar has the advantage in this matchup. Varus players should focus on safe farming and avoiding extended trades to minimize Gnar's lead.

How do I play Varus against Gnar?

When playing Varus against Gnar, play cautiously and avoid Gnar's power spikes. Focus on safe farming — you outscale Gnar in the late game. Use the matchup-specific build and runes above to optimize your chances.