Varus - League of Legends Champion
Win Rate
47.1%
Pick Rate
1.7%

Varusvs Riven

FMarksmanMage
Patch26.14
Matches491,560
LaneAll Lanes
TierAll Tiers
Last UpdatedJul 22, 2026
MethodologyData Methodology

Varus vs Riven is a decisive matchup in LoL patch 26.14. Riven wins with a 85.7% win rate (+71.4%) over Varus based on 7 games. Riven holds the advantage in both the early and late game. Below you'll find the best Varus build, runes, laning stats, and strategies for the Varus vs Riven matchup.

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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
Varus - 14.3% win rate in this matchup
Varus
14.3% WR
VS
Riven vs Varus matchup - 85.7% win rate
Riven
85.7% WR

Who Wins the Varus vs Riven Matchup?

Riven wins the Varus vs Riven matchup
Winner
Riven
Matches: 7
14.3%
Win Rate
85.7%
5.8
CS / min
6.7
900
DMG / min
726
11,059
Gold / game
12,530
140
Heal / min
251
630
DMG Mitigated / min
1,077
1.0
CC / min
1.0
0.0%
Early Game WR
100.0%
33.3%
Late Game WR
66.7%

Varus vs Riven Matchup Summary

The Varus vs Riven matchup is a decisive matchup in League of Legends ranked play. Based on 7 recent matches analyzed, Riven wins with a 85.7% win rate compared to Varus's 14.3%, giving Riven a 71.4 percentage point advantage. Riven dominates at every stage — from early laning through late game team fights. This consistent advantage makes it difficult for Varus players to find favorable windows, so team-dependent strategies and avoiding solo confrontations are essential. The most significant statistical gap is in sustain, where Riven leads by 558 HP/min — a difference that heavily influences the outcome of trades and skirmishes. Riven has a strong advantage in this matchup. Varus players should play defensively, prioritize safe farming under tower, and look for opportunities created by jungle pressure or Riven overextending. Avoid prolonged trades and wait for team fights where positioning and coordination matter more. Understanding these matchup dynamics is essential for champion select decisions and in-game strategy when facing this lane opponent.

Varus vs Riven Laning Phase Breakdown

Riven wins the laning phase against Varus in League of Legends

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

Farming
5.8Varus
6.7Riven
Riven significantly out-farms Varus by 0.8 CS per minute, accumulating an estimated 12 CS lead by mid game. This substantial farming gap gives Riven a major gold advantage and earlier item completions. Varus players should prioritize wave management techniques like freezing near tower and using abilities efficiently to minimize the deficit.
Damage
900Varus
726Riven
Varus heavily out-damages Riven by 174 DMG/min, dominating both short trades and all-in fights. Riven 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
11,059Varus
12,530Riven
Riven generates a commanding 1,471 more gold per game than Varus. This substantial economic advantage means Riven consistently reaches key item breakpoints earlier, creating a compounding lead that grows throughout the game. Varus should focus on cost-effective item choices and avoid unnecessary deaths to prevent falling further behind.
Utility
1.0Varus
1.0Riven
Both Varus and Riven provide similar amounts of crowd control (0.0s/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
770Varus
1,328Riven
Riven vastly out-sustains Varus, healing and mitigating 558 more damage per minute. This massive durability gap means Riven 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 Riven

Plated Steelcaps is the optimal boots choice against Riven, providing the mobility and stats Varus needs most in this matchup. The top-performing core items for Varus against Riven are Terminus, Guinsoo's Rageblade and Experimental Hexplate. This combination gives Varus an effective balance of damage, survivability, and utility for the matchup. This build performs exceptionally well, achieving a 100.0% win rate across 1 games — well above average and making it the top item path against Riven. Adjustments may be needed based on team compositions and game state, but this build provides the strongest foundation for the Varus vs Riven matchup.

Early Game vs Late Game

Early Game
Riven
100.0%
+100.0% advantage
Varus early game win rateVarus0.0%
Riven early game win rateRiven100.0%
Late Game
Riven
66.7%
+33.3% advantage
Varus late game win rateVarus33.3%
Riven late game win rateRiven66.7%

Riven dominates the early game (first 15 minutes) with a commanding 100.0% win rate — a 100.0 percentage point lead over Varus. This lopsided early game means Riven can dictate the pace of the lane from level 1, controlling trades, wave state, and river priority.

Riven is far superior in the late game (25+ minutes), boasting a 66.7% win rate — 33.3 points above Varus. Extended games heavily favor Riven, whose kit and scaling make them a dominant force in team fights and objective control.

Riven holds the advantage at every stage of the game, making this a consistently favorable matchup from lane through late game team fights. Varus players should look for outplays, team-dependent strategies, and picks rather than relying on scaling to win this matchup.

Best Varus Runes Against Riven

Precision rune tree - Varus primary runes vs RivenPrecision
Press the Attack - best Varus rune vs RivenTriumph - best Varus rune vs RivenLegend: Alacrity - best Varus rune vs RivenLast Stand - best Varus rune vs Riven
Resolve rune tree - Varus secondary runes vs RivenResolve
Bone Plating - best Varus rune vs RivenOvergrowth - best Varus rune vs Riven
0.0% WR

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


Varus matchup data for League of Legends patch 26.14. 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 26.14
Opponent
Win Rate
Matches
CS/min
DMG/min
Gold/game
Early WR
Late WR
44.83%1456.280012,57146.3%44.0%
47.89%1426.581813,20950.9%46.0%
46.94%986.382312,73542.5%50.0%
44.30%796.688412,95448.6%40.5%
53.62%696.182312,33443.8%62.2%
37.50%646.688112,29733.3%41.2%
48.33%606.386611,77346.4%50.0%
54.24%596.385013,34550.0%56.4%
56.14%576.683413,21572.7%45.7%
48.89%456.381112,49147.4%50.0%
45.00%406.381712,88461.5%37.0%
47.06%346.483314,01433.3%52.0%
42.42%336.592513,57850.0%39.1%
30.00%306.484413,30630.0%30.0%
30.00%306.586513,30935.3%23.1%
55.56%276.078013,08155.6%55.6%
56.52%235.866511,24960.0%53.9%
68.18%226.371112,25355.6%76.9%
45.45%226.372012,27044.4%46.1%
42.86%216.283113,23544.4%41.7%
38.10%216.583613,85350.0%30.8%
55.00%207.288913,78757.1%53.9%
40.00%206.293711,79141.7%37.5%
42.11%196.483613,51240.0%42.9%
47.37%196.276113,58755.6%40.0%
52.94%177.076012,35360.0%50.0%
17.65%175.981312,71240.0%8.3%
60.00%156.493816,37666.7%58.3%
57.14%146.61,02412,65042.9%71.4%
53.85%136.67958,22142.9%66.7%
58.33%126.478213,1370.0%63.6%
50.00%126.51,13510,75742.9%60.0%
54.55%116.594010,68280.0%33.3%
36.36%116.383912,979100.0%30.0%
54.55%116.19139,73957.1%50.0%
60.00%106.683310,41566.7%50.0%
33.33%96.177113,15116.7%66.7%
66.67%96.489012,0920.0%100.0%
55.56%96.987315,0130.0%62.5%
87.50%86.694311,591100.0%75.0%
62.50%86.58887,34166.7%50.0%
75.00%85.860912,74950.0%83.3%
25.00%86.575411,66620.0%33.3%
42.86%75.992415,7430.0%42.9%
42.86%76.477212,8810.0%60.0%
42.86%76.187913,7440.0%50.0%
14.29%75.890011,0590.0%33.3%
57.14%76.780013,044100.0%40.0%
16.67%66.562012,7280.0%20.0%
66.67%66.384110,28775.0%50.0%
66.67%66.61,00812,5060.0%80.0%
33.33%66.97208,26840.0%0.0%
66.67%65.31,0389,83275.0%50.0%
60.00%55.999816,530100.0%50.0%
40.00%56.784012,924100.0%25.0%
60.00%56.792214,71350.0%66.7%
60.00%57.09449,418100.0%0.0%
20.00%56.583113,2160.0%25.0%
60.00%56.382110,493100.0%50.0%
60.00%55.694513,24050.0%66.7%
20.00%56.675712,2530.0%25.0%
40.00%56.578912,18150.0%33.3%

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Varus vs Riven - Frequently Asked Questions

How does Varus do against Riven in League of Legends?

Riven wins the Varus vs Riven matchup with a 85.7% win rate compared to Varus's 14.3%, a 71.4 percentage point difference. This data is based on 7 recent ranked games in patch 26.14.

How does Varus do against Riven in the early game?

In the early game, Riven has the advantage against Varus with a 100.0% win rate versus 0.0%. Riven players should look to press their lane advantage through aggressive trades and wave control during the first 15 minutes.

How does Varus do against Riven in the late game?

In the late game, Riven takes over the Varus vs Riven matchup with a 66.7% win rate compared to 33.3%. Riven scales better into team fights and objective contests after 25 minutes.

Who wins the Varus vs Riven matchup?

Riven wins the matchup against Varus with a 85.7% win rate in League of Legends patch 26.14. The 71.4 percentage point advantage means Riven is significantly favored in this lane matchup based on 7 games analyzed.

What is the best Varus build against Riven?

The best Varus build against Riven includes Terminus, Guinsoo's Rageblade, Experimental Hexplate with Plated Steelcaps. This build achieves a 100.0% 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 Riven?

The best Varus runes against Riven use the Precision primary tree with Resolve secondary. This rune setup achieves a 0.0% win rate in the Varus vs Riven matchup. See the full rune breakdown in the matchup comparison above.

Does Varus counter Riven?

No, Varus struggles against Riven with only a 14.3% win rate. Riven has the advantage in this matchup. Varus players should focus on safe farming and avoiding extended trades to minimize Riven's lead.

How do I play Varus against Riven?

When playing Varus against Riven, play cautiously and avoid Riven's power spikes. Look for jungle assistance and team-dependent plays since Riven has the statistical advantage at most stages. Use the matchup-specific build and runes above to optimize your chances.