50.6%
Win Rate
Top Lane · Poke Duelist
Gnar Counters
Gnar wins lanes with ranged poke in Mini form before transforming into a bruiser with a game-changing knockback ultimate — hard all-in champions who close the gap before he can kite counter him hardest.
6.0%
Pick Rate
3.8%
Ban Rate
Hard
Difficulty
Gnar Overview
Gnar is played across 1 roles, most commonly top lane. Use the role links above to jump to role-specific counters — the data on this page reflects top lane, his primary role.
How to Counter Gnar
Force fights in Mini form before he builds enough rage to transform, and respect terrain near his ultimate once he's in Mega form.
Best Picks Against Gnar
Ranked by win-rate difference in top lane, Patch 14.14.
| Champion | Win Rate Diff | Games | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darius | +2.9% | 640 | Stacked bleed damage punishes his low base health before Mega form. |
| Volibear | +2% | 520 | Closes the gap fast and out-sustains his poke. |
Computed by our stats engine from synthetic seed data, not live Riot match results — same aggregation pipeline that will process real match data once available.
See the full Top Lane counters breakdown, including worst matchups and lane-phase gold data →
Gnar Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- Strong, safe poke from range in Mini form
- GNAR! offers one of the best teamfight-swinging ultimates in the game
- Flexible form-switching adapts to both poke and brawl situations
Weaknesses
- Very weak to a direct all-in before transforming
- Mega form has a hard time limit before reverting
- Low base stats in Mini form if engaged early
Abilities Overview
P
Rage Gene
Builds rage from using abilities or taking damage, transforming him into Mega Gnar once full — the core of his form-switching identity.
Q
Boomerang Throw / Boulder Toss
A ranged poke in Mini form, or a heavy single-target throw in Mega form.
W
Hyper / Wallop
Empowers his next attacks in Mini form, or slams the ground for AoE damage in Mega form.
E
Hop / Crunch
A mobility hop in Mini form, or a knock-up slam in Mega form.
R
GNAR!
Available only in Mega form — knocks enemies back into terrain for bonus stun damage, a powerful teamfight-swinging ultimate.
Build, Runes & Setup
Best Items
Trinity Force
Amplifies both his Mini-form poke and Mega-form burst
Black Cleaver
Armor shred sustains his damage into tanks
Guardian Angel
A second chance after transforming and engaging
Counter Items (for the enemy)
Executioner's Calling
Cuts any sustain he picks up mid-fight
Mercury's Treads
Tenacity reduces his knock-up and slow control
Runes & Skill Order
Primary: Precision (Conqueror or Lethal Tempo) → Triumph → Legend: Alacrity → Last Stand. Secondary: Second Wind, Unflinching. Max order: Q → W → E, taking R whenever available.
Playbook
Punish him hard in Mini form before he builds enough rage to transform into Mega Gnar.
Avoid standing near walls once he's in Mega form — GNAR! deals bonus damage on a terrain slam.
Close the distance directly; his poke-heavy Mini form has very little to answer a committed all-in.
Common Mistakes
Trading poke for poke instead of forcing a direct engage before he transforms.
Standing near terrain edges once his rage bar is close to full.
Chasing him after a Mini-form Hop instead of waiting out his repositioning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who counters Gnar?
Aggressive early all-in champions like Darius and Volibear who close the gap before he can kite in Mini form.
Why is Gnar's ultimate so impactful?
GNAR! knocks enemies back into terrain for bonus stun damage, which can single-handedly end a teamfight if it catches multiple targets against a wall.