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Mid · Ranked FlexMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Gwen vs Vex

Build, runes, abilities and practical pre-game checks in one queue-aware reference.

GwenVSVex

Matchup guide

Choose the matchup

Search every champion, choose the assigned role, then open the exact queue page.

VS
Role
Selected laneMid

Choose two champions from the list.

Role fit

MidGwen

Gwen has a reviewed secondary role here. It is less common than the primary roles, but it has a recognisable role-specific plan.

Reviewed secondary
Review patch unknownRecommendation review pending

These patches track recommendation review, build validation and item lookup separately. Updating item data does not complete a build review.

Recommendation patch
— Data Dragon
Build validation patch
16.19.1 Data Dragon
Item lookup patch
16.20.1 Data Dragon

Ranked Flex · Mid

AP solo fighter

Follow the completed-item order as a pre-game reference. Components and owned items do not create extra inventory slots.

Reviewed secondary
S
Draft / Ranked opening · separate from item 1

Doran's Ring

400 gold

Provides a safer ability-power lane start.

1
First item

Nashor's Tooth

2,900 gold

Builds the first sustained magic-damage power spike.

2
Boots

Ionian Boots of Lucidity

900 gold

Adds movement or resistance appropriate to a solo lane.

3
Extended fights

Riftmaker

3,100 gold

Rewards longer fights after health and ability power are established.

4
Commit safety

Zhonya's Hourglass

3,250 gold

Adds stasis when a committed fight leaves no safe exit.

5
Flexible defence

Rabadon's Deathcap

3,500 gold

Uses the final slot for the damage or resistance the match actually needs.

6
Repeated spell rotations

Cosmic Drive

3,000 gold

Adds movement speed and ability haste for repeated late-game spell rotations after the core is established.

Complete build choices

Choose the route before play

Recommendation review pending

AlternativeToo much healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.View full route

Best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

  1. First itemNashor's Tooth
  2. BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Commit safetyZhonya's Hourglass
  5. Flexible defenceRabadon's Deathcap
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive
AlternativeOne spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

  1. First itemNashor's Tooth
  2. BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  3. Extended fightsRiftmaker
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Flexible defenceRabadon's Deathcap
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive
AlternativeThey stack magic resistVoid Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.View full route

Best when: Void Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

  1. First itemNashor's Tooth
  2. BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  3. Extended fightsRiftmaker
  4. Void Staff
  5. Flexible defenceRabadon's Deathcap
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive

Complete build comparison

Complete build comparison

Recommendation review pending

Build review neededAP solo fighterRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. First itemNashor's Tooth
  2. BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  3. Extended fightsRiftmaker
  4. Commit safetyZhonya's Hourglass
  5. Flexible defenceRabadon's Deathcap
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive
AlternativeToo much healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.View full route

Best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

  1. First itemNashor's Tooth
  2. BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Commit safetyZhonya's Hourglass
  5. Flexible defenceRabadon's Deathcap
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive
AlternativeOne spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

  1. First itemNashor's Tooth
  2. BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  3. Extended fightsRiftmaker
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Flexible defenceRabadon's Deathcap
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive
AlternativeThey stack magic resistVoid Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.View full route

Best when: Void Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

  1. First itemNashor's Tooth
  2. BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  3. Extended fightsRiftmaker
  4. Void Staff
  5. Flexible defenceRabadon's Deathcap
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsGwenMid

Use repeated combat after controlling the Mid wave, then keep Flash for the short lane's frequent gank and roam angles.

Ranked Flex
Primary tree

Precision

ConquerorTriumphLegend: AlacrityLast Stand
Secondary tree

Resolve

Bone PlatingOvergrowth
Summoner spells
FlashIgnite
Choose pressure or recovery

Ignite supports a short kill window; Teleport supports recall and map timing; Barrier protects against immediate burst.

Protect the wave plan

A more aggressive spell pair does not replace safe wave timing, river vision or an escape route.

Matchup notes

What changes when Vex is opposite you?

Pre-game kit comparison
Kit comparison

Respect the opponent's reliable threat

Track the cooldown and range of the ability that starts their safest trade. Do not treat this page as a statistical counter claim.

Your plan

Use the route you prepared

Treat Vex as one part of the map state. Their Jungler, nearby waves and which teammates can move determine whether the same trade or rotation is safe.

Ability reminders

Gwen reminders

  • Always be Attacking - In addition to dealing bonus damage, Gwen's Attacks empower or reset many of her Abilities.
  • Gwen can still damage enemies outside her Hallowed Mists, especially with her Ultimate's range.
  • Some of Gwen's Abilities can apply her passive to multiple enemies, so aim them at groups to get maximum damage and healing.

Static alternatives

Compare the problem before changing the plan

These choices are not selected from live scores. Use one only after you identify the stated match problem yourself.

Only when enemy healing is deciding fights

Oblivion Orb

Oblivion Orb supplies healing reduction without committing to a completed Morellonomicon. Skip both when healing is not the problem or an ally already covers your target reliably. Healing reduction does not reduce shields.

Conditional component, not a core item. Complete Morellonomicon only when its stats and slot efficiency justify delaying another purchase.
One spell stops me

Banshee's Veil

Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

They stack magic resist

Void Staff

Void Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

Ability reference

Compare both kits

Ability reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

Cooldown (s) / Cost / Listed range (units) Data Dragon 16.20.1

Gwen

  1. P
    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.

  2. Q
    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.

    Cooldown (s) 6.5/5.75/5/4.25/3.5 · Cost 40 · Listed range (units) 450
  3. W
    Hallowed Mist

    Gwen summons mist that protects her from enemies outside of it. She can only be targeted by enemies who enter the mist.

    Cooldown (s) 22/21/20/19/18 · Cost 60
  4. E
    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.

    Cooldown (s) 13/12.5/12/11.5/11 · Cost 35 · Listed range (units) 400
  5. R
    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.

    Cooldown (s) 120/100/80 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 1200

Vex

  1. P
    Doom 'n Gloom

    Vex periodically becomes empowered, causing her next basic Ability to fear enemies and interrupt dashes. Whenever a nearby enemy dashes, Vex applies a mark that can be consumed for bonus damage that also reduces the cooldown of her empowered state.

  2. Q
    Mistral Bolt

    Launch a damaging missile that accelerates mid-flight.

    Cooldown (s) 8/7/6/5/4 · Cost 45/50/55/60/65 · Listed range (units) 1200
  3. W
    Personal Space

    Gain a shield and damage nearby enemies.

    Cooldown (s) 16/15/14/13/12 · Cost 75 · Listed range (units) 475
  4. E
    Looming Darkness

    Summon a damaging and slowing zone that applies Gloom to enemies.

    Cooldown (s) 12 · Cost 70/80/90/100/110 · Listed range (units) 800
  5. R
    Shadow Surge

    Fire a missile that marks an enemy champion. Recast to dash to them and deal damage.

    Cooldown (s) 140/120/100 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 2000/2500/3000

Adapt the plan

What to do when the game changes

Judge the whole lane or map state, not only personal kills. Choose the situation closest to the current game.

Even plan

Manage the wave and keep both sides of the map visible

1
Lane

Trade when your key ability and minion position favour you; an even lane does not require a forced solo kill.

2
Map play

Move on a completed wave and return before several waves are lost to the tower.

3
Fights

Position for the champion's reliable damage or control instead of beginning with the lowest-percentage spell.

Pings, movement and objectives

Gwen Mid map plan

Mid can reach either side, but the wave pays for every move. Communicate the opponent first, then move only when the route and destination are credible.

Ahead

Use priority to arrive first, not recklessly

Ping
Ping Enemy Missing when the opponent leaves, On My Way before entering river and Danger on the route the opponent may use.
Stay or roam
Roam after clearing the wave and choose the side where allies can participate. Return before several waves are lost.
Objective
Reach river with the Jungler, control one entrance and preserve the spell that stops an enemy engage or secures the first target.
Even

Turn one managed wave into map pressure

Ping
Use Enemy Missing immediately, then On My Way only when you are genuinely moving rather than considering it.
Stay or roam
Move after the wave is handled. If following requires entering fog alone, ping Danger and take the safe route instead.
Objective
Help establish river vision before the start. Do not burn the only control spell on poke if it is needed to protect the entrance.
Behind

Clear safely and warn both side lanes

Ping
Ping Enemy Missing early and repeat Danger on the threatened side. Use Retreat if matching the roam would expose you to another kill.
Stay or roam
Follow through established vision or remain Mid and recover farm. A late blind follow often loses both positions.
Objective
Approach behind the front line and use reliable control or range. Trade the objective if the team cannot safely enter river.
Objective setup

Four calls, in order

Pings create a shared plan; they do not replace checking waves, vision and who can move.

  1. 1
    Handle the wave

    Push, catch or communicate the wave before leaving so the opponent does not gain a free move and free income.

  2. 2
    Signal the route

    Use On My Way for the route you are actually taking and Danger where an unseen opponent may arrive.

  3. 3
    Enter together

    Move through controlled vision with the Jungler or another ally instead of face-checking the objective alone.

  4. 4
    Choose the job

    Decide whether you are engaging, front-lining, flanking or protecting a carry before the fight begins.

Later objectives: Repeat the same process around later major objectives: handle nearby income, communicate the route, enter through vision and agree on the fight before committing.

Keep preparing

Use the champion page or choose another opponent

The matchup page is a pre-game reference. It does not predict the result or alter its recommendation from changing live match data.

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