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Top · Normal DraftMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Vayne vs Gnar

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

VayneVSGnar

Matchup guide

Choose the matchup

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

VS
Role
Selected laneTop

Choose two champions from the list.

Role fit

TopVayne

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

Reviewed secondary
Historical referenceRecommendation review pending

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

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

Normal Draft · Top

Evidence-supported Vayne Top

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 Bow

400 gold

This is the most-supported Draft/Ranked starting item in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot, manually checked against Riot patch 26.17. Compare its durability, sustain and damage trade-off before leaving base.

1
First item

Blade of The Ruined King

3,200 gold

This item is part of the most-supported coherent core in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot, manually checked against Riot patch 26.17. Treat the sample as context, then adjust only for a clearly identified matchup problem.

2
Boots

Berserker's Greaves

1,100 gold

This is the most-supported Boots choice in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot, manually checked against Riot patch 26.17; change it when the opposing damage or crowd control calls for a different defence.

3
Core

Guinsoo's Rageblade

3,000 gold

This item is part of the most-supported coherent core in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot, manually checked against Riot patch 26.17. Treat the sample as context, then adjust only for a clearly identified matchup problem.

4
Late

Terminus

3,000 gold

This item is part of the most-supported coherent core in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot, manually checked against Riot patch 26.17. Treat the sample as context, then adjust only for a clearly identified matchup problem.

5
Flexible

Infinity Edge

3,500 gold

Keeps a reviewed late option after the prior-patch cross-check; move or replace it only when its stated match problem is present.

6
Late sustain

Bloodthirster

3,400 gold

Completes the six-item inventory with high attack damage and sustain for extended late fights.

Complete build choices

Choose the route before play

Recommendation review pending

AlternativeToo much healingMortal Reminder combines armour penetration with anti-heal.View full route

Best when: Mortal Reminder combines armour penetration with anti-heal.

  1. First itemBlade of The Ruined King
  2. BootsBerserker's Greaves
  3. CoreGuinsoo's Rageblade
  4. Mortal Reminder
  5. FlexibleInfinity Edge
  6. Late sustainBloodthirster
AlternativeThey burst meGuardian Angel protects a completed damage core from one decisive death.View full route

Best when: Guardian Angel protects a completed damage core from one decisive death.

  1. First itemBlade of The Ruined King
  2. BootsBerserker's Greaves
  3. CoreGuinsoo's Rageblade
  4. LateTerminus
  5. Guardian Angel
  6. Late sustainBloodthirster
AlternativeMagic damage reaches meWit's End adds magic resistance without giving up attack speed.View full route

Best when: Wit's End adds magic resistance without giving up attack speed.

  1. First itemBlade of The Ruined King
  2. BootsBerserker's Greaves
  3. CoreGuinsoo's Rageblade
  4. Wit's End
  5. FlexibleInfinity Edge
  6. Late sustainBloodthirster
AlternativeThey stack armourLord Dominik's Regards adds percentage armour penetration.View full route

Best when: Lord Dominik's Regards adds percentage armour penetration.

  1. First itemBlade of The Ruined King
  2. BootsBerserker's Greaves
  3. CoreGuinsoo's Rageblade
  4. Lord Dominik's Regards
  5. FlexibleInfinity Edge
  6. Late sustainBloodthirster

Complete build comparison

Complete build comparison

Recommendation review pending

Build review neededEvidence-supported Vayne TopRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. First itemBlade of The Ruined King
  2. BootsBerserker's Greaves
  3. CoreGuinsoo's Rageblade
  4. LateTerminus
  5. FlexibleInfinity Edge
  6. Late sustainBloodthirster
AlternativeToo much healingMortal Reminder combines armour penetration with anti-heal.View full route

Best when: Mortal Reminder combines armour penetration with anti-heal.

  1. First itemBlade of The Ruined King
  2. BootsBerserker's Greaves
  3. CoreGuinsoo's Rageblade
  4. Mortal Reminder
  5. FlexibleInfinity Edge
  6. Late sustainBloodthirster
AlternativeThey burst meGuardian Angel protects a completed damage core from one decisive death.View full route

Best when: Guardian Angel protects a completed damage core from one decisive death.

  1. First itemBlade of The Ruined King
  2. BootsBerserker's Greaves
  3. CoreGuinsoo's Rageblade
  4. LateTerminus
  5. Guardian Angel
  6. Late sustainBloodthirster
AlternativeMagic damage reaches meWit's End adds magic resistance without giving up attack speed.View full route

Best when: Wit's End adds magic resistance without giving up attack speed.

  1. First itemBlade of The Ruined King
  2. BootsBerserker's Greaves
  3. CoreGuinsoo's Rageblade
  4. Wit's End
  5. FlexibleInfinity Edge
  6. Late sustainBloodthirster
AlternativeThey stack armourLord Dominik's Regards adds percentage armour penetration.View full route

Best when: Lord Dominik's Regards adds percentage armour penetration.

  1. First itemBlade of The Ruined King
  2. BootsBerserker's Greaves
  3. CoreGuinsoo's Rageblade
  4. Lord Dominik's Regards
  5. FlexibleInfinity Edge
  6. Late sustainBloodthirster

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsVayneTop

Use range to manage the wave and take measured trades without surrendering the escape route. Teleport supports the long solo lane.

Normal Draft
Primary tree

Precision

Fleet FootworkPresence of MindLegend: AlacrityCut Down
Secondary tree

Resolve

Second WindOvergrowth
Summoner spells
FlashTeleport
Long-lane safety

Teleport preserves recalls and side-lane access. Ignite is a deliberate pressure trade-off, not a universal upgrade.

Respect the matchup

Keep the defensive secondary runes when repeated poke or one committed trade can decide the lane.

Matchup notes

What changes when Gnar is opposite you?

Pre-game kit comparison
Strategic interaction

Keep the fight at range

Range, movement and percent-health damage offer a different answer to a health-stacking lane.

Mid game

The clearest window is around first completed items, roams and isolated targets before every fight becomes fully grouped.

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

Vayne reminders

  • Tumble has many uses, but it cannot pass over walls.
  • Condemn can be used to both pin targets to walls to ensure a kill, or to escape a pursuer.
  • Don't go in first to a large teamfight. Wait for your teammates to initiate.
Ability reminders

Against Gnar

  • Gnar can't gain Rage for 15 seconds after he turns from big to little. Use this chance to engage on his team.
  • Gnar's animations and resource bar change as he gets closer to transforming.
  • Gnar's ultimate stuns if he hits you into a wall. Be careful when fighting him near one.

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.

Too much healing

Mortal Reminder

Mortal Reminder combines armour penetration with anti-heal.

They burst me

Guardian Angel

Guardian Angel protects a completed damage core from one decisive death.

Magic damage reaches me

Wit's End

Wit's End adds magic resistance without giving up attack speed.

They stack armour

Lord Dominik's Regards

Lord Dominik's Regards adds percentage armour penetration.

Ability reference

Compare both kits

Ability reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

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

Vayne

  1. P
    Night Hunter

    Vayne ruthlessly hunts evil-doers, gaining Move Speed when moving toward nearby enemy champions.

  2. Q
    Tumble

    Vayne tumbles, maneuvering to carefully place her next shot. Her next attack deals bonus damage.

    Cooldown (s) 6/5/4/3/2 · Cost 30 · Listed range (units) 300
  3. W
    Silver Bolts

    Vayne tips her bolts with a rare metal, toxic to evil things. The third consecutive attack or ability against the same target deals a percentage of the target's max health as bonus true damage.

    Listed range (units) 750
  4. E
    Condemn

    Vayne draws a heavy crossbow from her back, and fires a huge bolt at her target, knocking them back and dealing damage. If they collide with terrain, they are impaled, dealing bonus damage and stunning them.

    Cooldown (s) 20/18/16/14/12 · Cost 90 · Listed range (units) 550
  5. R
    Final Hour

    Readying herself for an epic confrontation, Vayne gains increased Attack Damage, Invisibility during Tumble, reduced Tumble cooldown, and more bonus Move Speed from Night Hunter

    Cooldown (s) 100/85/70 · Cost 80

Gnar

  1. P
    Rage Gene

    While in combat Gnar generates Rage. At maximum Rage his next ability will transform him into Mega Gnar, granting increased survivability and access to new spells.

  2. Q
    Boomerang Throw / Boulder Toss

    Gnar throws a boomerang that damages and slows enemies it hits before returning to him. If he catches the boomerang its cooldown is reduced. Mega Gnar instead throws a boulder that stops on the first unit hit, damaging and slowing everything nearby. It can then be picked up to reduce the cooldown.

    Cooldown (s) 16/14.5/13/11.5/10 · Listed range (units) 1100
  3. W
    Hyper / Wallop

    Gnar's attacks and spells hype him up, dealing bonus damage and granting him Move Speed. Mega Gnar is too enraged to be hyper and instead can rear up on his hind legs and smash down on the area in front of him, stunning enemies in an area.

    Cooldown (s) 7
  4. E
    Hop / Crunch

    Gnar leaps to a location and bounces off the head of any unit he lands on, traveling further. Mega Gnar is too large to bounce and instead lands with earth-shattering force, dealing damage in an area around him.

    Cooldown (s) 22/19.5/17/14.5/12 · Listed range (units) 475
  5. R
    GNAR!

    Mega Gnar throws everything around him in a chosen direction, dealing damage and slowing them. Any enemy that hits a wall is stunned and takes bonus damage.

    Cooldown (s) 90/60/30 · Listed range (units) 590

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

Trade around the wave and your strongest cooldowns

1
Lane

Keep health and minions balanced so one poor trade does not decide the lane.

2
Map play

Move after the wave is handled and communicate if the opposing Top laner leaves first.

3
Fights

Choose between front-line duty, side pressure and carry access according to the champion kit.

Pings, movement and objectives

Vayne Top map plan

Manage the long lane before leaving it. A useful move begins with a handled wave, a visible route and a teammate who knows you are coming.

Ahead

Use the side-lane lead without donating it

Ping
Ping Enemy Missing when the opposing Top leaves, then On My Way before a flank or objective move.
Stay or move
Push the wave before moving. Stay if leaving would hand several minions or your tower back to the opponent.
Objective
Arrive through a known route and mark whether you are front-lining, flanking or protecting a carry. Do not enter alone before the team can follow.
Even

Make the wave create the first move

Ping
Use Enemy Missing early, Danger on the route they may take, and On My Way only after your own wave is handled.
Stay or move
Move after pushing or on a shared recall. Do not follow through unwarded river merely because the opponent left first.
Objective
Tell the team whether you can move before the objective starts. Approach with vision and save the cooldown needed for the first real commitment.
Behind

Protect experience and communicate the pressure

Ping
Ping Enemy Missing immediately and Retreat if teammates are about to meet the stronger Top laner without you.
Stay or move
Do not match a stronger opponent through darkness. Clear the safe wave, then group by the shortest controlled route.
Objective
State early if you cannot contest. If the team still fights, provide control or protection instead of attempting an isolated flank.
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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