VRC.LOL

Champion backstory

Gangplank

the Saltwater Scourge

Read the backstoryAbilities and gameplay guide
3Story chapters
2Story connections
1Named place connections

The person behind the champion

A story to start with

As unpredictable as he is brutal, the dethroned reaver king Gangplank is feared far and wide. Once, he ruled the port city of Bilgewater, and while his reign is over, there are those who believe this has only made him more dangerous. Gangplank would see Bilgewater bathed in blood once more before letting someone else take it—and now with pistol, cutlass, and barrels of gunpowder, he is determined to reclaim what he has lost.

Short biography by Riot Games · Data Dragon 16.20.1

What shapes their story?

Losing the appearance of control does not remove Gangplank's appetite for it. His struggle with Miss Fortune turns power in Bilgewater into something that must be rebuilt through fear, reputation and surviving people who once seemed disposable.

Reading note by VRC.LOL
Read Riot's full biography ↗

Follow the story

Story timeline

Follow the main developments in order, then explore their consequences. Use each chapter's links to explore the people, regions and places involved. Artwork shows the character or wider world, not an exact reconstruction of each event; calendar dates are not assigned here.

  1. HarpoonersRiot Games · Regional world artwork

    A reaver king rules through fear

    Gangplank built his authority in Bilgewater through fear, violence and the reputation of a reaver king. The harbour's competing captains and criminal enterprises were once held beneath his brutal rule.

    Bilgewater
  2. Buhru TempleRiot Games · Regional world artwork

    A fallen captain survives

    Losing that position did not remove the ambition behind it. His survival and determination to reclaim the port make his fall the beginning of another conflict rather than a neat conclusion.

    Bilgewater
  3. Bilgewater BayRiot Games · World artwork

    A survivor seeks the port he lost

    Gangplank's injuries and fall from power do not end his claim to Bilgewater. Rebuilding influence means confronting captains who no longer have to obey him. Illaoi's challenge to his spirit places the question of whether he can move forward beside his desire for revenge.

    Bilgewater BayBilgewater

Story guide by VRC.LOL, based on the linked Riot stories. Older biographies and newer stories can differ; no exact date or current whereabouts is implied unless stated.

Picture the setting

A world behind the story

Official Riot setting artwork, not illustrations of these exact events. Open an image to see the complete composition.

Buhru TempleView full artwork
Buhru TempleRiot Games · World artwork
HarpoonersView full artwork
HarpoonersRiot Games · World artwork
Explore the wider region

People who shape the story

Relationships and allegiances

Discover the companions, communities and powers that matter to this champion. Each card explains the connection, rather than treating every nearby character as a friend.

Champion connections

The theft of the Leviathan

Swain

Gangplank stole Swain's warship, the Leviathan. The incident gives their connection a concrete history of humiliation and revenge, rather than merely placing two powerful men on opposing maps.

Read their story Official story ↗

Connections describe the linked official stories. A shared history does not establish a current alliance or location.

Follow the story

Known places and connections

Origins, journeys and documented events. A connection here does not mean this champion lives there now.

Regional connection

Bilgewater

Losing the appearance of control does not remove Gangplank's appetite for it. His struggle with Miss Fortune turns power in Bilgewater into something that must be rebuilt through fear, reputation and surviving people who once seemed disposable.

Explore the regional timeline
More about the region

A crowded port in the Blue Flame Isles where hunters, smugglers and captains make fortunes. Opportunity rarely arrives without a price, and the surrounding sea has its own powers and legends.

Harbour

Bilgewater Bay

Treacherous approaches open into a harbour crowded with opportunity and danger. Shipping, sea-monster hunting and competition between captains shape the city around it.

Explore this place

Another perspective

Stories to read next

Continue with related characters, regional stories and other perspectives on the same themes.

Illaoi

the Kraken Priestess

Read backstory

Miss Fortune

the Bounty Hunter

Read backstory

The character, in detail

Champion artwork

GangplankClassic champion artwork · Riot Games
View full artwork
Explore the wider settingBilgewater

The story beneath the scenery

What makes this place matter?

Bilgewater's newcomers built a port among the older culture of the Buhru. Captains and monster hunters pursue their fortunes, while Illaoi's faith provides a very different sense of purpose. The harbour and the Serpent Isles introduce both sides of this setting.

Look closer

A window into this world

Official Riot artwork. The gallery includes the regional setting; not every image depicts this exact landmark. Open an image to see the full composition.

Bilgewater BayView full artwork
Bilgewater BayRiot Games · Runeterra world map
The Serpent IslesView full artwork
The Serpent IslesRiot Games · Runeterra world map
Life on the WaterView full artwork
Life on the WaterRiot Games · Runeterra world map
Buhru TempleView full artwork
Buhru TempleRiot Games · Runeterra world map
HarpoonersView full artwork
HarpoonersRiot Games · Runeterra world map
Sources and story contextOfficial stories, artwork credits and reading notes

Where the stories come from

VRC.LOL writes the introductions, reading notes and connections using linked Riot Universe biographies and regional guides. Short champion summaries use Data Dragon version 16.20.1. Longer histories link to the official story used; some champions currently have a shorter official overview.

What the pictures show

Artwork belongs to Riot Games. Scenery comes from Riot's Runeterra world map; champion art depicts the character. A regional illustration sets the scene when a landmark has no dedicated image. It does not show a confirmed event at that exact place.

A world still being written

Older biographies and newer adaptations can differ. These guides introduce connections rather than declaring a final chronology or a character's current whereabouts. Translations help you explore and may keep original proper names. Follow the official sources for full context.

Sources reviewed 18 October 2026

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