Gnar
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Poor (4.5/10)
High Investment Required
Epic Relics
Paid Relics
Gnar is widely regarded as one of the weaker champions in the roster. While he possesses a fun transformation mechanic and reliable crowd control via Wallop, his game plan is considered slow and 'sweaty'. He struggles to trade favorably into high-stat enemies found in harder content, often relying on stalling and chip damage rather than board dominance. He requires significant investment to feel competitive.
Plunder & Scale
Essential for triggering Plunder immediately. This enables cost-reduction effects and helps satisfy Gnar's level-up condition without needing to attack first.
Best-in-slot for stat scaling. Since Gnar can trigger Plunder easily (especially with Swain's Raven Army), this provides necessary cost reduction and +1/+1 scaling every round.
Gnar's units accumulate Impact but lack combat stats to survive blocking. Overwhelm allows them to push lethal damage through chump blockers, making his 'go wide' strategy viable.
Strategy
This build focuses on cheating Gnar out early—potentially on Turn 1—and scaling his stats to overcome his natural fragility. By guaranteeing Plunder, you ensure his level-up condition progresses smoothly while The Beast Within turns his Impact stacks into a genuine threat.
Infinite Wallop Control
Generates a fleeting copy of Gnar every turn, which transforms into his champion spell, Wallop. This provides a guaranteed stun every round to stall the game.
Refills spell mana each turn, ensuring you always have the resources to cast the Wallop generated by GGC without sacrificing unit development.
Capitalizes on Gnar's frequent level-ups (which happen at round end). This summons Golden Aegis or high-stat Demacian units to stabilize the board, compensating for Gnar's weak followers.
Strategy
A control-oriented approach that leverages Gnar's ability to stall indefinitely. Use the generated Wallop to neutralize the biggest threat each turn while letting Protectors of Demacia build a board for you automatically as Gnar flips back and forth.
Free-to-Play Plunder
Reduces Gnar's cost by 2 if Plunder is triggered, helping him hit the board earlier.
Generates two Warning Shots on summon. While Gnar needs to be played to trigger this, the Warning Shots set up Plunder for future turns or other units.- Provides necessary mana sustain to keep casting Pokey Sticks and Wallops for control.
Strategy
A budget-friendly build that aims to smooth out Gnar's mana curve and ensure he has the spell mana required to utilize his control tools.
Other Relic Options
Boosts Impact damage significantly. A strong option if you are fully committing to the Impact win condition, though it offers no defensive utility.
Powerful for spell-heavy builds, though Gnar often struggles to survive until mana 6 to activate it. Historically noted for bugged interactions that prevent level-down.
TRAP RELIC: Do not use. Gnar levels up at the end of the round, meaning the stun triggers after the enemy has already attacked.
TRAP RELIC: Do not use. Because Gnar levels at Round End, the Rally effect is wasted as you cannot attack until the following turn.
Constellation
Gnar's constellation is widely considered underwhelming compared to modern champions. His base kit suffers from 'stat inflation' in higher difficulties, where his small units cannot trade effectively.
Outrage
Round End: If you've damaged the enemy Nexus this round, grant your allies Impact.
Beast Within
+1 Starting Mana. Round Start: Create a 2 cost Wallop in hand. If you already have one, reduce its cost by 1.Review
Provides a mana gem and some utility, but does not solve his fundamental issue of fragile units.
Outrage II
Round End: If you've damaged the enemy Nexus this round, grant your allies Impact twice.Review
Standard for 3-star powers, but often criticized as weak. The Impact scaling is slow and requires a wide board, which Gnar struggles to maintain against Deadly enemies.
Gameplay Tips
Impact is the Win Condition
Gnar's units are generally too small to win through traditional combat trades. Instead, focus on going wide and stacking Impact. Your goal is to burn the enemy Nexus down through chip damage rather than overpowering their board.
Master the Stun
Wallop is Gnar's most important tool. In hard content, you often cannot block effectively without losing your board. Use Wallop to neutralize the most dangerous attacker each turn to preserve your health total.
Avoid Trading Units
Because Gnar's followers have poor stat lines, blocking usually results in a net loss. Unless it is to prevent lethal damage, it is often better to take a hit or use a stun than to sacrifice a unit that could be generating Impact damage.
Mind the Level-Up Timing
Gnar levels up at the End of Round. This makes relics that trigger on level-up (like Tempest Blade or Crownguard Inheritance) ineffective, as their effects will occur after the combat phase has ended.