Gwen
View on Wiki
Excellent (9/10)
Low Investment
Rare Relics OK
Gwen is widely considered one of the strongest and fastest champions in the game. While she functions perfectly well at 3 stars with standard Rare relics, her high-end constellation upgrades (specifically 6-star) unlock 'First Turn Kill' potential that rivals the best speedrunners in Path of Champions.
Scissors of the Shadow Isle (C6 Speedrun)
The engine of the C6 build. It deals damage to all allies (Ghastly Bands) on play, reducing Gwen's cost to 0 and instantly fulfilling her level-up condition (deal 10+ damage) before she even attacks.
Provides Scout. Since Gwen levels immediately upon play with Disciple of Shadows, she rallies (via her C6 or Crownguard interaction) and can attack multiple times in Turn 1 for massive damage.
Boosts the damage of her 'Snip Snip' skill drain. Since this is a skill, Luden's applies to every trigger, significantly increasing healing and output.
Strategy
This build is designed for 6-star Gwen to end games on Turn 1. Disciple of Shadows kills your initial Ghastly Bands to level Gwen instantly. With the Scout keyword from Galeforce and the Rally from her constellation/level-up, you can attack multiple times with massive Hallowed stacks immediately.
Standard Carry (Rare Relics)
Gwen levels up very easily. This relic grants a Rally upon leveling, allowing for a devastating double-attack turn that usually ends the game.- Increases the damage and healing of her Hallowed drain skill. Essential for bypassing Tough nexus modifiers and sustaining through damage.
Strategy
The standard way to play Gwen. Build Hallowed stacks with your early units, drop Gwen, and attack. She will likely level up mid-attack or post-attack, triggering Crownguard for a second lethal swing.
Safety & Sustain
- Provides the game-ending Rally turn.
- Boosts drain damage for better removal and healing.
Spellshield prevents Gwen from being removed by hard CC or kill spells, which is her main weakness.
Strategy
Ideal for adventures with heavy removal (e.g., Viego, Galio). Gwen is your primary win condition, so keeping her alive with Spellshield is often more valuable than extra stats.
Other Relic Options
A superior alternative to Troll King's Crown if you have it, granting Overwhelm and +1/+1 to the board.
Can replace Luden's in C6 builds to give your 1-cost units (Ghastly Bands) Overwhelm and Fury, aiding in the OTK strategy.
Good for accumulating keywords from dead units, often granting Evasive or Lifesteal traits randomly.
Constellation
Gwen is a complete package at 3 stars, but her constellations push her from 'great' to 'broken'. She scales exceptionally well with upgrades, particularly those that grant Overwhelm or accelerate her level-up condition.
Snippets of Song
Round Start: If you don't have the attack token, summon a Ghastly Band.
Needlework
+1 Starting Mana. When your leftmost attacker gains power from Hallowed, so does the attacker to its right.
Snippets of Song II
Round Start: Summon a Ghastly Band.
Crush
Allies have Overwhelm.Review
A high-priority upgrade. It grants Overwhelm, which frees up a relic slot
Manaflow
Game Start: Get a mana gem.
Last Dance
Game Start: Summon 4 Ghastly Bands and Rally.Review
Considered 'cracked' by expert players. While some view it as 'win-more', it enables the Turn 1 Disciple of Shadows strategy that makes her one of the fastest clearers in the game. It allows her to level up instantly on play, removing any need for setup.
Gameplay Tips
The Second Slot Rule
Gwen's Hallowed buff applies to the first attacker (the unit on the far left). However, Gwen's own ability gains power based on Hallowed stacks when she attacks. At 3-stars and above, placing Gwen in the second attack slot is often optimal. The first unit dies or strikes, applying Hallowed to the pool/attacking sequence, and Gwen benefits from the accumulated buffs for a massive swing.
Managing Health as a Resource
Gwen is a 'drain tank'. Do not be afraid to take nexus damage early or let units die. Her 'Snip Snip' skill heals for a significant amount (especially with Luden's Tempest), allowing you to stabilize from near-death to full health in a single attack.
Hallowed Stacking
Unlike other champions who want to protect their board, Gwen benefits from her units dying. Ephemeral units like Ghastly Bands are ammo. Let them die to increase your Hallowed count, which directly translates to Gwen's damage output later.
The Disciple of Shadows Interaction
If using the Disciple of Shadows relic, keep in mind it deals 3 damage to all allies on play. This counts towards Gwen's 'Deal 10 damage' level-up condition. With enough allies on board (like those spawned by her Star Powers), she will level up the moment she hits the board, bypassing the need to attack to level.