So, you're looking to dominate the Rift with the Saltwater Scourge? This Gangplank Lol Wiki guide will arm you with everything you need to know about mastering this explosive pirate, from his scurvy-cleansing W to his game-changing Cannon Barrage ultimate. It can be difficult understanding all of the nuances that make Gangplank, but fear not! By the end of this guide, you'll be well on your way to becoming a barrel-blasting buccaneer.
At a glance:
- Gangplank is a high-damage, late-game scaling champion.
- Mastering his Powder Kegs (E) is crucial for success.
- His global ultimate (R) can turn the tide of battles across the map.
- He's vulnerable early, so prioritize farming and scaling.
- Itemization and Silver Serpent usage are key decisions.
Who is Gangplank, the Saltwater Scourge?
Gangplank is a melee champion primarily played in the top lane. He excels at farming, split pushing, and providing global pressure with his ultimate. He's known for his unique playstyle centered around chaining Powder Kegs (E) for massive burst damage. However, he's also a relatively weak early-game champion who relies on scaling into the late game.
Gangplank's lore is rich with conflict and ambition. He was once the ruthless pirate king of Bilgewater, until Miss Fortune dethroned him. Driven by a thirst for revenge and a desire to reclaim his title, he's a force to be reckoned with. Players might consider that Gangplank needs more health, so that he can survive better after recent changes in the League of Legends meta.
Gangplank's Abilities: A Pirate's Arsenal
Understanding Gangplank's abilities is paramount to playing him effectively. Here's a breakdown of each ability, with tips on how to maximize their potential.
Trial by Fire (Passive): The Burning Touch
Gangplank's passive empowers his next basic attack to deal bonus true damage over 2.5 seconds, applying a damaging burn. Successfully triggering Trial by Fire also grants bonus movement speed and resets its cooldown.
- Use: Essential for trading in lane and securing kills. Always try to weave in a Trial by Fire reset between barrel explosions or Parrrley (Q) attacks.
- Tip: The movement speed buff is great for chasing down enemies or kiting during a fight.
Parrrley (Q): Gold and On-Hit Effects
Gangplank fires a shot dealing physical damage and applies on-hit effects. If Parrrley kills the target, Gangplank plunders bonus gold and Silver Serpents (used to upgrade his ultimate). It's your bread-and-butter farming tool and a key part of your trading pattern.
- Use: Farm minions from a safe distance, poke enemies in lane, and apply on-hit effects like Sheen.
- Tip: Prioritize last-hitting minions with Parrrley to maximize gold income and Silver Serpent acquisition.
Remove Scurvy (W): The Citrus Cleanse
Gangplank consumes citrus fruit, instantly cleansing all crowd control effects and healing himself based on missing health and Ability Power.
- Use: Escape ganks, survive burst damage, and recover from unfavorable trades. A well-timed Remove Scurvy can completely negate an enemy's engage.
- Tip: Save this ability for crucial moments when you're crowd-controlled or about to take significant damage.
Powder Keg (E): The Explosive Core
Gangplank places a Powder Keg at a target location. Both Gangplank and enemies can attack these kegs. If Gangplank destroys a keg, it explodes, dealing physical damage that ignores 40% armor, slowing enemies, and dealing bonus damage to champions. Chain explosions occur for nearby kegs. This is the core of Gangplank's damage and playmaking potential.
- Use: Zone enemies, set up ganks, and deliver massive burst damage in team fights.
- Tip: Practice your barrel chaining to detonate multiple kegs in quick succession for maximum impact. Mastering this will make or break your Gangplank gameplay.
Cannon Barrage (R): Global Firepower
Gangplank signals his ship to fire waves of cannonballs over 8 seconds, dealing magic damage and slowing enemies in the target area. Silver Serpents, acquired through Parrrley (Q), can be used to purchase upgrades for the ultimate. These include:
- Death's Daughter: Adds a massive cannonball that deals true damage.
- Fire at Will: Increases the number of cannonball waves.
- Raise Morale: Grants movement speed to allies in the area.
- Use: Assist allies in other lanes, secure objectives, and disrupt enemy team fights.
- Tip: Communicate with your team and use your ultimate strategically to influence the outcome of battles across the map. Remember, upgrading your ultimate with Silver Serpents is crucial for maximizing its effectiveness.
Mastering Gangplank: Gameplay and Strategy
Gangplank's playstyle revolves around farming safely in the early game, scaling into a devastating mid-to-late-game threat, and using his global ultimate to impact the entire map.
Early Game: Survival and Scaling (0-15 minutes)
The early game is Gangplank's weakest point. Focus on farming with Parrrley (Q) and avoid unnecessary risks. Use your Remove Scurvy (W) to survive ganks and trade carefully.
- Prioritize: Last hitting minions with Parrrley (Q) to generate gold and Silver Serpents.
- Avoid: Aggressive trades that could lead to being poked out of lane or killed.
- Use: Cannon Barrage (R) to assist allies in other lanes or secure objectives like dragons.
Mid Game: Split Pushing and Objective Control (15-25 minutes)
As you acquire items and level up, Gangplank's damage output increases significantly. Start split pushing when no team fights are occurring, drawing enemy attention and creating opportunities for your team.
- Capitalize: On your increased damage to take down towers and pressure the enemy team.
- Be Aware: Of the enemy team's location and back off if they send multiple champions to stop you.
- Utilize: Your ultimate to support your team in fights or secure objectives.
Late Game: Team Fights and Barrel Explosions (25+ minutes)
In the late game, Gangplank becomes a true carry. Group with your team and look for opportunities to poke enemies with barrels before team fights break out. Your goal is to deal massive burst damage to key targets and control the flow of the fight.
- Positioning: Is crucial. Stay safe in the backline and use your barrels to zone enemies and create openings for your team. Fighting in open spaces might reduce your E-Barrel effectiveness, so find areas where you can funnel enemies.
- Ultimate: Use your Cannon Barrage (R) to slow enemies, deal damage, and create chaos in the enemy ranks. Delay team fights until your ultimate is up to make the most of its impact.
- Remember: Your ultimate has a shorter cooldown at this point with upgrades, so you can use it more frequently.
Itemization: Building the Pirate Powerhouse
Gangplank's item build typically focuses on damage, critical strike chance, and cooldown reduction. Here's a common build path:
- Starting Items: Doran's Blade + Health Potion or Corrupting Potion
- First Core Item: Trinity Force (essential for Gangplank's damage output and mobility)
- Boots: Ionian Boots of Lucidity (for cooldown reduction) or Plated Steelcaps/Mercury's Treads (for survivability)
- Second Core Item: Essence Reaver (provides damage, crit chance, and mana sustain)
- Late Game Items: Infinity Edge (for increased crit damage), Phantom Dancer (for movement speed and survivability), Lord Dominik's Regards (for armor penetration).
The right item build will significantly impact your gameplay because League of Legends constantly changes.
Power Spikes: When Gangplank Shines
Understanding Gangplank's power spikes will help you identify when you can be more aggressive and make plays.
- Level 6: Cannon Barrage (R) provides global pressure and allows you to assist allies in other lanes.
- First Core Item (Trinity Force): A massive boost to your dueling potential and overall damage output.
- Ultimate (R) Upgrades: Significantly increase the effectiveness of your ultimate, allowing you to have a greater impact on team fights and objective control. A fully upgraded ultimate can easily win you the game.
Gangplank's Strengths and Weaknesses: Knowing Your Limits
Like any champion, Gangplank has both strengths and weaknesses. Understanding these will help you play to his strengths and mitigate his weaknesses.
Strengths:
- High Damage Output: Gangplank can deal massive burst damage with his Powder Kegs (E) and Parrrley (Q).
- Global Presence: Cannon Barrage (R) allows him to influence fights across the map.
- Strong Split Pusher: He can quickly take down towers and pressure the enemy team.
- Scales well into the late game: Becomes a devastating carry as the game progresses.
- Passive true damage enhances duels against tanks.
Weaknesses: - Weak Early Game: Vulnerable to ganks and can be easily bullied in lane.
- Reliance on Barrels: His damage is heavily reliant on landing Powder Keg explosions.
- Susceptible to Crowd Control: Can be easily shut down by champions with stuns, snares, and silences.
- Remove Scurvy (W) is crucial for survivability: If it's on cooldown, he's vulnerable.
- Open spaces limit the effectiveness of barrel combos.
Common Questions About Gangplank
Here are some frequently asked questions about Gangplank, answered concisely:
- How do I chain barrels effectively? Practice! Place barrels strategically, anticipate enemy movements, and master the timing of Parrrley (Q) to detonate them in quick succession.
- What's the best way to farm as Gangplank? Use Parrrley (Q) to last-hit minions, prioritizing those that will grant Silver Serpents.
- When should I use my ultimate? Use it to assist allies in other lanes, secure objectives, or disrupt enemy team fights. Consider the range and utility of the ultimate, and how it may help allies in achieving in-game achievements.
- How do I deal with tanks as Gangplank? His passive deals true damage so it will help with dealing with tanks. Build items that provide armor penetration, such as Lord Dominik's Regards.
Beyond the Basics: Advanced Gangplank Tips and Tricks
- The "Phantom Barrel": Place a barrel in a bush and detonate it when an enemy walks by for a surprise burst of damage.
- Barrel Chaining Across Walls: With practice, you can chain barrels across thin walls to surprise enemies or escape ganks.
- Using Remove Scurvy (W) Proactively: Don't always wait to be crowd-controlled. Use it proactively to cleanse slows or roots and maintain your mobility
- Practice in the Practice Tool: Spend time in the practice tool to master barrel placement, chaining, and combos without the pressure of a live game.
Gangplank's Place in Runeterra
Gangplank isn't just a champion in a game; he's a character with a rich backstory and connections to other champions in the League of Legends universe. He was dethroned by Miss Fortune, who sought revenge for her mother's murder. He's allied with Thresh and opposed by Illaoi, Ahri, Braum, Miss Fortune, Pyke, and Yasuo in the Ruined King game. Swain and Zed both want Gangplank dead for stealing from them. His former ship was called Death's Daughter, and his current ship is named The Dreadway. Gangplank is more than just a pirate; he's a symbol of ambition, ruthlessness, and the pursuit of power. As such, one can see why the Swain would want to get revenge on Gangplank in the ongoing narratives of League of Legends.
Next Steps: Embrace the Pirate Life
Now that you're armed with this comprehensive guide, it's time to set sail and conquer the Rift with Gangplank. Practice your barrel combos, master your itemization, and learn to use your ultimate effectively. Remember, Gangplank is a challenging champion to master, but with dedication and practice, you can become a true force to be reckoned with. So grab your cutlass, load your cannons, and embrace the pirate life!