10 Best Champions To Counter Gankplank In League of Legends

Gangplank is a unique top lane champion in League of Legends, known for his global ultimate, high burst damage, and ability to scale into a late-game powerhouse. His Powder Kegs (E) allow him to zone enemies and deal massive AoE damage, while his Remove Scurvy (W) makes him hard to lock down. However, Gangplank struggles against aggressive laners, champions who can outtrade him early, and those who can deny his barrel combos. In this article, we’ll go over the 10 best champions to counter Gangplank, focusing on picks that can apply early pressure, punish his lack of mobility, and prevent him from scaling into a late-game threat.

#10: Jax

Jax is a strong counter to Gangplank because of his mobility, dueling power, and ability to block auto-attacks. Gangplank relies heavily on Parrrley (Q) and Powder Kegs (E) to deal damage, but Jax’s Counter Strike (E) completely negates Gangplank’s auto-attack-based trades, reducing his burst potential. Additionally, Jax’s Leap Strike (Q) allows him to engage or escape, making it difficult for Gangplank to land effective barrel combos. As the game progresses, Jax outscales Gangplank in side lanes, forcing him into unfavorable duels. With his strong all-in potential, ability to block key damage sources, and superior scaling, Jax is a great pick to shut down Gangplank and prevent him from taking over the game.

#9: Riven

Riven is a strong counter to Gangplank because of her mobility, high burst damage, and ability to punish his weak early game. Gangplank struggles against champions who can constantly pressure him in lane, and Riven’s Broken Wings (Q) allows her to quickly close the gap, dodge barrels, and trade aggressively. Additionally, her Valor (E) shield helps mitigate Gangplank’s poke from Parrrley (Q), making it harder for him to chip her down. Since Gangplank lacks hard crowd control, Riven can freely engage, burst him down, and snowball out of control. If Gangplank tries to escape with Remove Scurvy (W), Riven can re-engage with her mobility and ultimate for an easy kill. With her strong all-ins, ability to dodge barrels, and aggressive playstyle, Riven is a great pick to dominate Gangplank in lane and prevent him from scaling.

#8: Tryndamere

Tryndamere is a strong counter to Gangplank because of his sustain, high damage output, and ability to outscale him in duels. Gangplank relies on poking with Parrrley (Q) and setting up barrels (E), but Tryndamere’s Bloodlust (Q) allows him to heal through poke damage, making it difficult for Gangplank to whittle him down. Additionally, Tryndamere’s Spinning Slash (E) lets him close the gap and avoid barrel combos, denying Gangplank one of his main sources of damage. Once Tryndamere reaches level 6, his Undying Rage (R) makes him nearly impossible to kill, allowing him to dive Gangplank under tower or force extended trades where he comes out ahead. Since Gangplank lacks mobility, Tryndamere can easily chase him down and punish him in side lanes, making him one of the best champions to counter Gangplank in League of Legends.

#7: Yasuo

Yasuo is a strong counter to Gangplank because of his mobility, wind wall, and ability to punish Gangplank’s lack of mobility. Gangplank relies heavily on his Parrrley (Q) and Powder Kegs (E) to trade, but Yasuo’s Wind Wall (W) can completely block both abilities, denying his main sources of damage. Additionally, Yasuo’s Sweeping Blade (E) allows him to quickly dash around minions, making it difficult for Gangplank to land barrel combos. Since Gangplank lacks hard crowd control, Yasuo can freely engage and apply pressure with his knock-ups and Last Breath (R). Once Yasuo builds crit items, he can burst Gangplank down before he gets a chance to fight back. With high mobility, ability denial, and strong all-in potential, Yasuo is a great pick to shut down Gangplank and control the lane.

#6: Fiora

Fiora is a strong counter to Gangplank because of her mobility, dueling power, and ability to negate his crowd control. Gangplank struggles against champions who can pressure him in lane, and Fiora’s Lunge (Q) allows her to dodge his barrels (E) and poke him down without taking much damage. The biggest advantage Fiora has is Riposte (W), which can completely block Gangplank’s passive burn damage and stun him if timed correctly against his Parrrley (Q) or passive auto-attacks. Once she reaches level 6, Fiora’s Grand Challenge (R) forces extended fights, where she thrives due to her superior sustain and true damage. Since Gangplank lacks mobility, Fiora can chase him down in side lanes and pressure him throughout the game. With her strong dueling, barrel denial, and sustain, Fiora is one of the best champions to punish Gangplank and prevent him from scaling.

#5: Quinn

Quinn is a great counter to Gangplank because of her ranged advantage, mobility, and ability to punish his lack of escape tools. Gangplank struggles against ranged champions, and Quinn’s Harrier (Passive) and Blinding Assault (Q) allow her to poke him down consistently without taking much damage in return. Since Gangplank relies on setting up barrels (E) for damage and zoning, Quinn can quickly destroy them before he gets a chance to trigger them, reducing his damage potential. Vault (E) gives Quinn an easy disengage, making it difficult for Gangplank to land his melee attacks or follow up with Parrrley (Q). Once Quinn gets her Ultimate (R) – Behind Enemy Lines, she can roam quickly and impact other lanes, forcing Gangplank to play catch-up. With high poke damage, strong mobility, and the ability to control the lane, Quinn is one of the best champions to counter Gangplank and deny his scaling potential.

#4: Kled

Kled is a strong counter to Gangplank because of his aggressive early game, high sustain, and ability to stick to him in fights. Gangplank struggles against champions who can engage frequently and pressure him early, and Kled’s Violent Tendencies (W) allows him to trade heavily and outdamage Gangplank in skirmishes. Since Gangplank lacks hard crowd control, Kled can freely engage with Bear Trap on a Rope (Q) to pull him in and force extended trades, where Kled’s dueling power is much stronger. Additionally, Gangplank’s barrels (E) require setup time, and Kled can constantly stay on top of him to prevent him from executing his combos effectively. Even if Gangplank tries to poke Kled down, Kled’s Skaarl provides an extra health bar, making it difficult for Gangplank to win all-ins. With strong early pressure, sustain, and the ability to lock Gangplank down, Kled is a great pick to dominate him in lane and force him into a weaker position for the rest of the game.

#3: Pantheon

Pantheon is a strong counter to Gangplank because of his early-game dominance, high burst damage, and ability to block Gangplank’s key abilities. Gangplank is vulnerable to early aggression, and Pantheon’s Comet Spear (Q) allows him to poke and trade efficiently before going all-in with his empowered abilities. Aegis Assault (E) completely blocks Gangplank’s Parrrley (Q) and Powder Keg (E) damage, making it extremely difficult for Gangplank to win trades. Additionally, Pantheon’s targeted stun from Shield Vault (W) forces Gangplank into unfavorable skirmishes, where Pantheon’s high base damage and strong early-game power allow him to take control of the lane. Since Gangplank takes time to scale, Pantheon can use his global presence with Grand Starfall (R) to apply pressure across the map, forcing Gangplank to play reactively. With early-game strength, a shield that blocks Gangplank’s poke, and strong all-in potential, Pantheon is an excellent pick to shut down Gangplank and prevent him from scaling into a late-game threat.

#2: Darius

Darius is a strong counter to Gangplank because of his early-game dominance, sustain, and ability to punish Gangplank’s lack of mobility. Gangplank struggles against high-pressure melee champions, and Darius thrives in extended trades with his Hemorrhage (Passive) damage over time. Apprehend (E) pulls Gangplank in, preventing him from kiting with barrels or poking with Parrrley (Q), forcing him into an unfavorable fight. Crippling Strike (W) slows Gangplank, making it even harder for him to escape once Darius engages. If Gangplank tries to fight back, Darius’ Decimate (Q) gives him healing, allowing him to sustain through trades and continuously apply pressure. Since Gangplank takes time to scale, Darius can snowball early, dominate lane, and become a huge frontline threat in the late game. With strong all-ins, healing, and the ability to shut down Gangplank’s spacing, Darius is one of the best counters to punish him throughout all stages of the game.

#1: Renekton

Renekton is the best counter to Gangplank because of his early-game dominance, sustain, and ability to shut down Gangplank before he scales. Gangplank is weak in the early game, and Renekton thrives on early aggression, making him the perfect pick to punish him. Slice and Dice (E) allows Renekton to gap-close and dodge barrels, preventing Gangplank from setting up his damage. Ruthless Predator (W) stuns Gangplank, denying him the chance to escape with Remove Scurvy (W) or set up his Powder Kegs (E). Since Renekton has built-in healing with Cull the Meek (Q), he can sustain through trades and keep up the pressure, making it nearly impossible for Gangplank to farm safely. If Renekton snowballs early, he can completely shut down Gangplank’s scaling and dominate the side lanes for the rest of the game. With high damage, sustain, and the ability to lock Gangplank down, Renekton is the best pick to counter Gangplank and prevent him from reaching his late-game power spike.

Conclusion

Gangplank can be a dangerous champion when he gets to scale, but he struggles against champions who can apply early pressure, deny his barrels, and force extended trades. Champions like Renekton, Darius, and Pantheon dominate him in the early game with their high damage and crowd control, preventing him from safely farming. Fiora and Jax excel at dodging barrels and winning duels, making them strong picks in side lanes. Ranged champions like Quinn can poke Gangplank down without letting him trade back, while Tryndamere punishes his lack of mobility with constant aggression. By choosing the right counter pick, you can shut down Gangplank before he becomes a late-game threat and take control of the game.