10 Best Champions to Counter Riven in League of Legends

Riven is one of the most aggressive and mobile top laners in League of Legends, known for her high burst damage, strong dueling potential, and ability to outplay opponents with mobility and crowd control. Her Broken Wings (Q) allows her to dash multiple times, making her hard to lock down, while Valor (E) gives her a shield, allowing her to mitigate poke and sustain through fights. A skilled Riven player can snowball early leads into complete lane dominance, making her a nightmare matchup for many champions.

However, Riven has clear weaknesses that can be exploited with the right champion picks. She struggles against hard crowd control, tanky champions that can absorb her burst, and bruisers who can match her sustain and out-trade her in extended fights. Whether you’re playing in top lane or jungle, picking a strong counter can limit her impact and prevent her from taking over the game.

In this article, we’ll cover the 10 best champions to counter Riven, explaining their strengths against her and the best strategies to shut her down before she becomes a late-game threat.

#10: Olaf

Olaf is a strong counter to Riven because his true damage, sustain, and immunity to crowd control make it extremely difficult for her to win extended fights. While Riven excels at chaining crowd control and bursting down opponents, Olaf’s Ragnarok (R) completely negates her stuns and knock-ups, allowing him to keep attacking without interruption. Additionally, Vicious Strikes (W) grants lifesteal, making it hard for Riven to poke him down or outtrade him in extended fights. Since Olaf’s Reckless Swing (E) deals true damage, he can cut through Riven’s shield from Valor (E) and force trades in his favor.

The key to beating Riven as Olaf is to play aggressively, force all-ins when she wastes her abilities, and use Ragnarok to ignore her crowd control and burst her down. Building items like Stridebreaker for mobility and Death’s Dance for sustain makes Olaf even harder for Riven to deal with. With his unstoppable engage, high sustain, and ability to ignore crowd control, Olaf is a great pick to shut down Riven in the top lane.

#9: Malphite

Malphite is one of the best counters to Riven because his armor scaling, attack speed reduction, and crowd control make it incredibly difficult for her to trade effectively. Riven thrives on auto-attacks and ability combos, but Malphite’s Thunderclap (W) reduces her attack speed, limiting her ability to weave in basic attacks for maximum damage. Additionally, his Seismic Shard (Q) slows her movement speed, making it harder for her to reposition or chase him down. Since Malphite is a natural armor-stacking tank, he can mitigate almost all of Riven’s damage, forcing her into bad trades.

The biggest advantage Malphite has in this matchup is Unstoppable Force (R), which can completely disrupt Riven’s engages and prevent her from executing her all-in combos. The key to beating Riven as Malphite is to stack armor early, use your abilities to slow and weaken her trades, and punish her aggression by turning fights with Unstoppable Force. Building items like Plated Steelcaps, Frozen Heart, and Thornmail makes Malphite an absolute nightmare for Riven to deal with. With his durability, crowd control, and ability to neutralize Riven’s burst, Malphite is a top-tier counter in this matchup.

#8: Jax

Jax is a strong counter to Riven because his Counter Strike (E) completely negates her auto-attacks and abilities, allowing him to outtrade her in skirmishes and extended fights. Riven relies on quick combos and animation canceling to maximize her damage, but Jax can dodge her auto-attacks and stun her mid-combo, making it difficult for her to execute her usual trades. Additionally, Jax’s Leap Strike (Q) lets him engage or disengage, preventing Riven from controlling the pace of the lane.

As the game progresses, Jax scales harder than Riven, especially in split-push scenarios. His Grandmaster’s Might (R) grants him bonus resistances, allowing him to tank Riven’s burst while dealing consistent damage over time. The key to beating Riven as Jax is to play safely early, use Counter Strike to avoid her damage, and look for extended fights where his scaling gives him the advantage. Building items like Divine Sunderer for sustain and Blade of the Ruined King to shred through her health makes Jax even stronger in the matchup. With his superior scaling, defensive tools, and ability to punish Riven’s aggression, Jax is a strong counter to shut her down in the top lane.

#7: Shen

Shen is a strong counter to Riven because his defensive tools, global presence, and ability to block auto-attacks make it difficult for her to win trades. Riven excels at quick burst combos and extended duels, but Shen’s Spirit’s Refuge (W) completely blocks her auto-attacks, reducing her damage output significantly in fights. Additionally, Shadow Dash (E) allows Shen to taunt Riven, forcing her into bad trades where she takes unnecessary damage.

Unlike many top laners, Shen doesn’t need to out-duel Riven to be useful, as his Stand United (R) allows him to impact other lanes and provide support, reducing Riven’s split-push pressure. The key to beating Riven as Shen is to play reactively, use Spirit’s Refuge to negate her trades, and taunt her at the right moment to punish her aggression. Building items like Bramble Vest to reduce her healing and Sunfire Aegis for wave clear makes Shen even more durable in this matchup. With his anti-auto-attack mechanics, strong crowd control, and ability to turn fights in his team’s favor, Shen is one of the best champions to counter Riven in the top lane.

#6: Maokai

Maokai is a great counter to Riven because his crowd control, durability, and sustain make it extremely difficult for her to execute her combos effectively. Riven relies on mobility and quick burst trades, but Maokai’s Twisted Advance (W) is a targeted root, allowing him to lock her down before she can dash away. Additionally, Bramble Smash (Q) knocks Riven back, interrupting her combos and preventing her from engaging or escaping freely.

Since Maokai is a naturally tanky champion with strong sustain, he can withstand Riven’s damage over time while slowly outlasting her in lane. His Sapling Toss (E) provides vision and poke damage, making it harder for Riven to set up surprise engages. The key to beating Riven as Maokai is to play defensively, use Twisted Advance to lock her down in fights, and stack armor to reduce her damage output. Building items like Bramble Vest to counter her healing and Sunfire Aegis for consistent damage makes Maokai even harder for Riven to deal with. With his strong crowd control, durability, and ability to disrupt Riven’s playstyle, Maokai is a great pick for neutralizing her threat in the top lane.

#5: Poppy

Poppy is one of the best counters to Riven because her Steadfast Presence (W) completely blocks Riven’s mobility, making it nearly impossible for her to execute her usual combos. Riven heavily relies on Broken Wings (Q) and Valor (E) to dash in and out of trades, but Poppy’s W stops all dashes, forcing Riven into unfavorable fights where she can’t escape or reposition.

Additionally, Heroic Charge (E) can stun Riven against walls, further punishing her if she tries to engage aggressively. Poppy’s natural tankiness, combined with Bramble Vest for healing reduction, makes her very hard for Riven to burst down. If Riven tries to commit to an all-in, Keeper’s Verdict (R) can knock her away, completely disengaging the fight and denying her a chance to deal damage.

The key to beating Riven as Poppy is to position Steadfast Presence carefully to block her dashes, use Heroic Charge to punish over-aggression, and itemize defensively to reduce her burst potential. With her anti-mobility tools, strong crowd control, and ability to completely shut down Riven’s engage, Poppy is a fantastic counter in the top lane.

#4: Tahm Kench

Tahm Kench is a strong counter to Riven because his durability, crowd control, and ability to deny burst damage make it extremely difficult for her to win extended trades. Riven relies on quick, aggressive combos and mobility, but Tahm Kench’s Thick Skin (E) gives him massive sustain, allowing him to absorb her burst and heal back up. Additionally, Tongue Lash (Q) slows and stuns Riven, making it harder for her to kite and reposition in fights.

The biggest advantage Tahm Kench has in this matchup is Abyssal Dive (W), which lets him reposition or engage on Riven when she tries to escape. His Devour (R) can completely shut down Riven’s all-in attempts, allowing him to save himself or an ally from her ultimate burst combo. Since Riven struggles against tanky champions with high sustain, Tahm Kench can build Bramble Vest to reduce her healing and Sunfire Aegis for consistent damage to further frustrate her.

The key to beating Riven as Tahm Kench is to play defensively early, use Tongue Lash to poke and control her, and use Devour wisely to negate her kill potential. With his tankiness, crowd control, and ability to deny Riven’s all-ins, Tahm Kench is one of the most reliable counters to shut her down in the top lane.

#3: Darius

Darius is one of the best counters to Riven because his strong early-game pressure, healing reduction, and high-damage all-ins make it difficult for her to trade effectively. Riven excels at quick burst combos and dashing in and out of fights, but Darius punishes champions who try to kite or disengage with his Apprehend (E), pulling her back in and forcing an extended fight—which heavily favors him.

Since Riven relies on Valor (E) for shielding and short trades, Darius can out-sustain her with Decimate (Q), healing himself while dealing massive AoE damage. Additionally, Hemorrhage (Passive) stacks true damage over time, making it impossible for Riven to mitigate his damage with armor or sustain alone. If Riven overcommits to an all-in, Darius can execute her with Noxian Guillotine (R), securing kills before she gets a chance to recover.

The key to beating Riven as Darius is to play aggressively early, force extended trades where he thrives, and use Apprehend to prevent her from dashing away. Building items like Plated Steelcaps to reduce auto-attack damage and Bramble Vest to cut her healing makes him even stronger in this matchup. With his strong laning phase, high sustain, and ability to punish Riven’s mobility, Darius is one of the best champions to shut her down in the top lane.

#2: Garen

Garen is a strong counter to Riven because his simple but powerful kit allows him to out-sustain, out-trade, and shut down her mobility. Riven relies on burst damage and extended combos, but Garen’s Decisive Strike (Q) cleanses slows and silences her, preventing her from using abilities for a short time and completely stopping her from executing her all-in properly. Since Riven thrives on mobility and combos, Garen’s silence is one of the best tools to limit her damage output.

Additionally, Judgment (E) deals consistent damage without relying on auto-attacks, meaning Riven can’t just block his burst with Riposte (W) like she could against other bruisers. Garen’s Perseverance (Passive) grants him natural sustain, allowing him to heal up after trades while Riven has to rely on potions or lifesteal. If she falls below 50% HP, Demacian Justice (R) executes her, preventing her from sustaining back up in a fight.

The key to beating Riven as Garen is to play aggressively early, use Decisive Strike to silence her before she can combo, and force extended fights where his tankiness and sustain give him the advantage. Building items like Stridebreaker for mobility and Mortal Reminder to cut her healing makes him even harder for Riven to deal with. With his high durability, anti-burst mechanics, and ability to shut down her abilities, Garen is one of the best champions to counter Riven in the top lane.

#1: Renekton

Renekton is the best counter to Riven because his early-game dominance, sustain, and strong crowd control make it nearly impossible for her to trade effectively. Riven relies on quick burst combos and mobility, but Renekton’s Ruthless Predator (W) is an empowered stun that interrupts her trades, preventing her from executing her full combo. Since Riposte (W) has to be timed perfectly, Renekton can bait it out with quick trades before fully committing to an all-in.

Additionally, Cull the Meek (Q) provides strong healing and AoE damage, allowing Renekton to out-sustain Riven in extended fights while also punishing her for dashing in too aggressively. Dominus (R) grants him extra health and damage, making him even stronger in fights, while Slice and Dice (E) allows him to chase or disengage freely, preventing Riven from kiting him.

The key to beating Riven as Renekton is to play aggressively from level 2, use Ruthless Predator to disrupt her combos, and force trades where his healing and crowd control give him the edge. Building items like Goredrinker for sustain and Plated Steelcaps for damage reduction makes him even harder for Riven to deal with. With his early-game pressure, strong dueling potential, and ability to deny Riven’s mobility, Renekton is the best champion to shut her down before she becomes a late-game threat.

Conclusion

Riven is a high-mobility, combo-heavy champion who thrives on outplaying opponents with burst damage and quick trades, but she struggles against champions who can deny her mobility, out-sustain her, or punish her aggression. Bruisers like Renekton, Darius, and Garen can out-trade her in extended fights and shut down her combos with crowd control, while tanks like Malphite, Poppy, and Tahm Kench make it nearly impossible for her to execute her usual aggressive playstyle. Duelists like Jax and Olaf can absorb her damage and counter her all-ins, while Shen and Maokai provide strong lockdown tools to prevent her from dashing around fights.

The key to beating Riven is to avoid taking unnecessary trades early, punish her cooldowns, and build items like Plated Steelcaps, Bramble Vest, and anti-healing to weaken her sustain. By picking one of these 10 counter champions, you can shut down Riven’s lane dominance, limit her impact in fights, and stop her from snowballing into a late-game menace.