Riven
BY arko
Table of Contents
[7.14] Burst Riven Guide for Mid/Top
Riven
BY arko
Summoner Spells Back to Top
New Runes Back to Top
Masteries Back to Top
Abilities Back to Top
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In order for this guide to work, you need to have solid Riven mechanics.
I'll say that again.
In order for this guide to work, you need to have solid Riven mechanics.
Got it? Good.
1) It increases your capability to survive
2) It allows you to more easily secure kills if your target uses 
3) If you master your mechanics, 1 stun gives you enough time to delete your target
Firstly I recommend looking at your in game settings and
1) Selecting "Quick Cast All" (allows you to minimize time spent on your abilities for faster damage output)
2) Check the box that says "Cast the pressed spell upon pressing another spell." (allows you to double/triple cast more easily)
FAST Q COMBO
It allows you to delete your targets faster and get you out of sticky situations. Keep in mind that this clip is one run through of her abilities aka why lethality is important.
So theres a lot of ways to explain it but really you just have to practice it. The key to a successful fast combo is that you click any space on the ground AS YOURE IN THE MOTION of using your Q. So its always Q -> click
DOUBLE CASTING COMBOS
-> 
After you press E you wait a fraction of a second then use W -> Q ALMOST simultaneously. If you actually try to press them at the same time you only end up doing 1 of the two abilities and its pretty much the same with the other double casting combos
-> 
+ + (Windslash) +
(Windslash) +
There may be more but really there's no set way to do your combos. You should always make them optimal for whatever situation you're in.
TRIPLE CASTING COMBOS
-> -> Allows you to unexpectedly start your delete process. Probably one of your most important combos because if you master it, theres literally 0 room for counterplay. Be careful here because you have to time them like double casting- you can only press keys in a certain order withing a certain time limit so you can complete it successfully.
-> (windslash) -> -> The Taiwanese delete combo(windslash) -> -> -> My usual delete combo
-> -> My usual delete comboI prefer the second one because
1) It looks so sexy (I think it's called the sexy combo?)
2) If done correctly, you double cast on your target before the wind slash hits them and procs thunderlords
3) I made a club with the tag [sxy] (message me in game once you can do the sexy combo)
4) It allows you to land your wind slash 100% of the time (possibly on multiple targets) and you CHUNK before you even use your first 
Heres a clip of me doing it on drag
So what happens when you also get to proc thunderlords and do it on the enemy bot lane?
So although beautiful you cant always do that specific combo, but you can mix them up in other ways. It always depends on the situation but I usually prefer to use my wind slash between my 1st and 2nd so you can get damage off faster in an more unpredictable order (so its harder to dodge) and because your can actually be double casted after your wind slash to delete the animation.
so you can get damage off faster in an more unpredictable order (so its harder to dodge) and because your can actually be double casted after your wind slash to delete the animation.This is all the info you really need to UNDERSTAND what Riven can do in different instances, and it lets you create combos on your own on the fly for whatever situation youre in this clip. (I was actually behind for most of this game and this double kill made me 6 in 4)
But theres some seriously impressive stuff you can put together with Riven. This is the Taiwanese player that inspired me to start one shotting.
And finally, this is my preferred youtuber to get all my latest Riven intel from: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvzoHz_9Vym9HUJ3lNRfCcw/featured
Items Back to Top
Starting Items
Core Items
Situational Items
Here are your 3 basic build paths
-> 
-> 
-> 
-> 
-> 
+ Situational Items (These next two are made for the alternative rune page)
A slash in between the items represents you should only choose one of those items when purchasing
-> 
-> -> -> 
/
-> -> -> 
/ 
-> 
/ -> / + Situational Items
-> / -> -> / -> / -> -> -> + Situational ItemsAll of these builds can end up differently depending on the player and their game
If you just keep racking up kills without dying then try out the ultra delete build aka
The reason I never get a 
is because it only shreds after auto attacks and although the CDR is nice, it takes a lot away from your burst
is because it only shreds after auto attacks and although the CDR is nice, it takes a lot away from your burstHere are some examples of some end game builds
can be replaced with 
but only when1) The enemy team has a lot of squishies (3 or more)
3) You built a (but with a you heal 35% every AA and since you heal from abilities with , it lets you overheal into your )
(but with a you heal 35% every AA and since you heal from abilities with , it lets you overheal into your )2) You know how to consistently use it in your combo
This is because you get 20% lifesteal (8% more than hydra) and this is its other passive
you get 20% lifesteal (8% more than hydra) and this is its other passiveUNIQUE: Your life steal overheals you, converting the excess healing into a shield that absorbs up to 50 - 350 (based on level)damage and decays when out-of-combat for 25 seconds.
You literally overheal, and you already do SOOO much damage with lethality so try to use most of the time
most of the timeThis build doesn't give you many defensive stats & you're a bit more squishy so try to get the optimum amount of defensive stats from offensive items
can be replaced with or if they have a lot of AP or squishy targetsif you don't need then consider / for its synergy with or 
for its synergy with
then consider / for its synergy with or for its synergy with + /
/So theres not a crazy amount of variation but youll always do a ton of damage
SITUATIONAL ITEMS
If they really dont like you If you keep getting locked down and you die before you can escape If you or your team needs a bit more beef
I havent personally tried this item, but I've seen some streamers do it and it almost acts like an AD Zhonyas
If they can't really kill you but you could use some MR/Armor & this item provides free map pressureLastly these items are currently in the top 20 highest win rate items as of 5/10/19
(#3 @ 63%) (#4 @ 62%) (#5 @ 62%) (#18 @ 59%) (#19 @ 59%)Matchups Back to Top
-
AhriMedium -
AniviaMedium -
AnnieEasy -
KatarinaEasy -
XerathEasy
VS
Ahri
Medium
Start
Her abilities aren't too hard to dodgePlay safe early and youll be able to assassinate her once youve got more CDR
Look to roam
Start if you know the matchup otherwise start
if you know the matchup otherwise start take early CDR runes
Follow up with -> -> -> -> if you started
-> -> -> -> if you started Follow up with -> -> -> if you started
-> -> -> if you started VS
Anivia
Medium
Easy to dodge her skills
Try to zig zag if you go to trade
Dont forget about Eggnivia
Focus on farming up until your damage starts getting deadly
DONT FORGET EGGNIVIA
A farm lane until when you start having more kill potential between levels 9-11
Start and scaling CDR runes
and scaling CDR runesI suggest following with 
VS
Annie
Easy
Start
Play safe until you have all 3 abilitiesMake sure you wait for her stun to be used before you go in
Try to go behind her while youre trading with your 2nd Q
Start and early CDR runes
and early CDR runesYou can follow up with either
-> or
-> -> VS
Katarina
Easy
You can trade at level one once she uses 
If you all in at level 3 you'll either get a kill or force her to use pots
Make sure youre ready to cancel her 
with your 3rd or
with your 3rd or You burst faster than she does
Start and early CDR runes
and early CDR runesI prefer following that with
VS
Xerath
Easy
Start and wait till level 3 before you attempt to trade
Wait till he uses his 
before you go in
before you go inTry to dodge 
as you zig zig & go behind him
as you zig zig & go behind himYou can win a fight easily after 6
Start and take early CDR runs
and take early CDR runsFollow up with
Preface Back to Top
I know lethality got nerfed but that doesnt stop this build from having the most damage out of all the other Riven builds without sacrificing CDR & lifesteal in the process. Riven's potential is determined by the creativity of the player using her. Using Riven with the regular builds is nice because it gives her more survivability and you can play her like a bruiser and take some more damage for your team. This build on the other hand requires you to think outside of the box in terms of teamfighting and playstyle in general. This build also requires that you understand the more discreet Riven mechanics instead of just knowing her com.bos. It brings back Rivens edge to make quick plays and punish your opponents tremendously. I personally believe that's what playing Riven should be like so you can have an easier time doing things like this.
Roaming Back to Top
Simply stated: Always keep an eye on the minimap. Riven is a god at skirmishes so everytime you roam and get a kill, you get more gold for your team while you put the enemy team behind allowing you to carry games. You can roam at any point in the game but I prefer waiting until you have your ult so you can secure kills much more easily.
This is a skill thats gonna take some practice, but it's crucial for this guide because it allows you to snowball which in turn allows you to nuke carries even harder, and makes it easier for you to carry games. It can sometimes give your team a fighting chance to turn things around.
Teamfighting Back to Top
In team fights, your main goal is to use your CC effectively and help your team come out on top. I recommend waiting for some of the enemy CC to go off before you dive in because Riven becomes much less impactful if she gets locked down. The thing that will help you most in this situation is quick thinking/timing.
This is a play where I utilized my small window so my team can come out on top
When going in alone, always remember to focus on the champions doing the most damage so you can secure your quadra.
Practice Tool Back to Top
I think this is the most important part of the guide because if you dont use it, this is what's gonna happen
I was devastated to say the least, but after the practice tool I ended up doing this
and this
So its like most things really, you get out what you put in. Here are some key things to practice: Fast Q, engage combos, flash plays, and using items.
If you've read this far, then this next video is the most important one in this guide
Updates Back to Top
5/10/17 - Basic guide to start deleting. More information on match ups after I do some testing.
5/11/17 - Fixed primary rune setup and re optimized itemization options. Added a few matchups along with creating the Preface section. Added guidelines for the Taiwanese combo. Added a video in the Roaming section and changed the second video in the Teamfighting section. More info on match ups later.
7/24/17 - I'm honestly amazed at how much damage you can still do, if not more than before.