And while we can’t exactly change the infinite anger of being kited by a literally every champion in the game, we can at least make him look nice through cosmetics. But which skin stands above the rest? That’s what we’re aiming to answer as we rank every single one of Garen’s skins, considering their features, appeal, and price. Demacia!
12. Commando Garen
Released: September 8th, 2010 Price: 520 RP I’m sure there are a few Garen mains out there screaming at the screen right now, but I just find this skin beyond goofy. It only changes the character model. And I honestly feel like it does everything wrong. The armor makes you look bulky, while somehow still not making you look like a true tank. Your sword looks as dangerous as a salt-lick. And the shades… I can’t really hate the shades, they are pretty sick. And yes, this is also an extremely cheap skin. But I just feel like most people would be better off with the base model than with Commando Garen. Even the splash art is rather ancient!
11. Desert Trooper Garen
Released: April 27th, 2010 Price: 520 RP OK, this skin definitely has some high points – but it just feels like a mediocre experience overall. I do like the scarf, the color palette, and especially the sword. Adding that little curve really makes it feel more refined and exotic. However, that’s where the compliments stop. Because everything else is just somewhat boring. I can’t really say Desert Trooper Garen is ugly. But it also doesn’t feel like that big of an improvement from the base model.
10. Dreadknight Garen
Released: January 18th, 2011 Price: 975 RP Dreadknight Garen is a weird one. Let’s first talk about the character model. I think that it’s surprisingly good here, although a bit minimalistic. A lot of people just chalk this up to a simple color swap skin, but there’s more going on! The sword just looks brilliant now, with tons of engravings and evil-looking crystals. Plus your armor is way more detailed than in the base skin. And the concept of a “Darkest Timeline” Garen is pretty cool. However, 975 RP for just a character model tweak is a bit steep. Plus, a lot of people got this for free a while back – so it isn’t even all that unique or rare anymore.
9. Sanguine Garen
Released: April 27th, 2010 Price: 520 RP When I saw the splash art for this skin, I immediately thought I was going to hate it. I expected the simplest color swap and nothing more – but I was (somewhat) pleasantly surprised. This skin lowkey has a very nice vampire aesthetic! Your sword looks like it’s basically alive. And the sword (alongside your entire armor set) looks like it was bathed in the blood of your enemies. If you zoom in, you can even see that Garen’s face is a lot more pale, and there are dark circles around his eyes! A nice touch. But I should also point out that this skin reminds me of Darius quite a bit, which probably isn’t something Garen would be striving for. Also, I can’t understate how bad the splash art is… So only get this if you’re a Garen, Vladimir, and Darius main all at once.
8. Rogue Admiral Garen
Released: July 22nd, 2015 Price: 750 RP I love this skin. And I hate the fact that I can’t love it more. Making Garen a cool pirate dude was definitely a wise choice. But the aesthetic is kind of lost in-game. Yes, his sword is absolutely badass. And his grinning shark shoulder piece is also epic. And that eye-patch truly makes me weak in the knees. But the open coat/chest scar part isn’t all that noticeable in-game. And that’s such a cool feature that I think it should be a crime to not have it visible on the model. Overall, Rogue Admiral Garen has one of the best splash arts in the game – and the character model is really cool. But you can only really appreciate it when you’re AFK, which nerfs its ranking.
7. Steel Legion Garen
Released: February 1st, 2013 Price: 1350 RP Players seem to be very divided when it comes to this skin. On the one hand, it has a certain legacy, being the go-to Garen skin for quite some time – as well as keeping some of the original character animations from back in the day. On the other hand, it is a bit clunky. I especially can’t vibe with the new W animation here. It is by far the most obvious animation out of the bunch, meaning it’s very easy for enemies to play around it. Plus it does feel a bit goofy from time to time. So if you’re a veteran Garen main, this skin is probably in your top three. But if you’re new to the bush-camping way like I am, it’s a pretty mid-tier skin, all things considered.
6. Battle Academia Garen
Released: March 18th, 2021 Price: 1350 RP I have to say, out of all the Battle Academia skins in League, this one is the most inviting for non-anime fans. It offers some new animations, but none are all that particularly flashy or “out there” in terms of concept. And the new backing animation is just alright. I will say that I like the character model quite a bit though. It manages to hit that perfect balance of looking tanky, but not seeming too bulky. I also never knew that Garen would pull off the blonde look this well. And let me add that the original voice over is extremely weird paired with Battle Academia Garen’s character model. But it isn’t anything you couldn’t get past. Overall very solid & worth the price if you like it.
5. Rugged Garen
Released: August 15th, 2011 Price: 750 RP By all accounts, Rugged Garen should be another throw-away skin that just changes some colors and we all ignore it. And yet here it is, competing with the 1350 RP big boys. First off, the splash art is just brilliant and makes you feel like you’re about to be the protagonist on the Rift. Secondly, the character model has such heavy “level 10 warrior” RPG vibes that my entire childhood is shaking me from the core. And I’m not the only one who thinks like this – I’ve seen quite a few Garen mains praise this skin for its lowkey badassery. So yeah, sometimes you don’t need bells and whistles to make it into the top five.
4. Warring Kingdoms Garen
Released: January 19th, 2017 Price: 1350 RP The following skins are all pretty top-tier with almost no faults, so it’s going to get very nit-picky. And really these could all be interchangeable with very valid arguments for each one. The reason Warring Kingdoms Garen is sitting at the “bottom of the best” is because it has the lowest wow factor. The character model is pretty epic, with a very Eastern aesthetic, some nicely detailed armor, and a blade that’s both elegant and deadly. And if we’re talking about animations, this skin is probably at the top when it comes to the “spin to win” mentality – it literally gives you a little dragon buddy to keep you company while using your E. And that’s about it. I don’t really have anything bad to say about this skin, besides the backing animation being a tad boring… but it just gets outshined by the other skins up ahead.
3. Mecha Kingdoms Garen
Released: January 15th, 2020 Price: 1350 RP Does this make Garen look a bit bulky? Yes. Is the robot thematic done to death in League of Legends? Very much so. But is it absolutely badass? You can bet your wards it is! Although not much of Garen’s original concept shines through in this skin, I do think it fits in well with the feel of the champion. You feel indestructible, like you can cause some serious damage to any no-good mage walking around! Plus I’m a sucker for the little jetpack animation that’s part of your Q. Granted, I can see why some Garen mains don’t particularly like this skin – but I’m a little kid at heart, so I’m giving it the thumbs up!
2. Demacia Vice Garen
Released: July 18th, 2019 Price: 1350 RP Demacia Vice Garen is basically the exact opposite of the previous pick – because it’s hard to find a more unique approach to Garen. This entire skin has a very strong 80s/neon vibe, and even the animations reflect that. Your Q now has a little Tron trail, your W has you go almost holographic, and your backing animation just makes you want to push it to the limits. Plus it’s the only Garen skin to completely forego armor and just dress you up in a nice jacket. This skin is vibrant, cool, and unique. So if you like the look then it’s definitely worth checking out.
1. God-King Garen
Released: June 27th, 2018 Price: 1820 RP I know this is the most vanilla answer that one can give to the question “what is the best Garen skin?” But these are the facts. God-King Garen works on two major levels: First off, the badass level. The character model really lives up to the name “God-King” with a very angelic design, and some of the most detailed armor engravings we’ve seen so far. Your voice lines also do a fine job at making you feel like the most powerful creature in existence. Even your iconic E animation is given a bit more umph! And the second level where this skin works, and why it deserves first place, is the cuteness meter. Badass and adorable usually don’t go together… but oh my god, Garen’s interactions with his lion buddy are just way too precious. Especially the dance emote. I feel like that emote alone is worth 1820 RP. Note: this content was created under Riot Games’ “Legal Jibber Jabber” policy using assets owned by Riot Games. Riot Games does not endorse or sponsor this project.
