u/Greeno_x

I am not historically a Gwen player but really enjoy the champ so wanted to try her mid (I am a mid lane Katarina main). I wanted to ask the dedicated mains some questions about it. I haven't been finding great success with it tbh. Around 40% win rate across ~32 games. I am in low emerald.

Runes

I have tried running both Stormraider's Surge and First Strike and I can't decide which is better. I always go inspiration or sorcery as my secondary (for scaling). Also any thoughts on approach velocity to help run people down?

Summoner Spells

I almost always run TP + ghost. But I feel like flash is much safer than ghost? What do you guys recommend? Is ignite better than TP?

Items

I tried Dusk and Dawn and the build path is just so bad... Once I finish it I think I prefer it over Lich Bane but the laning phase while building this item is torture. I never have enough money for an early blasting wand and have to build the other components first. I have tried Lich and the build path is much nicer but I feel as though my mid game playstyle lends better to DnD (split push/side laning). My build overall is usually DnD/Lich -> Sorc boots -> Shadowflame -> Rabadon -> Void/Zhonyas/Malignance/Banshees.

Early game

I find this champ's early game quite difficult, especially pre lvl 3. Which is funny because I main katarina and she is also very bad early levels. Should I be essentially not touching the wave at all pre lvl 3 versus mages? I often get poked out lvl 2 pretty bad. On kata if I am against a poke-heavy lane I just go dorans shield + second wind and am fine but I feel like on Gwen I should be playing maximum scaling runes? I also always start dorans ring for the mana but is dorans shield worth it?

Which mid laners am I able to fight early? Or is her early game that bad that I should always just do short trades and play for scaling? It is difficult for me to not fight early since on kata I am always looking for a lvl 2/3 solo kill. So this playstyle is quite different.

Jungle prio?

Gwen almost never gets prio as a mid laner. What should I do if my jungler is being invaded or my jungler wants my help at an early fight? Am I supposed to just mute all and perma farm? Is gwen typically able to help at these fights? I know it varies game to game but what do you guys usually do in regards to your/enemy jungler?

Mid game

I try to side lane and split push mostly. I feel like this is harder to do though as a midlaner... am I supposed to be primarily team fighting as mid lane Gwen? What is the general rule of thumb for split pushing vs team fighting? On kata the macro is usually: push side lane closest to objective -> run to teamfight -> get triple kill :D. Is mid lane Gwen not so different?

Also - since I am not running conqueror, would you say that I'd want to mostly avoid fighting top laners in the side lane unless very fed/scaled?

Thanks for reading

TL;DR

• Low emerald Kata main wanting to play mid lane Gwen.
• Stormraider's Surge vs First Strike + defensive runes for hard lanes?
• Ghost vs Flash? Ignite vs TP?
• DnD vs Lich bane?
• Early game playstyle?
• How to play with no prio and/or what to do when jungler wants help?
• Mid game split push vs team fight?

I've versed Galios and Vladimirs that take this rune and idk how to trade versus it. They just get their 25% max hp dmg off and run away from your daggers/ult. I don't ban vlad and tbh galio with ad build is fine but this rune is just annoying. I mostly play AD kat.

Katarina is my most played champ. I have over 500k mastery on her. Yet, I have a very bad win rate of roughly 45% on her in ranked over around 80 games. Compared to my second pick, Zoe, which is sitting at 65% WR over 23 games. I am playing in low plat and the only reason I have maintained my rank is due to picking other champs and winning... I don't know what to do at this point. I vary my build depending on the game as well. Can't seem to climb with Kata despite trying my best. My opgg is Greeno#0000 on OCE server if you wanted to take a look and give some tips. Thanks