Veigar vs Riven Counter Pick

Riven’s kit runs on resources she never has to pay for, while Veigar has to spend mana on every cast. That makes the early poke trade lopsided from level 1. On patch 16.13.1, Veigar sits at 41.1% across 185 games. Riven is the one who has the upper hand here.

How she uses that edge:

• Broken Wings chains three casts of movement and damage, and the final one knocks enemies back. That is enough repositioning to slip into and out of Event Horizon without ever touching its edge.
• Valor lunges forward and blocks incoming damage, and if the timing is right it fully absorbs a Dark Matter hit.
• Blade of the Exile boosts her attack damage and attack range, closing the gap between her 125 units and the 550 that Veigar is aiming for, right when he most wants that space.

Her physical damage runs into 18 base armor, the weakest defensive stat on either side, while his magic damage meets 32 base magic resistance and 107.8 armor at level 18. She is also the tankier champion from start to finish, with 630 health against his 580 at level 1, and 64 base attack damage against his 52. Runic Blade charges her attacks with every ability she casts, so her damage lands before any items do. Both champions move at 340, so neither one can outrun the other on foot. Ratings come in at 8 and 7. The sensible plan is to stack up with Baleful Strike from maximum range and use the cage as a defensive wall.