Garen vs Olaf TOP Matchup Guide | LaneStomp

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Olaf

Garen vs Olaf

Updated Jun 3, 2026

Overview

Manage lane pressure by using short trades and passive recovery to avoid Olaf's extended dueling strength.
Focus on surviving Olaf's early aggression and denying him the chance to force prolonged fights where his (R) and (Q) shine.

Trading pattern

Engage with (Q) to silence (Q) slow and start a quick (E) spin trade, then disengage before he can extend.
Punish Olaf when his (Q) axe is on cooldown or missed, as his chase and damage drop significantly.
Avoid trading when (R) is active, as he ignores crowd control and can outduel you in extended fights.

Danger windows

Olaf is most dangerous when his (Q) lands and he can pick up the axe to reset cooldown; avoid prolonged fights then.
Be cautious when Olaf activates (R), as he ignores your silence and can force all-ins.
Your vulnerability peaks after using (Q) when your reach is limited; back off to recover passive health before re-engaging.

Early game

Use early levels to establish short trades with (Q) silence and (E) damage before Olaf can stack his axes.
Avoid extended fights before level 6 where Olaf's all-in potential with (R) is limited but still dangerous.
Keep wave stable to prevent Olaf from forcing long chase fights in the lane's long top side.

Power spikes

Level 6 unlocks your (R) execute, turning chip damage into kill pressure; use short trades to reach execute range.
First bruiser/tank item increases your durability in trades, allowing you to absorb Olaf's damage better.
Respect Olaf's level 6 (R) for crowd control immunity and his first fighter item for extended fight strength; avoid long trades during these windows.

Win conditions

Use short (Q) silence trades combined with (E) damage to chip Olaf down and set up (R) execute kills.
Maintain passive health regeneration by spacing out trades, denying Olaf's chance to force extended fights.
Survive early aggression, then leverage your durability and execute threat to pressure side lanes and outlast Olaf in mid-game skirmishes.