So, you're diving into the world of Gwen, the Hallowed Seamstress, and trying to figure out the best way to kickstart her build? A common question buzzing around is: Should you rush Riftmaker or Nashor's Tooth first? Don't worry, guys, we're going to break down the pros and cons of each option to help you make the best decision for your playstyle and the current game situation. Let's get started!

Riftmaker First: Sustained Damage and Durability

Riftmaker is a popular choice for Gwen's first item because it offers a blend of damage and survivability. The item provides a good amount of Ability Power (AP), which directly boosts Gwen's damage output. More importantly, it grants Omnivamp, allowing Gwen to heal for a percentage of the damage she deals. This is particularly useful in extended trades and team fights, as it helps her sustain through damage and stay alive longer.

Why Riftmaker Works Well on Gwen

• Sustain: The Omnivamp provided by Riftmaker is incredibly valuable on Gwen. Her kit revolves around dealing consistent damage over time, and the healing from Omnivamp allows her to stay in fights longer, continuously dealing damage and applying her passive. This is especially effective against tanky champions who can absorb a lot of damage, as Gwen can outlast them with her sustained healing.
• True Damage: Riftmaker's passive, Void Corruption, converts a portion of the damage you deal into True Damage. This is significant because True Damage ignores enemy armor and magic resistance, allowing Gwen to deal consistent damage to all targets, regardless of their defensive stats. As the fight goes on, Void Corruption stacks up, increasing the amount of damage converted to True Damage, making Gwen a formidable threat to even the tankiest of opponents.
• AP and Health: In addition to Omnivamp and True Damage conversion, Riftmaker also provides a decent amount of Ability Power and Health. The AP directly increases Gwen's damage output, while the Health provides her with some much-needed durability. This makes her more resilient in fights, allowing her to survive burst damage and stay alive long enough to deal significant damage.
• Team Fight Dominance: Gwen excels in team fights where she can continuously deal damage and apply her passive. Riftmaker's sustain and True Damage conversion allow her to thrive in these situations, making her a valuable asset to her team. She can stay in the fight longer, dealing consistent damage and healing through incoming damage, making her difficult to kill.

When to Build Riftmaker First

• Against Tanky Compositions: When facing a team with multiple tanky champions, Riftmaker is an excellent choice. The True Damage conversion allows Gwen to cut through their defenses and deal significant damage, while the Omnivamp helps her sustain through their sustained damage output.
• When You Need Sustain: If you anticipate needing to survive extended trades and team fights, Riftmaker is the better option. The Omnivamp will keep you alive longer, allowing you to deal more damage and apply your passive more effectively.
• When You Want to Play a More Durable Playstyle: If you prefer a playstyle that prioritizes survivability and sustained damage, Riftmaker is the way to go. The Health and Omnivamp provide you with the durability you need to stay in fights longer, while the AP and True Damage conversion ensure that you still deal significant damage.

Nashor's Tooth First: Early Game Power Spike

Nashor's Tooth is another popular option for Gwen's first item, focusing more on early game damage and attack speed. This item provides a significant amount of Ability Power, which amplifies Gwen's spell damage, and most importantly, it grants a substantial amount of Attack Speed. This increased attack speed synergizes incredibly well with Gwen's passive, A Thousand Cuts, allowing her to stack it up faster and deal more damage in a shorter amount of time.

Why Nashor's Tooth Works Well on Gwen

• Attack Speed: The Attack Speed granted by Nashor's Tooth is crucial for Gwen. Her passive, A Thousand Cuts, deals bonus magic damage on-hit based on the number of stacks she has accumulated. By increasing her attack speed, Gwen can stack her passive faster, allowing her to deal significantly more damage in a shorter amount of time. This is especially effective in early game skirmishes and trades, where she can quickly burst down opponents.
• On-Hit Damage: Nashor's Tooth also provides additional on-hit damage, further amplifying Gwen's auto-attack damage. This, combined with the Attack Speed and her passive, makes her a formidable duelist in the early game. She can quickly shred through opponents with her enhanced auto-attacks, making her a threat to enemy laners and junglers.
• Splitpushing Potential: The Attack Speed and on-hit damage also make Gwen an effective splitpusher. She can quickly clear waves and take down towers, applying pressure to the enemy team and forcing them to respond. This can create opportunities for her team to make plays elsewhere on the map.
• Early Game Dominance: Nashor's Tooth provides Gwen with a significant early game power spike. The Attack Speed and on-hit damage allow her to dominate lane, win skirmishes, and apply pressure to the enemy team. This can help her snowball her lead and carry the game.

When to Build Nashor's Tooth First

• When You Want to Dominate Lane: If you are confident in your ability to outplay your opponent and want to establish an early lead, Nashor's Tooth is the better option. The Attack Speed and on-hit damage will allow you to bully your opponent in lane and secure early kills.
• When You Want to Splitpush: If you anticipate needing to splitpush to create pressure on the enemy team, Nashor's Tooth is an excellent choice. The Attack Speed and on-hit damage will allow you to quickly clear waves and take down towers.
• Against Squishy Compositions: When facing a team with multiple squishy champions, Nashor's Tooth can be very effective. The increased attack speed allows Gwen to quickly burst down these targets, making her a valuable asset in team fights.

Comparing Riftmaker and Nashor's Tooth: A Quick Overview

Adapting Your Build to the Game

Ultimately, the best choice between Riftmaker and Nashor's Tooth depends on the specific game you are in. Consider the enemy team composition, your playstyle, and your team's needs when making your decision. Sometimes, you might even consider delaying either item and opting for an alternative like Leeandry's Anguish for the mana and haste if against tanks.

• Assess the Enemy Team: Are you facing a team of tanks that you need to shred through, or a team of squishies that you can burst down quickly? This will heavily influence your item choice.
• Consider Your Playstyle: Do you prefer a more durable playstyle that focuses on sustained damage, or an aggressive playstyle that prioritizes early game dominance? Choose the item that best suits your preferred playstyle.
• Think About Your Team's Needs: Does your team need a durable frontliner, or a splitpusher to apply pressure to the enemy team? Consider what your team needs and choose the item that will best help you fulfill that role.

Conclusion: Making the Right Choice

There's no definitive "best" option between Riftmaker and Nashor's Tooth first on Gwen. Both items have their strengths and weaknesses, and the right choice depends on the specific circumstances of the game.

• If you're up against a tanky team or need sustain, Riftmaker is your go-to. It will provide you with the durability and True Damage you need to thrive in extended fights.
• If you're looking to dominate lane, splitpush, or burst down squishy targets, Nashor's Tooth is the better choice. It will give you the Attack Speed and on-hit damage you need to snowball your lead and carry the game.

By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each item and adapting your build to the game, you'll be well on your way to mastering Gwen and climbing the ranks! Good luck, and have fun sewing your way to victory!