MacroMind matchup data: real ranked games, not opinions
Cho'Gath vs Garen
What is Cho'Gath's win rate vs Garen?
In Top, Cho'Gath wins 53% against Garen across 1,731 observed ranked games.
Global ranked sample: games from every region and every rank pooled together, not one server's stats. Data runs through patch 26.12; curves updated 2026-08-07.
By 15 minutes the median game has Cho'Gath behind by 145 gold.
Cho'Gath at 15:00
- Gold: -145
- CS: -4
- XP: +95
Typical gap to Garen, from 1,725 games that reached 15:00.
Does Cho'Gath counter Garen?
Yes. Cho'Gath wins 53% of 1,731 ranked Top games into Garen. That is a real edge in this lane, so play for it. The 10:00 rows below show how often Cho'Gath closes the game out from a lead, and how often Garen claws it back.
How to beat Garen as Cho'Gath
When Cho'Gath is ahead in gold at 10:00, this matchup runs 63% over 799 games; behind, it drops to 44% over 932.
| The spot | Win rate | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Ahead in gold at 10:00 | 63% | 799 |
| Behind in gold at 10:00 | 44% | 932 |
| First blood | 59% | 788 |
| +kills at 10:00 | 63% | 646 |
| +CS at 10:00 | 59% | 726 |
| 0 deaths at 10:00 | 63% | 415 |
| 0 deaths at 15:00 | 68% | 221 |
The median first death in this lane comes at 5:26; the level 6 spike lands around 5:21. Respect the all-in window until your spike is online.
What does Cho'Gath build in Top?
Into Garen specifically, Cho'Gath finishes Heartsteel first most often: 50.7% over 456 games of this matchup.
The most-finished core in this exact matchup is Hextech Rocketbelt, Riftmaker, Dead Man's Plate: 68.8% across 48 games.
The most-finished Cho'Gath core is Hextech Rocketbelt, Riftmaker, Dead Man's Plate: 59.5% across 1,263 games when all three got done. All matchups, patches 26.1-26.12.
Most games start Doran's Ring + Health Potion + Health Potion; the first finished item is usually Heartsteel (8,795 games).
Skill plan: Cho'Gath players max E first and take E at level 1.