Talk:Gnar/@comment-25495009-20141003154352/@comment-6281696-20141003171014

First of, there's like 3 or 4 true tanks in LoL Gnar is really not an exception in being an off-tank (virtually everything that's deemed a "tank" is really just a glorified bruiser who has acces to way too much defense cuz of the philosophy that you should be able to use every sodding item with no drawbacks whatsoever, usually with 1 godlike defensive mechanic that allows him to claim to be a "tank")

As for his harras, he suffers tremendously from the fact that he doesn't have the same "burst" as the popular choises have. He needs his 3 hits to really achieve anything and that takes time. As such virtually any capable opponent will outtrade him because they're simply done much quicker and can just get the hell away before Gnar's retaliation is done. And the same issue holds during fights, only that 3th attack really hurts, the rest is kind of bad with his low AD and lack of offensive items. Of course this gets easier as the game progresses and gnar's attackspeed & range increase (while his CD's decrease), but especially in lane I find him nearly always outtraded unless your opponent is kind enough to allow that third hit. On top of that, mini is so squishy that most champions can almost kill him with one combo. Which allows a considerable amount of opponents to just go all in on him, get him to 20% at which point (mini) gnar either has to retreat or (most likely) die. Once you have enough defenses this starts to become less of an issue though. As a consequence his early game is probably the weakest of any champion I've seen. However his late game is brilliant. It's just that his late game doesn't kick in until the lane is already almost done.

To give an example, I played against an irelia today. Until about the 15 minute mark I couldn't do anything because as soon as I get close she jumps on me, does her combo and immeadiatly destroys half my health in the time it takes me to finish one AA. Which means that I can now either back of and pray I can get away, or die. Now after 15 minutes I completed some significant defenses, allowing me to survive the initial combo, I got the AS to actuall get some procs off, suddenly I win each and every 1v1 against her. And this frequently happens with him, although better opponents tend to be able to get such a lead that the turning point is never reached before the lane is completly over.