Hey guys! So, you're diving into playing Gwen, the Hallowed Seamstress, and are wondering whether to rush Riftmaker or Nashor's Tooth first? It's a super common question, and the answer really depends on a few things: your play style, the enemy team comp, and what you're trying to accomplish in the game. Let's break down each item, look at the pros and cons, and figure out when you should prioritize one over the other.

Riftmaker First: The Sustain and Scaling Powerhouse

Riftmaker is often seen as the standard, go-to first item on Gwen, and for good reason. This item provides a ton of AP (Ability Power), HP (Health Points), AH (Ability Haste) and that sweet Omnivamp. This is really important in the early game. The Omnivamp keeps Gwen healthy during trades, farming and skirmishes allowing her to stay on the map longer and snowball her lead. Once fully stacked, it converts a portion of your damage dealt into true damage which helps Gwen melt tanks and bruisers in the late game. Remember that Riftmaker's Omnivamp encourages an aggressive playstyle, which can punish you if you are caught out of position. So remember summoner, positioning is key! By building Riftmaker, you're investing in Gwen's ability to sustain through extended fights and scale into a late-game monster. Building this item gives Gwen more room to make mistakes, as she can heal back the damage received.

Pros of Rushing Riftmaker

• Excellent sustain: The Omnivamp provides incredible sustain in lane and during team fights, allowing you to stay healthy and keep applying pressure.
• True damage conversion: As the fight drags on, the true damage conversion helps you cut through tanks and bruisers, making you a formidable threat.
• Good all-around stats: The AP, HP and AH give you a nice balance of damage, survivability, and cooldown reduction.
• Scaling Power: This is the biggest point as it allows Gwen to scale harder into the late game as she becomes a raid boss with the Omnivamp and True Damage.

Cons of Rushing Riftmaker

• Slower Attack Speed: Riftmaker provides no attack speed, which can make your early game feel a bit clunky, especially when trying to last-hit minions or trade with opponents.
• Less burst damage: Compared to Nashor's Tooth, Riftmaker provides less immediate burst damage, making it harder to quickly burst down squishy targets.
• More expensive: Riftmaker is a more expensive item than Nashor's Tooth, which can delay your power spike if you have a slow start.

Nashor's Tooth First: The Early Game Aggressor

Nashor's Tooth is another popular option for Gwen, and it's all about ramping up that early game aggression. This item provides a massive amount of AP and a whopping amount of attack speed, which synergizes incredibly well with Gwen's kit. The attack speed allows you to stack your passive faster, apply more on-hit damage, and shred through opponents with your basic attacks. Furthermore, Nashor's Tooth allows Gwen to take towers more easily, which in turn allows her to snowball the game and take objectives for her team. Typically, players that build Nashor's Tooth first are planning to end the game before 30 minutes, as the item falls off compared to Riftmaker in the late game.

Pros of Rushing Nashor's Tooth

• High Attack Speed: The massive attack speed boost allows you to stack your passive faster, apply more on-hit damage, and shred through opponents with your basic attacks.
• Stronger Early Game: The increased attack speed and AP give you a significant damage boost in the early game, allowing you to bully your lane opponent and snowball your lead.
• Lower Cost: Nashor's Tooth is cheaper than Riftmaker, allowing you to reach your power spike sooner.
• Objective Control: As mentioned, Nashor's Tooth allows you to hit towers faster.

Cons of Rushing Nashor's Tooth

• Less Sustain: Nashor's Tooth provides no sustain, making you more vulnerable to poke and all-in attempts.
• Less Tankiness: This item provides no HP or defensive stats, making you squishier and more susceptible to burst damage.
• Falls off later: Nashor's is a good item, but Riftmaker will always provide better stats in the late game, thus outscaling Nashor's Tooth.

Making the Decision: When to Pick Which?

Okay, so now that we've broken down each item, how do you decide which one to rush? Here's a simple guide:

Go for Riftmaker if:

• You need sustain: If you're up against a poke-heavy lane or a team comp that excels at sustained damage, Riftmaker's Omnivamp will be invaluable.
• You want to scale into the late game: If you're confident in your ability to farm up and play for the late game, Riftmaker's true damage conversion will make you a monster in team fights.
• You're new to Gwen: Riftmaker is generally a safer and more forgiving option, as the sustain allows you to make mistakes and still stay in the fight.

Go for Nashor's Tooth if:

• You want to snowball: If you're confident in your ability to win your lane and snowball your lead, Nashor's Tooth will give you the early-game damage you need to dominate.
• You're up against a squishy team comp: If the enemy team is full of squishy targets, Nashor's Tooth will allow you to shred through them with your basic attacks.
• You want to take objectives: If you want to exert more pressure on the map early, Nashor's Tooth will allow you to take towers and objectives more quickly.

Adapting Your Build: Considering the Enemy Team

It's also important to consider the enemy team composition when making your decision. If they have a lot of tanks and bruisers, Riftmaker's true damage conversion will be extremely valuable. If they have a lot of assassins or burst damage, Nashor's Tooth's lack of sustain and tankiness could be a liability. The best players on Gwen are always thinking about their next build path. They are always thinking of how to improve their champion in the best way possible in order to win the game.

Playstyle Matters: What Feels Right for You?

Ultimately, the best way to decide whether to rush Riftmaker or Nashor's Tooth is to experiment and see what feels right for you. Everyone has different playstyles, and what works for one person may not work for another. Try both items in different situations and see which one helps you win more games and have more fun. Some players may want to maximize their ability power so they will build Mejai's Soulstealer after their first item. Other players may need survivability so they will build Zhonya's Hourglass or Banshee's Veil as their second item.

Final Thoughts: Gwen is All About Adapting

No matter which item you choose to rush, remember that Gwen is all about adapting to the situation and making the right decisions based on the game state. Don't be afraid to experiment with different builds and playstyles, and always be thinking about how you can improve your gameplay. Good luck out there on the Rift, and have fun mastering the Hallowed Seamstress!