Garen/Trivia

General

• Garen features in the Summoner's Rift Battle Training tutorial, together with Ashe and Ryze.
• Garen's dance references Johnny Bravo's.
  • A side by side comparison can be seen here.
• Contrary to popular belief Garen yells "Demacia!" when using Courage and not during Judgment or Demacian Justice.
  • Players using these abilities simultaneously led to this confusion.
• "Spin To Win!" comes from how easily it was for Garen to get kills while using it.
  • It earned meme status when animated with Ievan Polkka by Loituma playing in the background.
    • When using Judgment Garen earns a cosmetic buff that reads "Garen is spinning to win".
      • The phrase is now associated to every spinning ability ( Counter Strike, Death Lotus, Powerball, Spinning Slash, and  Cyclone)
• Wukong's abilities might have been based on Garen's ( Decisive Strike / Crushing Blow, Judgment / Cyclone, Demacian Justice / Crushing Blow)
• Garen was the first to have his Influence Point price reduced twice, others being Miss Fortune and Warwick.
• He had three different basic attack animations before his Visual Update.
• He is one of fifteen champions to not have a single AP ratio on any ability, the others being Darius, Draven, Illaoi, Kalista, Kayn, Kindred, Kled, Olaf,  Riven, Talon, Urgot, Vayne, Xayah,and Zed.
• Garen was targeted by Deadeye (together with Zed, Sona, and Vi)
• Garen's name comes from Armenian Գարեն, short for Old Armenian Գարեգին Garegin; Adjarian interprets this name as "highly valued", though phonological problems exist.

Quotes

• While on the PBE Garen had a different taunt and his joke was "I know you're in that bush!".
  • Before his Visual Update his joke was "You're gonna like the way you look. I Garen-tee it. Get it?" referencing Men's Wearhouse commercials.
• Garen shares quotes with:
  • "Break their ranks!"
  • "Forge onward"

Skins

Desert Trooper Garen

• He might have been inspired by Duncan Idaho from Dune by Frank Herbert.

Dreadknight Garen

• He can be obtained for free by following the game on Twitter.
• He might be referencing the Death Knight from World of Warcraft.
• He shares this theme with Dreadknight Nasus.

Rugged Garen

• He references a traditional tabletop role-playing game.
• He used to be called 'Vagabond Garen'.
• He might be referencing Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher and/or Aragorn II Elessar from The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.
• He shares this theme with Bard Bard, Braum Lionheart, Rugged Garen, Gragas Caskbreaker, Jayce Brighthammer, Karthus Lightsbane, Ryze Whitebeard, Sejuani Dawnchaser, Varus Swiftbolt, and Veigar Greybeard.

Sanguine Garen

• He might be referencing Sanguinius and the Blood Angels from Warhammer 40,000.
• He resembles Darius.

Commando Garen

• He references the Imperial Guard from Warhammer 40,000.
  • He wears a Beret.
• He shares this theme with Commando Galio, Commando Lux, Commando Jarvan IV and Commando Xin Zhao.

Steel Legion Garen

• He references the Engineer from Torchlight II and the Grey Knights from Warhammer 40,000.
• He shares this theme with Steel Legion Lux.

Rogue Admiral Garen

• He resembles Smoker from One Piece.
• He shares this theme with Sea Hunter Aatrox, Ironside Malphite, and Corsair Quinn.

Warring Kingdoms Garen

• This skin was released for the 2017 Lunar Revel.
• He resembles Varian Wrynn from World of Warcraft.
• It is likely a reference to Guan Ping, a Chinese officer living in the late Eastern Han era, also featured in Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
  • Additionally, he and Koei's version of Guan Ping both use a great sword, the only difference being that Garen wields his sword with one hand and Guan Ping using two hands and dragging it along the ground.
  • Coincidentally, Warring Kingdoms Tryndamere is based on Guan Ping's father Guan Yu. Both father and son served Han warlord Liu Bei, who after their deaths would found the Shu kingdom, heralding the Three Kingdoms period.
• He shares this theme with Warring Kingdoms Azir, Warring Kingdoms Jarvan IV, Warring Kingdoms Katarina, Warring Kingdoms Nidalee, Warring Kingdoms Tryndamere, Warring Kingdoms Vi, and Warring Kingdoms Xin Zhao.
  • Warring Kingdoms Azir can be seen in the background.

Relations

• It is implied, suspected, and speculated that Garen and Katarina had/have feelings for each other.
  • Then there are those who imply it to the point of confirmation:
    • " You live by a code that'll never let you get what you want. Let me take you to her."
    • "Don't starve your heart, child! Let me deliver you to him."
    • "Honor? Duty? Ha! What your heart demands is all that matters."
    • "No love is impossible, my god demands you follow your desires."
    • "The always-enchanting tale of star- crossed lovers."
    • " Your finale will be a duet."
• Garen is Lux's older brother and their family name is Crownguard.
  • He deeply respects and loves his sister, but he fears that she might have magical abilities.
  • As their family name implies, they serve and protect the crown.
    • Jarvan IV is Garen's childhood friend.
      • When the Exemplar was captured, the Might led the Dauntless Vanguard on a rescue operation, slaying Urgot in the process.
• Garen and Taric are long-time friends from the Shield of Valoran's days in the Demacian military.
  • Garen was furious at being convinced Taric was wasting his talents as a warrior but he still believed in him.
    • When Voidborn killed the Shield of Valoran's squad, the Might sentenced him to endure 'the Crown of Stone' by climbing Mount Targon.
      • Little did Garen know, in becoming the Aspect of the Protector, Taric has become the warrior he believed 'he was meant to be' (and much more)