Mastering the blade of the Exile requires more than just raw aggression; it demands a delicate dance of precise inputs and impeccable timing. Riven, the Noxian exile, is a champion defined by her intricate animation cancels, a technique that elevates her from a formidable warrior to an unstoppable force. This isn’t simply about button mashing; it’s about weaving together her abilities seamlessly, chaining attacks with lightning-fast precision to unleash devastating combos that can obliterate opponents before they even have a chance to react. Furthermore, understanding the nuances of animation canceling unlocks Riven’s true potential, allowing you to optimize her damage output, maneuver through teamfights with unmatched fluidity, and outplay even the most seasoned adversaries. In essence, animation canceling is the key to transforming Riven from a capable fighter into a true blademaster, a whirlwind of steel and fury on the Summoner’s Rift.
So, how does this intricate technique actually work? Essentially, animation canceling involves interrupting the end frames of Riven’s animations, allowing you to immediately begin another action. For instance, instead of waiting for the full animation of her Q, Broken Wings, to complete, you can cancel its final moments by quickly inputting another command, such as another Q, a W, Ki Burst, or an E, Valor. Consequently, this allows you to execute her abilities much faster than intended, weaving together a flurry of attacks that can overwhelm even the most resilient foes. Moreover, animation canceling extends beyond just offensive abilities; it can be incorporated into her movement as well, allowing for swift dashes and repositioning during combat. By weaving in movement commands between her attacks, Riven can close gaps, dodge skillshots, and maintain optimal positioning while simultaneously unleashing her devastating combos. Ultimately, mastering this technique requires dedicated practice and a keen understanding of Riven’s kit, but the rewards are well worth the effort.
Beyond the mechanical execution, understanding the strategic implications of animation canceling is paramount. Firstly, it dramatically increases Riven’s burst potential, enabling her to delete squishy targets in mere seconds. Secondly, it grants her unparalleled mobility in teamfights, allowing her to dance around the battlefield, dodging crucial crowd control abilities while simultaneously dishing out damage. In addition to its offensive and defensive applications, animation canceling also plays a vital role in resource management. By optimizing her ability usage through cancels, Riven can maintain a healthy amount of energy, ensuring that she has enough resources to sustain herself in prolonged engagements. Therefore, mastering animation canceling is not just about executing flashy combos; it’s about playing Riven at the highest level, maximizing her effectiveness in every scenario, and truly embodying the spirit of the exile who bends the very flow of combat to her will. Through diligent practice and a deep understanding of its intricacies, you can unlock Riven’s true potential and become a force to be reckoned with on the Summoner’s Rift.
Understanding Riven Animation Canceling: A Core Mechanic
Riven, the exiled Noxian warrior, is a complex champion in League of Legends known for her high skill ceiling and devastating potential. A core aspect of mastering Riven revolves around animation canceling, a technique that allows players to drastically increase her damage output and mobility. Understanding this mechanic is key to unlocking her true power and differentiating a good Riven player from a great one.
At its heart, animation canceling involves interrupting the end of one animation with the start of another. This doesn’t mean skipping the animation entirely, but rather, smoothly transitioning from one action to the next, effectively “canceling” the visual fluff at the end of the first animation. This results in a faster execution of her combos, allowing you to weave in more auto-attacks and abilities within a shorter time frame. Think of it like a dance, where each move flows seamlessly into the next, creating a fluid and efficient performance. Without animation canceling, Riven’s combos feel clunky and slow, leaving her vulnerable and limiting her damage potential.
Riven’s kit is specifically designed to facilitate animation canceling. Her Q, “Broken Wings,” consists of three separate casts, each of which can be canceled. Similarly, her W, “Ki Burst,” and E, “Valor,” can be used to cancel the animations of her other abilities and auto-attacks. By mastering these cancels, you can string together devastating combos that unleash a flurry of blades and quickly dispatch your opponents. For instance, a common practice is to cancel the end of Riven’s Q animation with an auto-attack, referred to as a “fast Q”. This allows you to quickly weave in extra damage between Q casts, maximizing your burst potential. Furthermore, animation canceling allows you to reposition yourself more effectively during your combos, using your E for both mobility and as a cancel point, making you a more elusive and dangerous threat on the battlefield.
Here’s a breakdown of common animation cancels:
| Cancel | Description |
|---|---|
| Fast Q (Q Cancel) | Canceling the end of each Q cast with an auto-attack. |
| W Cancel | Using W to cancel the animation of Q or auto-attacks. |
| E Cancel | Using E to cancel the animation of Q, W, or auto-attacks. |
| R1 Cancel (Windslash Cancel) | Using R2 (Windslash) immediately after casting R1 (Broken Wing). |
Mastering these cancels takes practice and dedication. Start by focusing on individual cancels, such as the fast Q, and gradually incorporate more complex combinations as you become comfortable. Utilizing practice tools and custom games can be incredibly helpful in honing your skills and developing muscle memory. With enough practice, animation canceling will become second nature, allowing you to unleash Riven’s full potential and dominate the Rift.
The Fundamentals: How Animation Canceling Works in League of Legends
Animation canceling is a crucial technique for any Riven player looking to maximize their damage output and outplay potential. It’s the secret sauce that separates good Riven players from the truly great ones. At its core, animation canceling involves manipulating Riven’s animations to perform actions faster than they would normally allow. This isn’t about cheating or exploiting glitches; it’s about understanding the intricacies of the game’s animation system and using that knowledge to your advantage. By canceling the end frames of certain animations, you can seamlessly weave together abilities and auto-attacks, creating a flurry of blows that can decimate your opponents before they even have a chance to react.
How Animation Canceling Works
League of Legends, like many games, uses animations to visually represent character actions. These animations have a set duration. Think of it like a short movie clip playing out whenever you use an ability or attack. Normally, you have to wait for the full animation to finish before you can perform another action. However, with animation canceling, you interrupt the *end* of that animation with another command. This effectively skips the unnecessary visual fluff at the tail end of the animation, letting you move on to the next action much faster. The key takeaway here is that you’re not actually skipping the damage or effect of the ability or attack – you’re just trimming off the visual fat.
Why is this Important for Riven?
Riven’s kit is designed around chaining abilities and auto-attacks together for fast burst combos. Animation canceling allows you to squeeze in extra auto-attacks between your abilities, significantly amplifying your damage output. Imagine trying to throw punches as fast as you can – if you wait for your arm to fully retract after each punch, you’ll be much slower than someone who can immediately begin the next punch as the previous one lands. That’s essentially what animation canceling does for Riven. It turns her into a whirlwind of blades, weaving together abilities and attacks with blistering speed.
Furthermore, animation canceling isn’t just about dealing more damage; it’s also about being more elusive. By canceling the end frames of her movement abilities, Riven can change direction faster and more unpredictably, making her a much harder target to hit. This added mobility can be the difference between escaping a gank or securing a kill.
Let’s take a look at a simplified example in a table:
| Action | Normal Execution Time | Canceled Execution Time |
|---|---|---|
| Q (Broken Wings) - Auto Attack | 1 second (estimated) | 0.7 seconds (estimated) |
| W (Ki Burst) - Auto Attack | 0.8 seconds (estimated) | 0.5 seconds (estimated) |
These are rough estimates, and the actual time saved will vary depending on factors like attack speed and ping. However, even small time savings add up quickly over the course of a combo, resulting in a significant DPS increase and greater fluidity in your gameplay. Mastering this technique is essential for taking your Riven play to the next level.
Basic Riven Cancels: Fast Q Combo
Riven’s Q, “Broken Wings,” is a three-part ability where she dashes forward and slashes with her blade. Each cast can be buffered with other actions, allowing for faster combos and more efficient trading in lane. This is the foundation of what we call “animation canceling.”
Think of it like this: each Q cast has a windup animation and a recovery animation. By inputting other commands during the recovery phase of each Q, you can cut out the unnecessary downtime and seamlessly flow into the next cast. This makes your combo much faster and harder to react to.
A simplified way to execute the fast Q combo is by alternating between Q and left-click move commands. For example, you’d press Q, then immediately left-click to move near your target, Q again, left-click to adjust your position, and finally Q for the third part of Broken Wings. This constant weaving of movement commands between Q casts is what makes the combo fluid and fast. It’ll take practice, but the increased speed is noticeable and rewarding. You’ll be able to quickly dish out your damage and reposition yourself, making you a much more slippery target.
The Auto-Q Reset
Understanding the Mechanic
The auto-attack reset after Riven’s Q is arguably the most crucial part of her kit and a key component of her animation cancels. Essentially, using Q empowers her next auto-attack, making it come out significantly faster and resetting the animation. This allows Riven to weave auto-attacks between her Q casts for maximum damage output.
Putting it into Practice
Imagine you’re trading against an opponent. You dash in with your first Q, and instead of immediately casting the second Q, you weave in an auto-attack. This auto-attack, empowered by the preceding Q, comes out incredibly fast. Immediately after that auto-attack lands, you then cast your second Q, followed by another empowered auto, and finally, your third Q. This sequence combines the speed of the fast Q combo with the added damage from the reset auto-attacks, making it a deadly trading pattern.
Detailed Breakdown and Tips for Mastery
To perform the auto-Q reset effectively, timing and precision are key. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown and some practical tips:
-
**The Input Sequence:** The core of the auto-Q reset is the sequence: Q > Left-Click (to target your opponent for the auto-attack) > Q > Left-Click > Q. Each left-click triggers the empowered auto-attack, immediately followed by the next Q.
-
**Target Prioritization:** It’s crucial to left-click directly on your target before each Q. This ensures that the empowered auto-attack connects. If you don’t target them properly, you’ll either miss the auto entirely or end up walking towards them without attacking, wasting precious time and DPS.
-
**Practice with a Target Dummy:** The best way to hone your auto-Q reset is by practicing consistently against a target dummy. This allows you to focus solely on the timing and input sequence without the pressure of a live opponent. Start slow, focusing on accuracy, and gradually increase your speed as you get more comfortable.
-
**Visual Cues:** Pay attention to Riven’s animation. Once you’ve initiated a Q, look for the brief moment when her blade flashes. This visual cue indicates the ideal timing to input your left-click for the empowered auto-attack.
-
**Advanced Techniques: Incorporating Movement:** Once you’ve mastered the basic sequence, you can further enhance your cancels by incorporating movement between your Qs. This makes you a much more elusive target while maintaining your damage output. Try using right-click movement commands to reposition slightly after each auto-Q reset.
| Step | Action | Key/Input |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Q | Q |
| 2 | Target and Auto-Attack Reset | Left-Click (on target) |
| 3 | Second Q | Q |
| 4 | Target and Auto-Attack Reset | Left-Click (on target) |
| 5 | Third Q | Q |
Mastering the Third Q: Optimal Timing and Positioning for Wall Hops
Riven’s third Q, Valor, is much more than just a simple dash. When used in conjunction with a wall, it becomes a potent mobility tool, allowing for quick escapes, unexpected flanks, and aggressive engages. Understanding the nuances of this “wall hop” is crucial for elevating your Riven gameplay.
Timing Your Q3 for a Smooth Wall Hop
Timing is everything when it comes to a successful wall hop. Inputting the Q too early will simply dash you towards the wall. Too late, and you’ll complete the dash animation before making contact, negating the hop. The sweet spot lies in activating Q3 just as Riven’s dash animation brings her into contact with the wall. This requires practice and a feel for the animation, but the payoff is immense.
Positioning: Where to Stand for Optimal Wall Hops
Effective wall hopping isn’t just about timing; positioning plays a critical role too. You need to be close enough to the wall so that your Q3 dash reaches it, but not so close that you clip into the wall and interrupt the animation. A good rule of thumb is to be just outside of auto-attack range of the wall. This allows for a smooth dash and a clean hop over the terrain.
Wall Angles and Trajectory: Understanding the Mechanics
Not all walls are created equal. Thicker walls require slightly different positioning compared to thinner ones. The angle of the wall also influences the direction of your hop. Experimenting with different wall types in the practice tool will give you a better understanding of how each one affects your trajectory. This knowledge allows for more predictable hops and opens up possibilities for creative outplays.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One common mistake is attempting to buffer Q3 too early, thinking you’re anticipating the wall contact. This often results in a wasted Q and leaves you vulnerable. Another frequent error is misjudging the distance to the wall, leading to either clipping into the wall or simply dashing in front of it. Patience and practice are key to overcoming these hurdles.
Advanced Wall Hop Techniques: Expanding Your Mobility
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can start incorporating more advanced techniques into your gameplay. One such technique is the “fast Q” wall hop. This involves using a quickcast setting for your Q and rapidly tapping the key just as you make contact with the wall. This allows for incredibly fast hops and can make you incredibly difficult to track. Another advanced technique involves combining your wall hop with Flash. By Flashing mid-wall-hop, you can extend the distance traveled and surprise your opponents with unexpected angles of attack. This takes considerable practice to master, but the potential for flashy outplays and escapes is significant. Here is a breakdown of different wall types and the ideal positioning for a successful wall hop:
| Wall Type | Ideal Positioning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Thin Walls (e.g., jungle walls) | Just outside auto-attack range | Easier to hop, allows for tighter angles |
| Thick Walls (e.g., base walls) | Slightly further back than thin walls | Requires more precise timing |
| Corners/Angled Walls | Adjust positioning based on desired trajectory | Practice to predict hop direction |
Mastering these advanced techniques will significantly enhance your Riven gameplay and open up a world of outplay potential. Remember, consistent practice is the key to perfecting these mechanics and becoming a true Riven master.
Practical Applications: Utilizing Cancels in Teamfights and Duels
Riven’s animation cancels are essential for maximizing her damage output and survivability in both teamfights and duels. By weaving auto-attacks between her abilities, Riven can drastically reduce the downtime between casts, allowing her to unleash her full combo much faster. This increased speed also translates to greater burst potential, letting Riven quickly eliminate high-priority targets or escape precarious situations. Moreover, animation canceling allows Riven to more effectively reposition during a fight, dodging key skillshots while simultaneously maintaining her offensive pressure.
Teamfights
In the chaotic environment of a teamfight, Riven’s animation cancels are crucial for navigating the battlefield and maximizing her impact. By canceling her auto-attack animations after each cast of Broken Wings, Riven can quickly close the gap on enemy carries, applying pressure and disrupting their positioning. This swiftness also allows her to weave in auto-attacks between her abilities, further amplifying her damage output and quickly bursting down vulnerable targets. Proper animation canceling can also create windows for Riven to reposition during a teamfight, allowing her to dodge crucial crowd control abilities or reposition for a better engage.
Wall Jumps and Flank Engagements
Utilizing Valor in conjunction with animation cancels allows Riven to creatively engage teamfights, especially when flanking. Wall jumps can create an element of surprise, allowing Riven to bypass the enemy frontline and access high-value targets in the backline. By canceling the animation of Valor after landing a wall hop, Riven can seamlessly transition into her combo, catching opponents off guard and quickly eliminating them before they can react. This flanking strategy can be a game-changer, especially when coordinated with teammates to create diversions and capitalize on the chaos.
Disruption and Peel
Even when not solely focused on dealing damage, Riven’s animation cancels enable her to play a disruptive role in teamfights. By quickly casting Broken Wings and canceling the animation, she can swiftly position herself to interrupt enemy channels or peel for vulnerable allies. Using Ki Burst can also knock up multiple enemies, providing valuable crowd control and setting up opportunities for her team to follow up. The speed granted by animation canceling allows Riven to be more reactive in these situations, maximizing her utility and contributing to the overall team effort.
Duels
In one-on-one combat, mastering Riven’s animation cancels can be the difference between victory and defeat. By canceling her auto-attack animations, she can maintain a constant stream of damage, overwhelming opponents with her burst potential. This rapid succession of attacks and abilities makes it difficult for enemies to react, effectively minimizing their opportunities to counterattack or escape. Additionally, the increased mobility provided by animation canceling allows Riven to stick to her target, preventing them from kiting her and maximizing her damage output.
Trading Stances
Riven excels at quickly trading damage and then backing off to safety. Animation canceling is key to making these trades as effective as possible. She can dash in with Broken Wings, weave in auto-attacks, cast Ki Burst for a quick knockup, and then use Valor to dash back out, all in the blink of an eye. This allows Riven to win trades against even unfavorable matchups, forcing opponents to back off and giving her control over the lane.
Mind Games with Fast Q
A highly effective tactic in duels is using the “fast Q” technique, which involves using the first cast of Broken Wings, immediately canceling it with an auto-attack, then casting the second Q. This allows for incredibly fast repositioning and burst damage, creating openings that can be exploited for a kill. It’s a highly technical maneuver that throws off opponents’ timing and makes it harder for them to predict Riven’s next move. Mastering this technique is essential for high-level Riven play.
Example Combos and Cancellations
| Combo | Cancellation Points | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| E-Q-AA-Q-AA-Q-W-AA-R1-AA-Q-AA-R2 | After every Q and before W and R2 | Maximizes damage output in a short timeframe |
| E-AA-W-AA-Q-AA-Q-AA-Q-R1-Flash-AA-R2 | After every Q, W, and before R2 | Engaging and surprising enemies with a Flash-R2 Finisher |
| Q-AA-Q-AA-Q-E-W-Flash | After every Q | Quick engage or escape with emphasis on mobility |
Common Mistakes to Avoid: Maintaining DPS and Preventing Missed Inputs
Maintaining DPS
Keeping your damage per second (DPS) high as Riven is crucial for winning trades and teamfights. A common mistake new Riven players make is focusing too much on the animation cancels themselves and forgetting about the overall flow of the fight. Remember, cancels are a tool to weave auto-attacks between abilities, maximizing your damage output in the shortest possible time. Don’t get so caught up in the technical execution that you forget the strategic goal.
Another frequent error is improper target prioritization. Riven excels at taking down squishy targets quickly. Don’t waste precious time and damage on tanks when you can swiftly eliminate a high-value target like a mage or ADC. This requires quick decision-making and adapting your combos on the fly, ensuring you always focus on the most vulnerable enemy.
Common DPS Mistakes
| Mistake | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Focusing too much on animation cancels | Leads to neglecting overall combat flow and target prioritization. |
| Improper target prioritization | Wasting damage on tanks instead of focusing on high-value targets. |
Preventing Missed Inputs
Missed inputs are the bane of any Riven player’s existence. They break the flow of your combos, drastically reducing your damage and potentially losing you a fight. One primary culprit is attempting to input commands too quickly. While speed is essential, accuracy is paramount. Focus on clean inputs, ensuring each command registers before moving on to the next.
Another common issue stems from inconsistent timing between abilities and auto-attacks. The timing windows for animation cancels are tight. Practicing in a controlled environment, such as the practice tool, is invaluable. Use this time to develop muscle memory and a consistent rhythm for your combos. This practice will translate to smoother execution in real game scenarios, minimizing missed inputs and maximizing your potential.
Common Input Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Mastering Riven’s animation cancels is about precision and consistency. Here’s a deeper dive into common errors and how to avoid them:
Buffering Too Early: Trying to input the next command before the animation for the current one has even begun. This often leads to the second command being completely ignored by the game. Solution: Focus on the visual cues of Riven’s animations. Practice recognizing the exact moment each animation ends before inputting the next command.
Inconsistent Timing with Auto-Attacks: Sometimes you’ll get the cancel, sometimes you won’t. This inconsistency often comes from not properly understanding the timing window for weaving auto-attacks between abilities. Solution: Use the practice tool extensively. Focus on a single combo, like the fast Q combo, and repeat it until you can consistently execute it without missing an auto-attack. Gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable.
Over-Reliance on Specific Combos: Sticking rigidly to memorized combos can be detrimental in dynamic situations. Sometimes, you won’t have time for a full combo, and a missed input mid-combo can throw everything off. Solution: While practicing combos is important, also practice improvising. Try different combinations of abilities and auto-attacks in the practice tool to get a feel for how Riven flows. This will allow you to adapt to different situations in a real game and still deal significant damage even if you can’t execute a perfect combo.
Ignoring Ping and Lag: Even small amounts of lag can significantly impact your ability to execute animation cancels. A command that works perfectly on low ping might be consistently missed on higher ping. Solution: Be mindful of your ping. If you’re experiencing lag, try to adjust your playstyle. You might need to slow down your inputs slightly to account for the delay. Understanding how lag affects your inputs is key to maintaining consistent performance.
Beyond the Basics: Advanced Canceling and the Pursuit of Mastery
Fast Q
Fast Q-ing, also known as animation canceling with your Q (Broken Wings), is foundational to Riven’s combo potential. It involves using Q right after an auto-attack, effectively weaving the two actions together to minimize downtime and maximize damage output. This technique allows you to squeeze in more damage in a shorter window than simply auto-attacking and then using Q separately.
Double Casting
Double casting refers to using two abilities almost simultaneously. While not a true cancel, it’s crucial for maximizing your burst. This often involves using your third Q (Broken Wings) just before another ability, like your W (Ki Burst), creating a near-instantaneous burst of damage. Mastering double casting is key for quick trades and all-in engages.
Wall Hops & Interactions
Riven’s third Q (Broken Wings) allows her to vault over small walls. This mobility is crucial for flanking, escaping, and engaging in unexpected ways. Practicing wall hops is vital, as mistiming or misjudging a wall can lead to missed opportunities or getting caught out of position. You should learn the specific spots on each wall that allow for a hop as some walls are more finicky than others.
The E-Q Cancel
Canceling the end animation of your E (Valor) with your Q (Broken Wings) allows you to maintain momentum and reposition aggressively while mitigating incoming damage. This is a core mechanic for Riven, enabling swift engages and disengages, making you a slippery target.
The Hydra Cancel
If you build Ravenous or Titanic Hydra, its active can be canceled with Riven’s Q. This significantly increases your burst damage potential, allowing you to weave the Hydra’s active into your combos seamlessly. Mastering this technique can turn a close fight decisively in your favor.
Auto Resetting
Riven’s Q (Broken Wings) resets her auto-attack timer. This means you can instantly follow up a Q with an auto-attack for increased damage. This is a fundamental part of her combo structure and is essential for maximizing your damage output.
Animation Cancels and Mobility
Animation canceling isn’t just about dealing damage faster; it’s also about improved mobility. By canceling animations, you can move more fluidly around the battlefield, dodging skillshots, chasing down fleeing enemies, or quickly repositioning for better angles of attack. This added mobility is a key component of Riven’s outplay potential.
Item Interactions
Certain items interact with Riven’s animation cancels. For example, using Youmuu’s Ghostblade before engaging can amplify your burst damage when combined with canceled abilities. Understanding these interactions and weaving them into your combos can significantly increase your effectiveness. Items like Prowler’s Claw can also be incorporated into cancels for aggressive engages and picks.
Beyond the Basics: Advanced Canceling and the Pursuit of Mastery
Mastering Riven’s animation cancels is a continuous journey. It’s not enough to simply know the techniques; you need to practice them consistently until they become second nature. Experiment with different combos, understand the timing windows, and learn how to adapt your cancels to different situations. Explore combining different cancels like Hydra canceling into a Fast Q followed by a Double Cast, or weaving in an E-Q cancel to reposition during a combo. Practice tool is your best friend here. The more you practice, the smoother and more instinctive your cancels will become, unlocking Riven’s true potential and allowing you to express yourself through stylish and effective plays. Consider focusing on specific combos each practice session. For instance, practice a fast Q into double cast until it becomes muscle memory. Then, add in a Hydra cancel or an E-Q cancel to the sequence. This structured practice allows for incremental improvement and a more thorough understanding of Riven’s complex mechanics. Furthermore, pay attention to the specific timing windows for each cancel. Some are more lenient than others, and understanding these nuances will allow you to perform more consistently under pressure. The following table shows some basic combo:
| Combo | Description |
|---|---|
| Fast Q Combo | Auto-attack > Q > Auto-attack > Q > Auto-attack > Q |
| Double Cast Combo | E > Q3 > W |
| Hydra Cancel Combo | Auto-attack > Q > Hydra Active > Auto-attack > Q > Auto-attack > Q |
Riven Animation Canceling: A Competitive Edge in League of Legends
Riven, a popular top lane champion in League of Legends, is known for her complex kit and high skill ceiling. A core component of mastering Riven involves animation canceling, a technique that allows players to execute her abilities faster than their standard animations would typically allow. This practice dramatically increases her damage output in short bursts, making her trades significantly more potent and allowing for more effective escapes. While animation canceling is not unique to Riven, her kit is particularly well-suited for this technique, contributing significantly to her high skill expression and effectiveness in the right hands.
The primary benefit of animation canceling lies in maximizing damage potential. By canceling the end frames of certain animations, Riven players can weave in auto-attacks between abilities more seamlessly, effectively “fitting” more actions into a smaller timeframe. This translates to burst damage that can catch opponents off guard and win trades quickly. Beyond damage, animation canceling also improves Riven’s mobility. By canceling the end frames of her Q (Broken Wings), she can move slightly faster, aiding in chasing down fleeing enemies or dodging skill shots.
However, mastering animation canceling requires significant practice and dedication. It involves precise timing and keystroke combinations that can be difficult to execute consistently, especially in the heat of combat. New Riven players should focus on understanding the fundamentals of her kit before attempting advanced techniques like animation canceling. Trying to implement it prematurely can lead to sloppy play and missed opportunities. Prioritizing core mechanics, such as proper ability sequencing and target selection, will yield better results in the early stages of learning Riven.
People Also Ask About Riven Animation Canceling
What is Riven Animation Canceling?
Riven animation canceling is a technique in League of Legends that allows players to shorten the animation time of her abilities by strategically inputting other commands, most commonly movement commands or auto-attacks. This results in a faster execution of her combos and a significant increase in her damage output and mobility.
How Do I Perform Animation Cancels with Riven?
Basic Animation Canceling
The most fundamental animation cancel involves using movement commands immediately after casting an ability. For instance, after casting the first Q (Broken Wings), quickly right-clicking the ground allows Riven to move slightly before the animation fully completes. This small movement cancels the animation’s remaining frames, allowing for a faster transition into the next ability or auto-attack.
Advanced Animation Canceling
More advanced animation cancels involve weaving in auto-attacks between casts of Riven’s Q. This is commonly referred to as the “fast Q” or “doublecast.” It requires precise timing to input the auto-attack command between the Q casts, effectively fitting an extra auto-attack into a shorter timeframe. This technique significantly amplifies Riven’s burst potential.
Why is Animation Canceling Important for Riven?
Animation canceling is crucial for maximizing Riven’s effectiveness. It allows her to deal significantly more damage in trades, making her a formidable duelist. It also enhances her mobility, allowing for quicker escapes and more effective chasing potential. Mastering animation canceling is often the dividing line between a good Riven player and a great one.
Is Animation Canceling Considered Exploiting?
No, animation canceling is not considered an exploit by Riot Games, the developers of League of Legends. It is a mechanic that has been present in the game for a long time and is considered a core part of Riven’s high skill ceiling. While complex and challenging to master, it is a legitimate technique that rewards players for their dedication and practice.