Riven vs Naafiri MID Matchup Guide | LaneStomp

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Riven

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Mid

Naafiri

Riven vs Naafiri

Updated Jun 4, 2026

Overview

Riven aims to snowball by punishing Naafiri's cooldowns and leveraging her high mobility for burst trades in mid lane.
Maintain lane pressure to deny Naafiri safe poke and prevent her from setting up clean (W) all-ins.

Trading pattern

Initiate trades with (E) shield, chain (Q) knockup and (W) stun to punish Naafiri when her (W) or poke (Q) is down.
Avoid trading immediately after using mobility; wait for cooldown resets before re-engaging.
Use (R) to convert chip damage into lethal combos once Naafiri is low or isolated.

Danger windows

Respect (W) engage when your crowd control or (E) shield is down; avoid being caught without escape.
Be cautious when your (Q) and (E) are spent, as your mobility and defense are reduced.
(R) active with pack nearby creates high chase threat; avoid isolation and overextension during this window.

Early game

Use early (Q), (W), and (E) cooldown sequencing to trade after Naafiri wastes her poke or mobility.
Avoid extended trades without (E) shield or (W) stun ready to prevent Naafiri's retaliations.
Pressure Naafiri before level 6 to limit her ability to engage with (R) and her pack.

Power spikes

At level 6, use (R) to increase burst and execute low-health Naafiri targets; bait her defensive cooldowns before committing.
First haste/damage item enhances cooldown access; contest wave control and punish Naafiri's cooldown windows aggressively.
Respect Naafiri's level 6 (R) spike and her first lethality item timing by holding key defensive tools for her all-in.

Win conditions

Snowball lane by punishing Naafiri's cooldowns with fast, clean combos and leveraging (R) for lethal burst.
Deny Naafiri safe poke and force her to waste (W) or (R) defensively, then capitalize with aggressive trades.
Use side-lane pressure and skirmishes to extend your lead after establishing lane dominance through cooldown outplays.