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Gangplank combos

the Saltwater Scourge

4 Gangplank combos explained key by key: in which order to cast the abilities, when to use them and what each step does. The main combo is E › AA › Q. Further down: every ability's cooldown, cost and range, and the skill max order measured over ranked games.

Gangplank combos

Written guide · based on the official ability texts

The keg

E AA AA

When: An enemy is near a keg.

Powder Keg explodes when you attack it, extends the damage over the area and slows; Parrrley finishes.

The cleanse

W AA AA

When: You are under crowd control.

Remove Scurvy removes the crowd control effects affecting you and restores health.

The area ultimate

E AA AA

When: A fight is underway at range.

Cannon Barrage bombards an area, slowing and damaging enemies; combine it with kegs to trap them.

The keg under the barrage

R AA AA

When: Enemies are in a narrow area.

Place a keg, Cannon Barrage slows and damages the area, an attack on the keg extends the damage and slows, Parrrley finishes for gold.

Role in team fights

Gangplank sets up the terrain with kegs, uses Cannon Barrage to slow and damage a whole area, then detonates the kegs around the enemies. He uses Remove Scurvy to survive a decisive control.

Common mistakes

Placing kegs with no plan to detonate them.
Using Remove Scurvy with no crowd control to remove.
Casting the ultimate without calling out the area to your allies.

Cooldowns, costs and ranges

A combo only comes back once its abilities are off cooldown: these values (rank 1 to max rank, in seconds) tell how long to wait between two combos. Source: Data Dragon 16.19.1.

Ability	Cooldown (s)	Cost	Range
Q · Parrrley	4.5	50/45/40/35/30 Mana	625
W · Remove Scurvy	22/20/18/16/14	60/70/80/90/100 Mana	400
E · Powder Keg	0	—	1000
R · Cannon Barrage	160/140/120	100 Mana	30000

Official ability descriptions

PassiveTrial by Fire

Every few seconds, Gangplank's melee strike will set his opponent on fire.

QParrrley

Shoots target, plundering Gold for each enemy unit killed.

WRemove Scurvy

Eats citrus to cure crowd control effects and restore Health.

EPowder Keg

Gangplank uncovers a powder keg at target location. If he attacks it, it explodes, spreading the attack's damage to enemies in the area, slowing them.

RCannon Barrage

Gangplank signals his ship to bombard an area, slowing and damaging enemies.

Skill order

Max order: Q > E > W48.9% · 94 games

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Q		●		●	●		●		●
W			●											●	●
E	●							●		●		●	●
R						●					●

The order shows which abilities reach rank 5 first; the grid shows the most-played level-up sequence with that order (measured over 97 games).

Riot's official tips for playing Gangplank

Parrrley applies On Hit effects like Frozen Mallet or Black Cleaver.
Paying attention to low-health enemies on the map can land you a surprise kill with Cannon Barrage.
Try placing Cannon Barrage on the path of escape to cut off fleeing enemies.

How to play around Gangplank's combos

Parrrley deals a high amount of physical damage. Items that grant Armor can help if an enemy Gangplank is doing well.
Once Gangplank reaches level 6, watch out for his global-range ultimate, Cannon Barrage!

Frequently asked questions

What is Gangplank's main combo?

The keg: E › AA › Q. An enemy is near a keg. Powder Keg explodes when you attack it, extends the damage over the area and slows; Parrrley finishes.

Which ability should I max first on Gangplank?

The most-played max order is Q > E > W (94 games, 48.9% win rate).

What is the cooldown of Gangplank's ultimate?

Cannon Barrage has a 160/140/120 second cooldown depending on its rank.

Build, runes and counters: full Gangplank guide · every champion's combos · tier list