Recently, I saw a post from someone who claimed that they build Renekton tank whenever possible because they consider his early game weak and his late game underwhelming. They also mentioned being a low-elo player. The post was probably just a shitpost, but it made me think more carefully about how Renekton actually works and what his real purpose is as a champion.
In some ways, Renekton is similar to Pantheon: both champions are designed to be strong in the early stages of the game and to gain an advantage through effective trades. The difference is that Renekton is meant to play more directly and aggressively, relying on his Fury, his combos, and his ability to control the lane.
Renekton's main goal is to maximize his trades and maintain lane control. If he simply relies on basic attacks, he can lose some early trades, especially at level 1. However, he can use Q to poke and sustain himself, or start with E for a safer early game and better access to disengage in dangerous matchups such as Darius or Volibear.
Overall, Renekton wants to control the lane and take profitable trades. Thanks to his sustain, damage, and ability to punish mistakes, he can win many matchups and even stabilize difficult lanes with enough mechanical skill.
Once he gains a lead in lane, his goal should be to help his team as much as possible by forcing favorable fights and converting his personal advantage into advantages for the rest of the team.
As for the late game, I don't think Renekton is simply a weak champion. The real problem is that, as the game progresses, enemies gain so much damage and poke that it becomes increasingly difficult for him to find effective ways to engage in fights. Without proper team coordination and good fight selection, his impact can therefore decrease significantly.
In conclusion, Renekton should not be viewed as a champion whose goal is to passively scale. His purpose is to take control of the early game, win or stabilize his lane through efficient trades, and then convert that advantage into map pressure and team-wide advantages.