Graves vs Ambessa

Graves
vs
52.5%

over 162 games

Ambessa

Skill matchup

Heavy AD damageDive threatHigh burstSustained DPS

Build vs Ambessa

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Graves: Hubris, The Collector, Lord Dominik's Regards, Plated Steelcaps, Youmuu's Ghostblade, Immortal Shieldbow, Infinity Edge, Mortal Reminder.

Starting items

Scorchclaw Pup
Health Potion

Core build

Hubris
1
The Collector
2
Lord Dominik's Regards
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Youmuu's Ghostblade
5

Summoner spells

FlashSmite99%
SmiteDot1%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Youmuu's Ghostblade
Immortal Shieldbow
Infinity Edge
Mortal Reminder
Serpent's Fang
B. F. Sword
Serrated Dirk
Guardian Angel
Black Cleaver
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Sundered Sky
Umbral Glaive
Executioner's Calling
Bloodthirster
Hexoptics C44
Maw of Malmortius
Death's Dance
Stormrazor
54.0% WR50 games
DominationDomination
Dark HarvestDark Harvest
Sudden ImpactSudden Impact
Grisly MementosGrisly Mementos
Treasure HunterTreasure Hunter
PrecisionPrecision
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
TriumphTriumph
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Ambessa's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Drakehound's Step (P)

Entering an attack or movement command while casting an ability will cause Ambessa to dash a short distance once the ability is cast, granting her next attack bonus range, damage, and attack speed, and refunding energy.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
314s18s13s–
612s18s13s2m10
910s17s13s2m10
1110s16s13s1m55
1610s14s11s1m40
1810s14s9s1m40

Playing as Graves

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Clear your line of fire

    Position with no minion between you and your target: each New Destiny (passive) auto fires 4 bullets that can't pass through units.

  2. Blind their carries

    Cast Smoke Screen (W) on their carries: inside the smoke, they're slowed and can't see anything outside it for 4 seconds.

  3. Back away as you fire your R

    Fire Collateral Damage (R) with your back to the danger: the shot knocks you backward, enough to reposition while dealing damage.

  4. Chain dashes during your clear

    Cast Quickdraw (E) often during your clear: it reloads a shell, gives armor and magic resist, and each bullet that hits lowers its cooldown.

Playing against Ambessa

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Wait until her spells are down

    Take a trade once her spells are down: Drakehound's Step (passive) only gives her a dash when she casts an ability, and her basic spells cost 70 energy.

  2. Don't hit into her guard

    Stop hitting her when she casts Repudiation (W): if she blocks damage from a champion, her ground slam hurts much more.

  3. Respect her level 6

    Once she hits level 6, don't isolate yourself at the back of your team: Public Execution (R) lets her blink to the farthest enemy in the line, and it can't be stopped.

Patch 16.21.1