Jax vs Graves
Build vs Graves
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Jax: Trinity Force, Sundered Sky, Zhonya's Hourglass, Plated Steelcaps, Death's Dance, Dusk and Dawn, Wit's End, Hextech Gunblade.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Graves's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Graves' shotgun has some unique properties. He must reload when he runs out of ammo. Attacks fire 4 bullets, which cannot pass through units. Non-champions struck by multiple bullets are knocked back.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 13s | 26s | 16s | – |
| 6 | 9.5s | 26s | 16s | 1m40 |
| 9 | 6s | 24s | 16s | 1m40 |
| 11 | 6s | 22s | 16s | 1m20 |
| 16 | 6s | 18s | 14s | 1m |
| 18 | 6s | 18s | 12s | 1m |
Playing as Jax
Tips to maximize your impact
- Start trades with Counter Strike
Start your trades with Counter Strike (E): you dodge autos and take less area damage, and each dodged auto adds damage to the stunning counterattack.
- Look for long trades
Look for long trades: each consecutive auto increases your attack speed thanks to Relentless Assault (passive).
- Ward hop to escape
To escape, place a ward and jump to it with Leap Strike (Q): it can target any unit or ward, allied or enemy.
- Activate your R up close
Activate Grandmaster-at-Arms (R) up close: it only grants armor and magic resist if it hits a champion, and your bonus hits then land every other auto.
Playing against Graves
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Keep units between you and him
Stay behind your minions or your frontline: the 4 bullets of each New Destiny (passive) auto can't pass through units.
- Hit him from outside his range
If you're ranged, hit him from a distance: his autos only reach 425, and New Destiny (passive) forces him to reload when his shotgun is empty.
- Get out of his smoke
Leave Smoke Screen (W) quickly rather than fighting inside it: the smoke slows you and cuts off all vision outside it.
- Drag the game out
If your team scales better over time, play for time: Graves is strongest in the early and mid game.
Patch 16.21.1