Matchup

Strong engageHeavy AD damageDive threatHeavy CC

You are stronger early — look to snowball before your opponent scales.

Build vs Jarvan IV

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Ravenous Hydra
1DPS
Experimental Hexplate
2Bruiser
Sterak's Gage
3Survival

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Stridebreaker
5Bruiser

Summoner spells

4694%
4146%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Death's Dance
5vs AD
Randuin's Omen
vs AD
Dead Man's Plate
vs AD

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Maw of Malmortius
5vs AP

DPS

Stridebreaker
Bruiser
Fiendhunter Bolts
DPS
Sundered Sky
Bruiser
Infinity Edge
DPS
Phantom Dancer
DPS

Other options

Overlord's Bloodmail
HP
100.0% WR1 games
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
TriumphTriumph
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Last StandLast Stand
InspirationInspiration
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Approach VelocityApproach Velocity
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
OlafOlaf
JarvanIVJarvan IV
Aggressive
Careful
Careful

Jarvan IV's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Martial Cadence (P)

Jarvan's first basic attack on an enemy deals bonus physical damage based on their current Health. This effect cannot occur again on the same enemy for a few seconds.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
310s9s12s
68s9s12s2m
96s9s12s2m
116s9s12s1m45
166s9s11s1m30
186s9s10s1m30

Playing against Jarvan IV

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

His EQ can be dodged by side-stepping — the hitbox isn't very wide. Move laterally.

2

J4's R can be dashed over: many champions can simply dash out (Riven, Ezreal, etc.).

3

If J4 uses his EQ offensively, he has no escape for ~12s — punish him when he's in an advanced position.

4

His R also traps his allies: J4 can cage his own team. Take advantage of the chaos if it happens.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026