Matchup

Heavy AD damageHigh burstSustained DPS

You are stronger late game — farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Graves

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Health Potion
x2

Core build

Zeke's Convergence
1Tank
Bandlepipes
2vs Hybride
Shurelya's Battlesong
3

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Celestial Opposition
5HP

Summoner spells

414100%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Knight's Vow
5vs AD

Anti Heal

Thornmail
6vs Hybride

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Celestial Opposition
HP
Locket of the Iron Solari
HP
Redemption
0.0% WR1 games
ResolveResolve
GuardianGuardian
DemolishDemolish
Bone PlatingBone Plating
RevitalizeRevitalize
SorcerySorcery
CelerityCelerity
Nimbus CloakNimbus Cloak
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
RakanRakan
GravesGraves
Favorable
Favorable
Passive

Graves's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

New Destiny (P)

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

LevelQWER
313s26s16s
69.5s26s16s1m40
96s24s16s1m40
116s22s16s1m20
166s18s14s1m
186s18s12s1m

Playing against Graves

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Minions and tanks block his autos (like a shotgun) — position yourself behind units to reduce his damage.

2

His W blinds you: get out of the smoke cloud quickly instead of fighting inside it.

3

Graves is an early/mid game jungle champion — if you scale better, play safe and wait for late game.

4

He has relatively short range (425) — long-range ADCs outrange him easily.

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