Rammus vs Graves
Skill matchup
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Graves
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Rammus: Thornmail, Sunfire Aegis, Jak'Sho, The Protean, Plated Steelcaps, Dead Man's Plate, Randuin's Omen, Protoplasm Harness, Hollow Radiance.
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 Rammus
Tips to maximize your impact
- Engage with Powerball
Engage with Powerball (Q): your speed builds while you roll, and the impact knocks back and slows enemies around your target.
- Defensive Ball Curl against autos
Cast Defensive Ball Curl (W) when you're being hit by autos: you gain armor and magic resist, and each attack returns magic damage to its attacker.
- Taunt during Defensive Ball Curl
Cast Frenzying Taunt (E) during Defensive Ball Curl (W): forced to attack you, your target takes damage with every auto.
- Soaring Slam while rolling
Cast Soaring Slam (R) during Powerball (Q): enemies in the center of the area also take a knock-up, and your speed extends the leap's range.
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.
Other Rammus matchups
Patch 16.21.1