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

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Kraken Slayer
1DPS
Fiendhunter Bolts
2DPS
Infinity Edge
3DPS

Standard

Berserker's Greaves
4AS
Lord Dominik's Regards
5vs Tank

Summoner spells

421100%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Guardian Angel
5vs AD

Anti Heal

Mortal Reminder
6vs Hybride

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Anti Tank

Lord Dominik's Regards
5vs Tank

DPS

Immortal Shieldbow
DPS
Hexoptics C44
DPS
Bloodthirster
DPS
66.7% WR3 games
PrecisionPrecision
Lethal TempoLethal Tempo
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Legend: BloodlineLegend: Bloodline
Cut DownCut Down
InspirationInspiration
Cash BackCash Back
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
YunaraYunara
GravesGraves
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral

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