Pros
Amazing Damage Dealer
Very Tanky
E Skill makes you almost unkillable in 1v1s
Murders Squishies
Cool Voice

Cons
Picked on by more than one person until Late Game
No ranged abilities
Can be abused by ranged with CC*coughcough Vaynecough*
IGNITE!!
Kinda Fat

Laner MasteriesJungle MasteriesDominion Masteries

Dominion Runes and Lane RunesQuick and easy sustain when the first fight starts. There's no downside to going tanky in dominion, because people get strong FAST.

Extra survivablity is never bad when laning, because it helps you stay in the lane for more farm.

Jungle RunesThe only difference is attack speed glyphs. Normally, I would say attack speed glyphs are ******ed, but it's quite useful on Jungle Jax. Jax doesn't have much attack speed to offer, but he has tons of damage to offer. Attack speed not only increases the damage he puts out, but the sustain he gets thanks to Vampiric Scepter.

Jungle runes can be varied, except it is best to keep armor runes. ArmorPen and AD reds work very well too. Same goes for quints.

Jax's skills work perfectly together to dish out damage and keep yourself in a fight.
Here's a rundown of all his skills in my own words.

Relentless Assault-What used to be Jax's passive ult is now his passive, and it's a great one at that. This is what makes Jax's jungling and skirmish power so good. It increases his attack speed and does really well with his ultimate.

Leap Strike-Q Jax's powerful Q has many uses, from nuking people to escaping. This is a very important part of Jax's laning harass and chasing power. Think of this skill like Shunpo for all you Katarina players. Nuke enemies while chasing, escape while laughing.

Empower-W This is a big part of Jax's strength. It powers up Leap Strike when used before jumping on someone. It also resets his attack timer which is useful when Jax doesn't have a lot of attack speed yet. It becomes less of use to use to reset the attack timer once you get a Recurve Bow but it's still useful for all the power it gives to the next attack or Leap Strike

Counter Strike-E What makes Jax...Jax. This is what makes Jax unique from all other champions. Dodge all attacks for a good bit. This is so useful for escaping and fighting alike. In team fights this can be the most useful skill, especially if you get an amazing stun on more than 2 people. It's like Amumu's ultimate on a small radius, and can change the face of a team battle.

Grandmaster-At-Arms-R More damage when activated, but the most important part of it is the passive. Every 3rd attack will deal bonus damage that scales with AP. This is a huge part of Jax's sustain(due to Hextech Gunblade) because it gains from spell vamp and it's a huge part of his main damage output: Auto attacks.

What I use:
Get around faster, get away faster, chase faster. You cant go wrong with Ghost.
Someone cross the boundary and are now running away? Not if Exhaust has anything to say about it.

Also viable:
Flash is not as good in Dominion as it is in Summoner's Rift, only useful for running away, not catching people like Ghost can do.

Okay for getting the kill or ensuring someones death, but not really important when playing the jungler or in Dominion.

Obviously you won't use this anywhere but when jungling. It's useful for jungling only. Technically with a good leash you can go without it, but you'll get into that later in the guide.

(Dominion Only) If you're almost dead and you're cornered by the enemy team, Garrison could save your life. Also great for tower diving people who will kite you around the Capture Point's turret.

Kinda Eh...:
I mean it gets rid of CC and all, but why waste you're summoner spell on this?

Not necessarily a bad spell, but I mean come on, you have Hextech Gunblade for a high amount of sustain.

No.:
If you're having mana problems,then there is a problem.

Support's job. Getting this is near crazy.

Ahem..."That is NOT my job."

Just...No.

My reasoning for the items is quite obvious,they all either make Jax tankier or dish out more damage.

I do not believe Jax has core items anymore, because of how versatile he is. You do not go into a game with Jax knowing what you want to build anymore, as the outcomes matter. With your defenses from your ultimate depending on what type of damage you built, how you build changes everything.

Doran's Ring is meant for good sustain with mana, because constantly getting into fights will deplete your mana very quick. That's why I take it when I lane, and there's no problem with stacking it. Prospector's Blade is an amazing start on Jax in Dominion, because the beginning fight will usually be very hard to stay alive in for somebody like Jax, who should be the initiator thanks to the extra 200 health from Prospector's Blade

These are the boots I believe are best for Jax. You can get out of CC faster and it gives MR. Now who doesn't like MR. Two other choices would be Ninja Tabi which is better for AD oriented teams, or Mobility Boots. Mobility Boots is DOMINION ONLY.

For anyone that doesnt like using Mobility Boots, I say, in Dominion, you cant go wrong with it. Its a great way to get around the map, which you always need to do, and can help in chasing someone. Its also good for running away from someone thats fed like Xin Zhao or Tryndamere.
It can make an event that would have ended in you dying into something...well...like this:
Play Video
I'm black myself, and I can honestly say this doesn't offend me.
Hextech Gunblade is your best and most important fighting item, AD, AP, Life Steal, Spell Vamp, Helpful Active(If you can remember to use it), The whole shibang! This item can keep you in a 2v1 and bring at least one person down with you, unless there's a fed nuker in the mix like Veigar.
"Why wont this ******* die!Jax OP."

Wit's End is an amazing item and will be all the attack speed you need, Not to mention the nice 42 extra damage with every basic attack. Magic Resist isnt too bad either. An awesome variant to this is Ionic Spark, which I have realized can be very helpful in team fights and even just 1v1s, definitely not a bad pick.

Guinsoo's Rageblade is such an amazing item for Jax, It gives both AD and AP, which is always nice, because the more AD and AP you get, the more useful Hextech Gunblade becomes. The passive of this item stacks with Jax's passive, and gives you a lot more attack speed the more you attack. This is good because as Jax, 1v1ing people for a good while is exactly what you want, unless the person is COMPLETELY fed and have too much lifesteal for you to beat them. I've seen many Master Yis and Nocturnes that I just couldn't beat because of how well they were fed.

The Rylai's Crystal Scepter and Entropy are both for the same reason. Together,they give you 775 HP, which is nothing to scoff at for just two items. Second, Rylai's gives you slow from your Leap Strike and a nice 80 AP, this will allow you to get a hit off on them if their teammates arent around to stop you,which allow Entropy to slow the target. At this point, if your target isn't smart enough to turn around and accept their fate, you'll have a free kill just by wailing on a person that got too cocky. Just remember to actually activate so you are not going in by chance.

Now theres two options I like to go with after I have all the Damage Items I need, which are based on the composition of the enemy team. They are Force of Nature and Frozen Heart. Both are extremely helpful in a fight, especially with their passives. In my opinion, FoN is a more helpful item, but if they have a team of AD Carries, obviously you dont want to waste your last item on stacking magic resist for no reason other than the Health Regen.

Make Jax a health monster with this item and nothing can go wrong. This item is too good on someone like him.

Everything can be used by Jax, even the crit because of how fast Jax's attack speed gets. Trinity Force gets everything Jax needs into one item, can't go wrong with it.


If you dont even need tankiness in a game-because you're doing so well, you can always go for more damage, because who doesnt like going for packing a bigger punch?

As you may have noticed, the builds have no armor except for the meager amount given by Wriggle's Lantern. I did this because Jax has a simple defense against auto attackers, but if they're really a problem, you need armor. This is why I feel it's necessary to disclose what items are most useful for providing our good old bruiser good protection.

The well-known Atmogs combo works great on Jax. If you do this combo, Jax's damage goes in favor of AD, and will appeal to builds with more attack speed. Zeke's Herald and Ionic Spark synergizae with this combo.

Probably the best item against auto-attackers in game. Protect you well and eliminates and mana problems you may run into. Get this if Counter Strike won't be enough protection.

LOL JK. THIS ITEM EFFING SUCKS, DO NOT GET IT. IF YOU DO I WILL FIND YOU.

If it's not auto-attackers but AD champions that are messin with you( Renekton, Pantheon, etc.), this is the final say in protection. When I first saw this item, I had no idea what was so good about it, but the passive and active mess with all AD Champions in the area.

A good substitute to Wit's End if there's no AP champions bothering you.

Oh the AP carries. These guys suck when you play Jax. Why? Well most champions who have any sort of defense have a good defense to people such as Brand, Annie, or Veigar. As you already know, Jax's special defense is Counter Strike. Counter Strike helps with auto attacks and auto attacks alone. This leaves Jax completely defenseless to AP bursters. There's many ways to mitigate this damage, through Magic Resist runes, masteries, and of course items. Here I will list the items recommended for MR on Jax:

Of course the item I choose in every build. It's useful for more than just damage. It gives a ton of MR after a few stacks!

A strange pick, I know, but this item can wreck on Jax. It gives AP and a great amount of Magic Resist. It's ok to use this on Hybrid Jax, as many builds you variate with will have AP as the dominant damage source. This is mainly because these items usually come with good defense or health. Ex: Zhonya's Hourglass, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Rod of Ages.

I tried this item out on one occasion, and it was when two fed AP carries were destroying us. Were. This item will save you on a number of occasions. It also helps Jax pull off the amazing clutch 1v3 fights he could easily do before his big nerf. The more you get hurt, the more damage you do with this item, and I can't stress how valuable that is on any bruiser.

These 3 items will be your best friends when AP carries are getting you down. If you think you just need plain defense, go for Banshee's Veil or Guardian Angel. CC messin' with you? Pick up Quicksilver Sash for a cheap and easy Cleanse effect. If you don't even need the health, Force of Nature will suffice. Lich Bane would be helpful if you go an AP build. I'm not encouraging AP Jax, but that item would be acceptable if you decide to go that path.

Of course anything in a sample build can be changed. This is just an example of what you may have to build one game. You never know.

After reaching level six with a Guinsoo's Rageblade, there's a combo which for now I use to start out a fight, which does as much damage as possible.
It goes like this:

• Auto Attack
• Use Empower to reset your attack timer and get a free attack in
• Activate Counter Strike, and then Leap Strike on the opponent
• An attack with Grandmaster-At-Arms proc will come up

After you've completed this combo, the target will be stunned and primed for any auto attacks and abilities coming off cooldowns you'll have ready.

-ALWAYS, and I mean ALWAYS, carry a ward early-mid game. It can save your life... literally. Leap Strike can jump to any unit, and that includes wards. It's even shown in the spotlight. Wriggle's Lantern makes this tip easy to follow.

-Always use Empower to reset your attack timer if you weren't forced to use it for power on running people. This is important for maximum damage output.

-Please only Leap Strike on somebody you plan on running from if you know you can run from them. By that I mean Leap Strike is your escape mechanism. Say you're in top lane and you feel like harassing the enemy, but you know you'd lose the fight. Using it to jump in on them can lead to easy death. People like Tryndamere or Lee Sin who can easily stick to you will punish you for doing so.

-Should be obvious, but I used to forget this. Always remember that the use of Grandmaster-At-Arms can make or break a fight between you and other champions. This is especially important if you were facing more than one person alone.

Will add more when I feel like it or get more suggestions.

9/22/11 Guide made
9/27/11 Made Guide more colorful,coded names and items,and added pics
9/28/11 Swapped Frozen Mallet for Entropy,goes better with his Slayer Role
9/29/11 A little revamp on the Masteries,Runes,and Item sections
9/29/11 Added Summoner Spells section
9/30/11 After the realization that attack speed comes too late,I moved items around,just a bit
10/14/11 Editing,added video and new section: Jax's Skills
10/15/11 Now have to comment to vote,got my first dislike :(
10/25/11 As a result of the Hextech Gunblade being nerfed,Ive bumped up attack speed.
12/25/11 Jax geting completely reworked,therefore the build's getting reworked
1/12/11 It's time to revert this guide to all Jax material! :D
1/17/11 Finally revealed my full guide.

Now get out there and own with the Grandmaster Of Arms.


Side Effects of using Jax may include raging enemies, herpes, inability to die to a single person, leukemia, deepening of voice, depression, noticeably higher popularity, hypothermia, winning games, and Death....lots and lots of Death.

Heres a picture of John C. CalhounNice lookin guy eh?