x

Did this guide help you? If so please give them a vote or leave a comment.
You can even win prizes by doing so!
Vote
Comment
I liked this Guide

I didn't like this Guide




Your votes and comments encourage our guide authors to continue
creating helpful guides for the League of Legends community.
Recommended Items
Runes: 13.22 Ghostblade Bruiser
1
2
3
4
5
6
Precision
Inspiration
+10% Attack Speed
+9 Adaptive (5.4 AD or 9 AP)
+65 Base Health
Spells:
Patch 13.22
Flash
Scorchclaw Smite
Items
Ability Order Standard Skill Max Order
New Destiny (PASSIVE)
Graves Passive Ability
Champion Build Guide
Introduction
Hey everyone, my name is Arfreezy. I am a Masters Jungle Main, Twitch Streamer, and YouTuber that focuses on playing carry jungle champions and making Educational Jungle Content. Ever since season 6,
Graves has been one of my main champions, and as of the last few seasons he has been my #1 most played jungler in ranked. I have 3 main intentions for creating this guide:
Graves so I hope that it may be a constant resource for you to use. I will also be testing out more builds as the meta evolves and grows and continually update to have the hottest new builds as they emerge in the meta.
While this guide may give you a firm starting point to learn this champion, I always advocate that learning junglers is much more about understanding the macro game (pathing and decisions) than the micro game (builds, mechanics, combos). I do provide a Jungle Matchups section in this guide that will give you a general game plan versus most of the junglers you will encounter, but for a comprehensive understanding of jungle macro I recommend watching Graves Gameplay Videos with Commentary that will explain not only WHAT the correct pathing and decisions are, but also WHY those decisions are better than the alternatives.
The best way to improve your jungle macro is through VOD reviews. Either from yourself, or ideally from a higher elo player. I offer these VOD reviews free for new viewers to my channel in the form of Coaching Nights (viewer VOD reviews on stream). These Coaching Night streams are announced ahead of time on my Discord Server and anyone can apply to join. For viewers that have never gotten a vod review before, you will get automatic priority at the next Coaching Night. I have also done free repeat VOD reviews for many people to check on their improvement after the first session. Of course, the effectiveness of coaching will vary based on the compatibility of the coach with the student. Every coach has their own coaching style since there are a million different ways to present the same information. Here is a Coaching Compilation Video I made that shows how my coaching sessions usually go so you can see if this is something that might interest you: Arfreezy - Season 10 Coaching Compilation
If you find this guide helpful please consider checking out my Twitch Stream or Youtube Channel for more educational content where you can find tons of helpful
Graves videos (among other carry junglers) that will give real examples and educational commentary that exemplifies the utilization of his powerful kit.
Comments, feedback, and questions are highly appreciated. Thanks for reading!

- Creating a comprehensive guide for new
Graves players that answers the most frequently asked questions.
- Giving current
Graves mains a ways to improve by providing a full list of jungle matchups and how to execute those matchups at a high level.
- Creating the most exhaustive jungle
Graves guide on Mobafire for S12 that provides information not currently available in other guides.

While this guide may give you a firm starting point to learn this champion, I always advocate that learning junglers is much more about understanding the macro game (pathing and decisions) than the micro game (builds, mechanics, combos). I do provide a Jungle Matchups section in this guide that will give you a general game plan versus most of the junglers you will encounter, but for a comprehensive understanding of jungle macro I recommend watching Graves Gameplay Videos with Commentary that will explain not only WHAT the correct pathing and decisions are, but also WHY those decisions are better than the alternatives.
The best way to improve your jungle macro is through VOD reviews. Either from yourself, or ideally from a higher elo player. I offer these VOD reviews free for new viewers to my channel in the form of Coaching Nights (viewer VOD reviews on stream). These Coaching Night streams are announced ahead of time on my Discord Server and anyone can apply to join. For viewers that have never gotten a vod review before, you will get automatic priority at the next Coaching Night. I have also done free repeat VOD reviews for many people to check on their improvement after the first session. Of course, the effectiveness of coaching will vary based on the compatibility of the coach with the student. Every coach has their own coaching style since there are a million different ways to present the same information. Here is a Coaching Compilation Video I made that shows how my coaching sessions usually go so you can see if this is something that might interest you: Arfreezy - Season 10 Coaching Compilation
If you find this guide helpful please consider checking out my Twitch Stream or Youtube Channel for more educational content where you can find tons of helpful

Comments, feedback, and questions are highly appreciated. Thanks for reading!
Champion Introduction
Dueling: Strong- Tankiness from E, kite potential due to ranged advantage, high dps, and ![]() ![]() Farming: Strong- Farm speed is at the 5 Camp Level which puts Graves in the second fastest tier of farming junglers who are just slightly slower than the likes of ![]() ![]() ![]() Scaling: Above Average- ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Jungle Trait Ratings: All jungle traits were graded on a 5 Tier System (Weak, Below Average, Average, Above Average, Strong) with Weak being comparable to the weakest junglers in that area (e.g Pantheon's Scaling), and Strong being comparable to the strongest junglers in that area (e.g Elise's Ganking). The other ratings such as "Above Average" is the rating for junglers that are better than a majority of the "Average" tier junglers in that trait, but worse than a majority of the "Strong" tier junglers. Terms Explained: 5 Camp Level - Junglers that can clear 5 camps before scuttle without a leash. It is important to note that although Graves is not at the fastest tier of farming junglers, the combination of being ranged, being able to dash through walls, and having strong dueling makes him a lot safer during counter jungling situations which elevates his farming trait to the highest tier. Absolute Scaling - The strength of a champion at max level and items as compared to other champions at max level and items. Relative Scaling - The strength of a champion at the current point in the game compared to the other champions at the current point in the game. |
Strengths and Weaknesses
+ Ability To Farm Quickly And Healthily + Jungle Bully (Is In Strongest Tier Of Dueling Junglers) + Above Average Scaling + Ranged Advantage (Ability To Kite Melee) + Ability To Adapt To Different Comps (Flexibile Build Paths) ![]() ![]() |
- Ganks Aren't The Best Due To Lack Of Hard CC - Struggles Against Armor Stacking Teams - Require's Lane Priority To Exert Pressure On Enemy Jungle - Gets Outscaled By Scaling AP Junglers Like ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Champion Abilities
![]() |
|
NEW DESTINY (Passive): ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
|
END OF THE LINE (Q):As ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
|
SMOKE SCREEN (W): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
|
QUICKDRAW (E):![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
|
COLLATERAL DAMAGE (R): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Skill Max Order
#1.
Collateral Damage 6 / 11 / 16 #2. End Of The Line 2 / 4 / 5 / 7 / 9 #3. Quickdraw 1 / 8 / 10 / 12 / 13 #4. Smoke Screen 3 / 14 / 15 / 17 / 18 |
The skill max order for Graves is pretty straight forward. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The only variation to this as Jungle Graves will be whether to put a 2nd point in ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Summoner Spells Explained
|
|
Best Mythic Items (Updated Patch 12.15)





With



Best Keystones (Updated Patch 12.15)
SECTION BEING REWORKED
Steps To Mastering Graves
For IRON IV - GOLD III PLAYERS:
- The focus in this ELO range should be on mechanics, jungle clear, and learning jungle matchups.
- The following YouTube video is called 'Top 3 Tips For NEW Graves Players' and these are the 3 things you must be fully comfortable with before advancing to the next level: https://youtu.be/b50Qm8HbyWw
FOR GOLD II - DIAMOND III PLAYERS:
- Learn how to adjust your pathing based on wave states. Doing the same jungle clear each game is no longer acceptable.
- Prioritize efficiency and play for your power spikes to become the 1v9 carry.
- Watch full games of high elo Graves players and study how they adjust their
jungle pathing each game and how they make decisions throughout the game based on winning/losing lanes. My YouTube channel has a bunch of these videos in high elo games where all the decision making and jungle pathing is explained.
FOR DIAMOND II AND ABOVE:
- Continue working on advanced jungle paths that are tailored to each game based on jungle matchup and lane matchups. Do not power farm and hope your team will survive, create intelligent paths to counter enemy jungle pressure and get leads.
- Master real time decision making when unexpected things occur. You should instantly be thinking about the next optimal play and planning around the next 1-2 minutes of the game.
- The difference between Master and Challenger is consistency. Consistently make the right calls throughout the entire game. Consistently apply optimal mechanics to your skirmishes.
- The focus in this ELO range should be on mechanics, jungle clear, and learning jungle matchups.
- The following YouTube video is called 'Top 3 Tips For NEW Graves Players' and these are the 3 things you must be fully comfortable with before advancing to the next level: https://youtu.be/b50Qm8HbyWw
FOR GOLD II - DIAMOND III PLAYERS:
- Learn how to adjust your pathing based on wave states. Doing the same jungle clear each game is no longer acceptable.
- Prioritize efficiency and play for your power spikes to become the 1v9 carry.
- Watch full games of high elo Graves players and study how they adjust their
jungle pathing each game and how they make decisions throughout the game based on winning/losing lanes. My YouTube channel has a bunch of these videos in high elo games where all the decision making and jungle pathing is explained.
FOR DIAMOND II AND ABOVE:
- Continue working on advanced jungle paths that are tailored to each game based on jungle matchup and lane matchups. Do not power farm and hope your team will survive, create intelligent paths to counter enemy jungle pressure and get leads.
- Master real time decision making when unexpected things occur. You should instantly be thinking about the next optimal play and planning around the next 1-2 minutes of the game.
- The difference between Master and Challenger is consistency. Consistently make the right calls throughout the entire game. Consistently apply optimal mechanics to your skirmishes.
Jungle Pathing
CONTESTED MEANS MAP IS NOT SPLIT = BOTH JUNGLERS PATHING TO THE SAME SIDE
UNCONTESTED MEANS MAP IS SPLIT = JUNGLERS PATHING TO OPPOSITE SIDES
POPULAR AND RECOMMENDED JUNGLE PATHS ARE HIGHLIGHTED GREEN
These are popular paths in fast paced games where the laning champions are very aggro and there will likely be level 2 or level 3 all-ins by the laners. Do not do this path against champions that will play passively such as Viktor mid or enchanter bot lanes because you will lose a lot of efficiency for a gank with a low chance of success.
FAST BLUE BUFF SIDE LANE GANK (CONTESTED)
RED -> BLUE -> GROMP -> GANK
Notes: This jungle path is for doing a fast gank on a side lane in a game where it is likely the enemy jungler will do the same path. Against enemy gank junglers, when there is one volatile lane, you can expect a 2v2 or 3v3 at this timing so you take both buffs.
FAST BLUE BUFF SIDE LANE GANK (UNCONTESTED)
RED -> RAPTORS -> GROMP -> GANK
Notes: This is similar to the last jungle path, but we are expecting the enemy jungler not to contest which usually happens against farm junglers like Evelynn/Diana/Nocturne. By taking our raptors, we ensure that when we do the 3 camp gank, the enemy jungler cannot invade our red side and take 2 camps to punish us.
FAST RED BUFF SIDE LANE GANK (CONTESTED AND UNCONTESTED)
BLUE -> GROMP -> RED -> GANK
Notes: This is an inefficient path and you should only go for this if it is 100% crucial to counter the enemy jungler's 3 camp gank in that lane.
FAST MID LANE GANK (AKA TRANSITION GANK)
Blue -> Gromp -> Wolves -> Gank Mid Lane
Red -> Krugs -> Raptors -> Gank Mid Lane
Notes: This jungle path is very popular in high elo because it allows you to do a 3 camp gank without sacrificing much efficiency. Because you are sequencing your camps and clearing an entire quadrant before the gank, regardless of the gank
outcome, you will still be highly efficient and there is not much drawback to this
jungle path. You simply continue your clear afterward and it is a great way to put pressure on the enemy mid while still hitting a respectable level 4 timing. Abuse it in games where the mid matchup is highly volatile at level 1 and level 2 all-in is likely (zed, talon, fizz, irelia, etc.) or when you have powerful setup from your laner (galio, leblanc, twisted fate, etc.)
4 camp gank paths are good because you are not hard committing to the early gank which has a huge risk if it fails since the other jungler will get way ahead. These jungle paths are popular against junglers that will power farm because you will not be able to keep up with them in a farm battle. Use this to get early leads against junglers like Shyvana, Diana, Nocturne, Karthus, Fiddlesticks.
RED BUFF START (UNCONTESTED):
RED -> KRUGS -> RAPTORS -> BLUE -> GANK
Notes: This camp hits a 4 camp gank timing while clearing the entire opposite quadrant from the target lane. What this does is prevent the enemy jungler from counter jungling you after you gank, which is highly effective against farm junglers.
RED BUFF START (CONTESTED):
RED -> WOLVES -> BLUE -> GROMP -> GANK
Notes: This version is faster than the one above, but it has a risk. Only use this version in games where you know the enemy jungler is also pathing to the same side of the map as it exposes your red jungle camps.
BLUE BUFF START (CONTESTED & UNCONTESTED):
BLUE -> GROMP -> WOLVES -> RED -> GANK
Notes: Regardless of where the enemey jungler goes, this is the fastest way to hit this timing on blue buff start, plus it has the advantage of clearing the opposite quadrant from the target lane which is a win-win.
After the scuttle nerf, this jungle path is less popular because you can no longer reach level 4 after doing 5 camps and first scuttle. The other problem is, Graves doesn't have the fastest jungle clear in the world meaning if you do a 5 camp path
against a jungler like Fiddlesticks, you will both finish at the same time, but he will have a huge advantage being level 4 when you are level 3. For this reason, it is popular to do a 4 camp gank instead because although you are still in a level deficit against a farm jungler, you will gank first and create priority in that lane allowing you to take control of that side of the map. 5 Camp paths can still
be good against other junglers with weak clears because they won't be able to abuse
the level 4 power spike against you.
RED BUFF START (CONTESTED/UNCONTESTED):
RED -> RAPTORS -> WOLVES -> BLUE -> GROMP -> SCUTTLE -> GANK
Notes: Faster than the Krugs version, so it can be utilized against farm junglers
pathing to the same side or against weak clear junglers. If done correctly, you can reach scuttle with 8 grit stacks.
BLUE BUFF START (CONTESTED/UNCONTESTED):
BLUE -> GROMP -> WOLVES -> RAPTORS -> RED -> SCUTTLE -> GANK
Notes: On Blue start this will always be the fastest and most efficient way to 5 camp gank, so it is a popular path when you think the game will be slow paced and lanes won't be fighting much. If done correctly, you can reach scuttle with 8 grit stacks.
6 camp is the most efficient jungle clear because you get to rush level 4. The problem for Graves is doing a 6 camp is slow compared to meta farm junglers like Diana. Graves clear makes it difficult for him to reach crab on spawn by doing a 6 camp, so this clear is pretty impractical since generally Graves wants to take control of the river when crab spawns to hover/protect both adjacent lanes. You will see this path usually when you are up against a farm jungler and they are pathing to the opposite side (uncontested). This allows you to do a late 6 camp clear and still get crab because you won't reach their by 3:15 spawn, but the other jungler will be on the opposite side so your late clear doesn't get punished.
UNCONTESTED MEANS MAP IS SPLIT = JUNGLERS PATHING TO OPPOSITE SIDES
POPULAR AND RECOMMENDED JUNGLE PATHS ARE HIGHLIGHTED GREEN
3 CAMP GANKS (HIGH MAP PRESSURE, LOW EFFICIENCY)
These are popular paths in fast paced games where the laning champions are very aggro and there will likely be level 2 or level 3 all-ins by the laners. Do not do this path against champions that will play passively such as Viktor mid or enchanter bot lanes because you will lose a lot of efficiency for a gank with a low chance of success.
FAST BLUE BUFF SIDE LANE GANK (CONTESTED)
RED -> BLUE -> GROMP -> GANK
Notes: This jungle path is for doing a fast gank on a side lane in a game where it is likely the enemy jungler will do the same path. Against enemy gank junglers, when there is one volatile lane, you can expect a 2v2 or 3v3 at this timing so you take both buffs.
FAST BLUE BUFF SIDE LANE GANK (UNCONTESTED)
RED -> RAPTORS -> GROMP -> GANK
Notes: This is similar to the last jungle path, but we are expecting the enemy jungler not to contest which usually happens against farm junglers like Evelynn/Diana/Nocturne. By taking our raptors, we ensure that when we do the 3 camp gank, the enemy jungler cannot invade our red side and take 2 camps to punish us.
FAST RED BUFF SIDE LANE GANK (CONTESTED AND UNCONTESTED)
BLUE -> GROMP -> RED -> GANK
Notes: This is an inefficient path and you should only go for this if it is 100% crucial to counter the enemy jungler's 3 camp gank in that lane.
FAST MID LANE GANK (AKA TRANSITION GANK)
Blue -> Gromp -> Wolves -> Gank Mid Lane
Red -> Krugs -> Raptors -> Gank Mid Lane
Notes: This jungle path is very popular in high elo because it allows you to do a 3 camp gank without sacrificing much efficiency. Because you are sequencing your camps and clearing an entire quadrant before the gank, regardless of the gank
outcome, you will still be highly efficient and there is not much drawback to this
jungle path. You simply continue your clear afterward and it is a great way to put pressure on the enemy mid while still hitting a respectable level 4 timing. Abuse it in games where the mid matchup is highly volatile at level 1 and level 2 all-in is likely (zed, talon, fizz, irelia, etc.) or when you have powerful setup from your laner (galio, leblanc, twisted fate, etc.)
4 CAMP GANKS (MEDIUM MAP PRESSURE, MEDIUM EFFICIENCY)
4 camp gank paths are good because you are not hard committing to the early gank which has a huge risk if it fails since the other jungler will get way ahead. These jungle paths are popular against junglers that will power farm because you will not be able to keep up with them in a farm battle. Use this to get early leads against junglers like Shyvana, Diana, Nocturne, Karthus, Fiddlesticks.
RED BUFF START (UNCONTESTED):
RED -> KRUGS -> RAPTORS -> BLUE -> GANK
Notes: This camp hits a 4 camp gank timing while clearing the entire opposite quadrant from the target lane. What this does is prevent the enemy jungler from counter jungling you after you gank, which is highly effective against farm junglers.
RED BUFF START (CONTESTED):
RED -> WOLVES -> BLUE -> GROMP -> GANK
Notes: This version is faster than the one above, but it has a risk. Only use this version in games where you know the enemy jungler is also pathing to the same side of the map as it exposes your red jungle camps.
BLUE BUFF START (CONTESTED & UNCONTESTED):
BLUE -> GROMP -> WOLVES -> RED -> GANK
Notes: Regardless of where the enemey jungler goes, this is the fastest way to hit this timing on blue buff start, plus it has the advantage of clearing the opposite quadrant from the target lane which is a win-win.
5 CAMP GANKS (LOW MAP PRESSURE, MEDIUM EFFICIENCY)
After the scuttle nerf, this jungle path is less popular because you can no longer reach level 4 after doing 5 camps and first scuttle. The other problem is, Graves doesn't have the fastest jungle clear in the world meaning if you do a 5 camp path
against a jungler like Fiddlesticks, you will both finish at the same time, but he will have a huge advantage being level 4 when you are level 3. For this reason, it is popular to do a 4 camp gank instead because although you are still in a level deficit against a farm jungler, you will gank first and create priority in that lane allowing you to take control of that side of the map. 5 Camp paths can still
be good against other junglers with weak clears because they won't be able to abuse
the level 4 power spike against you.
RED BUFF START (CONTESTED/UNCONTESTED):
RED -> RAPTORS -> WOLVES -> BLUE -> GROMP -> SCUTTLE -> GANK
Notes: Faster than the Krugs version, so it can be utilized against farm junglers
pathing to the same side or against weak clear junglers. If done correctly, you can reach scuttle with 8 grit stacks.
BLUE BUFF START (CONTESTED/UNCONTESTED):
BLUE -> GROMP -> WOLVES -> RAPTORS -> RED -> SCUTTLE -> GANK
Notes: On Blue start this will always be the fastest and most efficient way to 5 camp gank, so it is a popular path when you think the game will be slow paced and lanes won't be fighting much. If done correctly, you can reach scuttle with 8 grit stacks.
6 CAMP GANK (FULL CLEAR) (LOW MAP PRESSURE, HIGH EFFICIENCY)
6 camp is the most efficient jungle clear because you get to rush level 4. The problem for Graves is doing a 6 camp is slow compared to meta farm junglers like Diana. Graves clear makes it difficult for him to reach crab on spawn by doing a 6 camp, so this clear is pretty impractical since generally Graves wants to take control of the river when crab spawns to hover/protect both adjacent lanes. You will see this path usually when you are up against a farm jungler and they are pathing to the opposite side (uncontested). This allows you to do a late 6 camp clear and still get crab because you won't reach their by 3:15 spawn, but the other jungler will be on the opposite side so your late clear doesn't get punished.
Jungle Matchups Guide: Early Game Junglers
For champion specific tips, see the Threats section.
KEYS TO SUCCESS
+ Pioritize Camps Over Low Percentage Ganks+ Counter Jungle Often When They Gank + Abuse Lane Priorities To Take Dragon/Rift Or Invade + Counter Gank For Winning Or Even Lanes Only + Use Invades To Drop Deep Vision To Track Enemy Jungle And Ping Their Ganks In Advance |
Early game junglers are junglers that have a significant power spike at level 2 or level 3 and will likely go for shorter first clears in order to opt for earlier ganks. For champion specific tips, see the Threats section.
As

BEST PATHING: 5 or 6 camp clear to the opposite side from the enemy jungler
- The intent here is to do a larger clear which will allow us to scale and hit level 4 and avoid fighting against these level 3 power spiking champions. If the enemy jungler opts for an early gank such as a 3 camp or 4 camp start into a gank, you will have a level advantage on them after your first clear opening up counter gank and invade opportunities in the future. If you go for a proactive gank without knowing where the enemy jungler is, you put yourself at risk of getting counter-ganked and losing a 2v2 which early game junglers are often very strong in. This is the only way that an early game jungler can get ahead of you in the jungle which is why it is better to wait until you have outscaled them or until they make a play elsewhere on the map. Keep in mind that these early game junglers will create their own lane priorities through the first gank so regardless of your lane matchups, pathing towards the same side as an early game jungler will often put you in a disadvantageous situation at scuttle. You can scout the enemy jungler's start camp with either a level 1 ward, or by watching top and bot lane as they come to lane and see who leashes (look for missing hp or mana if both top and bot arrive to lane at the same time) *doesn't work in high elo.
GAME PLAN: Play REACTIVELY instead of PROACTIVELY.
- What this means is, prioritize clearing your jungle before making any plays on the map in order to scale. The early game jungler will be going for many ganks in the early game which will open up opportunities for you to gank the opposite side of the map, invade and take enemy camps, or start objectives. Playing like this will ensure you take something back every time the enemy jungler makes a play and you will have even map pressure with the early game jungler which is great since you are outscaling most of the time. Play like this until you have a significant exp or gold lead versus the enemy jungler and than you can switch to more proactive plays to snowball your lead. It is important to communicate with your laners during this early period by tracking the enemy jungler and pinging lanes back while you are playing reactively.
Jungle Matchups Guide: Scaling AP Junglers
For champion specific tips, see the Threats section.
KEYS TO SUCCESS
+ Use An Aggressive Build To Get Ahead Early *See Note 1+ Track and Ping Potential Ganks *See Jungle Tracking Tips + Track And Communicate Around The Level 6 Power Spike + Look For A Double Scuttle Start *See Note 2 + Drop a Yellow Trinket At The 4 Minute Camp Respawn *See Note 3 + Create Mid Priority So You Can Invade *See Note 4 + Counter Gank For Winning Or Even Lanes Only + Play Aggressive and Try to Force Skirmishes *See Note 5 |
These enemy junglers will all have a similar pathing and game plan which is to look for full and efficient clears and then making plays afterwards. Doing this allows them to hit their massive level 6 power spike as soon as possible while still applying some map pressure with plays that don't disrupt their camp sequencing.
JUNGLE TRACKING TIPS:
Since these junglers will play for efficient clearing, they have predictable pathing. After the first 6 camp clear there are a few scenarios that will play out, but I will list two common ones:
1.) they pathed towards same side as you: they will look to take scuttle on that side of the map.
2.) they pathed towards opposite side from you: See Note 2
After first recall they will most likely head to the side of the map they started on and look to clear again or go for a quick gank on that side. If they chose to do a 2nd full clear, they will look for a gank on the other side afterwards. These gank timings are common and you can abuse them. Their first ultimate is also very likely to be used on the same side they started on since they will hit level 6 on the second half of their second clear if all goes well. Use or create lane priorities to invade raptors or wolves and setup deep vision and simultaneously track the enemy jungler and apply pressure.2.) they pathed towards opposite side from you: See Note 2
*Note 1:
These junglers will outscale
Graves since they are designed around very strong teamfight ultimates usually. It is important to get ahead early and snowball your way to end game. The best way to do that is to take
Phase Rush and Red Smite to run them down early while they are weak (Blue Smite is good versus Shyvana to chase her). You can also take
Ignite or
Exhaust for extra kill pressure early. The Lethality Crit build works well here since it has a powerful early game that transitions into a decent scaling build with the crit items you get later. If your team has good scaling and you can afford to sacrifice some early power than the Crit Healing build is an option because it turns Graves into a late game monster as well, but it requires a couple items before hitting large power spikes.




*Note 2:
90% of the time these junglers are doing a full 6 camp clear. After the first clear they will look for scuttle crab on that side of the map. As
Graves you will have priority in this situation because you will get to scuttle first and with more HP. If you pathed towards your lane priorities than you should have an easy scuttle here. With mid lane priority you can then directly cross through mid and take the other scuttle as well provided they pathed towards your side meaning they didn't secure the opposite crab on spawn. If the enemy concedes first scuttle, save smite for the second one since it is highly likely they will contest that. As always, respect lane priorities. Conceding a scuttle is much better than dying to these scaling champs early due to laners rotating on you.

*Note 3:
The 4 minute camp respawn is the typical timing that the 2nd camp taken in the first clear will respawn (usually Krugs or Gromp). After the first clear, you can surmise where the enemy jungle started either by observing who leashes from bot or top or by seeing which scuttle the enemy jungle contested first. If you pathed towards the opposite side as the enemy jungler, then you can look to counter jungle the 4min respawn camp and drop a trinket ward their since they will definitely come there after first recall. Whether they choose to gank or to clear afterwards will be apparent by which direction they walk after they see their camp is gone.
*Note 4:
Since these types of junglers will rarely gank mid before level 6, you can easily create mid priority by ganking. Even if these ganks don't secure a kill you can help your mid shove the wave and rotate together into the jungle to setup vision and counter jungle camps which is critical against these ap scaling junglers in order to slow down their scaling.
*Note 5:
The best way to force skirmishes is around neutral objectives like Scuttle crabs, Dragons, and Rift Heralds because a lot of junglers don't have the patience to forfeit these without a contest. The second best way is around enemy jungle camps since it is hard for junglers to give these without a contest and usually laners will rotate to help and create a skirmish. Keep in mind these plays on work with lane priorities which you can create with a gank before hand on adjacent lanes or communicate with your laners ahead of time so they are prepared to rotate even without priority. If the other jungler never contests anything than it is likely your team is far ahead unless multiple lanes are turbo inting.
SPECIAL CASES
KEYS TO SUCCESS
+ Take ![]() + ![]() + Follow The Same Tracking Tips As Vs Normal Scaling AP Champs The main difference between these special cases and the regular AP scaling champs above is that these champions have a strong early game and are more likely to gank in the early game rather than power farm to 6. Since these champions have a stronger early game, it is important to play around lane priorities to get ahead and not get greedy during scuttle contests or invades if your laners aren't in a position to help. Follow the same tips like getting priority before invades so you can track the enemy jungle and prevent or punish ganks early. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What Summoner Spells should I take? Question: When to take Red Smite or Blue Smite? Question: Which Graves skin is the best? |
Answer: For newer ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Answer: On ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Answer: The best skins for functionality due to smooth auto attack animations are ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Skin Tierlist

You must be logged in to comment. Please login or register.