Build Guide by Aethersong

Notes:

March 4th, 2011: Build first created. Needs fine-tuning and community feedback.
March 5th, 2011: Fixed some spelling errors. Added a picture of Jarvan. After more play testing, changed around a few item and mastery choices.
March 7th, 2011: Added tips and tricks section.
March 12th, 2011: Edited a few example builds

Jarvan IV The Exemplar of Demacia

As the royal family of Demacia for centuries, members of the Lightshield line have spent their lives waging war against any who opposed Demacian ethics. It is said that every Lightshield is born with anti-Noxian sentiment in his blood. Jarvan IV is no exception, even though he is the first Lightshield born to the age of League of Legends. As his forefathers had before him, he led Demacian troops into bloody engagements with Noxian forces, and on many occasions he has bled alongside wounded allies and fallen comrades. In his most crushing defeat, he was outmaneuvered and captured by a Noxian battalion under the command of Jericho Swain. This mistake nearly cost him his life at the hands of Urgot, but he was rescued by the Dauntless Vanguard, an elite Demacian strike force led by Jarvan's childhood companion, Garen.

Those close to him believed that his capture changed him. Xin Zhao was quoted as saying: "His eyes never seemed to look at you, only through you to something he could not look away from." One day, without warning, Jarvan IV handpicked a squad of Demacian soldiers and left Demacia, vowing to find "atonement". He began by tracking and hunting the most dangerous beasts and bandits he could find in northern Valoran, but he soon tired of such prey. Seeking something that only he understood, he ventured south of the Great Barrier. He wasn't heard from again for nearly two years. After many had assumed the worst, he returned to glorious fanfare on the streets of Demacia. His Demacian plates were adorned with the bones and scales of creatures unknown. His eyes bore the wisdom of someone twice his age. Of the twelve soldiers who had departed with him, only two returned. In a tone as cold and steady as steel, he swore to bring the enemies of Demacia to their knees.

There is only one truth, and you will find it at the point of my lance.- the last words of Jarvan IV at his failed execution.

Introduction

This is Aethersong, and this is my first guide here on Mobafire.

After the release of Jarvan, I have been trying out various item builds, and this is what I have come up with. For this build, there is a starting set of items and than situational items to accompany them.

Summoner Skill's

- or -
These are very solid spells on any melee character.

Exhaust is perfect when in fight and one either needs the upper hand or to slow down someone.

Ghost adds the ability to run in for the kill or run away to save oneself. On the otherhand, Flash is very nice for getting away in a pinch, and you can always use it if things go for the worst in your ultimate.

Other options:
While I personally do not choose this skill very often because I feel that it is lacking in late game, it does provide strong benefits early game and can save on in a pinch.
Great for getting out of snares, and if you like it, go ahead and use it. Although, I do not use this summoner skill that often.
It can be nice to help fuel one's ability to harass early game, but later in the game, mana is not as much as a problem.

Items

The best option for boots on Jarvan are Mercury's Treads. The CC reduction will help in nearly all matches, and there is also the added benefit of magic resistance. However, if you feel like Mercury's Treads are not for you or are not needed in a match, I would recommend either getting Berserker's Greaves or Ionian Boots of Lucidity. Berserker's Greaves will help boost your attack speed to increase damage while Ionian Boots of Lucidity will give cooldown reduction on your abilities and will especially help cut down the recharge on your ultimate Cataclysm.

The next item to get is Phage. This will help give you survivability, slowdown, and damage. In addition, it will later build into a Frozen Mallet.

After making a B. F. Sword for damage and a Giant's Belt for more health, you will next finish your The Black Cleaver. This item is perfect for Jarvan. The reason being is due to the nature of armor penetration. For those of you how do not know, armor penetration applies in the following fashion:

Percentage Armor Reduction
Flat Armor Reduction
Flat Armor Penetration
Percentage Armor Penetration

In when Jarvan uses Dragon Strike, its effect will take place before The Black Cleaver maximizing its usefulness.

Take the following example: The enemy has 100 armor, and Jarvan uses Dragon Strike level 5 on them. It will reduce their armor by 26% leaving them now with 74 armor. Next comes The Black Cleaver. After 3 hits, their armor will be down 45 more leaving them with 29 armor. Quite a big drop. Whatever armor is left over will be then further reduced by runes. In any case, the point I am trying to make is the The Black Cleaver is a very good weapon on Jarvan.

Finally, you finish constructing your Frozen Mallet. This will enable Jarvan to take a little bit of a beating while enabling him to slow enemies.

Optional Items

These are your main items on Jarvan. After you have boughten them, there are quite a few choices available to you. I will highlight some of the options that stand out. In most cases, you will want to build according to the enemy team. Thus, play smart. If you see the enemy team with a lot of magic, build magic resistance.

This item is also great on Jarvan. Combined with the health boost from your Frozen Mallet, you will be getting a good amount of damage from it. In addition, if it is further coupled with a Sunfire Cape, it becomes even better.

This is an all around great item. It adds health, armor, magic resistance, and a little damage. Combined with Jarvan's Demacian Standard, one can provide one's team a very solid boost to stats during team fights.

This is always a good option if you find the enemy team magic heavy. It adds magic resistance, health, mana, and a spell shield. Although, if the enemy has varied damage, Aegis of the Legion may be a better option.

Example Build Versus Physical Damage


Example Build Versus Magic Damage


Example Hybrid Build


Example Team Support Build

Skills

Martial Cadence (Innate): Jarvan IV's first attack on his target deals 10% of the target's current health as bonus magic damage, this caps at 400 damage. This effect cannot occur on the same target for 6 seconds.

The beauty of this ability is in the initial spike damage it provides. Hitting a target will take an immediate chunk out of their life. Near the beginning of the game, this can be used for harassing and weakening minions. Just remember there is a 6 second timer before it can be used on the same target again.

Dragon Strike (Active): Jarvan IV extends his lance through his opponent, dealing physical damage and then lowering their armor by a percentage for 3 seconds. If its lance contacts his standard it will pull Jarvan IV to its location, knocking up all enemies in his path.

This is Jarvan's main attack skill. It can be used for harassing as well as escaping with Demacian Standard. Upon hitting an enemy, they also have reduced armor enabling you and the rest of your team to jump on them.

Golden Aegis (Active): Jarvan IV forges a shield protecting him from harm for 5 seconds and applying a 2 seconds slow to surrounding enemies upon activation. The shield adds more mitigation for every enemy champion nearby when activating.

The main use I find in this skill is the slow down. It can be used to slow enemies running away or chasing after you. It can also be used to put up a shield to stop some damage.

Demacian Standard (Passive): Grants Jarvan bonus attack speed and armor.
(Active): Jarvan IV throws a Demacian Standard to a nearby area, dealing magic damage to enemies in the area and granting his passive benefits to nearby allies and again to himself for 8 seconds.

This is a great skill for early game harass. Also, it can provide sight. So, it can also be used to check bushes. In addition, using boosts not only your team stats, but your own. So effectively, you can get double stats from this skill.

Finally, remember it can be used with Dragon Strike to knock enemies up into the air. Beyond that, this combination is also wonderful for its movement capabilities. Use this combo to traverse the map faster, go through walls, and assist allies under fire.

Cataclysm (Active): Jarvan IV heroically leaps to an enemy champion, dealing physical damage and creating a circle of impassable terrain around them for a 3.5 second duration. Jarvan IV can destroy the area by activating it again. Champions can still leave or enter the area by using teleport abilities.

This is the skill which must take the most consideration before its use. Used at the wrong time, it can screw over teammates and cause your own death. However, used effectively, one can insure kills of the enemy teams and stop fleeing enemies. I find it very effective when used to trap enemies in turret range, or allowing allies to unleash AoE on a given area. Keep in mind, you can escape using the Demacian Standard / Dragon Strike combo. Also, do not forget that you can cancel this skill! As such, sometimes it is best to cancel this skill early than leave up and let an ally die.

Tips and Tricks

When playing Jarvan, there are quite a few things to keep in mind. While I have touched on many of these ideas in previous sections of this build, I felt like they are important enough to deserve their own section as well.

Skill Usage
The most effective skill chain is to first place a Demacian Standard and follow with a Dragon Strike to knock an enemy in the air. After they come down, you can auto attack them and then use Golden Aegis for a slow and shield. If an enemy attempts to flee, you can than follow and hopefully finish them with Cataclysm.

Another alternative is to switch the order of your skills and use Cataclysm first. Auto-attack for a few seconds and right when your ultimate is about to end, use your Demacian Standard and Dragon Strike. This will keep the enemy pinned for another second by knocking them up into the air. Finally, use your Golden Aegis to slow them for the kill.

When attacking turrets, remember to use Demacian Standard if able. Even if no enemies are present, it will boost your and your allies attack speed speeding up the turret's demise.

General Gameplay
While Jarvan can kill enemies one on one, I believe he is most effective when together with teammates. The Demacian Standard will buff them, and Jarvan can single out unsuspecting enemies with his ultimate to allow your allies to focus fire and kill them.

Along the same lines is Jarvan's skill Dragon Strike and his item The Black Cleaver. These both reduce enemies armor meaning if you coordinate with allies, your can leave enemies defenseless and kill them fast.

Summoner Spell Usage
Your summoner spells are most effective when combined with your skills. For example, if you see a fleeing enemy, one way to stop them would be to Flash or Ghost forward far enough to get in range with Cataclysm or Demacian Standard / Dragon Strike. Doing so will hopefully give your teammates enough time to catch up or you enough time to get the kill.

Flash is also a great way for fleeing your own Cataclysm. If you are unable to leave using Demacian Standard / Dragon Strike or if canceling the ultimate may lead to your or your teammate's deaths, sometimes the best choice is to Flash our leaving enemies trapped in for the duration of your skill.