Good patterns
- Can maintain ranged damage when positioning and target access remain safe.
- Ranged basic attacks can contribute without entering melee distance when spacing is preserved.
Game patch 26.20Data Dragon 16.20.1
Reference patch 16.20.1
Graves
the Outlaw
Graves is a ranged damage dealer who needs safe spacing and time to keep attacking. This overview keeps the explanation practical and leaves patch-sensitive numbers to Riot's structured data and the current in-game tooltip.
Usual roleJungle◆ClassMarksman
3DifficultyLow · 3/10
◎Basic attacksRangedRanged basic attacks · 425 range.
◈Damage profileMostly physical damageMost normal kit pressure is physical. Armour may help, but check whether attacks or abilities are the main source.
#Reference patch16.20.1
Strengths and limits
What Graves does well, and what can go wrong
These are kit-level patterns, not a promise that every lane or matchup plays the same way.
Limits to respect
- Loses reliable output when forced away, controlled or reached before creating distance.
- Needs the player to respect cooldowns, resources and the opponent's route into the fight.
Riot ally tips
Use these while learning the championSmoke Screen can be used both to escape and to set up a kill.
Using Quickdraw to get into range and delivering a point blank Buckshot can do lots of damage.
Riot opponent tips
What an opponent is told to watch forGraves deals mostly physical damage so Armor is an effective counter.
Leaving the Smoke Screen's area of effect removes the harmful effect immediately.
Practical champion reading
How to read Graves in a real fight
Use these patterns to ask better questions before choosing an item, target or commitment. They describe the kit, not a guaranteed result.
Primarily physical pressure
Armour can reduce the broad physical profile. Separate basic attacks from physical abilities before relying on an item passive that only affects attacks.
Repeated access matters
The threat grows while this champion can keep attacking a useful target. Break target access, create distance or use control before the repeated pattern settles in.
Spacing protects repeated output
Ranged attacks are useful only while a safe line to the target remains. Flanks, hard control and blocked escape routes can remove that advantage quickly.
Maintain safe, repeatable damage
Target access and survival time usually matter more than one ambitious hit. Reposition between attacks and avoid giving up the safe damage line.
Identify the exact movement restriction
Tenacity can shorten only eligible control. Displacements, airborne effects and repeated slows need their own positioning, blocking or movement answer.
Do not buy a counter that has no target
Reserve anti-heal and anti-shielding for a visible problem in the full team composition; they are not default answers to every champion.
Mana and cooldowns both matter
A spell being available does not mean the complete sequence is sustainable. Watch the resource bar as well as the setup and escape cooldowns.
Defensive item reference
What can help against Graves?
Start with the threat that is actually affecting the match. These are conditional comparisons, not an automatic counter build.
DEFENSIVE BOOTS
Plated Steelcaps usually fit better
Armour and attack reduction address repeated physical basic attacks. The passive does not reduce every physical ability.
Choose Mercury's Treads instead when magic damage or reducible crowd control across the full team matters more.Normal Draft and Ranked role map
Where Graves fits on Summoner's Rift
Each lane is assessed separately. Open a role to reach its queue-specific build and matchup preparation.
TopUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Graves is normally played Jungle and does not currently have a reviewed Top route. Top usually needs independent laning, durable trading or reliable side-lane pressure. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
JunglePrimary role
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Graves has an established clear and map plan that can function without lane income while contesting camps and objectives.
MidUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Graves is normally played Jungle and does not currently have a reviewed Mid route. Mid usually needs solo-lane safety plus wave control, roaming or reliable burst pressure. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
BotUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Graves is normally played Jungle and does not currently have a reviewed Bot route. Bot usually needs dependable duo-lane scaling and sustained damage with shared early pressure. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
SupportUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Graves is normally played Jungle and does not currently have a reviewed Support route. Support usually needs useful engage, peel or utility while operating on low gold income. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
Kit reference
Graves abilities
Ability names, descriptions and numeric fields come from Riot Data Dragon. Practical reads are independently written; the current in-game tooltip remains authoritative.
Abilities Data Dragon 16.20.1Cooldown / Cost / Range Data Dragon 16.20.1
P
Passive
New Destiny
What it doesGraves' 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.
Practical readNew Destiny is the always-on rule shaping Graves's normal trading and fight pattern. Watch its in-game state before committing.
Q
Q ability
End of the Line
What it doesGraves fires an explosive shell that detonates after 1 second, or after colliding with terrain.
Practical readEnd of the Line is a ranged cast involving its listed effect. Respect its line or target area, and avoid spending it when the opponent can simply step away before the important exchange.
Cooldown13/11.25/9.5/7.75/6 secCost80Listed range925 units
W
W ability
Smoke Screen
What it doesGraves fires a smoke canister at the target area creating a cloud of smoke that reduces sight range. Enemies caught in the initial impact are dealt magic damage and have their Move Speed reduced briefly.
Practical readSmoke Screen is a ranged cast involving vision information and damage. Respect its line or target area, and avoid spending it when the opponent can simply step away before the important exchange.
Cooldown26/24/22/20/18 secCost70/75/80/85/90Listed range950 units
E
E ability
Quickdraw
What it doesGraves dashes forward gaining an Armor and Magic Resist boost for several seconds. If Graves dashes towards an enemy champion, gain two stacks of True Grit instead. Hitting enemies with basic attacks lowers the cooldown of this skill and refreshes the resistance boost.
Practical readQuickdraw is part of Graves's E pattern. Read its listed effect first, then track the cooldown and condition that make the next use valuable.
Cooldown16/15/14/13/12 secCost40Listed range425 units
Reset condition
Meeting the listed condition refreshes or reduces downtime. Missing that condition changes the next available cast.
Movement
The cast changes position or access. Account for where the champion finishes, not only where the ability begins.
R
Ultimate
Collateral Damage
What it doesGraves fires an explosive shell dealing heavy damage to the first champion it hits. After hitting a champion or reaching the end of its range, the shell explodes dealing damage in a cone.
Practical readCollateral Damage is a ranged cast involving damage. Respect its line or target area, and avoid spending it when the opponent can simply step away before the important exchange.
Cooldown100/80/60 secCost100Listed range1000 units
Levels 1–18
Graves · Health / Mana · Abilities
Base values exclude items, runes, temporary buffs and mode-specific modifiers. Cooldowns are the listed base cooldown before ability haste.
Cooldown Data Dragon 16.20.1
Basic abilityEnd of the Line
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Rank 113 secRank 211.25 secRank 39.5 secRank 47.75 secRank 56 sec
Basic abilitySmoke Screen
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Rank 126 secRank 224 secRank 322 secRank 420 secRank 518 sec
Basic abilityQuickdraw
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Rank 116 secRank 215 secRank 314 secRank 413 secRank 512 sec
UltimateCollateral Damage
First rank becomes available at level 6; later ranks normally become available at levels 11 and 16.
Rank 1100 secRank 280 secRank 360 sec
Open every levelHealth and mana from level 1 to 18
| Level | Health | Mana | Ability milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 625 | 325 Mana | Choose the first basic ability |
| 2 | 701 | 354 Mana | Add another basic ability or rank |
| 3 | 781 | 384 Mana | Add another basic ability or rank |
| 4 | 865 | 416 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 5 | 953 | 449 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 6 | 1,044 | 483 Mana | First ultimate rank normally available |
| 7 | 1,139 | 519 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 8 | 1,237 | 556 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 9 | 1,339 | 595 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 10 | 1,445 | 635 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 11 | 1,555 | 676 Mana | Second ultimate rank normally available |
| 12 | 1,669 | 719 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 13 | 1,786 | 763 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 14 | 1,907 | 809 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 15 | 2,031 | 856 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 16 | 2,159 | 904 Mana | Final ultimate rank normally available |
| 17 | 2,291 | 954 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 18 | 2,427 | 1,005 Mana | Spend one ability point |
Choose the next question
Turn the profile into a pre-game plan
Choose a queue-aware build, compare a lane opponent, or return to the full champion library.