Jungle · Normal DraftMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Graves vs Rammus

Build, runes, abilities and practical pre-game checks in one queue-aware reference.

Role fit

JungleGraves

Graves has an established clear and map plan that can function without lane income while contesting camps and objectives.

Primary role

Review patch unknownRecommendation review pending

These patches track recommendation review, build validation and item lookup separately. Updating item data does not complete a build review.

Recommendation patch: — Data Dragon
Build validation patch: 16.19.1 Data Dragon
Item lookup patch: 16.20.1 Data Dragon

Normal Draft · Jungle

Marksman jungle

Follow the completed-item order as a pre-game reference. Components and owned items do not create extra inventory slots.

Primary role

Draft / Ranked opening · separate from item 1

Scorchclaw Pup

450 gold

Provides Smite and a jungle companion before the first camp.

First item

Youmuu's Ghostblade

2,800 gold

Builds the first physical-damage power spike for ganks and objectives.

Boots

Ionian Boots of Lucidity

900 gold

Supports movement and ability cycles between camps and lanes.

Core damage

Black Cleaver

3,000 gold

Adds damage for longer physical fights after the first item.

Late sustain

Bloodthirster

3,400 gold

Adds sustain once the damage core is established.

Safety

Guardian Angel

3,200 gold

Adds a revive for high-value late fights.

Attack speed and safety

Phantom Dancer

2,650 gold

Move through units.

Complete build choices

Choose the route before play

Recommendation review pending

AlternativeMagic damage reaches meWit's End adds magic resistance without giving up attack speed.

View full route

Best when: Wit's End adds magic resistance without giving up attack speed.

First itemYoumuu's Ghostblade
BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
Core damageBlack Cleaver
Wit's End
SafetyGuardian Angel
Attack speed and safetyPhantom Dancer

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsGravesJungle

Fleet supports camp-to-camp health and kiting for a ranged clear. Smite remains reserved for progression and secure timing.

Normal Draft

Primary tree

Precision

Fleet Footwork

Triumph

Legend: Alacrity

Cut Down

Secondary tree

Domination

Sudden Impact

Relentless Hunter

Summoner spells

Flash

Smite

Keep Smite

Smite is part of Jungle companion progression and objective security. The movement or combat spell beside it is the adjustable slot.

Change the movement spell

Ghost can fit sustained access; Flash can fit one immediate reposition. Use the champion's route and intended fights to choose.

Matchup notes

What changes when Rammus is opposite you?

Pre-game kit comparison

Strategic interaction

Build an early tempo lead

Fast clears and ranged skirmishing can pressure camps before grouped fights begin.

Mid to late

Item completion improves sustained damage, but the lane still depends on support pairing and safe positioning.

Your plan

Use the route you prepared

Treat Vex as one part of the map state. Their Jungler, nearby waves and which teammates can move determine whether the same trade or rotation is safe.

Ability reminders

Graves reminders

Smoke 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.

Ability reminders

Against Rammus

Pay particular attention to when his Defensive Ball Curl is off. Rammus has much lower stats than a normal tank when he's out of the stance.
Rammus often stacks high Armor, leaving him especially vulnerable to caster damage while not in Defensive Ball Curl.

Static alternatives

Compare the problem before changing the plan

These choices are not selected from live scores. Use one only after you identify the stated match problem yourself.

Magic damage reaches me

Wit's End

Wit's End adds magic resistance without giving up attack speed.

Ability reference

Compare both kits

Ability reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

Cooldown (s) / Cost / Listed range (units) Data Dragon 16.20.1

Graves

P
New Destiny
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.
Q
End of the Line
Graves fires an explosive shell that detonates after 1 second, or after colliding with terrain.
Cooldown (s) 13/11.25/9.5/7.75/6 · Cost 80 · Listed range (units) 925
W
Smoke Screen
Graves 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.
Cooldown (s) 26/24/22/20/18 · Cost 70/75/80/85/90 · Listed range (units) 950
E
Quickdraw
Graves 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.
Cooldown (s) 16/15/14/13/12 · Cost 40 · Listed range (units) 425
R
Collateral Damage
Graves 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.
Cooldown (s) 100/80/60 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 1000

Rammus

P
Spiked Shell
Rammus gains bonus Attack Damage scaling with his Armor and Magic Resistance.
Q
Powerball
Rammus accelerates in a ball towards his enemies, dealing damage and slowing targets affected by the impact.
Cooldown (s) 12/10.5/9/7.5/6 · Cost 60 · Listed range (units) 300
W
Defensive Ball Curl
Rammus goes into a defensive formation, vastly increasing his Armor and Magic Resistance, and returning damage to enemies that attack him.
Cooldown (s) 7 · Cost 40 · Listed range (units) 300
E
Frenzying Taunt
Rammus taunts an enemy champion or monster into a reckless assault against him.
Cooldown (s) 12 · Cost 50 · Listed range (units) 325
R
Soaring Slam
Rammus hops into the air and slams down at a target area, dealing magic damage and slowing enemies. If cast while Rammus is in Powerball, Rammus knocks up enemies near the center as well.
The exported range is not a verified gameplay distance. Check the current ability tooltip.
Cooldown (s) 120/105/90 · Cost 100

Adapt the plan

What to do when the game changes

Judge the whole lane or map state, not only personal kills. Choose the situation closest to the current game.

Even plan

Keep the clear moving and choose high-information plays

Pathing

Track opposing camps and lane states instead of forcing the first visible target.

Map play

Trade sides of the map when contesting would require weaker lanes to move first.

Fights

Save important control for the enemy who threatens your carries or objective access.

Pings, movement and objectives

Graves Jungle map plan

Link each clear to the next informed decision. Pings should tell lanes where you are pathing and whether the team is contesting or trading an objective.

Ahead

Turn tempo into controlled territory

Ping: Use On My Way before entering a lane, Assist Me before an objective and Danger when nearby lanes cannot move to an invade.
Path or gank: Gank when the lane has reach, damage and a safe exit. Do not wait beside a protected target while camps and the next objective disappear.
Objective: Establish vision with the nearest winning lane, keep Smite available and avoid chasing away from the objective after gaining control.

Even

Choose the play with the clearest information

Ping: Use On My Way early enough for the lane to prepare, Assist Me only when nearby lanes can move, and Retreat when the contest has already become late.
Path or gank: Prefer a lane with crowd control, damaged opponents or a favourable wave. A visible opponent is not automatically a usable gank.
Objective: Check Mid and Bot priority before Dragon, or Mid and Top before Herald. Set a safe entrance before beginning the objective.

Behind

Trade the map instead of forcing recovery

Ping: Ping Retreat from lost contests, Danger on likely invades and On My Way when covering a vulnerable lane or remaining camp.
Path or gank: Counter-gank or help only when allies can survive until arrival. Repeated low-chance ganks deepen the camp and level deficit.
Objective: If entry is unsafe, trade for camps, a wave, vision or the opposite objective. Keep Smite and crowd control for a contest the team can actually reach.

Objective setup

Four calls, in order

Pings create a shared plan; they do not replace checking waves, vision and who can move.

1
Before the route
Decide which camps lead toward the objective and ping the nearby lanes before they spend the wave or recall timing.
2
Check priority
Confirm which nearby lanes can move first. Do not convert an isolated objective marker into a forced fight.
3
Control entry
Move with a teammate, sweep one entrance and keep Smite available before committing damage to the objective.
4
Finish or turn
Call whether the team is finishing, fighting or leaving. Mixed decisions are more dangerous than either clear choice.

Later objectives: Repeat the same process around later major objectives: handle nearby income, communicate the route, enter through vision and agree on the fight before committing.

Keep preparing

Use the champion page or choose another opponent

The matchup page is a pre-game reference. It does not predict the result or alter its recommendation from changing live match data.

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Graves vs Rammus

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JungleGraves