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Support · Normal DraftMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Gragas vs Vex

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

GragasVSVex

Matchup guide

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VS
Role
Selected laneSupport

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Role fit

SupportGragas

Gragas has a reviewed secondary role here. It is less common than the primary roles, but it has a recognisable role-specific plan.

Reviewed secondary
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 · Support

Possible Gragas utility Support

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

Reviewed secondary
S
Draft / Ranked opening · separate from item 1

World Atlas

400 gold

Starts Support income and progresses into wards.

1
First item

Bloodsong

400 gold

Adds a reviewed part of this champion and role core.

2
Boots

Ionian Boots of Lucidity

900 gold

Adds inexpensive ability haste and movement speed.

3
Core

Shurelya's Battlesong

2,200 gold

Helps nearby allies start or leave a fight.

4
Late

Locket of the Iron Solari

2,200 gold

Adds an immediate shield for nearby allies after a team commit.

5
Flexible

Knight's Vow

2,300 gold

Redirects protection toward one priority ally.

6
Against magic damage

Kaenic Rookern

2,900 gold

Adds a reviewed part of this champion and role core.

Complete build choices

Choose the route before play

Recommendation review pending

AlternativeToo much healingApply anti-heal only when repeated healing is materially changing fights.View full route

Best when: Apply anti-heal only when repeated healing is materially changing fights.

  1. First itemBloodsong
  2. BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  3. CoreShurelya's Battlesong
  4. Morellonomicon
  5. FlexibleKnight's Vow
  6. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
AlternativeCrowd controlMikael's removes eligible crowd control from an ally; check that the effect can actually be cleansed.View full route

Best when: Mikael's removes eligible crowd control from an ally; check that the effect can actually be cleansed.

  1. First itemBloodsong
  2. BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  3. CoreShurelya's Battlesong
  4. Mikael's Blessing
  5. FlexibleKnight's Vow
  6. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern

Complete build comparison

Complete build comparison

Recommendation review pending

Build review neededPossible Gragas utility SupportRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. First itemBloodsong
  2. BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  3. CoreShurelya's Battlesong
  4. LateLocket of the Iron Solari
  5. FlexibleKnight's Vow
  6. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
AlternativeToo much healingApply anti-heal only when repeated healing is materially changing fights.View full route

Best when: Apply anti-heal only when repeated healing is materially changing fights.

  1. First itemBloodsong
  2. BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  3. CoreShurelya's Battlesong
  4. Morellonomicon
  5. FlexibleKnight's Vow
  6. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
AlternativeCrowd controlMikael's removes eligible crowd control from an ally; check that the effect can actually be cleansed.View full route

Best when: Mikael's removes eligible crowd control from an ally; check that the effect can actually be cleansed.

  1. First itemBloodsong
  2. BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  3. CoreShurelya's Battlesong
  4. Mikael's Blessing
  5. FlexibleKnight's Vow
  6. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsGragasSupport

Use controlled poke and preserve the cooldown that makes the next catch safe.

Normal Draft
Primary tree

Sorcery

Arcane CometManaflow BandTranscendenceScorch
Secondary tree

Inspiration

Biscuit DeliveryCosmic Insight
Summoner spells
FlashIgnite
Coordinate the Bot pair

Check which defensive spell the Bot partner selected before duplicating Heal, Barrier or Exhaust.

Match the lane threat

Exhaust answers a committed damage dealer; Ignite adds pressure and anti-heal; Heal protects both nearby partners.

Matchup notes

What changes when Vex is opposite you?

Pre-game kit comparison
Kit comparison

Respect the opponent's reliable threat

Track the cooldown and range of the ability that starts their safest trade. Do not treat this page as a statistical counter claim.

Your plan

Use the route you prepared

Keep Vex visible before committing. The second Bot-lane champion and nearby Jungler can change whether the same engage is safe.

Ability reminders

Gragas reminders

  • The damage reduction from Drunken Rage is applied when you start drinking, try to use it when you see damage coming your way.
  • Try to knock enemies back into your towers with Explosive Cask.
  • Try to combo Body Slam with Explosive Cask to set up kills for your team.

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.

Only when enemy healing is deciding fights

Oblivion Orb

Oblivion Orb supplies healing reduction without committing to a completed Morellonomicon. Skip both when healing is not the problem or an ally already covers your target reliably. Healing reduction does not reduce shields.

Conditional component, not a core item. Complete Morellonomicon only when its stats and slot efficiency justify delaying another purchase.
Crowd control

Mikael's Blessing

Mikael's removes eligible crowd control from an ally; check that the effect can actually be cleansed.

Ability reference

Compare both kits

Ability reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

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

Gragas

  1. P
    Happy Hour

    Gragas periodically heals upon using a skill.

  2. Q
    Barrel Roll

    Gragas rolls his cask to a location, which can be activated to explode or will explode on its own after 4 seconds. The potency of the explosion increases over time. Enemies struck by the blast have their Move Speed slowed.

    Cooldown (s) 10/9/8/7/6 · Cost 80 · Listed range (units) 850
  3. W
    Drunken Rage

    Gragas samples his latest brew for 1 second. After finishing, he becomes boisterous and belligerent, dealing magic damage to all nearby enemies on his next basic attack and reducing damage received.

    Cooldown (s) 5 · Cost 30 · Listed range (units) 20
  4. E
    Body Slam

    Gragas charges to a location and collides with the first enemy unit he comes across, dealing damage to all nearby enemy units and stunning them.

    Cooldown (s) 14/13.5/13/12.5/12 · Cost 50 · Listed range (units) 600
  5. R
    Explosive Cask

    Gragas hurls his cask to a location, dealing damage and knocking back enemies caught in the blast radius.

    Cooldown (s) 100/85/70 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 1000

Vex

  1. P
    Doom 'n Gloom

    Vex periodically becomes empowered, causing her next basic Ability to fear enemies and interrupt dashes. Whenever a nearby enemy dashes, Vex applies a mark that can be consumed for bonus damage that also reduces the cooldown of her empowered state.

  2. Q
    Mistral Bolt

    Launch a damaging missile that accelerates mid-flight.

    Cooldown (s) 8/7/6/5/4 · Cost 45/50/55/60/65 · Listed range (units) 1200
  3. W
    Personal Space

    Gain a shield and damage nearby enemies.

    Cooldown (s) 16/15/14/13/12 · Cost 75 · Listed range (units) 475
  4. E
    Looming Darkness

    Summon a damaging and slowing zone that applies Gloom to enemies.

    Cooldown (s) 12 · Cost 70/80/90/100/110 · Listed range (units) 800
  5. R
    Shadow Surge

    Fire a missile that marks an enemy champion. Recast to dash to them and deal damage.

    Cooldown (s) 140/120/100 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 2000/2500/3000

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

Balance lane pressure with protection for the carry

1
Lane

Hold the ability that makes opponents respect your lane and trade when both Bot-lane partners are ready.

2
Map play

Recall and move on safe wave timings; an unsupported roam can cost the carry an entire wave or a dive.

3
Fights

Control one approach and keep enough protection for the enemy's most likely engage.

Pings, movement and objectives

Gragas Support map plan

Turn information into a shared decision. Move with an ally and preserve the tool that makes the next fight safe.

Ahead

Make the lead open the map

Ping
Use On My Way before changing angle, then Assist Me on Dragon after Bot is safe to move. Use Danger if the carry starts following through an unsafe route.
Map movement
Roam after a pushed wave, shared recall or when the carry can collect safely. Deep wards still require the Jungler or another nearby ally.
Objective
Arrive early, clear the enemy entrance and hold the key engage or peel spell. Do not chase away from Dragon and hand the opponent a free route back in.
Even

Create one clear numbers advantage

Ping
Use On My Way before an engage or roam, Enemy Missing as soon as a lane opponent disappears, and Danger when your carry cannot follow.
Map movement
Leave only on a safe wave or recall timing. If the carry would lose a full wave or face a dive, stay Bot and communicate that you are not moving.
Objective
Help Bot finish the wave, then enter river with the Jungler. Set vision before starting and avoid turning an even objective into an unseen gamble.
Behind

Stop the next loss before seeking a play

Ping
Use Retreat or Danger before an ally enters darkness, Enemy Missing immediately, and Assist Me when you need company to restore defensive vision.
Map movement
Do not abandon a crashing wave or vulnerable carry. Move after the wave is stable and use the nearest safe ward line rather than forcing deep vision.
Objective
If your team cannot enter river safely, ping Retreat and trade for farm, vision or another map resource. Contest only after creating a safe route together.
Objective setup

Four calls, in order

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

  1. 1
    Before the move

    Around a minute before Dragon, ping the plan, spend gold if needed and make sure Bot and Mid know whether they can move.

  2. 2
    Enter together

    Walk with the Jungler or another ally. Sweep one route, place useful entrance vision and never face-check alone.

  3. 3
    Before starting

    Check nearby waves and enemy positions. Hold the spell that either starts a reachable fight or protects your main damage dealer.

  4. 4
    During the contest

    Keep enemies away from the safe entrance, mark the reachable threat and avoid chasing so far that Dragon is left unprotected.

Later objectives: Use the same pattern for Rift Herald or Baron: communicate first, move through controlled vision with an ally, then choose engage or peel before the fight begins.

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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