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Top · 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

Choose the matchup

Search every champion, choose the assigned role, then open the exact queue page.

VS
Role
Selected laneTop

Choose two champions from the list.

Role fit

TopGragas

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
Historical referenceRecommendation review pending

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

Recommendation patch
16.16 Data Dragon
Build validation patch
16.19.1 Data Dragon
Item lookup patch
16.20.1 Data Dragon

Normal Draft · Top

Reviewed Gragas AP Top

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

Doran's Ring

400 gold

This is the most-supported Draft/Ranked starting item in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot. Compare its durability, sustain and damage trade-off before leaving base.

1
First item

Hextech Rocketbelt

2,650 gold

Adds health, movement and an active gap closer.

2
Boots

Ionian Boots of Lucidity

900 gold

This is the most-supported Boots choice in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot; change it when the opposing damage or crowd control calls for a different defence.

3
Core

Lich Bane

2,900 gold

Rewards following an ability with a basic attack.

4
Second core

Shadowflame

3,200 gold

Improves magic damage against low-health targets.

5
Late power

Zhonya's Hourglass

3,250 gold

Adds armour, ability power and a player-timed stasis.

6
Flexible

Void Staff

3,000 gold

Adds percentage magic penetration after enemies buy meaningful resistance.

Complete build choices

Choose the route before play

Recommendation review pending

AlternativeToo much healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.View full route

Best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

  1. First itemHextech Rocketbelt
  2. BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Second coreShadowflame
  5. Late powerZhonya's Hourglass
  6. FlexibleVoid Staff
AlternativeOne spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

  1. First itemHextech Rocketbelt
  2. BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  3. CoreLich Bane
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Late powerZhonya's Hourglass
  6. FlexibleVoid Staff

Complete build comparison

Complete build comparison

Recommendation review pending

Build review neededReviewed Gragas AP TopRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. First itemHextech Rocketbelt
  2. BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  3. CoreLich Bane
  4. Second coreShadowflame
  5. Late powerZhonya's Hourglass
  6. FlexibleVoid Staff
AlternativeToo much healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.View full route

Best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

  1. First itemHextech Rocketbelt
  2. BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Second coreShadowflame
  5. Late powerZhonya's Hourglass
  6. FlexibleVoid Staff
AlternativeOne spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

  1. First itemHextech Rocketbelt
  2. BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  3. CoreLich Bane
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Late powerZhonya's Hourglass
  6. FlexibleVoid Staff

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsGragasTop

Use repeated combat and durability rather than gambling the long solo lane on one short trade.

Normal Draft
Primary tree

Precision

ConquerorTriumphLegend: AlacrityLast Stand
Secondary tree

Resolve

Bone PlatingOvergrowth
Summoner spells
FlashTeleport
Long-lane safety

Teleport preserves recalls and side-lane access. Ignite is a deliberate pressure trade-off, not a universal upgrade.

Respect the matchup

Keep the defensive secondary runes when repeated poke or one committed trade can decide the lane.

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

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

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.
One spell stops me

Banshee's Veil

Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

Ability reference

Compare both kits

Ability reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

Cooldown / Cost / Range Data Dragon 16.20.1

Gragas

  1. P
    Happy Hour

    Happy Hour is the always-on rule shaping Gragas's normal trading and fight pattern. Watch its in-game state before committing.

  2. Q
    Barrel Roll

    Barrel Roll contributes a slowing effect. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

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

    Drunken Rage contributes basic-attack interaction and damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

    Cooldown 5 · Cost 30 · Listed range 20
  4. E
    Body Slam

    Body Slam contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

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

    Explosive Cask contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

    Cooldown 100/85/70 · Cost 100 · Listed range 1000

Vex

  1. P
    Doom 'n Gloom

    Doom 'n Gloom is an automatic part of the kit involving hard crowd control and damage. Track when its condition is active instead of treating every fight the same way.

  2. Q
    Mistral Bolt

    Mistral Bolt 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.

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

    Personal Space contributes protection or sustain and damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

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

    Looming Darkness creates setup or area pressure. Place it where the opponent must choose between entering its space, changing route or giving up the immediate contest.

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

    Shadow Surge is a ranged cast involving movement or repositioning and damage. Respect its line or target area, and avoid spending it when the opponent can simply step away before the important exchange.

    Cooldown 140/120/100 · Cost 100 · Listed range 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

Trade around the wave and your strongest cooldowns

1
Lane

Keep health and minions balanced so one poor trade does not decide the lane.

2
Map play

Move after the wave is handled and communicate if the opposing Top laner leaves first.

3
Fights

Choose between front-line duty, side pressure and carry access according to the champion kit.

Pings, movement and objectives

Gragas Top map plan

Manage the long lane before leaving it. A useful move begins with a handled wave, a visible route and a teammate who knows you are coming.

Ahead

Use the side-lane lead without donating it

Ping
Ping Enemy Missing when the opposing Top leaves, then On My Way before a flank or objective move.
Stay or move
Push the wave before moving. Stay if leaving would hand several minions or your tower back to the opponent.
Objective
Arrive through a known route and mark whether you are front-lining, flanking or protecting a carry. Do not enter alone before the team can follow.
Even

Make the wave create the first move

Ping
Use Enemy Missing early, Danger on the route they may take, and On My Way only after your own wave is handled.
Stay or move
Move after pushing or on a shared recall. Do not follow through unwarded river merely because the opponent left first.
Objective
Tell the team whether you can move before the objective starts. Approach with vision and save the cooldown needed for the first real commitment.
Behind

Protect experience and communicate the pressure

Ping
Ping Enemy Missing immediately and Retreat if teammates are about to meet the stronger Top laner without you.
Stay or move
Do not match a stronger opponent through darkness. Clear the safe wave, then group by the shortest controlled route.
Objective
State early if you cannot contest. If the team still fights, provide control or protection instead of attempting an isolated flank.
Objective setup

Four calls, in order

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

  1. 1
    Handle the wave

    Push, catch or communicate the wave before leaving so the opponent does not gain a free move and free income.

  2. 2
    Signal the route

    Use On My Way for the route you are actually taking and Danger where an unseen opponent may arrive.

  3. 3
    Enter together

    Move through controlled vision with the Jungler or another ally instead of face-checking the objective alone.

  4. 4
    Choose the job

    Decide whether you are engaging, front-lining, flanking or protecting a carry before the fight begins.

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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