Synergies
Graves excels in skirmish-oriented compositions focused on jungle pressure. He benefits from allies who provide crowd control or start quick engagements. Teams that dominate vision control and map space amplify his strengths.
Nautilus
Nautilus gives Graves targets locked down long enough for him to reach his real burst range without getting kited. The ideal execution is Nautilus engaging first, then Graves entering from the side with Quickdraw to maximize End of the Line and his shotgun auto. This synergy is very strong against compositions that leave a carry exposed as soon as the first crowd control connects.
EngageSupport
Dredge Line→
Depth Charge→
Quickdraw→
End of the Line→
Collateral Damage
Thresh
Thresh perfectly complements Graves with hook, lantern and area slow, essentially everything he lacks to reach his best firing angles. The duo is very flexible: picks, skirmishes, invades and objective space control all work well with this foundation. It is especially strong when Graves wants to play for tempo and force fights before full teamfights happen.
EngageSupport
Death Sentence→
Dark Passage→Quickdraw→End of the Line
Galio
Galio gives Graves real permission to enter fights hard without dying right after his first cycle. The execution often involves Graves baiting a response by stepping up aggressively, then dropping Hero's Entrance once the enemy commits onto him. This synergy works very well against melee teams that underestimate Graves' temporary durability when supported.
DiveMid
Quickdraw→
Hero's Entrance→End of the Line
Leona
Leona greatly simplifies Graves' gameplay by delivering short-range targets, exactly where he is most dangerous. The mechanic is direct: Leona commits, Graves follows and keeps his dash either to stick or to dodge the single important counter-response. This duo works very well in quick fights and fog-of-war situations where the victim has little time to react.
EngageSupport
Zenith Blade→
Shield of Daybreak→Quickdraw→End of the Line
Lulu
Lulu helps Graves maintain his aggressive line for longer and enables entries that would be too risky without support. The synergy is good in front-to-back fights but naturally less lethal than with engage supports. It is mostly useful when Graves is one of the main sustained damage sources in the draft.
ProtectSupport
Graves synergies rely on his ability to play around space control and fight timing. He doesn’t want to engage first, but to capitalize on openings created by teammates. The best partners are those who lock enemies down or create zones where Graves can use Q angles and kiting. Understanding these synergies turns Graves from a solo carry into a much more stable team threat.
Graves works best with champions that provide control or engage. These allies allow him to secure damage without unnecessary risks. Champions that create structured fights around objectives also amplify his impact. Without these synergies, Graves must take more risks and becomes less reliable.
Graves fits into compositions focused on space control and skirmishes. He follows up on engages rather than initiating them. His role is to follow up, zone, and punish immobilized targets while maintaining pressure.
These champions allow Graves to play as a follow-up. Their engage locks targets and creates zones where Graves can maximize Q and DPS. This reduces his exposure and lets him play his tempo safely.
How to play it. Wait for engage and follow up with burst and kiting.
These champions create pick opportunities where Graves can use burst. Their control secures his damage and reduces the need for constant repositioning.
How to play it. Play around catches and snowball quickly.
These compositions help Graves survive longer in fights. Shields and buffs enhance his ability to kite and maintain stacks.
How to play it. Play more aggressively with buff support.
Without engage, Graves must initiate fights himself, which is not optimal. He becomes exposed and cannot play his follow-up role.
These comps lack stability in fights. Graves cannot play angles effectively without someone creating space.
Nautilus is an ideal synergy as he provides reliable engage, allowing Graves to play safely. His CC ensures Graves can land burst without contest.
Graves performs best when allies extend the first window of control or damage. The strongest pairings on this page, such as Nautilus, Thresh, Galio, create cleaner fights and more reliable tempo swings.
Graves has a marksman profile, so allies with Engage, Dive are usually the best fit. You often get the most value from partners played in Support, Mid.
These pairings matter most around first engage timing, objective setup, and follow-up on crowd control. The page is not just naming allies: it highlights combinations that reduce execution risk for Graves.
Graves works especially well with engage supports like Nautilus or Leona, who can lock targets and create openings. These champions allow Graves to deal damage safely and play around angles.
Yes, but he becomes much harder to play. Without CC, Graves must create his own opportunities, which exposes him more. He becomes less reliable in such comps.
Tanks absorb CC and create space, allowing Graves to play freely. Without them, he is often targeted directly and cannot use his kit properly.
Yes, but he needs some setup. He can carry games, but only if conditions allow him to play fights properly. Without that, his impact is limited.
