How to Play Jax in League of Legends

Last Updated: September 22, 2021

Jax can be a very strong champion if played well. He excels at dueling but can also participate in Teamfights because his E ability makes him somewhat tanky. With a built in stun, gap closer and additional defensive stats, Jax makes for a very strong top laner (TOP) or jungler (JG) and this article will show you how to play him.

Steps

1
Get to know Jax's abilities. These include:
- His passive is relentless assault - Jax's attack speed increases with every basic attack.
- His Q ability is Leap strike - Jax leaps to a targeted location, if the target is an enemy he deals damage. He can also jump to warding totems or control wards.
- His W ability is Empower - Jax empowers his next basic attack or leap strike dealing additional damage. If you use this ability right after an auto attack, you can cancel it's animation and deal your damage faster.
- His E ability is Counter strike - Jax dodges all incoming basic attack for three seconds, if clicked again during that time Jax will stun nearby targets. Note: You have to wait one second for you to be able to stun an enemy.
- His ultimate [R] ability is Grandmaster's might - Jax gains additional armor and magic resist. Passive: Jax deals additional magic damage with every third basic attack.
2
Set up a rune page for Jax. While your runes should change from game to game, the precision tree with either Press The Attack or Conqueror as the keystone and Triumph, Legend: Alacrity and Coup The Grace is often a great primary option. As secondary tree you usually should take resolve with the runes Bone Plating and Second Wind.
- Especially in the jungle Electrocute from the domination tree or Celerity from the Sorcery Tree can be nice options.
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3
Choose your summoner spells. Each spell has it's own benefits and are down to your play style. Some recommended summoner spells include:
- Flash - You should always use flash because it can be used offensively to get to an enemy and defensively to escape the enemy.
- Teleport - The go-to summoner spell for top lane. It allows you to backport more frequently because it makes getting to lane easier and can be used to join your team when you push a side lane and a teamfight breaks out.
- Ignite - An agressive option for the toplane. While it can help you get easy kills early it is a very risky choice and is definitely worse in the late game than teleport.
- Smite - If you are playing Jax in the jungle you have to take this summoner spell to help you clear the jungle, secure neutral objectives like drakes or the baron and to buy the important jungle items.
4
Learn how to build Jax.
- Starting items can include a Doran's Shield/Blade, 1 Health Potion, Corrupting Potion or in some rare cases a Longsword. Often Corrupting Potion or Doran's Shield are the best starting items.
- When playing jungle Jax you should always start with Hunter's Machete and Refillable Potion.
- Top lane Jax often uses Trinity Force, Titanic Hydra, Sterak's Gage and then builds tank items like Randuin's Omen or Spirit Visage. More agressive items like Rageblade, Blade of the ruined King or Gunblade are situational.
- Ín the Jungle you either want to build the Cinderhulk Enchantment with Trinity Force and tank items or the Bloodrazor Enchantment with Titanic Hydra and tank items. Jungle Jax is supposed to build more like a tank because he has to be with the team more often and tanky builds often perform better in a teamfight.
5
Learn Jax's ability combos.
- You can cancel the animation of your auto attacks with your W or the Tiamat / Titanic Hydra Item Active.
- You can activate your E and jump into the enemy with Q. You will be able to stun them easily reactivating your E.
- If you want to trade in the lane post 6 make sure you attacked the enemy minions 2 times, so the passive of your R will empower the first auto attack on the enemy champion.
6
Play the early game. If your jungle needs a leash help them. if not guard the entrance of your side of the jungle instead of just waiting under your tower.
- You are very strong in fights at level 1 with your E. Often you can walk to the enemy with your E active and then stun them and auto attack them to delete a great chunk of their health early on.
- When minions come focus on last hitting. If the enemy overextends to much for a minion try to punish them but be aware of the damage coming from the enemy minions. Especially early on they can hit hard.
7
Keep split pushing but be ready to help your team.
- In the midgame and late game you can keep on pushing side lanes because you are a big threat to the enemy towers with your Trinity Force Passive. The pushing power from Tiamat / Titanic Hydra can help, too. #*While you are great in the sidelines you can still help your team if a fight breaks out or if you can ambush a lone enemy. You can act as a first or second engage and peel for your carries (Often the Midlaner and the ADC) in teamfights.
- If you want to split push watch out for your teleport cooldown so you can easily join your team in important fights.
- In the midgame you have to watch out before buying your tank items, because you are still rather squishy and can be burst down in teamfights.
8
As a jungler stay with your team more often.
- Don't splitpush often, because you have no teleport and are needed to secure objectives with smite.
- Buy more tanky so you can help more in teamfights.
- Clear your jungle camps if possible because your items are expensive and you can rely on your scaling but remember to help your teammates if possible.