Red start's slow turns your very first clear into a threat — path toward mid for an E-Q knock-up gank the moment you hit level 3.
Rush Spirit of the Elder LizardItem build path
Cloth Armor + 5 
Health Potions475 g
Boots of Speed + 3 Health Potions455 gArmor start for reliable early jungle clear.
Boots + 
Madred's Razors + 
Wards
Mercury's Treads1,200 gSpirit of the Elder Lizard2,500 g
Brutalizer > Black Cleaver3,000 g
Warmog's Armor2,830 g
Randuin's Omen3,000 g
Atma's Impaler2,355 g
Skill order & spells
Rune page (Season 3)
Best duos & synergies
Masteries 9 / 21 / 0
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0/1Counters & matchups
Who this pick beats and who beats it — pick your lane with the matchup in mind.
Key combo
Power spike & playstyle
Big spike at 6 with the E-Q flag-drag into Cataclysm; a strong early ganking bruiser—snowball and use the ult to isolate a target.
How to play Jarvan IV in League Classic
J4's E-Q flag-drag knock-up is the most reliable gank tool in the Classic jungle — it needs no ult and works from fog every time. Gank lanes with CC follow-up and stack early leads. In teamfights you have two modes: cage the fed carry with Cataclysm and lock them in with your team, or peel by flag-dragging divers off your own ADC. Elder Lizard into tank items keeps your ganks lethal while making you the frontline your comp needs.
Jarvan IV in League Classic
What is the best Jarvan IV build in League Classic?
The standard build is Bruiser Jarvan IV: Mercury's Treads, Spirit of the Elder Lizard, Black Cleaver, Warmog's Armor, Randuin's Omen, Atma's Impaler. Skill order Q > E > W > R, summoner spells Smite + Flash.
What runes and masteries does Jarvan IV use in League Classic?
Marks: Armor Penetration. Seals: Flat Armor. Glyphs: Magic Resist. Quintessences: Flat AD. Masteries: 9/21/0 — engage tank.
Is Jarvan IV good in League Classic?
Jarvan IV is rated S-tier jungle in the launch consensus (score 79/100 across 4 published rankings). Strong into Master Yi, Warwick, Fiddlesticks, Evelynn, Shaco; struggles against Anivia, Gragas, Ahri, Cho'Gath, Janna.
What does Jarvan IV start with and build first in League Classic?
Open with Cloth Armor + 5 Health Potions or Boots of Speed + 3 Health Potions. Armor start for reliable early jungle clear. First back: Boots + Madred's Razors + Wards. Then build in order: Mercury's Treads → Spirit of the Elder Lizard → Black Cleaver → Warmog's Armor → Randuin's Omen → Atma's Impaler.