League Classic · Season 3 · Jax

Bruiser Jax build & runes

Jax buildsBruiser Jax this buildAP Jax rank B

Classic vs modernJax's kit (Leap Strike, Empower, Counter Strike, Grandmaster's Might) is unchanged in structure since Season 3 — differences are numbers and item-scaling shifts, not a rework.

Item build path

Starting items level 1 · 475 gold to spend

Doran's Blade475 g

Cloth Armor + 5

Health Potions475 g

Early damage and sustain to trade in lane.

First back first recall

Sheen +

Boots +

Wards

Core build order buy in this order · ~16,708 g full build

Mercury's Treads1,200 g

→

Blade of the Ruined King2,800 g

→

Trinity Force3,878 g

→

Guardian Angel2,600 g

→

Hextech Gunblade3,400 g

→

Warmog's Armor2,830 g

Situational adapt to the game

Guardian Angelwhen ahead to survive teamfights

Frozen Malletfor sticky HP and kiting resistance

Spirit Visagevs AP and to boost E healing

Thornmailvs heavy AD auto-attackers

Skill order & spells

Skill orderR > Q > W > E

SpellsFlash + Ignite

Rune page (Season 3)

9× Greater Mark of Attack Speed+15.3% Attack Speed

9× Greater Seal of Armor+12.7 Armor

9× Greater Glyph of Magic Resist+12.1 Magic Resist

3× Greater Quintessence of Attack Damage+6.8 AD

Best duos & synergies

Zileanhaste + revive on split-pushing Jax wins sides

Sonakite and sustain cover your weak early game

Masteries 21 / 9 / 0

Offense 21

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Defense 9

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Utility 0

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Standard Season 3 page — offense with Executioner. Hover any mastery for its name.

Counters & matchups

Who this pick beats and who beats it — pick your lane with the matchup in mind.

✓ Strong against

Tryndameredodge-stun blanks his crit spin, you win extended

Master Yicounter-strike dodges his attacks

Vaynegap-close and stun shut her down

Kayledodge-stun blanks her kite and you all-in

Katarinastun interrupts her ultimate mid-combo

✕ Struggles against

Malphitearmor stacking and AS slow blunt your all-in

Garensilence stops your combo and out-trades early

Olaftrue damage ignores Counter Strike

Pantheonearly spears all-in before Counter Strike scales

Teemoblind negates your auto-reliant burst

Quick tip: Dodge-stun with E in every trade; past three items you win nearly any duel.

Key combo

Leap Strike (Q) → Empower (W) → auto → Counter Strike (E) stun → Grandmaster's Might (R) for defenses

Power spike & playstyle

Spikes at 6 and hard at 2-3 items (Trinity/Gunblade); a scaling split-push duelist—play safe early, then win every 1v1 late.

Other builds

Jax’s other builds

% is versus Bruiser Jax · how the letters are measuredEvery build →

AP Jax →Same role, different buildTop Lane · Hybrid duelist · 16,180 g

Damage rankBout-damages 10 of 16 top lane builds

Combo+autos1,910+16%

Burst1,213+78%

Auto DPS232-28%

Eff. HP4,330-45%

Sorcerer's Shoes

Lich Bane

Nashor's Tooth

Guinsoo's Rageblade

Rabadon's Deathcap

Zhonya's Hourglass

Skill W > Q > E > RMasteries 21/9/0Summoners Flash + IgniteStart Boots of Speed + 4 Health PotionsRunes Magic Penetration marks · Flat Armor seals · Flat Ability Power glyphs · Flat Ability Power quints

Empower and Leap Strike both carry AP ratios, and Lich Bane turns the reset after every Leap into a second nuke.

Against squishy tops and in short skirmishes where two empowered hits end the trade before attack speed would have mattered.

In extended fights against armour stackers — you traded the on-hit scaling that lets normal Jax kill a tank for burst that a Negatron Cloak halves.

Not modelled in this number: Frenzy (10% AS for 2s after a crit — not static).

Show the damage math

Ability	How it is calculated	Raw	After resists
Q Leap Strike rank 5	230 base + 1 × 45 bonus AD + 0.6 × 546 AP	603	375 −38% after armour
W Empower rank 5	180 base + 0.6 × 546 AP	508	384 −24% after MR
E Counter Strike rank 5	150 base + 0.5 × 45 bonus AD	173	107 −38% after armour
AA Auto-attack	171.9 per hit × 1.35 attacks/sec	172 / 281	232 dps

Level 18AD 159AP 546Target 1,900 hp · 75 ar · 50 mrAfter pen 64 ar · 35 mr

Combo 1,213 + 3.0 s autos 697 = 1,910, 64% of target HP.

Only the QWE rotation is counted.

Guide

How to play Jax in League Classic

Classic Jax is the definitive 1v1 champion — but only after items. Play the early lane for farm and short Counter Strike trades: E, stun, one full combo, out. Blade of the Ruined King into Trinity Force is your power spike; from there, duel anyone who steps into a side lane. In teamfights don't lead — arrive second, jump the carry mid-fight when their CC is spent. Ward the enemy jungle and split-push relentlessly; Classic's slower pace means towers stay valuable deep into the game.

FAQ

Jax in League Classic

What is the best Jax build in League Classic?

The standard build is Bruiser Jax: Mercury's Treads, Blade of the Ruined King, Trinity Force, Guardian Angel, Hextech Gunblade, Warmog's Armor. Skill order R > Q > W > E, summoner spells Flash + Ignite. Jax also has 1 measured off-meta build: AP Jax.

What runes and masteries does Jax use in League Classic?

Marks: Attack Speed. Seals: Flat Armor. Glyphs: Magic Resist. Quintessences: Flat Attack Damage. Masteries: 21/9/0 — offense with Executioner.

Is Jax good in League Classic?

Jax is rated A-tier top lane in the launch consensus (score 75/100 across 4 published rankings). Strong into Tryndamere, Master Yi, Vayne, Kayle, Katarina; struggles against Malphite, Garen, Olaf, Pantheon, Teemo.

What does Jax start with and build first in League Classic?

Open with Doran's Blade or Cloth Armor + 5 Health Potions. Early damage and sustain to trade in lane. First back: Sheen + Boots + Wards. Then build in order: Mercury's Treads → Blade of the Ruined King → Trinity Force → Guardian Angel → Hextech Gunblade → Warmog's Armor.

Editorial build based on documented Season 3 (2013) meta. Counters and duos are historical projections rather than live win-rate matchup data. (Tier ranking above does mix in live data where sources publish it — see the tier list for details.)

Top Lane tier list ← Consensus tier list