10 Best Champions To Counter Gragas In League of Legends

Gragas can be a nightmare to deal with thanks to his tanky stats, high burst damage, and annoying crowd control. Whether he’s played in the jungle, top, or mid, his ability to sustain through trades and disrupt fights makes him a tough matchup. But like any champion, he has weaknesses that the right picks can exploit. In this guide, we’ll break down the 10 best champions to counter Gragas, explaining why they work, how to play against him, and what strategies will help you shut him down before he takes over the game.

#10: Yasuo

Yasuo is a solid counter to Gragas because of his Wind Wall (W), which can completely block Gragas’ Barrel Roll (Q) and Explosive Cask (R), negating a huge part of his poke and engage potential. Yasuo also thrives in extended fights, while Gragas prefers quick trades. If you dodge his initial burst and land consistent damage with your Steel Tempest (Q) and autos, you can turn fights in your favor. Additionally, since Gragas is a relatively short-range champion, Yasuo can easily dash around with Sweeping Blade (E), making it difficult for Gragas to land his skill shots. When playing Yasuo against Gragas, look for opportunities to block his abilities with Wind Wall and capitalize on your mobility to avoid his crowd control.

#9: Qiyana

Qiyana is a strong counter to Gragas due to her high burst damage, mobility, and ability to punish his short-range playstyle. Her Edge of Ixtal (Q) combined with Terrashape (W) allows her to poke him down while staying mobile, making it difficult for Gragas to land his skill shots. If he tries to engage with Body Slam (E), Qiyana can quickly disengage using Audacity (E) or reposition with her terrain-based combos.

One of her biggest advantages is her Supreme Display of Talent (R), which can turn Gragas’ own abilities against him. If he knocks her into a wall with Explosive Cask (R), she can instantly counter with her ultimate for massive damage and crowd control. Since Gragas lacks extended trades and relies on burst, Qiyana’s ability to assassinate him before he can heal up or disengage makes her a nightmare matchup for him. Look to play aggressively when his cooldowns are down and use terrain to maximize your burst potential.

#8: Akali

Akali is a strong counter to Gragas because of her mobility, sustain, and ability to dodge his skill shots. Since Gragas relies heavily on landing his Barrel Roll (Q) and Body Slam (E) to trade effectively, Akali’s Twilight Shroud (W) makes it difficult for him to hit his abilities. This allows her to control trades and avoid his crowd control.

In fights, Akali’s Shuriken Flip (E) and Perfect Execution (R) let her quickly jump in and out of combat, making it hard for Gragas to land his burst combo. Additionally, Gragas lacks the consistent damage needed to pressure Akali after her early levels, meaning she can play patiently, sustain through his poke, and look for all-in opportunities once she gets her ultimate.

To beat Gragas with Akali, focus on dodging his Body Slam (E) and Explosive Cask (R) while using Twilight Shroud (W) to reposition. Once you hit level 6, look for aggressive trades and use your mobility to punish his cooldowns.

#7: Zed

Zed is a strong counter to Gragas because of his ability to outplay skill shots, avoid burst damage, and punish Gragas’ weak mobility. Since Gragas relies heavily on landing Barrel Roll (Q) and Body Slam (E) to trade effectively, Zed’s Living Shadow (W) allows him to reposition and dodge these abilities with ease. Additionally, Zed’s high burst damage can quickly take down Gragas before he can sustain with Drunken Rage (W).

One of Zed’s biggest advantages is his Death Mark (R), which allows him to avoid Gragas’ Explosive Cask (R) and burst while simultaneously setting up a lethal trade. Since Gragas is a relatively slow champion who struggles against high-mobility assassins, Zed can poke him down with Razor Shuriken (Q) and all-in when he’s low.

To beat Gragas with Zed, focus on dodging his skill shots with Living Shadow, harassing with your shurikens, and looking for an all-in once you hit level 6. Play aggressively when his cooldowns are down, and he won’t be able to keep up.

#6: Lissandra

Lissandra is a great counter to Gragas because of her crowd control, zone control, and ability to survive his burst. Since Gragas relies on short-range trades and skill shots, Lissandra can punish him with her long-range Ice Shard (Q) poke while keeping her distance. If he tries to engage with Body Slam (E), she can instantly root him with Ring of Frost (W), preventing him from escaping or continuing his combo.

Her biggest advantage in this matchup is her Frozen Tomb (R). If Gragas dives onto her, she can either self-cast her ultimate to negate his burst or use it offensively to lock him down and burst him before he can disengage. Additionally, her Glacial Path (E) gives her an easy escape option, making it difficult for Gragas to land his Explosive Cask (R) effectively.

To win this matchup, use Ice Shard (Q) to poke him down, save Ring of Frost (W) for when he engages, and use Frozen Tomb (R) to either survive his all-in or turn fights in your favor. If played correctly, Gragas will struggle to ever get a clean engage on you.

#5: Ekko

Ekko is a strong counter to Gragas because of his high mobility, burst damage, and ability to escape Gragas’ combos. Since Gragas relies on landing Body Slam (E) and Explosive Cask (R) to set up his burst, Ekko’s Phase Dive (E) and Parallel Convergence (W) allow him to dodge skill shots and outplay Gragas in trades.

One of Ekko’s biggest strengths in this matchup is his Chronobreak (R), which lets him completely reset a fight if Gragas chunks him with his combo. This ability not only negates Gragas’ burst but also allows Ekko to turn the fight around by healing back up and dealing massive return damage.

To beat Gragas with Ekko, use Timewinder (Q) to poke and farm safely in the early game, play around his cooldowns, and use Chronobreak (R) wisely to avoid his all-in. If Gragas ever overextends or misses his abilities, you can capitalize with a quick engage and burst him down before he can escape.

#4: Leblanc

LeBlanc is a nightmare for Gragas because of her extreme mobility, burst damage, and ability to dodge his skill shots. Since Gragas relies on landing Body Slam (E) and Explosive Cask (R) to lock down enemies, LeBlanc can completely outmaneuver him using Distortion (W) and Mimic (R) to reposition instantly.

Her Sigil of Malice (Q) combined with Ethereal Chains (E) allows her to poke Gragas down while keeping a safe distance. If he tries to engage, she can use Distortion (W) to avoid his crowd control and punish him with her burst. Since Gragas has a relatively short range and struggles against slippery champions, LeBlanc can constantly harass him and force him into bad trades.

To win this matchup, focus on dodging his Body Slam (E), poking with Sigil of Malice (Q), and using Distortion (W) aggressively when his cooldowns are down. Once you hit level 6, look for all-ins with Mimic (R) to burst him down before he can sustain through the fight. If played correctly, Gragas will struggle to ever land his abilities on you.

#3: Kassadin

Kassadin is one of the best counters to Gragas because of his magic damage reduction, late-game scaling, and ability to dodge Gragas’ abilities with his ultimate. Since Gragas deals mostly magic damage, Kassadin’s Void Stone (Passive) significantly reduces his burst potential, making it difficult for Gragas to win trades.

In the early game, Kassadin can play safe and use Null Sphere (Q) to poke and absorb some of Gragas’ magic damage. Once he hits level 6 and unlocks Riftwalk (R), the matchup completely shifts in his favor. Kassadin can easily dodge Gragas’ Body Slam (E) and Explosive Cask (R) while chasing him down with his mobility.

To win this matchup, focus on surviving the early game, farming safely, and waiting until level 6. Once you have Riftwalk (R), you can start playing aggressively, avoiding Gragas’ engage, and punishing him for every missed ability. As the game progresses, Kassadin becomes nearly unkillable for Gragas and can easily take over.

#2: Diana

Diana is a strong counter to Gragas because of her consistent damage, shield sustain, and ability to punish his weak mobility in fights. While Gragas excels in short trades and burst damage, Diana thrives in extended fights where she can stack Moonsilver Blade (Passive) and use Pale Cascade (W) to mitigate incoming damage.

One of Diana’s biggest advantages is her ability to match Gragas’ all-ins and turn fights around. If Gragas engages with Body Slam (E), Diana can use Lunar Rush (E) to instantly close the gap and counter-engage. Since she builds AP and has strong burst damage, she can quickly shred through Gragas before he can sustain back up.

Additionally, Diana’s Moonfall (R) is an excellent tool to punish Gragas in team fights. If he tries to disrupt fights with Explosive Cask (R), Diana can turn the fight by diving into the backline and pulling multiple enemies together.

To win this matchup, focus on trading efficiently with Pale Cascade (W), avoiding unnecessary poke from Barrel Roll (Q), and looking for all-ins once you have Lunar Rush (E) and Moonfall (R) ready. If played correctly, Gragas won’t be able to handle Diana’s sustained damage and all-in potential.

#1: Fizz

Fizz is the absolute best counter to Gragas because of his high mobility, ability to dodge Gragas’ abilities, and insane burst potential. Gragas relies heavily on landing Body Slam (E) and Explosive Cask (R) to control fights, but Fizz’s Playful/Trickster (E) allows him to completely avoid Gragas’ damage and crowd control, making it nearly impossible for Gragas to win trades.

Fizz also excels in extended fights, while Gragas prefers quick bursts. Once Fizz gets his ultimate, Chum the Waters (R), he can all-in Gragas and burst him down before he has a chance to sustain with Drunken Rage (W). Additionally, Gragas’ Barrel Roll (Q) is a skill shot that Fizz can easily dodge with his mobility.

To win this matchup, focus on playing safe pre-6, dodging Gragas’ poke with Urchin Strike (Q) and Playful/Trickster (E), and looking for an all-in once you unlock Chum the Waters (R). If played correctly, Fizz can snowball out of control, making it impossible for Gragas to stay in the game.

Conclusion

Gragas can be a frustrating champion to deal with due to his burst damage, sustain, and crowd control, but picking the right counter can make all the difference. Champions like Fizz, Diana, and Kassadin exploit his weaknesses, whether it’s dodging his abilities, out-sustaining him in fights, or punishing his short-range playstyle. Assassins with high mobility, mages with strong poke and disengage, and champions who can avoid his key abilities all have the tools to shut him down. By understanding how to play against Gragas and using the right strategies, you can minimize his impact and turn the matchup in your favor. Whether you’re facing him in mid, top, or jungle, these 10 champions will give you the best chance to outplay and dominate the game.