League of Legends Jarvan IV Guide: Best Build, Runes & Combos

Jarvan IV is a classic jungler in League of Legends known for his strong early-game ganks, teamfight initiation, and reliable crowd control. With a kit built for diving into the heart of battle, he excels at locking down key targets and creating space for his teammates. Whether you’re setting up kills with his iconic flag-and-drag combo or using Cataclysm to trap enemies, Jarvan brings dependable engage and pressure to every match. In this guide, you’ll learn the best build, runes, items, and combos to help you dominate the jungle and carry games with Jarvan IV.

Jarvan IV Abilities Overview In League of Legends

Passive – Martial Cadence
Jarvan IV’s first basic attack on a target deals bonus physical damage based on their current health. This makes his early trades and jungle clears more effective, especially against high-HP targets.

Q – Dragon Strike
Jarvan thrusts his lance forward, dealing physical damage and reducing the armor of enemies hit. If this connects with his E (Demacian Standard), it pulls Jarvan to the flag, knocking up all enemies in the path—his signature engage combo.

W – Golden Aegis
Jarvan slows nearby enemies and grants himself a shield that scales with the number of enemy champions hit. This ability gives him survivability during dives and teamfights.

E – Demacian Standard
Jarvan plants a banner that deals damage on landing and grants attack speed to nearby allies. It also serves as the target point for his Q combo, enabling mobility and crowd control.

R – Cataclysm
Jarvan leaps to a target enemy and creates a terrain ring around them, trapping anyone inside for a few seconds and dealing a burst of physical damage. It’s a powerful tool for locking down carries or isolating enemies during teamfights.

Jarvan IV’s kit is all about decisive engages and team coordination. Mastering his combos and when to use Cataclysm can make the difference between a game-winning fight and a wasted ult.

How To Play Jarvan IV In League of Legends

Best Summoner Spells For Jarvan IV

The best summoner spells for Jarvan IV are Smite and Flash. Smite is essential for jungling, securing objectives like Dragon and Baron, and unlocking jungle item upgrades. Flash gives Jarvan much-needed flexibility—use it to extend your Q+E combo, escape danger, or surprise enemies with a sudden Cataclysm engage. This combo of Smite + Flash is the go-to for aggressive jungle Jarvan, giving him the tools to gank hard and carry early.

Best Runes For Jarvan IV

The best runes for Jarvan IV come from the Precision tree, focused on burst damage and snowballing early leads. Take Conqueror as your keystone for extended fights and bonus AD. Follow it with Triumph for extra sustain on takedowns, Legend: Alacrity for attack speed, and Coup de Grace to finish off low-health enemies faster. For your secondary runes, go Inspiration with Magical Footwear and Cosmic Insight to reduce cooldowns on Flash and items. Use stat shards for Attack Speed, Adaptive Force, and Armor or Magic Resist depending on your matchup. This rune setup boosts your early-game power, letting you dominate ganks and lead teamfights with confidence.

Best Build For Jarvan IV

The best build for Jarvan IV in League of Legends focuses on early aggression, durability, and reliable engage. Start with Goredrinker for sustain and damage in extended fights. Pair it with Plated Steelcaps or Mercury’s Treads depending on the enemy team. Follow up with Black Cleaver to shred armor and boost your mobility, then add Sterak’s Gage for survivability. For late-game, build Guardian Angel to stay in the fight longer or Maw of Malmortius if you’re facing heavy AP threats. Finish with Thornmail or Randuin’s Omen to tank up against physical damage and reduce healing. This setup makes Jarvan IV a strong initiator who can dive into the backline, disrupt fights, and stay alive long enough to make a difference.

Best Combos To Learn For Jarvan IV

The best combos to learn for Jarvan IV revolve around his iconic E + Q engage and R for lockdown. The bread-and-butter combo is E → Q → Auto → R—drop your Demacian Standard, instantly drag to it with Dragon Strike for a knock-up, follow with a basic attack, and then use Cataclysm to trap your target. For a flashier engage, use E → Q → Flash → R mid-combo to surprise the enemy and guarantee a knock-up before they can react. In teamfights, a strong combo is Flash → R → E → Q to isolate a high-priority target, then knock up any nearby enemies trying to follow up. Mastering these fluid engages and knowing when to hold or use your ult is key to dominating as Jarvan IV.

Conclusion

Jarvan IV is a reliable jungler who thrives on early aggression, smart engages, and teamfight presence. With the right runes, build, and clean execution of his combos, he can lock down key targets, control objectives, and create game-winning plays. Whether you’re looking to lead teamfights or carry from the jungle, mastering Jarvan’s full kit gives you the tools to dominate the Rift with confidence.