Wild Rift Jarvan IV Guide: Best Build, Runes, Items, Combos

Jarvan IV is a powerful and reliable jungler in Wild Rift, known for his strong early-game ganks, teamfight initiation, and crowd control. With his versatile kit, he can engage fights, lock down key targets, and create space for his team using his signature Cataclysm ultimate. Whether you’re diving into the backline or setting up big plays with your flag-and-drag combo, Jarvan brings both damage and utility to every game. In this guide, we’ll cover the best build, runes, items, and combos to help you dominate the jungle and lead your team to victory with Jarvan IV.

Jarvan IV Abilities Overview In Wild Rift

Here’s a full overview of Jarvan IV’s abilities in Wild Rift and how each one works to control the map and lead your team:

Passive – Martial Cadence
Jarvan’s first basic attack against a new target deals bonus physical damage based on their current health. This makes his early ganks and jungle clears more effective, especially against tanky enemies.

1st Ability – Dragon Strike
Jarvan thrusts his lance forward, dealing physical damage and reducing the armor of all enemies hit. If it connects with his flag (from his 3rd ability), he dashes to it, knocking up all enemies in his path. This is the key part of his engage combo.

2nd Ability – Golden Aegis
Jarvan slows nearby enemies and gains a shield based on the number of enemies around him. This gives him survivability during skirmishes and teamfights, especially when diving into multiple opponents.

3rd Ability – Demacian Standard
Jarvan throws a flag to a target location, dealing magic damage and granting attack speed to nearby allies. It also serves as the anchor point for his Dragon Strike combo. Always try to place it in a way that sets up a knock-up and boosts your team.

Ultimate – Cataclysm
Jarvan leaps to a target enemy, dealing physical damage and creating an arena of impassable terrain around them. It traps enemies inside and is perfect for locking down high-priority targets or zoning enemies during fights. Use Flash to escape after trapping if needed.

Mastering Jarvan IV means knowing when to engage, how to combo efficiently, and how to trap the right targets at the right moment. He’s a strong pick for aggressive junglers who want to lead every fight.

How To Play Jarvan IV In Wild Rift

Best Summoner Spells For Jarvan IV

The best summoner spells for Jarvan IV in Wild Rift are Smite and Flash.
• Smite is essential for jungle control, objective securing, and faster clears. Upgrade it to Challenging Smite for better dueling or Chilling Smite for easier ganks with slows.
• Flash gives Jarvan more flexibility in fights. You can Flash-ult to surprise enemies, escape bad situations, or reposition for better flag-and-drag combos.

This combo gives you everything you need—jungle control, aggressive gank potential, and playmaking mobility.

Best Runes For Jarvan IV

Here are the best runes for Jarvan IV in Wild Rift to boost his early-game impact, engage power, and teamfight presence:

Keystone Rune: Electrocute
Electrocute gives Jarvan extra burst damage during his flag-and-drag combo, making his early ganks much more threatening. It works perfectly with his quick combo of 1st + 3rd + basic attack.

Domination: Brutal
Brutal offers bonus AD and armor penetration early, which helps Jarvan clear camps faster and deal more damage in early skirmishes.

Resolve: Hunter – Titan
Hunter – Titan gives bonus health and tenacity as you get takedowns, helping Jarvan survive longer in teamfights and resist crowd control effects.

Inspiration: Pathfinder
Pathfinder increases movement speed in the river, jungle, and bushes—exactly where Jarvan roams. This helps him rotate quicker, gank more often, and control objectives more effectively.

This rune setup is perfect for aggressive jungle Jarvan, allowing you to burst down targets, stay tanky in fights, and keep pressure on the map throughout the game.

Best Build For Jarvan IV

Here’s the best build for Jarvan IV in Wild Rift to maximize his early-game pressure, engage power, and frontline durability:

Core Items:
• Goredrinker – Gives Jarvan sustain, ability haste, and a strong active that deals AoE damage and heals based on missing health. Perfect for extended teamfights and brawls.
• Black Cleaver – Adds HP, AD, ability haste, and armor shred. Works well with his combo and helps both you and your team deal more damage to tanky targets.
• Sterak’s Gage – Provides a shield when taking burst damage, letting Jarvan dive safely into the enemy backline without being deleted.

Boots:
• Plated Steelcaps (vs AD) or Mercury’s Treads (vs AP/CC)
• Upgrade to Glorious Enchant for stronger engages or Stasis Enchant for clutch survivability after diving in with your ultimate.

Situational Items:
• Death’s Dance – Offers damage, healing, and delayed damage, helping you survive longer in fights.
• Maw of Malmortius – Strong vs heavy magic damage, giving a magic shield and extra lifesteal.
• Guardian Angel – Great for late game. Dive in, trap enemies with Cataclysm, and revive if focused down.

This build turns Jarvan IV into a deadly initiator who can burst squishies, survive long teamfights, and lead every engage with confidence.

Best Combos To Learn For Jarvan IV

Here are the best combos to learn for Jarvan IV in Wild Rift that will help you gank efficiently, start fights, and trap key targets:

1. Basic Engage Combo (Flag-and-Drag):
3rd (Demacian Standard) → 1st (Dragon Strike)
This is Jarvan’s core combo. Drop your flag near or behind the enemy, then immediately use your lance to dash to it and knock up anyone in your path. Perfect for ganks and teamfight engages.

2. Full Burst Combo:
3rd → 1st → Auto Attack → 2nd (Golden Aegis) → Ultimate
Use your flag-and-drag to knock up the target, follow with an auto for Electrocute proc, then pop your shield for survivability and finish with Cataclysm to trap and burst them down.

3. Surprise Engage Combo (Flash + Ult):
Flash → Ultimate → 3rd → 1st (from inside the pit)
Use Flash + Ult to instantly trap priority targets. Then place your flag and use Dragon Strike to escape the terrain you just created if needed. Great for quick picks on squishy backline champions.

4. Teamfight Engage Combo:
3rd → 1st → 2nd → Ultimate
Knock up multiple enemies, slow them with your shield, and then lock down key targets with your ultimate. Use this to start fights or peel for your carries when enemies dive.

Mastering these combos will make you a threat across all stages of the game, letting you control objectives, dominate teamfights, and create nonstop pressure as Jarvan IV.

Conclusion

Jarvan IV is the kind of champion who can take control of the game from the jungle with his early pressure, strong ganks, and game-changing teamfight engages. With the right build, runes, and combos, he becomes a reliable frontline and initiator who can catch carries, peel for allies, and dominate objectives. Whether you’re diving into the enemy backline with Cataclysm or knocking up half the team with a perfect flag-and-drag combo, Jarvan brings impact in every fight. Master his mechanics and you’ll always be the one leading your team to victory on the Rift.