Graves vs Bel’Veth Counter Pick

1,323 games on patch 16.13.1 put Graves at 46.0%, a sample deep enough that the deficit is real rather than noise. What makes it notable is that Bel’Veth is rated 10 for difficulty, the maximum, while Graves sits at 3. A result that swings toward the harder champion despite that gap usually points at a structural problem, and here it is damage type.

Graves builds around armor. Quickdraw grants armor and magic resist on the dash and adds True Grit stacks when he dashes toward a champion, and 111.2 armor at level 18 is respectable. Bel’Veth deals magic damage, so most of that investment answers the wrong question. Death in Lavender gives her permanent attack speed stacks from large minions, monsters and champions, and Royal Maelstrom channels slashes that target the lowest health enemy while granting her lifesteal and damage reduction — a poor thing to stand beside once Graves has emptied his ammunition. Range is the counter-argument. Graves attacks from 425 against her 150, at least until Endless Banquet transforms her and increases her attack range, attack speed and max health outright. Before that ultimate is online, End of the Line and Collateral Damage should keep her outside her own dash pattern; Void Surge travels in a chosen direction, so fighting close to walls limits her options. Ability breakdowns sit on Graves and Bel’Veth.