Who Beats Late Game Jax? A Comprehensive Guide
The question of how to counter late game Jax is a crucial one for any League of Legends player. Jax, the Grandmaster at Arms, is notorious for his scaling potential, becoming a formidable duelist and team fight threat as the game progresses. However, even this powerful champion has weaknesses. The best champions to counter Jax late game are those who can exploit his vulnerabilities: primarily, his reliance on auto attacks and his lack of true sustain. Champions like Fiora, Gangplank, and Quinn, among others, can consistently outplay and diminish his late-game impact. The key is to either negate his damage, outrange him, or simply burst him down before he can reach his full potential. This article will delve into the specifics of how to counter Jax late, explore champion picks, and provide valuable strategies to diminish his power.
Understanding Jax’s Late Game Strengths
Before we jump into counters, it’s important to understand what makes Jax so strong late game. He excels due to several factors:
- High Damage Output: Jax’s kit synergizes incredibly well with items that increase attack damage and on-hit effects. His passive grants him stacking attack speed, which exponentially increases his damage potential.
- Mobility: Jax’s Leap Strike (Q) provides him with incredible mobility, allowing him to dive onto squishy targets and escape from danger, making him difficult to pin down.
- Durability: His ultimate, Grandmaster’s Might (R), drastically increases his armor and magic resist for a short duration. Combined with damage items, this gives him a surprising amount of survivability.
- Split Push Threat: With his damage, mobility and ability to quickly take down towers, Jax is a huge threat when left alone in a side lane.
To counter late game Jax, you must disrupt these strengths.
Champions That Counter Late Game Jax
Here’s a breakdown of champions that can consistently beat Jax in the late game:
Fiora, the Grand Duelist
Fiora is a prime counter to Jax due to her Riposte (W). This ability allows her to block and stun him, effectively shutting down Jax’s Counter Strike (E) – a crucial tool in his dueling kit. Fiora’s true damage from her passive combined with her mobility from her Q allows her to consistently hit vital points, making short work of his health bar.
Gangplank, the Saltwater Scourge
Gangplank’s strength lies in his ability to poke Jax with his barrels and ultimate and dealing a mix of physical and true damage that is not easily mitigated. He can also kite Jax with his orange, which heals him and removes crowd control. Jax cannot consistently engage on Gangplank, as his damage is often outside the range of Jax’s auto attacks.
Quinn, Demacia’s Wings
Quinn’s ranged attack, combined with her mobility, makes her a nightmare for Jax to engage on. Her ability to poke Jax down with her auto attacks and then disengage with Vault (E) can force Jax to use resources inefficiently. Additionally, Quinn’s ultimate grants her immense mobility, allowing her to avoid Jax’s all-in attempts.
Other Notable Mentions:
- Singed: With his ability to quickly push waves and create chaos, combined with his unique movement patterns, he can be incredibly difficult for Jax to handle in the late game.
- Cho’Gath: Cho’Gath’s high health pool, crowd control, and true damage via his Feast ability are very effective at taking down a target with high health and resistances.
- Illaoi: Illaoi’s damage is incredibly high if Jax is inside her “spirit” zone and her tentacles can zone out Jax and make it difficult to approach.
- Garen: Garen’s ability to burst down targets while also having good regeneration can be very effective if he is able to stick to Jax and deny him a reset with his Q.
Strategies to Counter Jax in Late Game
Beyond champion selection, smart gameplay is crucial:
- Never Allow Free Auto Attacks: In team fights, focusing fire on Jax or peeling for your carries is essential. Do not allow Jax to auto attack freely, as he will shred your team.
- Deny Him Farm: If possible, deny Jax access to gold and experience in the mid-game. If he falls behind, his late-game threat will be minimized.
- Engage Wisely: Look for opportunities to engage on him with hard crowd control after his Counter Strike (E) is on cooldown.
- Focus Fire: In team fights, prioritize taking Jax down quickly. He is a massive threat that must be removed from the equation to win the fight.
- Outrange Him: If your team has the range advantage, prioritize keeping him at a distance. This will reduce his ability to engage and deal damage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions about countering late game Jax:
1. Why is Jax so difficult to beat in late game?
Jax’s damage output scales significantly with items, making him a formidable force in the late game. His mobility, durability, and split push potential combined with his damage make him incredibly difficult to deal with if left unchecked.
2. Can tanks beat Jax late game?
While tanks can stall Jax, they generally struggle to outright beat him in a prolonged fight due to his damage and true damage on his R. Tanks with crowd control can assist the team in taking down Jax.
3. Does Mordekaiser counter Jax?
While Mordekaiser can match up well in lane with Jax and do well in earlier trades, Jax actually has a slightly higher winrate against Mordekaiser, making him a counter to Jax. Mordekaiser cannot shut down Jax later into the game.
4. Is Renekton a good counter to Jax?
While Renekton can often get an early advantage in the lane, Jax has a higher winrate against Renekton, suggesting that he outscales the Renekton as the game goes on.
5. Can Darius counter Jax?
Darius is now considered a counter to Jax in the lane, with his ability to out trade and run Jax down before level 6. However, Jax outscales Darius in the later stages of the game.
6. Is Jax good in the early game?
Jax is not exceptionally strong in the early game and requires items to reach his full potential. He needs to focus on farming and setting up for the late game.
7. What are Jax’s weaknesses?
Jax is vulnerable to ranged champions, heavy crowd control, and early game aggression. He lacks sustain and relies on his auto attacks.
8. Does Jax counter Bel’veth?
Bel’veth struggles against Jax, as she has no reliable counterplay against his Counter Strike. She is a melee champion, making her vulnerable to being stunned.
9. Who does Jax counter?
Jax is effective against champions that rely on auto attacks and don’t have consistent mobility. Champions such as Trundle, Yasuo, Yorick, and Volibear are often countered by Jax.
10. Is Jax an easy champion to play?
Jax is considered an easy champion to play, but understanding his maximum potential requires skill and finesse in using his abilities.
11. What is the best build to counter Jax?
Builds vary on the champion you are using, but items that provide armor, health, and ways to negate auto attacks are generally effective against Jax. Items such as Frozen Heart or Randuin’s Omen can reduce his attack speed.
12. How do I play against Jax in lane?
Focus on harassing him with ranged attacks to deplete his potion supply. Avoid prolonged trades, and engage only when his Counter Strike is on cooldown.
13. Does Jax lose to Malphite?
Malphite does have a higher win rate against Jax, with a win rate difference of around 3% in recent patches. Malphite is a strong counter pick for Jax due to his tanky nature.
14. Does Jax beat Ornn?
Jax has a slightly higher win rate against Ornn but the win rate difference is negligible. This means Jax is more likely to lose against Ornn than on average.
15. Why did Jax “turn bad” lore-wise?
Jax’s quest for revenge over the deaths of his friends and allies is his main motivation. This has transformed his loyalty into a quest for revenge and self destruction.
By understanding Jax’s strengths and weaknesses, you can effectively counter him in the late game. Champions that can negate his damage, outrange him, or burst him down will be your best bets. Remember to also play smart, focusing fire, denying farm, and controlling team fights. With this knowledge, you’ll be better equipped to handle this late game threat.