Graves’s main threat#
Graves is a summoner: fights through units it puts on the battlefield.
The kit is spirit-leaning, so spirit resistance and spirit shields do the most to blunt it.
Abilities to play around#
Ability 1
Jar of Dead
Collects death from nearby fallen units and stores it in jars. Throwing a jar summons Deadheads that repeatedly deal spirit damage to enemies.
Play around it Respect its range and cooldown; fight when it’s been used.
Ability 2
Grasping Hands
Unearths a line of hands that summons a Ghoul and leaves a rift. Enemies crossing it take spirit damage and are immobilized.
Play around it Disable or displacement — this is what starts kills. Track its cooldown and punish the window after it’s used; Debuff Reducer shortens it, and Unstoppable or Indomitable answer the biggest ones.
Ability 3
Essence Theft
Steals enemies' weapon damage and spirit resist over time, up to a maximum per target. The effect can be dispelled.
Play around it Healing or sustain — buy healing reduction (Healbane, Toxic Bullets or Decay) so it’s worth less, and focus burst damage rather than chip damage.
Ultimate
Borrowed Decree
Creates a gravestone that summons Ghouls over time, and abilities can also send Ghouls toward the enemy base. Ghouls explode on heroes and objectives.
Play around it Respect its range and cooldown; fight when it’s been used.
Counter items, with reasons#
Specific answers to this kit
General answers
General answers are our editorial reading of the kit. Counter items only help if you’re the one being hit — buy for the threat you actually face.
How to beat Graves#
- Enemies can destroy the gravestone with two heavy melee attacks.
- Deadheads can be destroyed by weapon damage and melee, but take no damage from abilities or items.
- Graves cannot buy headshot items, and The Teacher cannot deal headshots.
- Dispel Magic can remove Essence Theft effects.
Mistakes to avoid
- Shooting summons that don’t matter while the hero walks free.
- Leaving waves alone that their summons are pushing.
Want to see the hero from the other side? Read the Graves guide, or open the counter-pick helper to plan against a whole enemy team.