Counters for Jax
Champion guide
Reviewed for patch 7.3b
Champions against Jax
Favorable matchup
Malphite vs Jax
Reviewed for patch 7.3b
Most of Jax's damage comes from chaining attacks: Relentless Assault speeds up every hit and Grandmaster's Might rewards every third attack in a row. Ground Slam lowers his attack speed right when he needs it, and Malphite's passive armor softens the rest.
Why Malphite works against Jax
01
Ground Slam breaks the attack chain
Relentless Assault raises Jax's attack speed with consecutive hits, and Grandmaster's Might's passive adds magic damage on every third attack in a row. Ground Slam cuts his attack speed for a few seconds: every hit comes later and his passive window gets harder to complete.
02
Abilities can't be dodged with Counter Strike
Counter Strike dodges basic attacks, not abilities. Seismic Shard and Ground Slam still land during his stance, though for somewhat less damage. What you shouldn't do is activate Thunderclap and throw empowered basic attacks into that defense.
03
Armor against the physical side
Thunderclap's passive gives Malphite armor, which reduces Jax's basic attacks and Leap Strike. It isn't immunity: Empower and his ultimate's passive deal magic damage, so don't drag out a duel believing armor absorbs everything.
When to attack
Answer with Ground Slam when Jax starts chaining attacks, not before he commits. If he activates Counter Strike, leave the radius of the closing stun and come back with Seismic Shard when it ends.
How to play Malphite
- 1Poke with Seismic Shard when Jax approaches a minion; the speed steal makes it harder for him to reach you with Leap Strike.
- 2When he jumps on you, let him spend Counter Strike while you walk out of the stun radius, then cast Ground Slam as his attack chain begins.
- 3Only activate Thunderclap once Counter Strike is over; your empowered attacks are worthless against his stance.
- 4With Unstoppable Force up, play for the teamfight: your charge is worth more on several enemies than in a long duel against an itemized Jax.
Mistakes to avoid
- Casting Ground Slam before Jax comes in and having no answer once he starts hitting for real.
- Attacking with Thunderclap into Counter Strike: the attacks get dodged and each one adds damage to his counterattack.
Playing Jax against Malphite
From Jax's side, don't start the attack chain while Malphite still has Ground Slam. Bait it out with a short leap and Counter Strike, step away, and come back while it's on cooldown. Only buy magic resist if his ability damage is actually punishing you; your item scaling is real, but not at the pace he sets in lane.
Favorable matchup
Teemo vs Jax
Reviewed for patch 7.3b
Blinding Dart makes Jax's attacks deal no damage while he's blinded, and almost his entire kit is empowered attacks. Teemo also punishes every step toward the wave from range. His risk is Counter Strike: during that stance your basic attacks get dodged.
Why Teemo works against Jax
01
Blind shuts off Empower and his passive
Blinding Dart makes the target's attacks deal no damage. Jax relies on them: Empower charges his next attack, Relentless Assault builds hit by hit, and Grandmaster's Might rewards every third attack. Throw it when he jumps on you, not to poke.
02
Counter Strike decides the trade
Counter Strike dodges every attack and ends with a stun around him. Your Toxic Shot basic attacks won't land during the stance. Stop attacking, use Move Quick to leave the radius, and resume once the stun has gone off.
When to attack
Poke every time Jax walks up to a minion without his leap available. If he leaps and activates Counter Strike, getting out of the radius comes first; save the blind for when he starts attacking, not the first contact.
How to play Teemo
- 1Hit him with basic attacks when Jax walks up to last-hit, then back off; every step he takes toward the wave should cost him health.
- 2When he uses Leap Strike, hold Blinding Dart for the moment his attack chain starts.
- 3If he activates Counter Strike, stop attacking and use Move Quick to leave the stun radius; resume once it ends.
- 4Place Noxious Trap at his jungler's entrances and along your retreat path, not just in the middle of the lane.
Mistakes to avoid
- Attacking into Counter Strike: your attacks get dodged and you stay within reach of the stun.
- Using Blinding Dart to poke and not having it when Jax comes in with Empower ready.
- Forgetting that Leap Strike can use a minion or one of his allies as a jump point, including to escape.
Playing Jax against Teemo
For Jax, this matchup is won by waiting out the blind. Fake the engage with a short Leap Strike, draw out Blinding Dart, and go back in while it's on cooldown. Counter Strike protects you from his attacks and forces him away: use it before you get blinded, not after. Clear mushrooms on your retreat paths before you commit to a chase.
Execution matters
Jayce vs Jax
Reviewed for patch 7.3b
Jayce pokes Jax with Shock Blast, an ability Counter Strike doesn't dodge, and can push him away with Thundering Blow before the closing stun reaches him. It's situational: it demands mana and good stance choices, because an itemized Jax wins a long duel.
Why Jayce works against Jax
01
Counter Strike can't dodge Shock Blast
Shock Blast is an ability, so Counter Strike doesn't dodge it. Fired through Acceleration Gate it travels further and faster, letting you poke from outside Leap Strike range.
02
Thundering Blow pushes Jax out of range
Thundering Blow knocks the target back. Counter Strike's stun hits nearby enemies when the stance ends: if you push him away while it's active, you can end up outside that radius and cut the trade short.
When to attack
Poke in cannon stance while Jax can't leap onto you. Only swap to hammer when you need Thundering Blow to push him off, or to finish a weakened Jax with a clear way out.
How to play Jayce
- 1Fire Shock Blast through the gate when Jax is on his side of the wave; units block the orb, so look for a clean angle.
- 2If he leaps onto you, swap to hammer and use Thundering Blow during his Counter Strike to push him away from the closing stun.
- 3Swap back to cannon to regain distance and the Hextech Capacitor speed after each stance change.
- 4Once he completes his core items, stop looking for long duels and turn your poke into tower pressure or river help.
Mistakes to avoid
- Going in with To The Skies! on a healthy Jax who has Counter Strike up.
- Spending Thundering Blow for damage and not having it when Jax leaps in with his stance active.
Playing Jax against Jayce
Playing Jax, approach from behind your minions so Shock Blast explodes before it reaches you. When Jayce spends Thundering Blow, go in with Leap Strike and Counter Strike: without that knockback he has no way out of the stun. You scale better in long duels, so don't give up health chasing him in the early levels.