Thornmail Jarvan IV Build

ARAM Build Guide for champion Jarvan IV and build Thornmail.

Thornmail Jarvan IV build with runes and items. Thornmail Jarvan IV guide offers in-depth how-to play, skill order and tips. Play Thornmail Jarvan IV build in League of Legends Patch 14.20!

Updated: 2024-08-26 ()

TLDR

Starting items
Bramble Vest should be final item in your build.
Ruby Crystal should be final item in your build.
Quick Skill Order
Jarvan IV ability Dragon Strike should be leveled first.
Q
Jarvan IV ability Demacian Standard should be leveled second.
E
Jarvan IV ability Golden Aegis should be leveled third.
W
Final items
Thornmail should be final item in your build.
Abyssal Mask should be final item in your build.
Sunfire Aegis should be final item in your build.
Jak'Sho, The Protean should be final item in your build.
Randuin's Omen should be final item in your build.
Dead Man's Plate should be final item in your build.
Quick Runes
Major rune Aftershock from Resolve tree.
Minor rune Precision.
Summoner spells
Pick Mark as your Summoner Spell.
Pick Flash as your Summoner Spell.

Thornmail Jarvan IV Runes

Resolve
Resolve major tree Grasp of the Undying rune.
Resolve major tree Aftershock rune.
Resolve major tree Guardian rune.
Resolve major tree Demolish rune.
Resolve major tree Font of Life rune.
Resolve major tree Shield Bash rune.
Resolve major tree Conditioning rune.
Resolve major tree Second Wind rune.
Resolve major tree Bone Plating rune.
Resolve major tree Overgrowth rune.
Resolve major tree Revitalize rune.
Resolve major tree Unflinching rune.
Precision
Precision minor tree Absorb Life rune.
Precision minor tree Triumph rune.
Precision minor tree Presence of Mind rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Alacrity rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Haste rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Bloodline rune.
Precision minor tree Coup de Grace rune.
Precision minor tree Cut Down rune.
Precision minor tree Last Stand rune.
Passive
Passive tree Adaptive Force rune (+9 Adaptive Force).
Passive tree Attack Speed rune (+10% Attack Speed).
Passive tree Ability Haste rune (+8 Ability Haste).
Passive tree Adaptive Force rune (+9 Adaptive Force).
Passive tree Move Speed rune (+2 Movement Speed).
Passive tree Health Scaling rune (+10-180 Health (based on level)).
Passive tree Health rune (+65 Health).
Passive tree Tenacity And Slow Resist rune (+10 Tenacity and Slow Resist).
Passive tree Health Scaling rune (+10-180 Health (based on level)).

How it works

Thornmail Build specific
  1. You rush Thornmail.
  2. You go full Armor.
  3. Hit or miss. Works only if an enemy team is full of physical damage dealers (preferably auto-attackers).
  4. If an enemy team is full of mages/AP damage, play regular tank build instead.

How to play

Thornmail Build specific
  1. How is this Thornmail build for Jarvan IV different to regular tank builds? Item order, Armor stacking and countering enemy physical damage dealers!
  2. This build is aimed to counter AD comps. Since you don't know the enemy team, you need to adapt in game. It is hit or miss. If they are heavy AP - just play regular tank.
  3. Late game, you can consider selling boots for 6th item - for even more sweet Thornmail damage!
  4. Be careful to not waste Aftershock. Try timing it and keeping it for going in.

Tips and Tricks

General
  1. You can use Demacian Standard (E) for brush control.
  2. Remember that Dragon Strike (Q) reduces target's armor!
  3. Switch targets often in fights to fully use your Passive for more damage!
Riot
  1. You can use the Dragon Strike / Demacian Standard combo to get out of your own Cataclysm arenas.
  2. Split your basic attacks on different champions at the beginning of fights to maximize damage.
  3. Use Demacian Standard as a scouting tool when worried about incoming enemies.

Skill Order

  • Jarvan IV [object Object] ability.
    Q
    Dragon Strike
  • Jarvan IV [object Object] ability.
    W
    Golden Aegis
  • Jarvan IV [object Object] ability.
    E
    Demacian Standard
  • Jarvan IV [object Object] ability.
    R
    Cataclysm

Items

Starting items
Bramble Vest item.
Ruby Crystal item.
Rush this
Thornmail item.
Good tank items
Warmog's Armor item.
Jak'Sho, The Protean item.
Fimbulwinter item.
Good MR items
Abyssal Mask item.
Force of Nature item.
Spirit Visage item.
Hollow Radiance item.
Kaenic Rookern item.
Good Armor items
Iceborn Gauntlet item.
Dead Man's Plate item.
Randuin's Omen item.
Frozen Heart item.
Unending Despair item.
Thornmail item.
Sunfire Aegis item.
Situational items
Titanic Hydra item.
For the last fight
Additional considerations for these items is advised!
Elixir of Iron item.
Elixir of Wrath item.
Example final build
Thornmail item.
Abyssal Mask item.
Sunfire Aegis item.
Jak'Sho, The Protean item.
Randuin's Omen item.
Dead Man's Plate item.