Jarvan IV

The E-Q flag-and-drag is among League’s most instantly recognizable engage combos, and Jarvan IV owns it. Jarvan first drops Demacian Standard, a flag that detonates for magic damage and boosts attack speed for allies standing nearby. He then fires Dragon Strike at the flag, charging across the map, carving through armor on the way, and landing beside the banner while launching every enemy in his path into the air. Done well, this turns a tanky top laner (who also works as a classic jungler) into a long-range initiator that forces opponents to respect every wall and bush.

Once he touches down, Cataclysm closes the fight. Jarvan slams into a chosen target so hard that terrain rises around the two of them, damaging nearby enemies as it erupts and locking the victim inside the pit with him. Paired with the flag-drag, a team that moves together can remove a carry before reinforcements find a way around the barriers. Golden Aegis supports the dive by granting a shield that scales with how many enemies are close and slowing them, so every extra target he catches means more time he can stay alive in the thick of it.

Damage That Rewards Bold Play

His passive, Martial Cadence, adds bonus physical damage to his first hit on each enemy, scaled to that enemy’s current health, which pushes him to spread his strikes around the enemy team. Rated 8/10 for defense and 6/10 for attack, Jarvan IV offers dependable engage, armor shredding, an attack speed aura, and a way to lock down a carry, more than steady sustained damage. He suits players who enjoy directing the fight. His moderate difficulty comes less from mechanical skill and more from judging when the knock-up window will swing the game and when it will backfire.