League of Legends players have picked up an old argument about whether Gragas belongs in solo lanes or should be shifted to jungle and support roles. The portly champion, known for his disruptive abilities and flexible build paths, has caused frustration among players who face him in top and mid lanes.
Many players say Gragas has become a lane “neutralizer” who stalls matchups with his defensive toolkit. His self-healing from Drunken Rage (W), mobility from Body Slam (E), and zoning potential with Barrel Roll (Q) make him tough to punish in lane. When combined with the Phase Rush rune, Gragas can escape bad trades while keeping his sustain up.
“He stonewalls the lane and ends up more useful than you afterward,” explains one high-ranked player. This feeling is common in the community, with many pointing out his ability to safely farm and scale no matter who he’s playing against, which can be especially annoying as an opponent.
Gragas wasn’t always considered a lane bully. Veterans remember how he’s bounced between roles since his 2010 debut. He was a dominant mid laner in 2014 with his burst damage, made scarier by the now-removed Deathfire Grasp item. After Riot nerfed his ultimate’s speed and overall burst, he moved mostly to the jungle before eventually finding his way back to lanes.
Those who want to keep Gragas in lane say he still has weak spots. “Mages counter him hard by outranging his abilities,” notes one challenger player. Others mention champions like Fiora, Aatrox, and Yorick who can take advantage of his weaknesses. Some suggest simple solutions like building Mercury’s Treads to cut down on his crowd control.
The argument goes beyond just Gragas to the Phase Rush rune itself. Many players think this keystone helps slow champions deal with danger too easily, giving them safety their kits wouldn’t normally provide. This synergy with Gragas lets him farm and trade safely in ways that feel “uninteractive” to fight against.
His current flexible item choices are also part of the problem for some. Gragas can build full AP for burst, tanky for disruption, or even go with a hybrid setup. This adaptability makes him a strong pick in lots of situations and adds to his reputation for being so strong in solo lanes.
The brew master’s future
Pro play trends show Gragas comes and goes from the meta—sometimes he’s a niche pick, other times he’s everywhere. What happens in high-level play often changes how the community sees him, with players copying the pros for his best roles and builds.
Whether Riot Games will make changes here is still up in the air. The company has usually made only minor tweaks to keep champs like Gragas balanced without pushing them out of certain roles entirely.
