I am the Reaper's Handmaiden.

Item order

Stages top to bottom, items left to right

1. 1

   I. The Awakening (Lane Survival)

   9,600 Souls

   Graves has one of the worst laning phases in the game. These keep you alive until your summons do the talking.

   1. Extra SpiritJar of Dead, Grasping Hands, Ghoul explosions — all spirit scaling
   2. ›Restorative ShotAuto-aim means every bullet heals. 100% proc rate — no other hero gets this much value
   3. ›Monster RoundsFaster jungle clear. Deaths from camps charge Jar of Dead passive
   4. ›Extended MagazineGraves' mag is tiny. More uptime on Essence Theft drain per reload cycle
   5. ›Slowing BulletsAuto-aim slow. Enemy can't walk away from your drain — guaranteed Essence Theft stacks
   6. ›Extra StaminaZero mobility in kit. Dashes are your only escape before items
   7. ›Extra HealthLow base HP. Raw survival until your first summon spike
   8. ›Extra RegenLow base stats. You need passive regen to not get chipped out of lane
   9. ›Healing RiteDangerous lane matchup insurance. Sell mid-game
   10. ›Bullet LifestealAuto-aim lifesteal. Consistent healing no other hero matches. Builds into Leech
   All item notes

   • Extra Spirit — Jar of Dead, Grasping Hands, Ghoul explosions — all spirit scaling
   • Restorative Shot — Auto-aim means every bullet heals. 100% proc rate — no other hero gets this much value
   • Monster Rounds — Faster jungle clear. Deaths from camps charge Jar of Dead passive
   • Extended Magazine — Graves' mag is tiny. More uptime on Essence Theft drain per reload cycle
   • Slowing Bullets — Auto-aim slow. Enemy can't walk away from your drain — guaranteed Essence Theft stacks
   • Extra Stamina — Zero mobility in kit. Dashes are your only escape before items
   • Extra Health — Low base HP. Raw survival until your first summon spike
   • Extra Regen — Low base stats. You need passive regen to not get chipped out of lane
   • Healing Rite — Dangerous lane matchup insurance. Sell mid-game
   • Bullet Lifesteal — Auto-aim lifesteal. Consistent healing no other hero matches. Builds into Leech
2. 2

   II. The Horde (Summon Scaling)

   48,800 Souls

   Everything here makes your summons stronger, last longer, or steal more. Essence Theft T3 turns every summon into a stat drain machine.

   1. Extra Charge
   2. ›Rapid RechargeFaster ability charge recovery. Jar of Dead charges refill quicker — more Deadheads on the field, more Essence Theft procs, more pressure. Auto-aim hero means you're always casting, never waiting
   3. ›Duration ExtenderImbue on Jar of Dead. Deadheads stay out longer = more spirit damage + more Essence Theft procs with T3
   4. ›Superior DurationStacks with Duration Extender. Every extra second your summons are alive is free stat theft
   5. ›Boundless SpiritBiggest spirit spike. Jar of Dead, Grasping Hands, Ghoul explosions all scale. Your whole army benefits
   6. ›Escalating Exposure
   7. ›InhibitorYour second biggest power spike after Tombstone. Ability lockout on a hero who is already draining their stats — they can't fight, can't heal, can't cast
   8. ›Split ShotMultiple targets per shot. More Essence Theft applications. More Toxic Bullets procs. Your auto-aim becomes a teamfight drain
   9. ›Heroic AuraWeapon damage aura buffs Deadheads and Ghouls. Your army hits harder just by standing near them
   10. ›Toxic BulletsAuto-aim = 100% accuracy stacking. Anti-heal applies guaranteed every fight. Buildup slower post-patch but you never miss
   11. ›RicochetAuto-aim bullet bounces to nearby enemies. Spreads Essence Theft drain to multiple targets in grouped fights
   12. ›SilencerOn-hit silence through auto-aim. Combined with Grasping Hands immobilize — full ability shutdown while summons drain them
   All item notes

   • Rapid Recharge — Faster ability charge recovery. Jar of Dead charges refill quicker — more Deadheads on the field, more Essence Theft procs, more pressure. Auto-aim hero means you're always casting, never waiting
   • Duration Extender — Imbue on Jar of Dead. Deadheads stay out longer = more spirit damage + more Essence Theft procs with T3
   • Superior Duration — Stacks with Duration Extender. Every extra second your summons are alive is free stat theft
   • Boundless Spirit — Biggest spirit spike. Jar of Dead, Grasping Hands, Ghoul explosions all scale. Your whole army benefits
   • Inhibitor — Your second biggest power spike after Tombstone. Ability lockout on a hero who is already draining their stats — they can't fight, can't heal, can't cast
   • Split Shot — Multiple targets per shot. More Essence Theft applications. More Toxic Bullets procs. Your auto-aim becomes a teamfight drain
   • Heroic Aura — Weapon damage aura buffs Deadheads and Ghouls. Your army hits harder just by standing near them
   • Toxic Bullets — Auto-aim = 100% accuracy stacking. Anti-heal applies guaranteed every fight. Buildup slower post-patch but you never miss
   • Ricochet — Auto-aim bullet bounces to nearby enemies. Spreads Essence Theft drain to multiple targets in grouped fights
   • Silencer — On-hit silence through auto-aim. Combined with Grasping Hands immobilize — full ability shutdown while summons drain them
3. 3

   III. Zone Command (Cooldown + Control)

   52,800 Souls

   Graves wins by controlling space. Tombstone behind cover, Grasping Hands in front. These items extend that chokehold.

   1. Compress CooldownMore Jar of Dead throws. More Grasping Hands walls. More setups
   2. ›Superior CooldownBorrowed Decree on lower CD. Tombstone uptime is your win condition
   3. ›Transcendent CooldownUlt always available for objectives. Tombstone at every mid-boss fight
   4. ›Stamina MasterySprint + dash. You have no mobility spell — this is mandatory not optional
   5. ›Warp StoneOnly real mobility tool. Blink to reposition Tombstone or escape dives on your setup
   6. ›Majestic LeapVertical escape + place Tombstone on rooftops. Enemies can't heavy melee what they can't reach
   7. ›DecaySpirit scaling nerfed but AOE damage + anti-regen in your control zone. Synergizes with Grasping Hands zoning
   8. ›Vortex WebRoot + pull into your Grasping Hands line. They walk through immobilize while your summons drain them
   9. ›RefresherDouble Tombstone. Double Grasping Hands wall. Two kill zones active at once
   10. ›Echo ShardDouble Jar of Dead throw or double Grasping Hands. Flood the fight with summons
   11. ›Arctic BlastAOE slow around you. Enemies stuck in your summon cloud can't walk out
   12. ›Alchemical FireAOE fire zone on the ground. Layer it on top of Grasping Hands line — they walk through immobilize AND burn. Area denial stacking with Tombstone creates a kill box
   All item notes

   • Compress Cooldown — More Jar of Dead throws. More Grasping Hands walls. More setups
   • Superior Cooldown — Borrowed Decree on lower CD. Tombstone uptime is your win condition
   • Transcendent Cooldown — Ult always available for objectives. Tombstone at every mid-boss fight
   • Stamina Mastery — Sprint + dash. You have no mobility spell — this is mandatory not optional
   • Warp Stone — Only real mobility tool. Blink to reposition Tombstone or escape dives on your setup
   • Majestic Leap — Vertical escape + place Tombstone on rooftops. Enemies can't heavy melee what they can't reach
   • Decay — Spirit scaling nerfed but AOE damage + anti-regen in your control zone. Synergizes with Grasping Hands zoning
   • Vortex Web — Root + pull into your Grasping Hands line. They walk through immobilize while your summons drain them
   • Refresher — Double Tombstone. Double Grasping Hands wall. Two kill zones active at once
   • Echo Shard — Double Jar of Dead throw or double Grasping Hands. Flood the fight with summons
   • Arctic Blast — AOE slow around you. Enemies stuck in your summon cloud can't walk out
   • Alchemical Fire — AOE fire zone on the ground. Layer it on top of Grasping Hands line — they walk through immobilize AND burn. Area denial stacking with Tombstone creates a kill box
4. 4

   IV. Theft Amplifiers (Gun + Hybrid)

   43,200 Souls

   Auto-aim means every on-hit item has 100% proc rate. No other hero in the game gets this much guaranteed value from gun items.

   1. Titanic MagazineBuffed this patch — 100% ammo + 14% weapon damage. Double your mag size means double the Essence Theft drain before reloading. Every extra bullet connects because auto-aim doesn't miss
   2. ›Active Reload
   3. ›Spirit ShredderStrips spirit resist on hit. Auto-aim guarantees stacks — your Deadheads and Ghouls hit even harder after
   4. ›Tesla BulletsChain lightning on auto-aim. Spreads to grouped enemies — more targets getting Essence Theft applied
   5. ›Point BlankClose range damage boost. Essence Theft requires proximity — you're already close enough for this to proc
   6. ›Armor PiercerPenetrate bullet resist. Paired with Essence Theft stripping spirit resist — both defenses gone
   7. ›SpellslingerHeadshot amp after ability use — wait. Graves can't headshot. Skip unless patched. Actually still gives spirit power + fire rate which is worth considering
   8. ›Vampiric BurstLifesteal burst on auto-aim. Heals you through trades when Essence Theft is ramping
   9. ›Siphon BulletsHealth steal on bullet hit. Auto-aim sustain that scales with Essence Theft — you drain stats AND health simultaneously
   10. ›LeechBullet Lifesteal upgrade. Everything you do heals — auto-aim bullets, Jar of Dead spirit damage, Ghoul explosions
   All item notes

   • Titanic Magazine — Buffed this patch — 100% ammo + 14% weapon damage. Double your mag size means double the Essence Theft drain before reloading. Every extra bullet connects because auto-aim doesn't miss
   • Spirit Shredder — Strips spirit resist on hit. Auto-aim guarantees stacks — your Deadheads and Ghouls hit even harder after
   • Tesla Bullets — Chain lightning on auto-aim. Spreads to grouped enemies — more targets getting Essence Theft applied
   • Point Blank — Close range damage boost. Essence Theft requires proximity — you're already close enough for this to proc
   • Armor Piercer — Penetrate bullet resist. Paired with Essence Theft stripping spirit resist — both defenses gone
   • Spellslinger — Headshot amp after ability use — wait. Graves can't headshot. Skip unless patched. Actually still gives spirit power + fire rate which is worth considering
   • Vampiric Burst — Lifesteal burst on auto-aim. Heals you through trades when Essence Theft is ramping
   • Siphon Bullets — Health steal on bullet hit. Auto-aim sustain that scales with Essence Theft — you drain stats AND health simultaneously
   • Leech — Bullet Lifesteal upgrade. Everything you do heals — auto-aim bullets, Jar of Dead spirit damage, Ghoul explosions
5. 5

   V. The Grave Keeper (Survival & Counters)

   59,200 Souls

   You need time to set up. These items buy that time. If you die before Tombstone is placed, your team loses the fight.

   1. Debuff Reducervs slows and stuns that prevent your setup. If you can't place Tombstone you're useless
   2. ›Reactive BarrierShield when taking spirit damage. Patches your fragile frame during setup phase
   3. ›Spirit ResilienceLow base stats mean spirit damage chunks you. Cover this vs spirit comps
   4. ›Bullet Resiliencevs gun carries who try to burst you before your drain ramps
   5. ›Enduring SpeedPermanent move speed on a hero with zero mobility abilities. Repositioning is everything
   6. ›Metal SkinPanic active while Tombstone is cooking. Buys time for Ghouls to spawn
   7. ›CounterspellAbsorb the ability that would kill you during setup. Then continue placing summons
   8. ›Dispel MagicCleanse CC that interrupts your drain. Also gets you off Doorman cart post-patch
   9. ›FortitudeAnti-burst passive. Keeps you alive through the one shot that would end your setup
   10. ›Plated ArmorBuffed +130 HP. Raw tank for a hero with the worst base stats
   11. ›SpellbreakerShield on ability use. You're constantly casting Jar of Dead — shields proc nonstop
   12. ›Divine BarrierPurge + shield. Purges Pocket ult and Drifter ult off your Tombstone zone
   13. ›UnstoppableCC immunity during Tombstone placement. Nothing interrupts your setup
   14. ›Cheat DeathInsurance. If they kill you, your summons are still alive and draining. You come back and the army is still fighting
   15. ›Escalating ResilienceSpirit amp that stacks. Deadheads apply spirit damage constantly — stacks build themselves through your summons
   All item notes

   • Debuff Reducer — vs slows and stuns that prevent your setup. If you can't place Tombstone you're useless
   • Reactive Barrier — Shield when taking spirit damage. Patches your fragile frame during setup phase
   • Spirit Resilience — Low base stats mean spirit damage chunks you. Cover this vs spirit comps
   • Bullet Resilience — vs gun carries who try to burst you before your drain ramps
   • Enduring Speed — Permanent move speed on a hero with zero mobility abilities. Repositioning is everything
   • Metal Skin — Panic active while Tombstone is cooking. Buys time for Ghouls to spawn
   • Counterspell — Absorb the ability that would kill you during setup. Then continue placing summons
   • Dispel Magic — Cleanse CC that interrupts your drain. Also gets you off Doorman cart post-patch
   • Fortitude — Anti-burst passive. Keeps you alive through the one shot that would end your setup
   • Plated Armor — Buffed +130 HP. Raw tank for a hero with the worst base stats
   • Spellbreaker — Shield on ability use. You're constantly casting Jar of Dead — shields proc nonstop
   • Divine Barrier — Purge + shield. Purges Pocket ult and Drifter ult off your Tombstone zone
   • Unstoppable — CC immunity during Tombstone placement. Nothing interrupts your setup
   • Cheat Death — Insurance. If they kill you, your summons are still alive and draining. You come back and the army is still fighting
   • Escalating Resilience — Spirit amp that stacks. Deadheads apply spirit damage constantly — stacks build themselves through your summons