Gragas

Gragas is a 2-cost Psionic and Brawler champion that usually plays as a frontline sustain unit. Its sustain or shielding makes it valuable when it survives long enough to buy time for the rest of the board. Gragas appears in Conduit Reroll and Contract Killer lines, so keep copies when those boards are open.

Consider playing around Gragas when you naturally upgrade it between Stage 2 and Stage 3 and can afford to slow roll. For items, Sunfire Cape and Crownguard are strong signals that Gragas can stay on the board. For team direction, it fits naturally when you are already moving toward Conduit Reroll and Contract Killer. If it stays one-star, the traits do not activate, or the items point elsewhere, treat it as a transition unit instead of forcing the line.

Sunfire Cape, Crownguard and Evenshroud are recommended. Sunfire Cape applies burn and anti-heal from the front row, Crownguard adds an opening shield and extra threat after it breaks and Evenshroud shreds armor so the board kills the first target faster. The point of the setup is to keep it alive long enough to cast and hold the frontline.

When the perfect setup is not available, use Bramble Vest, Warmog's Armor, Gargoyle Stoneplate and Adaptive Helm as substitutes. For frontline substitutes, prioritize durability, sustain, and opening damage reduction without stealing every carry item. If Gragas is only a trait slot, one useful item is enough and the premium items should go to your real carry or main tank.

Early: a two-star Gragas can stabilize well when Psionic and Brawler is already active. Mid game: decide between slow rolling for upgrades or using it as a bridge while leveling. Late game: keep it when the items and traits still point toward it; otherwise upgrade into a higher-cost carry or tank.

Place Gragas as a main frontliner, usually same side as the enemy carry so it absorbs the first wave. If the opponent has strong single-target burst, add another tank beside it. It starts with some mana, making the first cast timing important.