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Deadlock Bible
Calico, Tier BTricksy · Slippery · Burst Damage
Matchup · November 6, 2026

Calico vs Graves

40.6%
Unfavoured57,648 matches
Flip: Graves vs Calico
All Calico matchups & counters

Updated · Patch Nov 4, 2026

Graves, Tier SMorbid · Area Denial · Necromancer
Deadlock Bible take

How Calico beats Graves

Assassin vs Mystic

Mystics are often fragile without their spells. Dive them right after they cast.

Your game plan as Calico

A shadow-hunter who appears, bursts and vanishes before anyone can turn around.

Lane
Gloom Bombs out-trade most heroes at range; Leaping Slash heals you if it hits a hero.
Mid game
Possess Ava to roam unseen on the minimap and pick off heroes who rotate alone.
Late game
Return to Shadows makes you untargetable. Use it to dodge a key ultimate, then come back in for the kill.

How to beat Graves

A necromancer who gets stronger every time something dies near her.

  • 01Don’t take long trades; Essence Theft steals your stats over time.
  • 02Burst her before the Jar fills.
  • 03Step around Grasping Hands rather than through it.
Respect
Grasping Hands
Punish
When the Jar is empty
Per match

Head-to-head

CalicoGraves
40.6%Win rate59.4%
1.16Kills per death0.96
+0Last-hit edge+44.3
+0Deny edge+1.4
+0Soul lead+40
+0Objective damage edge+3.5K
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Laning

Win the lane: Calico into Graves

  1. 01Graves wins the farm by ~44.3 last hits per match. Prioritise safe last hits and denies over trades, and let your lane partner zone.
  2. 02Graves denies ~1.4 more orbs per match — secure your orbs before they can.
  3. 03Graves deals most damage with abilities. Trade right after they’ve used their main spell, and consider early Spirit Shielding.
Skill order

Skill order for this matchup

This matchup
Usual

51.9% win rate over 84,323 matches

  • Early point

    Graves wins the farm: an early point into Leaping Slash clears waves and keeps you in lane.

Graves’s kit

Threats

Grasping Hands
Root34s cd
Calico’s kit

Your tools

Leaping Slash
Mobility13s cd
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Mid & late game

Winning the fights after lane

  • Calico averages 1.16 kills per death against Graves.
  • Calico finishes 40 souls behind Graves on average — play for teamfights and scaling rather than lane kills.
  • Calico deals 3.5k less objective damage per match than Graves — let teammates take structures while you hold.
  • Track Borrowed Decree (140s cooldown). The window right after Graves uses it is your best time to fight.
Also check

Who else beats Graves

FAQ

Matchup questions

Who wins Calico vs Graves?

Calico wins 40.6% of 57,648 recent matches against Graves — unfavoured.

How do I beat Graves as Calico?

Graves wins the farm by ~44.3 last hits per match. Prioritise safe last hits and denies over trades, and let your lane partner zone. Track Borrowed Decree (140s cooldown). The window right after Graves uses it is your best time to fight.

What should Calico buy against Graves?

Debuff Reducer, Spirit Shielding, Spirit Resilience.