How to Play N.O.V.A. Jax
A stage-by-stage plan for N.O.V.A. Jax: opener, when to level and roll for Jax, and where to position the board.
- Tier
- F
- Top 4 rate
- 47.1%
- Avg place
- 5.18
- 1st place
- 0.0%
- Playstyle
- 2-cost reroll
- Games
- 17
How to level and roll with N.O.V.A. Jax
2-cost rerollN.O.V.A. Jax is a reroll comp: slow roll at level 6 from stage 3-2, keeping 50+ gold and rolling only the excess until Jax, Aatrox, and Caitlyn reach 3 stars. At level 6, each shop slot has a 40% chance to be a 2-cost.
| Stage | Level | Action | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-1 | 4 | Level | Level to 4 and play your strongest pairs; slam an early item if it saves HP. |
| 2-5 | 5 | Level | Level to 5 and keep building interest toward 50 gold. |
| 3-2 | 6 | Slow roll | Stay at level 6: roll only the gold above 50 each round until Jax, Aatrox, and Caitlyn hit 3 stars. |
| 3-5 | 6 | Slow roll | Stay at level 6: roll only the gold above 50 each round until Jax, Aatrox, and Caitlyn hit 3 stars. |
| 4-1 | 7 | Level | Once your 3-stars are done, level up and add the units that complete your traits. |
| 4-5 | 8 | Level | Level to 8 for 4-cost upgrades and a stronger frontline. |
| 5-1 | 8 | Roll down | Roll for the last upgrades and finish the board around Jax. |
N.O.V.A. Jax early game and opener
Boards that lead into N.O.V.A. Jax at levels 4 to 7, taken from MetaBot Desktop round data — play the one closest to your shops.
5 games · 100% rounds won · 75% of units carry into the final comp
80 games · 64% rounds won · 80% of units carry into the final comp
74 games · 66% rounds won · 67% of units carry into the final comp
1 games · 100% rounds won · 71% of units carry into the final compRolling odds for N.O.V.A. Jax
Your 3-star targets are Jax, Aatrox, and Caitlyn. Level 6 gives the best shop odds for them — use the calculator to see how much gold a 3-star costs.
Rolldown calculator: Jax
Pre-set to this comp's roll level. Change copies owned, copies other players hold and your gold.
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N.O.V.A. Jax positioning
A starting board for N.O.V.A. Jax. Drag units to adjust it, switch to the anti-assassin layout when the lobby has divers, and copy the Team Planner code into the TFT client.
- Corner Kindred on the back line and put Nunu & Willump in front of it.
- Split Kindred and Twisted Fate across the back line so a single area spell can't hit both.
- Nunu & Willump, Maokai, and Jax hold the front line — put the tankiest one opposite the enemy carry.
- Against assassins, step your carries up one row and leave Aatrox and Jax in the back corners as bait.
Positioning board
Drag a unit onto another hex to move it — dropping on a unit swaps them.
When to play N.O.V.A. Jax
Strengths
- Big power spike once Jax, Aatrox, and Caitlyn hit 3 stars
- Two damage threats (Jax and Kindred) make itemizing flexible
- Rarely played, so its units are usually free
- Strong mid game once the reroll units are upgraded
Weaknesses
- Average place is worse than 67% of comps of the same board size
- Falls off hard if someone else is rerolling Jax, Aatrox, and Caitlyn
Strategic Tips
Economy
Reach 50 gold, then slow roll at level 6 with only the excess until Jax, Aatrox, and Caitlyn are 3-starred.
Itemization
Build Gargoyle Stoneplate, Gargoyle Stoneplate, and Gargoyle Stoneplate on Jax.
When to pivot
Scout at 2-1 and 3-2: if two or more players hold your core units, or you haven't found any by 3-2, move into one of the comps on the Similar Comps tab instead of forcing N.O.V.A. Jax.
Get the Winning Edge
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- In-game overlays
- Automatic match tracking
- Desktop-exclusive tools
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How to play N.O.V.A. Jax – FAQ (TFT Set 17)
How do you play N.O.V.A. Jax?
N.O.V.A. Jax is a reroll comp: slow roll at level 6 from stage 3-2, keeping 50+ gold and rolling only the excess until Jax, Aatrox, and Caitlyn reach 3 stars. Corner Kindred on the back line and put Nunu & Willump in front of it. Build Gargoyle Stoneplate, Gargoyle Stoneplate, and Gargoyle Stoneplate on Jax.
When should I roll down for N.O.V.A. Jax?
N.O.V.A. Jax doesn't do one big roll down. Slow roll at level 6 from stage 3-2, rolling only the gold above 50 until Jax, Aatrox, and Caitlyn are 3-starred.
What level do you roll for Jax?
Slow roll for Jax at level 6, where its cost tier shows up most often in the shop. At level 6, each shop slot has a 40% chance to be a 2-cost.
Is N.O.V.A. Jax a reroll comp?
Yes. N.O.V.A. Jax wants Jax, Aatrox, and Caitlyn at 3 stars, so slow roll at level 6 with gold above 50 until you hit them.
How do you position N.O.V.A. Jax?
Corner Kindred on the back line and put Nunu & Willump in front of it. Split Kindred and Twisted Fate across the back line so a single area spell can't hit both. Nunu & Willump, Maokai, and Jax hold the front line — put the tankiest one opposite the enemy carry. Against assassins, step your carries up one row and leave Aatrox and Jax in the back corners as bait.
What is the best opener for N.O.V.A. Jax?
The most common level 4 board that turns into N.O.V.A. Jax is Caitlyn, Jax, Lulu, and Twisted Fate (5 games tracked).