How to notice that jungle items are poorly designed:

Kowe The Ewok·Jan 5, 2015·4 votes·1,119 views

The vast majority of jungler upgrades smite, but skips the jungle item for something useful. The only enchantment worth an item slot is warrior.

Jungle items maybe cost efficient, but ironically they're useless in the jungle. There are better choices.

MR items were nerfed, Mercs are a must buy on tanks anway. Why waste money on a doubled stat?
Magus doesn't help with mana sustain and simply delays an actually useful item like Rylais, Liandry's or Morellonomnicon.
Devourer was nerfed incredibly hard. Most AD'lers are better off with Warrior. Jungler's like Lulu or TF are not viable anymore (after nerfs to this item) anyways.

Please Riot. Do something about these horrible items.

You could at least start by adding increased health and especially mana regeneration to compensate for the more durable monsters.

11 Comments

Darth Pixy MisaJan 5, 20153 votes

I agree, Why can't we get Spirit stone back, and have it build into a tanky item?

disregardableJan 5, 20151 votes

I'd argue that NEEDING to rush a jungle item is just a sign that's it's overpowered.

Kowe The EwokJan 5, 20154 votes

A jungle item is called a jungle item because it's supposed to help you doign your job - in the jungle.

Just like Spirit Stone and Madrads Razor did last season. Where these items horribly op? No. they just helped you to do your job. Which the current "jungle items" do worse than non jungle items.

Ironically enough - the current jungle items would make good lane items, but they're horrible for jungling.

disregardableJan 5, 20151 votes

I got item 3160 every single time I jungled last season. Why? Cause it was OP.

This season is about taking back what they did last season. It's about making junglers less of the safest way to carry, killing the Godyr effect. The jungle items aren't OP, and that's okay.

Kowe The EwokJan 5, 20151 votes

So why did so many people - also at tournaments - purchase the alternative? Spirit Stone Upgrades?

just because an item is strong on certain champs doesn't make it OP.

Otherwise these had to be nerfed as well: item 3153 item 3031 item 3035 item 3135 item 3089 item 3128 item 3157 item 3087 item 3006 item 3111 item 3117 item 3042 item 3143 item 3074 item 2049 item 3401 item 3151 item 3078 item 3069 item 3222

Shall I continue the list? All items support their dedicated role. Be it ADC-dps, money generation and support or simply the ability to burst your target as an AP-mid.

Jungle items are supposed to help you while jungling, allowing to jungle better than a character without this item. What's wrong if the item is actually good at it#s dedicated role?

disregardableJan 5, 20152 votes

Hydra and FotM aren't strong. And as for the rest, I don't really think it's a case of them being OP as much as everything else not being to standard. Sometimes that's justified in its cost, but usually it's not. And also, for something to be considered overpowered, it can't really have an equivalent that could work equally well. All of the items listed (that don't suck) have a counterpart that can effectively replace their spot.

Also, let's be clear that you're complaining about the enchantments to the jungle items. not the jungle items themselves. The jungle items are very useful. They aren't very strong, but they're designed to be accompanied with an enchantment eventually. There's nothing wrong with rushing them, and there's nothing wrong with not rushing them. There WOULD be something wrong if something had to be rushed almost every game, almost every time. See trailblazer+devourer 4.20 patch.

Edit: Except sightstone, which was an odd choice to include in your list.

Kowe The EwokJan 5, 20151 votes

item 3074 ... not strong? :X sorry that I'm focussing on this - but did you ever play RekSai Fiora Rengar Khazix ? this item makes freaking beasts out of them (well, most of them already are beasts, but you know what i mean)

disregardableJan 5, 20151 votes

Mm, yeah. I used to rush Hydra on Fi. Then I discovered what triforce is. Js.

IndyBoyJan 9, 20151 votes

I don't mean to be rude... but if you're not rushing item 3074 on Fiora and its not because you're against an ap in lane and have to rush item 3155 instead.... you're doing something wrong.

item 3074 is literally core first item on Fiora , like... this isn't a debate. The fact that blade waltz procs tiamat each time it hits and and provides fiora with excellent wave clear makes it literally the perfect item for her.... JS

disregardableJan 9, 20151 votes

She doesn't actually need wave clear. She's a melee carry. She clears quickly just with her kit.

KMannnnn1Jan 5, 20151 votes

Okay

Good things about new jungle items: More meaningful choices by virtue of smite options; the ability to get stats suited to your champion combined with a smite suited to your playstyle.

Bad things about new jungle items: Decreased sustain, particularly for mana users, unless you choose item 3713 ; stats on enchantments ranging from "generally pretty sweet" to "meh, I may buy it later."

Overall, they are definitely a change in the positive direction, the only real thing is that the enchatment stats need to be retuned in some areas, which will happen as time goes on. It may take some time due to the absolutely massive overhaul of multiple systems (jungle itemization and the jungle itself), but I can see what riot is going for with the majority of the changes, and once they are better tuned for the overall gamestate, I think they'll be clear improvements from the old items.