How important is dragon?

M0RDEKA1SER·Apr 15, 2015·1 votes·4,546 views

Hello all! I've been jungling pretty much since I started playing League late season 4. With this season 5 jungle though, I started doing something that baffles most people I play with, but I just can't tell if it matters.

I usually solo the dragon at levels 2 and then again at whatever level I am by the time he respawns. Even doing this though, I don't notice a significant advantage given to my team. I still win and lose just as many games, even if I have good map presence and keep up on farm.

I stopped getting the early dragon kills and the games didn't seem to go much different. So, what's your opinion? Does the dragon really matter?

13 Comments

The Yetii RiderApr 15, 20152 votes

I play Nunu and I do this strategy of always rushing objectives. The important thing is not the early AD/AP (though it helps) but the timer. Getting the timer and being able to check it with just a tab lets you set up the next dragon really easily. This is important for playing an objective based jungler. Right now I have a 70% win rate as Nunu and I focus on dragon and baron. I consistently manage to get my team 5 dragons and 2 barons by 30 minutes, which is pretty much a guaranteed win.

More dragons make it harder for the enemy team to contest baron, and the 15% bonus damage to towers makes your shoves with baron that much stronger. So yeah, dragons are important.

DJ Di0Apr 15, 20151 votes

First dragon is pretty important, as the 6% bonus AD/AP can really give the team an advantage, the third and fourth aren't that crucial, though.

Dragon is more contested this season because the fear of the opposing team getting 5 stacks pretty much guarantees that early dragon pressure has to happen.

Truly PridefulApr 15, 20151 votes

Dragon matters more as the game progresses. Most of the bonuses aren't felt much until the first couple of completed items. If you can get an early dragon without giving up an objective, grab it. It's generally more important to ensure they're not taking free dragons rather than worrying about rushing them yourself. That's how I feel about it anyway.

5000000000000000Apr 15, 20151 votes

Early dragon is not as useful as before now. Back in s4, it gave massive early game gold bonus. Now, first dragon gives you small AD/AP bonus. When it's converted to gold, it doesn't mean much early on, not to mention you're missing out on xp/gold.

Still, it grants you better bonus after the first, so it is worth getting fairly early. Probably not when you're level 2, though.

S H A Y C 0Apr 15, 20151 votes

very

Laughing FishApr 15, 20151 votes

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 6 being the highest, I would say it is a 8.75

Rebel XayahApr 15, 20151 votes

I'd say it's pretty important, I mean, getting the first dragon means you're well on your way to getting the later, better dragon buffs!

M0RDEKA1SERApr 15, 20151 votes

Based on what comments I've received thus far, I'm getting the idea everyone agrees it's important. But why isn't it more important?

Here's an example of a game in which I was doing well and secured both dragon buffs. Why did this match go horribly?

http://matchhistory.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/#match-details/NA1/1774454646/214711465?tab=overview

Am I missing something?

Edit: Never mind, I just realized that was a match where Cass DC'd

Eyu AradicApr 16, 20151 votes

Securing objectives doesn't meant shit if you cant do anything with them.

I read your entire comment.

GundayMondayApr 15, 20151 votes

Dragon is a win more objective. The first buff early isn't very noticeable, so if you get a 3 min dragon as Nunu , your team won't notice a ginormous power spike. But later in the game (maybe 30 mins in), that first dragon is worth ~500g in stats to each teammate since they have more damage from items and levels.

The other buffs all just make the game a little easier until you're looking at 5 dragons and a buff stronger than baron. Can do some interesting tactics where you force the enemy team to choose either dragon or baron when this happens (if they're behind on dragons). So, it's subtle. It's important, but a slow creeping power that let's you outscale the other team over time instead of all at once like when you get baron buff.

My $0.02.

NoMonkuApr 16, 20151 votes

The early dragons honestly don't matter much when you obtain them, as far as impacting the game at the time you take them. What is important about them is how they impact you later in the game. What is really good about dragon is the first buff and the 5th buffs. The first one increases your bonus AD/AP(I think) so it increases your damage output, which is very good once you start getting damage. The last one lets you hit harder and is argueably of equal power or even greater to that of baron. The 2-4 buffs are nice as well, but aren't as significant outside of certain teamcomps(e.g. if one team is running a poke comp having the MS buff from 3 dragons significantly helps your team run away(if you are the poke team) or engaging(if you aren't the poke team))

Anyways, Dragon got changed into more of a strategical goal compared to the last season, in where you just used it to trade gold gains when the other team was taking one of your towers. It takes time to ramp up, but if you can get those 5 dragons, in most cases it lets you do whatever you want on the map, similar to owning baron buff, so start stacking it and you may be able to win more games.

isKOPPENApr 16, 20151 votes

Early Drags if your team mates are winning lanes, if not then its not worth and it can be put on hold, then kill it after a successful gank with ur teamate

Skia AsteriApr 16, 20151 votes

Getting dragon helps give you small edges that can tip the balance in otherwise close games, but will not out right win games barring situation where you do get 5 stacks and make good use of the power up. The only time you must get dragon and get it early is when your team composition requires the enemy team fight you in the open (not at a turret) and you lack options for forcing them to fight.