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Why not invade the top buff every time?

SirPurrr··3 votes·269 views

I've been invading the top buff every time in normals after my first camp and it always worked so far. Every jungler seems to start bot so I just get a free Red/Blue and even Krugs/Gromp before they get there. I don't think the Gromp/Krugs->Buff->Buff route is popular anymore so there's almost no risk. Even if they find me, I just smite it and run away (flash if need be).

If I'm playing a jungler who is pretty useless pre-6 and lacks escapes, I don't usually do this since it is less efficient farm. However, for more early-mid game junglers, I don't see much of a disadvantage - especially if I'm against a similar jungler who wants to snowball lanes early. I also don't see much of a counter if their normal path isn't the one above. I might be wrong, but wards tend to expire by the time I get there and no one really starts a pink early.

So what's the big downside to this? Why aren't more people doing this?

3 Comments

EndlessSorcerer1 votes

It can really depend on your level of play.

I know that a lot of players in Platinum and Diamond tend to watch the top-side buff as a matter of course (and if they don't, they will if you ask politely). A good number of them even ward it before going to lane (since it will likely be up by the time the enemy jungler comes to gank anyways). If you get caught doing it, you are likely either going to burn your flash or die as the enemies collapse on you.

Though, I will admit that I've done it a few times as a top laner. Fizz, Olaf and Trundle can all solo red buff and blue buff without Smite, so I've stolen them quite a few times. This does become far less reliable as players get more skilled though.

Also, some junglers can start with a pink ward. It's a pretty common pick-up on Warwick, Xin Zhao and Fiddlesticks since they don't need the additional health sustain on their first clear. Rek'sai and Master Yi could probably get away with it too.

SirPurrr1 votes

I should add that a decent counter is simply warding my top buff since if they see me there starting Blue/Red, they will suspect it. They can also see the path I take before the ward expires if they get it in late enough.

ltmetal1 votes

This is an incredibly reliable strategy in low ELO, even in high ELO normals. I invade the top jungle through mid river every game and 90% of the time, nobody is there to catch you.

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