Pathing in jg

Divine Winds·5/17/2018, 9:07:06 PM·1 votes·1,104 views

I'm not sure if it's the elo im at or what, but this seems to be the most effective pathing for me, graves (and probably most early game junglers rn): ward river > Take blue or gromp(doesn't matter if you're red or blue side) do the alternate (i.e. if gromp first go blue vice versa) then go scuttle into their red. A lot of junglers in low elo rn seem to be skipping scuttle or doing scuttle then going red or blue (opposite buff) in a very awkward path. I start gromp - blue since it's the most convenient path to the scuttle, and you don't really need lane help. Especially as graves, you clear very fast and if you go for their red (and they pop up there) you can usually out duel them if you kite properly (plus you have level 3 advantage).

What are your ideas for early jungle clearing right now?

6 Comments

ForFoxSakes5/17/2018, 9:39:30 PM2 votes

Answer is always: it depends.

Pathing should be determined based on your opposing jungler, which side you start on and the laners champs for gank priority or kill potential. Graves is a great champ to know really well since he's so adaptable to fight early or power farm so there isnt always a set best way

Bot side start gives you higher ganking and fighting power since red buff adds more damage and CC which lets you contest scuttle easier than if you had blue buff open, and ideally would want to gank/fight with red buff up rather than powerfarm and have it wear off by the time you gank. IDK how you propose gromp-blue-scuttle into their red if you're top side and they leashed to open on their red, and there should never be a situation where you can do that path plus scuttle while the other jungler is still on the opening bottom side with red leash

Graves can end with a full 8 stacks when you contest for top scuttle too. Open with E to get 2 true grit stacks off the first buff, 2 more stacks at the next camp then cross your midlane by using E again when the stacks are about to all fall off so you can refresh it then will reach the cross quadrant raptors or wolves in time to auto and keep those stacks up. Buff 2 after that then by the top scuttle you'll have 8 stacks and full HP if you did it right. No one can fight Graves with full 8 stacks of true grit up (+40 armor) at level 3 which should leave the top scuttle uncontested. If the other jungler went buff, camp scuttle on bottom they wont have the time to clear top scuttle which keeps you even on scuttle count. If they for some reason went scuttle to scuttle just to get them theyd have to cross mid and youd know, and you can then invade them in their jungle as level 3 vs their 2.

DW Diana5/17/2018, 9:11:59 PM1 votes

When I play nocturne I tend to get my top buff, go gromp/raptors, then go to their jungle, raptors red/blue gromp, then get scuttle on my way back before finishing my clear. I've found by the time I get to my bot side it's not only still all up, but they're now the other side of the map and are finding out they have no jungle left :P

I know I won't be able to contest the bot side scuttle, but by counter jungling in this way I not only get to secure the other scuttle, but also have a chance to steal away their camps. If they've done what you do then we're on an even playing field. If not, then I'm ahead.