My Issue With The New Masteries For Junglers
Be prepared for the longest post I've made:
I have been playing a lot of my main role these past 2 patch's which is Jungle and after a lot of testing the rune pages/masteries I'm having a difficult time finding a sweet spot for most of the roster I play, I mostly play in-meta champions and every now and then go to non-meta. Now before I start I do like direction of the new masteries, I think moving away from a less stat based decision and more of a personal/role decision is a lot more fun and fresh and I think some of the upcoming changes will make it nicer for certain champions that feel left out when they want to do their jobs. That being said I'll give an example of why I'm having problems for the Jungler role.
I'll use one of the standard meta Junglers as an example which is Rek'Sai
who happens to be my favourite Jungler right now as I've started to pick her up again.
Now Rek'Sai should always be a AD Fighter with good base damage and enough tankiness to survive skirmishes all though Riot has nerfed her pretty hard to move her more away from a Fighter and more of a Tank in Season 6 I believe she still holds up and can still be used as a Fighter. Now leading back to what the point of this is my main issue with Junglers although this is not just Rek'Sai is that the Mastery Trees doesn't give what you actually need from the Jungle and especially if you are running a aggressive page.
Right now I am having the most success with running 0/18/12. In the Cunning tree I have basic Jungle damage/buff duration with 5% - 45% cap and Thunderlords Decree and I have 12 Points in Resolve taking all regen options and Jungle defense. Now the reason I have been running this tree instead of full Ferocity or Resolve is because I get the things Rek'Sai needs in the early game to progress without feeling like I'm not strong enough and the most important one Rek'Sai kind of needs is Intelligence which gives the 5% CDR early and in my runes I take 5% Flat CDR to get 10% early and Merciless which gives her execution damage.
Sounds all well and good right? Well not really... I feel like even though this is working I am not getting what I would actually like to have when I play Rek'Sai it's like I'm having to use this tree to survive and make up for than what I actually want to use which is Ferocity but I'll explain why I can't easily just switch as I have tested all possible options. It's pretty simple when you look at it. Junglers NEED the Jungle Defense mastery AND the Jungle damage/buff duration/extra damage below 40%/Health and Mana back from Kills or Assists these mostly being mixed up in different trees is what I am having problems with If I want to go Ferocity to get that sweet sweet Armor Pen and Fervor of Battle I'll have to sacrifice rather Jungle regen and Defence or Jungle damage and Buff Duration/Extra Damage and for Rek'Sai and some other champions this is what makes it awkward because I need both for Rek'Sai even though her kit gives her good clear speeds and sustain the difference with going 12 Resolve on Regen is massive you get 14 Regen at level 1 and she only needs to use 1 health pot in the first clear and can stay in the Jungle for a long time without going back but what I'm lacking is in my ganks because Rek'Sai is an early game AD Fighter and going Fecority with Merciess is very strong unfortunately if I don't take Resolve Tree Rek'Sai has problems trying to defend off the Jungle camps which is a problem for early ganking Junglers because they need go back to base a few times just to have enough HP to gank, I think Jarvan
is also another one with this problem.
Now to end it off I'll just suggest rather make the Jungle easier to tank early game or create a Jungler Keystone Mastery or buff the early 12 Masteries to benefit Junglers so champions that fit a certain playstyle and can happily apply points into what they really want and not have to make big sacrifices. Please reply any Junglers who rather think I'm crazy and can't just be happy with the changes or agree with some of the points I've made I'd really like to know your experiences.
,
,
). But some other picks or off meta picks were nearly impossible without a strong leash. I just wish they would not make the keystones "champion only".