So since patch 5.20 or so I have been maining jungle. Ty rito for nerfing mages yet again. But the fact is that I have demolished shacos left and right by invading their red. They always start red. Always. Invade with your top laner and engage when red at 500hp. Zone shacos out or kill him. Smite red and done shaco is useless for ten minutes. Works 90% of the time in 1000 to 1300 elo.
L Psy Kongroo4 votesThen they go kill you at your own red, and take some more of your jungle just out of spite. But honestly, if I know I'm against another strong early game jungler, I'll ward the side bush entrance to my red in anticipation of an invade. And if I notice that the other team's top laner is missing for the first whole minute of lane phase, I'll suspect something is up, and most likely start somewhere else. This would likely only work against players with no map awareness, so I suppose it's good against low elo Shacos. But most of the time Shaco will be the one invading YOU, not the other way around. I've actually seen a lot of Shacos start at their blue buff, then invade the enemy's red; starting at your own red is only done so that you can gank at level 2.
XxShirosamaxX1 votesi start blue with shaco just so my smite will be back up when i get to red for the health to gank at lvl 3.
L Psy Kongroo1 votesThis is gonna sound horrible coming from a Shaco main, but I almost never invade early game. I take the enemy's jungle if I know they're somewhere else, but as far as actual counter-jungling goes, I don't do it. Reason being, I always think: "why would I set one person behind when I can spam ganks and set 3/4 of them behind?" If I leave the lanes to their own devices, some of them may win on their own. But let's be honest: why leave it to chance? If you can get all three lanes rolling by ganking, there's a better chance of them not only winning on their own but being safer from opposing ganks. No jungler wants to gank a lane that's already behind. And with Shaco's early game power, he can get opposing laners behind faster than anyone else. Against certain junglers I make exceptions of course, mostly those who need to farm a Devourer, or who need to rush level 6: Master Yi, Fiddle, Amumu, Shyvanna, Kindred, Warwick, and Kayle are all junglers I occasionally invade. With anyone else, I focus on the lanes, steal camps when I can, and secure dragons/herald to keep the laners fed and happy.
This tactic also helps dissuade the laners from complaining. If the laners are constantly getting ganks, they are less likely to have negative attitudes, which makes for a better playing environment. Laners will be more willing to listen to shotcalls, group as a team, accept advice, and contribute to warding if they feel like they are getting help throughout lane phase. By contrast, junglers who don't make their presence known in the lanes (e.g. those who simply powerfarm, or counter-jungle all the time) risk angering their team mates. Why would you put your own team on tilt if you can help it? It's just a recipe for disaster. Naturally the best solution is to help the lanes as much as possible, which is extremely easy to do with Shaco. Counter-jungling is a good high elo strategy, since the laners are less likely to require constant help, but in the lower ranks it's less important.
Shac Norris1 votesThe easy Shaco shutdown is curling up in a ball and crying deeply, hoping that he won't find you
MAN OF INTELLECT1 votesA good shaco would have wards and teammates warding/watching entrances.
And if you arrive too early, you die to ignite + boxes
Narzghal1 votesBeen playing the jester for a couple months now, haven't started red once. I prefer blue>stealing red>kruggs for L3>gank mid or top. 9/10 it works fine, about 60% of the time I can get first blood on jungle at ~2:15 because they started red and are low when I get there, while I am full health because boxes tank all of blue buff. If they start blue, a lot of times the come to red for double buff gank and I can get them then. If they start red and I either kill them of force them to b, I'll swing through mid for a gank, then go over and ward their blue. Odds are it's low and I can q smite it. This works really well if they are a weak early game jg, my best results have been against 
and 
And if you're a strong early jg as well, like 
or 
, and if you invade me at my red, I still have yours so I just make sure that next time I get both and you get none. And the jokes on you! 
TwinkiePro1 votesStart red? I never did that. Ever. Blue is so much better and easier.
