Jungle trend I've noticed.

Ralanr·Feb 9, 2016·3 votes·486 views

So whenever I'm jungling I notice that the enemy jungler has both machete and talisman by the time they start ganking (or just when they make their first appearance on the map).

Now I don't want to think that I'm slow in my clears, but I always have enough for my first jungle upgrade and some potions/hunter's potion when I do a full clear. I usually find myself having the item before the enemy jungler, but at the same time I haven't really ganked anywhere yet because I was focused on my first clear.

I'm guessing people clear half their jungle and then port back to their base for their second half of the item before doing the other half. Am I right in guessing this? Is it better to grab the other half of the jungle item ASAP rather than save for the first upgrade?

6 Comments

Samael11Feb 9, 20164 votes

Umm, no? Usually you're either going to get your first full clear, or gank after picking up red at level 2 or 3, depending on jungler, starting side, and how well you were at avoiding damage.

Like, if you need blue early, the path is Gromp, Ancient Golem, Wolves, Elder Lizard, Gank. IIRC. You can also do Lizard, Gank for a level 2 gank . And there's a few that can safely do Krugs, Lizard, Raptors, for a level 3 Gank. Again IIRC

But I've never seen or heard of anyone willingly doing a half clear, recalling to buy the other half the jungle item but not complete the blade, only to head back into the jungle and gank. It doesn't seem efficient or quicker most of the time. If you can do one full clear, you can recall with 1000-1100 depending, buy the upgraded hunter item, boots, and usually a pink and/or pots, which should be more efficient.

Edit: Okay, there's one. Going for scuttle early at level 1/2 can be dangerous though, if the other team is aware, and waiting to get your red/blue buff can mean losing it if the other jungler is moderately skilled.

khorneyFeb 9, 20161 votes

yes it is better. i clear golems wraiths scuttle then port back . or i clear grump wolves and scuttle then port back. then go for my red or blue (most of the time red. i do this because its more efficient. same reason you always start grump or golems depending on your jungler. do not ever start with your buffs because it is not efficient when it comes to clearing.

ErockandrollFeb 9, 20161 votes

Generally when I Jungle, I go for the the second item, mainly for the exp boost that you get. But also because the extra sustain allows you to heal more from camps, and pull off more ganks.

Except, I generally will do a full clear if possible. The Bonuses you get from smite buffs, and Red and Blue do a lot to help clear, and you don't want to waist that time traveling back to the Jungle from the fountain.

GamblerOfLivesFeb 9, 20161 votes

Depends on the champion. I main jungle and this is what i do..If i play a champion with bad early clear i have 2 options..go hunter machete/talisman and refillable/3pots..depends if i plan on ganking/counterganking on my first clear or not..This really depends on what team i have and who is the enemy jungler. This is how i do it, and depending on my experience i either make a cost efficient decision or a bad decision.Most of the time i like to think i am making the right move. Won alot of games based on this early decision alone;)..Snowballed hard and kept the enemy jungler behind.I remember in 1 game i was so ahead early that i basicly stayed in the enemy jungle and sometimes run threw their turrets just to get faster to his camps..I was level 6-7 and he was level 3:)..This is how you win games;)..but requires great decision making and knowing how your lanes will play out early levels;)

Definitely BaitFeb 9, 20161 votes

Just following up on what others have said. Generally junglers don't do a half clear willingly (It only happens when something goes wrong or it's a off meta pick that can't full clear). Typically if they're not doing a full clear it'll be start at a camp -> Buff -> Second camp (Raptors or Wolves) Other buff -> Gank.

Even if they're doing a cheese strat for the early invade (Start buff -> Rush to enemy buff -> Kill enemy jungler + smite enemy buff) they'll still do a 4 camp or full clear. Not to mention that at around gold elo or so this strat starts to become unviable due to laners being map aware enough to rotate and get the clean up kill off you or let the enemy jungler escape (Not to mention junglers start to place wards around the first buff camp around this elo to counter this cheese strat).

The only time half clears were normal in recent history was when the s5 jungle changes went through. Most junglers that didn't have ultra high sustain actually had to back after the first buff in order to have a safe amount of health to gank.

Perhaps your just running into a lot of junglers that had something go wrong and ended up backing early (Would explain talisman + machete). A early gank attempt that went badly would be enough to do this or a inefficient / bad clear (Failed nidalee trap placement, Shaco not using boxes at level 1, Bad Evelynn play, etc).

WenderwallFeb 9, 20161 votes

I tried both, full clear + half clear and bottom line full clear is faster thx to buffs and get's 1K gold. Half clear is certainly slower and buffs the lost. 2 reason why I would still do half clear is, I got countered or gank was unsuccessful + lose of health.