Junglers
So I'm only lvl 10, and, being that I just got smite, I thought I'd learn how to jungle. What are some of the best junglers for me to buy? Up until this point, I've only ADC or support.
12 Comments
Don't try to jungle until level 20 when you can buy actually relevant runes, you're going to get your face caved in by Gromp.
Yes, Riot has an entire intrinsic part of the League experience locked behind a grind-wall. Yes, that's exceedingly dumb.
If you are interested and like to jungle go 
or 
. Those are the only 2 that can actually jungle prior LVL 30 and your tier 3 runes. They have rather unique playstyle compared to the other junglers but it should help you understand the basic of the jungle. Warwick should be an easier pick if you are new to the genre as his mechanics are much more simpler than Fiddlesticks.
I'd really recommend Warwick as your first jungler. He isn't the best but he's basically easy-mode for the jungle and he's very simple so you don't really have to worry about champion mechanics too much while you're learning how to jungle.
As an added bonus he's also extremely cheap, costing only 450 IP.
At level 10, the only champs that can realistically jungle without runes would be Warwick or maybe Fiddlesticks if you are good with him. Most of the tank junglers really need the boost you get from having runes and full mastery pages. You can try Rek'sai, Amumu or Sejuani before 20, but they won't clear camps quickly and you'll likely end up frustrated.
However, most of the melee junglers can be taken to the top lane if you want to learn how their abilities work. So if Warwick doesn't work, don't be afraid to look over the jungler list and pick one to try in the top lane for a while. That way when you do enter the jungle you'll know how to use their skills and it will only be a matter of figuring out your routes and practicing ganking.
I haven't used every jungler, but I can say that:
Amumu is relatively easy to use and can be devastating to an enemy team if you get your ult off.
Xin Zhao is a good duelist once you practice him up.
Vi is usually banned by my friends in drafts, because she can be so powerful.
Rek'sai is fun to play with, but a bit squishy.
Sejuani is a solid tank, but can't really gank pre-6.
Master Yi is popular, but if you do fall behind the other team can "crush him, like grape."
Nautilus, has got a very slow clear and can fall behind.
I don't care for Lee Sin. He's popular, but if he misses his skillshot he's worthless, and he's not a great teamfighter late game.
Jarvan IV is good, but you do have to practice his skills.
Well, it's already been said several times but... If you really want to learn how to jungle at level 10, Warwick is, while not the only champion you can jungle with before runes, at least the easiest one to do so with. I can't recommend Fiddlesticks in good conscience because he plays differently from basically every other jungler.
Warwick is not a perfect jungler to learn with but he is good in that he's flexible in build (particularly in early games). You can build him AD, AP, full tank, or any mix and probably get away with it, assuming the people you're playing with aren't Diamond smurfs.
One issue with playing any jungler pre-20 or 30 is that duo top is the dominant comp in those levels. If your top laner has trouble playing safe, whether due to an unfortunate enemy comp or because they have not learned how to farm and fight safely, which means you as a jungler will have a choice: whether to essentially camp top (taking the purpose out of being a jungler, besides you and the top laner sharing less experience) or risk having two enemy top laners get fed. Then again, that choice may not necessarily be a bad thing, because realistically if you continue with jungling after trying it, it will often happen where you'll need to make similarly difficult decisions.
Unfortunately, also as others have said, even for Warwick jungling will be more difficult without runes/masteries, at least early on. Fortunately all junglers will eventually, and sometimes quickly, scale to the point where the jungle itself poses little threat even without runes. At that point enemy runes become more concerning, which is a non-issue at your level. That's when you will learn what items work well and what don't, what tactics are best, what positions to put yourself and the enemy in. To that end you could also ask someone to help teach you.
Warwick...he needeth not a rune page to survive the jungle, great for getting your feet wet. Gromp, blue, red, krugs, raptors, back buy for extra jungle item gold, farm like a boss until level 6 then melt peoples faces.
Well, I like junglers that don't die in anything better than a 3v5, so amumu is a good one to start with, build tons of armor magic resist and area of effect items(
, 
, 
, 
or 
or 
, 
, and maybe an 
if you want a little more damage)
If you like junglers that do more damage in a fight(but die quickly if focused) instead of tanks that lock people down forever, I'd suggest fiddlesticks, get his drain and never die in the jungle, ult+
is useful, and just build lots of AP. also 
is my favorite jungle item on him.