Dash meaning: Yi Q, Xin E, Diana R. I also save spells like Volibear Q (chase-heavy spells) for when they flash out.
As for Yi ult, it can be a bit situational. It depends on your angle of approach and your damage at the time of the gank. Ideally, you'd run in without ult from behind, walk up to the enemy, and press R right as you reach him to get the most damage out of your ult. However, if you run over a ward and the enemy starts running back, you might have to ult early to cut him off in time (WITHOUT HAVING TO Q). Q should almost always be saved for after the enemy flash/dash/stun, except in cases where you reach an enemy who's almost under his tower already and you still think the gank is worth it at the time (i.e. if there is dive potential).
One of the biggest mistakes I see junglers make when they are lower elo/newer to their champs is that they waste a perfectly good gank by dashing to the enemy right away, and then failing to keep up when the enemy kites them or flashes out.
Your ideal ganking tactic should be as follows:
- You run in from the back (through the tribush if ganking blue side bot / red side top or around the rocks if ganking mid).
- You WALK to your enemy (spells like Yi R and Skarner W can come anywhere in this step, depending on how fast you need to get there).
- You slow them (either with an ability or red buff, if you have none).
- Don't dash in a panic. You're fine. Start hitting them.
- RUN WITH THEM as you auto attack them (imagine you're kiting the enemy towards his tower, even with melee champions). It is extremely important that you run alongside your enemy between auto attacks. If you stand still while hitting them, they'd run past you and you would lose auto attacks trying to keep up.
- They dash away/CC you/flash out.
- You dash after them (Yi Q for example).
- You kill them.
It's the same with all junglers. Yi should run in from the back, R, use red buff to slow, and save Q for the chase. Volibear should run in, E, and save Q for the chase. Xin should run in, WQ, and save E for the chase.
Of course, almost all ganks are different and you may need to alter your strategy. Some ganks require you to Q first as Yi because you won't get there otherwise, or because there is a dive, or because you need to use your Q untargetability to dodge Twisted Fate's yellow card at the start of the gank. You'll know them when you see them.
. Wards are mostly garbage in the jungle unless against Udyr, etc.
