Tips for new junglers in the new jungle
I'm guessing that if your on the boards, your probs already aware of the best way to jungle, but I still see so many people doing it wrong that I thought I should say something.
Starting: Always, always, I cannot stress this enough, ALWAYS start botside of the map. This was even more important when Panth could lvl one solo dragon, but you should still always start botside. Why? Because it is very crucial that you get to lane on time top lane, so you're doing your top laner a favor, you gain more control and protection over your side of the jungle when you are vulnerable by being botside (there are 2 bot + 1 mid vs. 1 mid and 1 top.), and you will get a better leash. You should start with either Krugs or Gromp, depending on which side of the river you're on, and smite it IMMEDIATELY. This gives you the buff right away and will improve your clear. Keep in mind it is very crucial you get level 2 off of the first camp, so ping away any leashers. After your first camp, go to the nearest buff. Keep in mind the buff from the first camp is VERY strong, so don't worry about not being able to handle it. Red and Blue buff are very weak when you have Heavy Hands or Gift of the Toadstool (im not sure if those are their real names, but you know what I mean). After the first buff, go straight to the other buff, and use smite to kill it. Now, heres where it begins to split up between higher sustaining junglers and weaker junglers.
High Sustain: If you're a jungler like Fiddlesticks, Nunu, Xin Zhao, or Pantheon who can clear jungle with relative ease and keep high health, you have a few options depending on the type of jungler you're facing. If your facing a jungler like you who has high sustain, its generally good to try and get off a gank or gain some ward coverage to set up a counter gank. If you have sustain but slightly shorter camp clear, Xin Zhao is a good example, try and predict where the enemy champ might gank. Now, if the enemy jungler does not have high sustain, you can generally invade and 'poach' their wraiths or wolves. Don't under estimate the power of the scuttle crab. It has saved many a lane from an unnecessary flash or heal burn, and it gives a good speed boost that will help you move lane to lane.
Low Sustain: Generally you want to back right after your second buff and by your first machete upgrade and a few potions. Then you can go back to the other camp (it will be Gromp or Krugs depending on where you started) and use your smite on that. Clear the rest of the jungle, wraiths, wolves, and the camp you started with, and then look for a gank if your healthy. Try not to back until you can afford your full item.
Which smite upgrade should I buy?
Thats a great question that varies champion to champion. Stalker's Blade's Chilling Smite is generally the fall back if you are unsure what to buy given the game. If you are somewhat behind and need help farming camps, Trailblazers is good (not as good as it was given they removed the cooldown reduction on smite). If you are Yi, Warwick, Xin Zhao, Tryndamere, Shyvana, Trundle, or Aatrox Skirmisher's Sabre is probably the best way to go. Poacher's blade is just generally bad unless you are Nunu, Lee Sin, or Pantheon (I suppose Khazix might not be bad, and I'm not sure about Rek'Sai but it seems like Riot is trying to push Poachers on her), nevertheless Poachers is obviously for people who are going to be more effective counter-jungling than they are ganking (Lee Sin should just gank instead of counter jungle, but if your lanes are winning and their jungler is Yi or someone who could carry Poachers can be nice).
When should I get which buff?
Smite is on a minute cooldown no matter what now, so it can be very crucial you pick the right buff. If you are planning on taking dragon or Baron soon, or even ganking, it can be very nice to smite Wraiths for the ward removal buff. I personally think that wraiths and wolves buffs are not very valuable compared to Gromp and Krugs buff given that Wraiths buff can only remove one ward. Wolves is good to take when you think you might be invaded, but is short lived so I wouldn't say using smite on it is as worth as it is to simply contest a camp with smite. Wolves best use is to take it when you have counter-jungled someone and want to duel them, as it will hone in on their position. Wolves gets progressively better later on in the game when there are simply to many wards for you to clear with Wraiths buff.
When do I take Scuttle Crab?
I find its best to take it following a failed gank attempt, or simply any time I'm wandering through the river, but it is always good to take it before you plan on dragoning. Only smite scuttle crab if dragon or baron is down near it, and the enemy jungler/support is trying to take it.
Anything else I should know?
Junglers should do all then can to help supports maintain ward coverage and control. That means buying and maintaining pink wards, switching to scanners, taking scuttle crabs, clearing with Wraith buff, buying sight wards, and if you're Lee Sin, buying Sightstone. Also, try to predict the enemy junglers movements. Don't only watch to see which enemies are pushed up, but also which allies are pushed up. Jungle is a mind game early on, and counter-ganks can be game changing and devastating to lanes. Also keep in mind which lane is going to be hardest for your team to win, which of your lanes will carry hardest, which of the enemy lanes with carry hardest, and coordinate dragon attempts with the enemy junglers location.
Agree? Disagree? Post in the comments any opinions you may have, upvote this post so others can see, and send it to your friends who may be new to jungle.
