Jungle Tier List 25.23 — Best Off‑Meta Picks and Builds
Meta snapshot: Patch 25.23 has swung the jungle toward experimentation. Small systemic changes and a handful of focused champion buffs have opened a wide power window for champions typically labeled “off‑meta.” This guide explains why those swings matter, shows a full tier list for the patch, gives builds, routes, matchups, and win conditions for the most promising off‑meta jungle picks, and provides practical tips to climb with unconventional champions.
What changed in Patch 25.23 that matters for jungle play
Patch 25.23 didn’t just move numbers — it nudged systems that determine how the jungle feels across early clears, skirmishes, and full games. The cumulative effect has been to lower the opportunity cost for creative junglers and raise the ceiling on champions who previously struggled to duel or sustain clear speed.
Early jungle pacing: Jungle camp experience and health adjustments (small percentage changes per camp and minor rune interactions) favor faster clears that still allow for early skirmishes. That means champions with high single‑target damage and quick reset windows can now maintain tempo while still threatening river plays.
Jungle item tweaks and sustain: Changes to healing components and pathing efficiency make non‑traditional sustain builds more viable. Champions that could previously be out-cleared with sustain now stay competitive without sacrificing offensive options.
Objective timing and incentives: Slight shifts to dragon and Rift Herald spawn windows plus reward tuning increase the value of early contesting — favoring champions who clear quickly and can be first on-scene.
Targeted champion buffs: Riot leaned into buffing a handful of low-usage jungle champions rather than pushing a single dominant performer. That choice opened slots for off‑meta picks like niche fighters, ranged AP clears, and even some marksman-style junglers to outperform expectations.
Scaling and item power spikes: Adjustments to core jungle items or key situational items (e.g., mythic passives or tiered sustain items) allow certain off‑meta champions to reach meaningful power spikes earlier or with fewer resources.
Taken together, these changes mean you can often get away with creative champion choices if you pick routes and builds that exploit the new pacing and objective timing.
How to read this tier list and pick the right off‑meta jungler
Tier placement reflects general impact, reliability, and power ceiling in solo queue at a wide range of elos.
Use the tier list as a starting point — matchups, team composition, and your personal comfort are still decisive.
For each champion I include: why they’re strong now, ideal runes and core build, early clear and route, midgame role, key matchups, and lane gank tips.
If you want a safer climb pick, choose from the higher tiers. If you want to carry with surprise factor, pick a mid‑tier off‑meta champ who fits your playstyle and the team’s win condition.
Tier key (brief)
S — Extremely strong in the patch for off‑meta play; high carry potential and reliable in most comps.
A — Strong and consistent; requires better execution or specific team comps.
B — Situationally powerful; wins big when matchups or drafts favor them.
C — Niche; can snowball but fragile if countered.
Full Jungle Tier List 25.23 — Off‑Meta focus
S Tier
Karthus — explosive objective control and resets; insane scaling and wave presence.
Nidalee — unmatched single-target clearing and early invade threat; excels in buffed early game.
Rammus — map pressure and objective contest with turbo gank threat against AD comps.
A Tier
Shyvana — incredible taking power on dragons and camp speed when built tanky/duelist hybrid.
Lillia — wide CC and sustained AP clear; sleep setups are back in fashion.
Talon — high roamer jungle; dominant in skirmish-heavy pubs.
B Tier
Vayne (jungle) — niche but oppressive with early duelist items and relentless single-target.
Twisted Fate (jungle) — map impact with global pressure; requires coordination.
Maokai — engage + sustain; strong with crowd-control heavy teams.
C Tier
Senna (jungler off‑role) — creative, slows teams with poke but fragile pathing.
Gangplank (jungle) — strong late but slow clear and high mechanical requirement.
(Notes: This list prioritizes unconventional champions who surged in viability due to patch-level tempo and targeted buffs. Standard, meta jungle champs still exist but are not the focus of this off‑meta tier read.)
Why these champions rose in value in 25.23
Karthus: The combination of improved objective contest windows and the ability to clear and immediately impact side lanes makes him feel oppressive. Karthus doesn’t need to gank to contribute; he reshapes the map with flank pressure, Baron steals, and constant global damage.
Nidalee: Fast single-target bursts let Nidalee counter-invade and win early duels. With camps healing reduced slightly, her spear+trap sustain pattern keeps her safe while bearing tremendous early skirmish threat.
Rammus: With top lane bruisers and AD carries still decisive, Rammus’s lockdown and ability to delete squishies from sidelane fights is back in demand. His mobility and objective-disruption make him a reliable answer to meta ADCs.
How to decide between an off‑meta pick and a meta pick
Ask these three questions before locking:
Does my team need early pressure or a scaling win condition? If early, pick fast-clear/duel champions. If scaling, pick carrying APs like Karthus or Lillia.
Can my comp convert lead into objectives? Off‑meta picks often require follow‑through; if your teammates can’t secure dragons or towers, pick safer meta options.
Do I have reliable pathing and mechanical comfort on the champion? Off‑meta success often hinges on precise clears and inventive ganks.
If you answer yes to at least two, proceed with the off‑meta pick.
Champion deep dives — strategy, build, routes, and gank tips
Below are fully actionable breakdowns for the highest‑impact off‑meta junglers in patch 25.23.
Karthus jungle — why he’s S tier
Why pick him: Karthus dominates games with global pressure and objective value. He scales incredibly well and can farm through skirmishes that would kill other junglers. With faster jungle pacing and earlier objective windows, Karthus’s ability to impact multiple lanes while still farming is especially valuable.
Runes and summoners
Primary: Domination — Electrocute (for early burst when you plan to gank) or Dark Harvest (for scaling assassination)
Secondary: Sorcery — Manaflow Band; Transcendence for CDR
Summoners: Smite + Flash
Core build
Starts: Doran’s Ring + Refillable or Corrupting if you plan aggressive early skirmishes
First items: Lost Chapter → Liandry’s Torment or Night Harvester depending on team comp
Boots: Sorcerer’s or Plated for utility (Merc in heavy CC games)
Mythic: Luden’s is viable for burst; Liandry’s for extended fights
Situational: Zhonya’s, Rabadon’s, Void Staff
Clear route and timing
Standard clear: Blue → Gromp → Wolves → Red → Krugs. This gets you level 3–4 with healthy mana and immediate access to scuttle.
Power clear: If enemy is predictable, start on the side opposite to both solo lanes to avoid early invade and secure fast XP.
Gank and midgame tips
Karthus rarely needs to force early ganks. Use Q spam to shove lanes and pressure with your presence.
Midgame you should be forcing 2v2 skirmishes near objectives and denying enemy jungler resources. Your R (ultimate) should be used both for executing low-health enemies and for resetting a fight’s tempo.
Key matchups and counters
Strong into slower early duelists; struggle vs heavy early invaders and hard CC who can interrupt channeling.
Win condition
Farm until you can solo objectives or win small skirmishes; then use your global to secure multi-kills and tilt fights into objectives.
Nidalee jungle — why she’s S tier
Why pick her: Nidalee excels at early path control and skirmishing. The patch’s early jungle tempo favors single-target burst and reset clears, and Nidalee’s mobility with strong spear damage punishes botched invades.
Runes and summoners
Primary: Precision — Press the Attack or Lethal Tempo (PTA if you favor duels)
Secondary: Domination — Taste of Blood; Eyeball Collection
Summoners: Smite + Flash
Core build
Starts: Hunter’s Talisman + Refillable or Long Sword if you aim to snowball with a guinsoo style path
First items: Challenger jungle mythic (e.g., Emberknife upgrade) into Lich Bane in some builds or Rabadon when ahead
Boots: Mobility for map pressure or Sorcerer’s if you’re committed to AP burst
Situational: Zhonya’s, Morello (if healing reduction needed)
Clear route and timing
Optimal clear: Red → Raptors → Wolves → Blue → Gromp for aggressive pathing and early scuttle control.
Early invade: Place traps at enemy raptors and scuttle spawns to deny vision and time enemy routes.
Gank and midgame tips
Use bush-to-bush pounces and spears to chunk targets; convert plays into objectives fast. Nidalee’s strength is creating small advantages repeatedly.
Key matchups and counters
Vulnerable to heavy early invaders and CC chains; use traps and vision to avoid blind skirmishes.
Win condition
Create lane advantages, snowball a carry, and rotate to contest objectives.
Rammus jungle — why he’s S tier
Why pick him: Rammus is the punishment jungler. With quicker skirmish tempo and the meta’s love for ADC carries, Rammus’s single‑target lockdown plus objective disruption becomes devastating.
Runes and summoners
Primary: Resolve — Aftershock or Grasp (Aftershock if you prefer immediate tankiness)
Secondary: Precision — Legend: Alacrity; Coup de Grace
Summoners: Smite + Flash
Core build
Starts: Refillable + Hunter’s Machete (for sustain)
First items: Turbo Chemtank/Stridebreaker Mythic path (depending on the season’s itemization) into Thornmail, Dead Man’s Plate
Boots: Plated Steelcaps or Mercury’s depending on enemy comp
Situational: Randuin’s, Spirit Visage
Clear route and timing
Efficient clear: Red → Krugs → Raptors → Wolves → Blue yields a durable early clear and allows immediate gank pressure.
Focus on scuttle control to set up side lane collapses.
Gank and midgame tips
Rammus ganks are all-in plays: flank, taunt the ADC, and force swaps. Use his mobility to punish overextended laners and force fights near towers.
Key matchups and counters
Struggles vs heavy sustain poke and ranged kiting champions; excels vs crit ADCs and split-pushers.
Win condition
Force fights where you can isolate the enemy carry, convert picks into dragon or Baron control, and apply constant map pressure.
Shyvana jungle — A tier breakdown
Why pick her: Shyvana is a bruiser who now benefits from objective tempo and sustained clear buffs. Her Dragon form and high objective damage make her especially threatening on patches where dragons are more contestable early.
Runes and summoners
Primary: Precision — Lethal Tempo or Press the Attack
Secondary: Resolve — Second Wind or Unflinching
Summoners: Smite + Flash
Core build
Starts: Hunter’s Talisman + Refillable
First items: Stridebreaker or Trinity variants for duelist power then Titanic Hydra into defensive items
Boots: Mercury or Plated depending on crowd control
Clear route and timing
Path: Blue → Gromp → Wolves → Red for a healthy level progression and earliest access to scuttle.
Gank and midgame tips
Shyvana converts jungle farm into raw objective taking; use her mobility to create split-push threats and force enemies to respond.
Key matchups and counters
Strong vs immobile compositions; struggles in games that kite and CC her reliably.
Win condition
Push for dragon stacking and pressure towers with fast objective takes.
Lillia jungle — A tier breakdown
Why pick her: Lillia provides skirmish control and sustained poke. With the meta favoring teamfights around objectives, her ability to sleep multiple enemies and kite makes her strong in coordinated solo queue play.
Runes and summoners
Primary: Sorcery — Phase Rush or Nimbus Cloak for better engage patterns
Secondary: Resolve — Conditioning; Revitalize
Summoners: Smite + Flash
Core build
Starts: Refillable + Hunter’s Talisman
First items: Liandry’s + Rylai’s hybrid; then Zhonya’s for survivability
Boots: Sorcerer’s or Mercury for utility
Clear route and timing
Early clear: Red → Krugs → Raptors → Wolves → Blue. You want to quickly hit level 6 to maximize sleep ult impact.
Gank and midgame tips
Use Q to poke then sleep to win multi-man collapses; target priority is always carries.
Key matchups and counters
Vulnerable to early hard engages and heavy AP anti-heal setups.
Win condition
Dominate objective fights with multi-man CC and consistent poke; convert sleeps into secure dragons.
Talon jungle — A tier breakdown
Why pick him: Talon jungle is all about map pressure. With improved tempo, Talon’s roams punish poorly warded lane pushes and create explosive early advantages.
Runes and summoners
Primary: Domination — Electrocute or Dark Harvest
Secondary: Sorcery — Celerity; Waterwalking
Summoners: Smite + Flash
Core build
Starts: Long Sword + Refillable
First items: Duskblade into Youmuu’s, then Edge of Night if needed; boots → Mobility for roams
Situational: Guardian Angel if behind
Clear route and timing
Route: Start on the side you plan to gank, with fast clear to hit level 3/4 and immediately roam.
Gank and midgame tips
Roam relentlessly; your win rate depends on converting picks into towers and dragons.
Key matchups and counters
Good vs squishy comps; poor vs coordinated CC and vision.
Win condition
Snowball lanes with roams, then close gaps with objective control.
Vayne and Twisted Fate jungle notes (B tier)
Vayne jungle is a mechanical and situational pick: build early duelist damage and invade with support-style vision control. Success hinges on snowballing lane advantage early.
Twisted Fate jungle flips the script with global pressure; pair with roaming supports or lanes that can follow up on yellow-card picks.
Practical lanes and pathing for off‑meta champions
Prioritize scuttle control: Off‑meta champions usually win by being present and causing chaos, not by full clear parity. Securing scuttle and invading vision sets wins.
Adapt your first clear to the champion: Some off‑meta picks (Nidalee) benefit from single-target starting camps; others (Lillia) want larger-AOE clear patterns to hit level 6 faster.
When ganking with off‑meta champs, play to surprise: Use unorthodox approaches, trap placement, and timing to catch enemies off-guard.
Ward and counter-ward: Off‑meta picks are fragile if the enemy reads your intentions. Invest in early control wards and sweepers.
Teamcomp synergy and role prioritization
Pick off‑meta junglers that cover your team’s weaknesses: if your team lacks engage, consider Rammus or Maokai. If you lack AP waveclear, pick Karthus or Lillia.
Aim for complementary mid and support champions that either follow up on your engages or can convert picks into objective security.
Off‑meta picks often need snowball — design your comp to convert wins into dragons and towers early.
Builds, situational items, and stat priorities
Prioritize items that maximize a champion’s unique strengths. For example, Karthus wants early mana and penetration; Rammus wants armor and attack-return items; Nidalee wants cooldown and burst amplifiers.
Don’t be afraid to diverge from traditional full-tank or full-damage builds. Hybrid builds (offensive mythic + defensive second item) often give off‑meta champions the survivability to participate in objectives while remaining threatening.
Pathing examples (three templates)
Standard power clear — Good for scaling carries (Karthus, Lillia)
Blue → Gromp → Wolves → Raptors → Red → Krugs; then scuttle control and look for chance to gank mid or top.
Aggressive invade clear — Good for Nidalee, Talon
Red → Raptors → Blue with early aggressive trap placement around enemy buffs; contest scuttle and force enemy jungler to recall.
Objective-first clear — For Shyvana, Rammus who want drake fast
Start bot-side camp near dragon, clear to level 4 quickly, and rotate to lane for a sum of pressure to secure first dragon.
Warding, vision, and micro tips for off‑meta success
Off‑meta junglers require intelligent vision control: use early control wards in river bushes and enemy jungle entrances.
Sweepers are not optional; deny the enemy the map-reading advantage. A single unseen Talon or Nidalee will punish overreliance on lane wards.
Time your vision: place deep wards after you force a recall or after taking an objective to track the enemy jungler and enable safe invades.
How to close games with off‑meta junglers
Convert every pick into an objective: towers, dragons, and Baron are your win buttons. Off‑meta picks win when advantageous trades are turned into map control.
Force difficult decisions: if you create a numbers advantage, push vision and take the free Baron or multiple towers.
Don’t get baited into 50/50 fights: off‑meta champions can be fragile in extended engagements unless built or played with the team’s win condition in mind.
Common mistakes with off‑meta jungle champions
Over‑committing to solo kills without map control. Off‑meta picks often lack the defensive options to survive failed dives.
Ignoring objective conversion. Many off‑meta champs get kills but fail to use them for dragons/towers — that wastes lead.
Tunnel vision on lane score. If you gank and only take minions or xp, you lose the potential macro advantage.
Climbing tips and mindset for playing off‑meta
Practice routes in normals before taking them to ranked. Off‑meta champions often have unique clear timings that need practice.
Communicate with your team before the match. Tell lanes your intended playstyle and which lane you’ll prioritize.
Stay adaptable. If the enemy drafts hard counters, either switch champion or adjust your build for survivability.
Sample game plan: How a typical Karthus game develops in 25.23
Early (0–10 minutes): Focus on efficient farming, contest scuttle, and use Q to pressure midlane. Do not overcommit to low-probability ganks.
Mid (10–20 minutes): Start hunting for squishy targets with your ultimate; deny the enemy jungler resources. Convert picks into tier 1 towers.
Late (20+ minutes): Position for Baron and dragon fights. In teamfights, play for safety but look for multi-target R value to finish fights and secure objectives.
Quick reference cheat sheet (one-line per champion)
Karthus — Farm, global impact, objective conversion.
Nidalee — Invade, spear picks, skirmish control.
Rammus — Engage, lockdown carries, objective disruption.
Shyvana — Dragon taker, split threat, tower pressure.
Lillia — Teamfight kiting and multi-sleep setup.
Talon — Roam, pick, siege pressure.
Vayne (jungle) — High duel carry if ahead; requires snowball.
Twisted Fate (jungle) — Global map pressure; needs coordination.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a champion "off‑meta" in the jungle right now?
An off‑meta jungle champion is one that isn’t commonly picked in competitive or high-elo norms but becomes viable because patch changes favor their unique strengths, such as single-target burst, global pressure, or objective-taking speed. In patch 25.23, tempo and targeted buffs opened win conditions for these champions.
Are off‑meta jungle picks reliable for climbing?
Yes, when used correctly. They can be highly effective because opponents often undervalue or misread their power. Reliability increases with practiced clear routes, vision control, and a team that can convert skirmishes into objectives.
How should I adapt my rune and build choices for off‑meta champions?
Adaptation is essential. Use runes and items that shore up the champion’s weaknesses — early defensive stats for fragile picks, cooldown reduction and penetration for burst casters, or mobility items for roamer junglers. Be flexible and review after each game.
When should I avoid picking an off‑meta jungler?
Avoid them if the enemy comp is full of hard counters, your solo lanes lack wave-management, or you feel uncomfortable with the required micro mechanics. Also avoid off‑meta when you must guarantee a specific objective control without room for experimentation.
How do I practice off‑meta jungle routes safely?
Start in normals and jump into small-scale ranked only when you can hit consistent level and item timings. Use custom games to test clear speed and smite timing. Review your replays focusing on pathing efficiency and objective conversion.
What is the single biggest mistake new off‑meta junglers make?
Failing to convert kills into objectives. Off‑meta success relies on turning skirmishes into dragons, towers, or Baron control. Without conversion, the surprise value fades and opponents adapt.
Final checklist before the game (quick actionable list)
Confirm your route and early invade windows.
Buy a control ward on your first back.
Ping your planned priority lane and share your early gank timing.
Track the enemy jungler’s starting camp with warding or teammate information.
Adjust build early if you spot heavy CC or healing on the enemy team.
Patch 25.23’s changes reward preparation and creativity. Off‑meta jungle picks can be more than gimmicks — they can be reliable, high‑carry options when you control vision, convert every advantage into objectives, and adapt your build to the scoreboard. Practice routes, learn to spot where your champion’s kit creates leverage, and prioritize objective conversion above personal score.
Nidalee — lane‑by‑lane gank windows and exact ability sequences
Nidalee’s jungle identity is aggressive, high‑tempo, and position‑dependent. Her ganks are strongest when she can threaten spear (Javelin Toss), pounce in cougar form, and use traps to deny escape. Below are lane‑specific gank windows, objectives to look for, and step‑by‑step ability sequences for typical gank scenarios.
Top lane
Best gank windows
Level 3–6: after your first clear and one recall; enemy top is pushing or has used Flash and no Teleport available.
Post‑lane‑recall windows: target a top who shoves and walks up to ward or reset.
Pre‑gank setup
Place a trap in the river bush or pixel brush for vision; place a second trap behind the enemy’s escape route if possible.
Approach from the brush opposite the enemy’s expected escape path to reduce reaction time.
Exact ability sequence (standard lane gank)
Start in human form: W — Bushwhack (place trap in front of the lane entry for reveal/slow)
Approach via brush; if the spear can be landed, aim and throw Q — Javelin Toss for a slow/chunk.
Immediately convert to cougar: cast R — Aspect Of The Cougar (transform), then
Cougar Q — Takedown to gap close and execute burst;
Cougar W — Pounce to reset and chase or to traverse minion waves;
Cougar E — Swipe for extra damage and finish;
If target tries to Flash, place a trap (human W) behind them before transforming or while moving in to block path or reveal Flash direction.
Variations and notes
If spear would miss because of fog/long range, lead with cougar Q and pounce from side brush, then convert to human to trap predicted retreat path.
If the lane is CC‑heavy on your side, bait enemy out with a single spear to trigger follow‑ups from laner.
Mid lane
Best gank windows
Level 3: roam after a fast clear; mid laners often push to shove for priority.
Level 6: when you have lane priority, aim to force recall or get a kill with roams.
Pre‑gank setup
Place trap in mid river and one in the side‑lane bush that connects to mid (depends on map side).
Use sweep timing: if you see mid has no Flash or used E, go immediately.
Exact ability sequence (long‑range spear gank)
From river brush with vision control, face the mid wave: cast Q — Javelin Toss to threaten or chunk the mid laner.
If spear hits and enemy is slowed/fragile, convert to cougar with R, then:
Cougar W — Pounce to cross minions and close the gap;
Cougar Q — Takedown for burst;
Cougar E — Swipe to finish or force summoner spells;
If the kill is not guaranteed, return to human form and place traps behind the lane to cover escape and secure follow‑up from side lanes.
Variations and notes
A successful mid spear that doesn’t convert into immediate kill is still a win: force recall and convert to dragon or scuttle control.
Use mobility boots or early roam items to increase map presence for repeated mid pressure.
Bot lane
Best gank windows
Level 2–3: early invade or counter‑gank when enemy bot pushes and both summoners are up.
After first recall: punish low‑health ADC or support with roam into river brush and lane.
Pre‑gank setup
Trap river bush and tri‑brush entrances to deny escape. Coordinate with your support to commit or engage.
Approach from the river or tri‑brush where vision is minimal.
Exact ability sequence (standard bot gank with support)
Approach in human form and place W — Bushwhack in river bush (reveal + slow).
Line up Q — Javelin Toss for a poke or to chunk the ADC; if it lands, the enemy is forced to tank minion damage.
Transform with R into cougar and immediately cast Cougar W — Pounce to close;
Cougar Q — Takedown to burst;
Cougar E — Swipe if enemy tries to fight back;
If the support CCs, keep auto‑attacking and use pounce resets to reposition; place a human trap in their typical retreat path once the trade finishes.
Variations and notes
If the bot lane is highly defensive, use spear from river to force summoners and then pivot to take scuttle or set deep vision.
Karthus — lane‑by‑lane gank windows and exact ability sequences
Karthus jungling centers on shove pressure, wave control, and maximizing global R value. His ganks are less about traditional gaps and more about softening lanes, forcing recalls, and punishing low‑health targets with his ultimate.
Top lane
Best gank windows
Post‑6 when you can threaten a global execute on overextended tops.
When both top and enemy mid are pushing, creating a 2v1 state.
Pre‑gank setup
Use Q and E to push the lane and zone the enemy so they lose minions or are forced under tower.
Place a control ward in tri‑brush to deny enemy escape vision.
Exact ability sequence (poke + punish)
In human form, approach brush and cast E — Defile briefly to speed up waveclear and pressure; then back off so you don’t soak unnecessary damage.
Cast Q — Lay Waste through the wave to chunk the champion and force a reset or a Flash.
If the top uses Flash and is low, continue farming and track their position; press for objective if they recall.
At any point when a target drops under a threshold for your ultimate, use R — Requiem to finish them (time it with allied CC or when they attempt to recall).
Variations and notes
Karthus ganks often look like shove–poke–pressure rather than full commit. Use your presence to force them into overextension for your teammates to capitalize on.
Mid lane
Best gank windows
Level 3–6: before and after your first full clear when you can shove and threaten immediate rotations.
When enemy mid uses mana or key cooldowns and is vulnerable to Q combos.
Pre‑gank setup
Shove the wave with E and Q to create a slow push; set up a trap (control ward) in river brush if you plan to linger.
Coordinate with roams from top or bot.
Exact ability sequence (shove + execute)
Use E — Defile and alternate Q — Lay Waste to clear waves quickly and zone.
If the mid laner is forced up or walks into the backline, land a Q for high damage; use Smite timings to contest scuttle.
If the mid laner is under 30% and a teamfight begins elsewhere, time R — Requiem to secure the kill from range during the chaos.
Variations and notes
Karthus mid ganks are excellent for punishing roams—shove, threaten recall, then either roam or recover scuttle control.
Bot lane
Best gank windows
Whenever bot is aggressive and both enemy summoners are down; also after you finish Rift Herald or when you can use your ultimate from fog of war.
Late game: use ultimate to finish low supports or ADCs trying to recall.
Pre‑gank setup
Shove the opposing mid or bot wave to pressure the enemy; place vision in river to track jungler response.
Exact ability sequence (soft gank into R execute)
Approach in human form and land Q — Lay Waste onto the ADC or poke from fog to force retreat.
If you chunk them sufficiently, rotate to one of the side bushes and siege; if they recall low, R — Requiem during recall or during teamfight to finish.
Use E — Defile between sequences to maintain wave pressure and heal off minions when in range.
Variations and notes
Karthus can “gank” without ever touching the lane: his global presence with R makes positioning and timing the critical factor.
Talon — lane‑by‑lane gank windows and exact ability sequences
Talon jungle relies on explosive roams, map pressure, and the ability to one‑shot squishy targets with burst combos that chain mobility and stealth. Timing and angle of approach are crucial.
Top lane
Best gank windows
Early level 3 roams when top has pushed or extended; Talon’s roams are effective when the lane is shoved.
Post‑6 when you can one‑shot with full combo and follow up global pressure.
Pre‑gank setup
Use map rotation via mid lane or river to avoid direct vision. Approach from behind the enemy (top or tri‑brush) to maximize surprise.
Exact ability sequence (surprise dive)
From the side or behind: E — Assassin’s Path (vault terrain) to access the top side quickly.
Close distance with Q — Noxian Diplomacy (blade strike) to proc lethality and burst;
Immediately cast W — Rake out of brush to slow/mark the target;
Auto‑attack reset and finish with successive Q if necessary;
If executed perfectly, use R — Shadow Assault to reposition, evade follow‑up, or catch fleeing targets after their Flash.
Variations and notes
Talon’s strength is angles: use walls and vision denial to get behind enemies rather than face them head‑on.
Mid lane
Best gank windows
Level 3 roams from bot or after your first clear; Talon’s natural mid pressure makes him a mid‑priority ganker.
When the enemy mid is pushing and overextended or has burned Flash.
Pre‑gank setup
Use side brush, mid river, or lane ganks from behind to bypass normal warding lines. Coordinate with a roaming support if possible.
Exact ability sequence (classic mid one‑shot)
Approach from behind: E — Assassin’s Path over a wall to avoid river vision;
Start with Q — Noxian Diplomacy to proc on‑hit lethality;
Immediately cast W — Rake (double cast if you can hit both passes for extra damage/slow);
Use an auto‑attack and then Q again if needed for reset;
Finish with R — Shadow Assault to create a smoke screen for either a safe retreat or a second pass as blades end.
Variations and notes
If the mid laner is mobile, bait cooldowns and then execute with E+Q+W once key evasions are used.
Bot lane
Best gank windows
Level 2–3 when the enemy bot overextends to ward or push. Talon is strongest when he can come from river and catch both ADC and support by surprise.
Post‑roam: after you shove mid and rotate down.
Pre‑gank setup
Approach from river brush behind the enemy bot, or take a longer wrap via mid to avoid deep vision.
Exact ability sequence (2v2 burst)
Enter with E — Assassin’s Path if walls permit, or run through side river brush for stealth approach;
Cast W — Rake to apply initial slow and damage;
Follow with Q — Noxian Diplomacy for the primary burst;
Auto reset and chain another W if you can catch both passes;
Use R — Shadow Assault to deter counter-engage or to re-enter the fight after they use peel.
Variations and notes
Coordinate with allied support CC; Talon’s early game will crater without setup unless you can isolate a carry.
Universal micro‑sequences and execution tips
Target selection first: always prioritize the highest‑value squishy who is most exposed; coordinate pings and ensure lanes understand your intent.
Ability chaining: for each champion, practice the exact timing in a practice tool until muscle memory hits—Nidalee’s human Q into cougar W/Q combos, Karthus’s E/Q rhythm for waveclear and R timing, Talon’s E angle plus Q/W/R chain.
Summoner spell tracking: always note enemy Flash and other escapes before committing. If a target flashed in the last 90 seconds, adjust your gank angle or look for a different lane.
Vision manipulation: use traps, wards, and sweepers to create blind approaches; off‑meta junglers often win by taking the unseen route.
Closing checklist before each gank
Confirm target’s summoner spell cooldowns and crowd control availability.
Place at least one trap or ward that controls the escape path (Nidalee) or clear vision to allow a surprise approach (Talon, Karthus).
Ensure your minion waves aren’t in a state that will deny your gank (e.g., enemy under tower with fresh minion wave).
Ping your intent and the target’s CC status to teammates; commit if they can follow up.
Stay Connected with Haplo Gaming Chef
Haplo Gaming Chef blends gaming guides with casual cooking streams for a truly unique viewer experience. Whether you’re here for clean, no-nonsense walkthroughs or just want to chill with some cozy cooking content between game sessions, this is the place for you. From full game unlock guides to live recipe prep and casual chats, Haplo Gaming Chef delivers content that’s both informative and enjoyable.
You Can Follow Along On Every Major Platform:
YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter/X, Threads, Bluesky, Pinterest, Flipboard, Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Medium, Blogger, and even on Google Business.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment