Category Lane-by-lane guides (Top, Jungle, Mid, ADC, Support)

Jungle Tracking: The Most Underrated Tool in Solo Queue

If you’re stuck in low to mid-Elo and wondering why your games feel like chaos, the answer often lies in jungle awareness. Patch 15.6 has brought some balance changes that put a greater emphasis on map control and early skirmishing. That makes jungle tracking not just useful—but essential.

Why Jungle Tracking Matters More in 15.6

With stronger jungle picks like Lee Sin, Jarvan IV, and Rengar seeing higher pick and win rates in 15.6, early jungle presence is at an all-time high. Knowing where the enemy jungler is—or predicting where they’re going—lets you:

• Prevent ganks
• Set up counter-ganks
• Secure early dragons/heralds
• Invade with confidence

How to Track the Enemy Jungler: Step-by-Step

1. Start with Standard Jungle Routes

Most junglers follow efficient clear paths. Use this knowledge:

• Red Side Junglers: Red > Krugs > Raptors > Gank OR Red > Raptors > Wolves > Blue > Gromp
• Blue Side Junglers: Blue > Gromp > Wolves > Raptors > Red > Gank

Clue: Did your laners leash? If so, that tells you where the jungler started.

2. Use Timers and Respawns

Jungle camps respawn every 2:15 after they’re cleared. If you saw the enemy clear their Raptors at 2:00, expect a return around 4:15. Use that info to time vision wards or roam.

3. Track with Vision and Pings

Place Control Wards in pixel brush, raptor entrance, or tri-brush depending on which side of the map you want to protect.

When you see the jungler:

• Ping them
• Mark their path
• Communicate with your team (even in solo queue)

4. Monitor Lane States

If a lane is pushed and your teammate has no vision, it’s an easy target. Use the enemy jungle’s last known position to call for caution or roam for a counter.

5. Watch Buff Timings

Blue and Red buffs respawn every 5 minutes. If you see the enemy jungler take red at 2:00, expect them back around 7:00. Set up vision early and punish their route.

Bonus Tip: Use Champion Animations

Some junglers like Kha’Zix, Elise, and Shaco reveal themselves through their abilities—listen for sounds and animations even if they don’t appear on the map.

Best Champions for Jungle Tracking

Champion	Strengths
Lee Sin	Mobile, can invade and ward-hop for deep vision
Nidalee	Long range poke, fast clear, great at catching rotating junglers
Graves	High dueling potential, strong invade pressure

Final Thoughts

The secret to climbing isn’t always about better mechanics—it’s about better decisions. Jungle tracking gives you the power to read the map like a grandmaster, avoid throws, and capitalize on enemy mistakes.

Practice it. Perfect it. And climb.

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Darius is a champion known for his oppressive laning phase, but in the jungle, he brings high damage, strong dueling potential, and devastating teamfight presence. If you’re looking to try something different, Darius Jungle can be a sleeper pick in lower ELOs due to his ability to snowball games quickly. This guide will walk you through the best runes, items, jungle clear path, early/mid/late game strategy, and win conditions to carry games with Darius Jungle.

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Runes Setup

Primary: Precision

• Conqueror – In extended fights, Darius stacks his passive and Conqueror quickly, making him an unstoppable force.
• Triumph – Restores HP after securing kills, crucial for surviving skirmishes and multi-kills.
• Legend: Tenacity – Reduces crowd control duration, allowing Darius to stick to targets.
• Last Stand – Increases damage when you’re low HP, making clutch plays easier.

Secondary: Resolve

• Conditioning – Grants bonus armor and magic resist after 12 minutes, helping Darius scale better.
• Unflinching – Provides extra tenacity when low on HP, allowing for better survivability.

Stat Shards:

• Attack Speed (for faster jungle clear)
• Adaptive Force (for bonus AD)
• Armor (to help sustain against jungle camps)

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Jungle Clear Path & First Back

Darius lacks mobility, so an efficient clear is crucial. Here’s how to do it:

First Clear Route:

1. Start at Red Buff – Get a leash from your bot/top laners.
2. Raptors – Use your Q (Decimate) to heal and clear them quickly.
3. Wolves – Auto-attack reset with W (Crippling Strike) for faster clears.
4. Blue Buff – Continue stacking your passive for bonus damage.
5. Gromp – Use Q to heal up before heading to Scuttle Crab.
6. Look for a gank – If no lanes are overextended, take the opposite-side Scuttle.

First Items to Buy:

• Eclipse (vs squishy teams) or Stridebreaker (vs tanky teams) – Provides damage, sustain, and mobility.
• Boots (Plated Steelcaps or Merc Treads) – Based on enemy team composition.
• Control Wards – Helps with vision control and objective setup.

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Early Game Strategy

• Focus on Power Farming & Early Fights – Darius is strong in early skirmishes. Look for invades or counter-ganks.
• Gank Overextended Lanes – Without mobility, Darius relies on proper positioning to secure kills.
• Secure First Dragon – With proper bot lane prio, contest the first dragon at level 5 or 6.

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Mid Game Strategy

• Look for Skirmishes – Darius thrives in small fights where he can fully stack his passive.
• Split-Push or Force Objectives – If your team is ahead, help take Rift Herald or contest Dragons.
• Flank in Teamfights – If enemies group, look for an angle to land a multi-champion Apprehend (E).

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Late Game Strategy

• Tanky Bruiser Role – Darius transitions into a frontline bruiser that can dive backlines or peel for carries.
• Full Build Items:
  • Stridebreaker / Eclipse
  • Sterak’s Gage
  • Dead Man’s Plate
  • Force of Nature / Spirit Visage
  • Guardian Angel (for safety in fights)
• Teamfight Execution:
  1. Engage with Apprehend (E) to pull squishies into your team.
  2. Use Q (Decimate) for healing and damage.
  3. Auto-attack and W (Crippling Strike) reset to maximize damage.
  4. If your passive is stacked, use Noxian Guillotine (R) to execute enemies and get resets.

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Objective Control & Win Conditions

• Early Game Win Condition: Secure first Dragon and Rift Herald to snowball.
• Mid Game Win Condition: Force fights around objectives where Darius can hit multiple targets.
• Late Game Win Condition: Frontline for your team, peel carries, or dive enemy backline if fed.

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Final Thoughts

Darius Jungle may not be meta, but his ability to carry low-ELO games with high-damage skirmishes makes him a fun and rewarding pick. By following this guide, mastering his jungle path, and utilizing his dueling power effectively, you’ll be able to stomp games as the Hand of Noxus!

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