This article explores the creation of a hypothetical Jungler where I’ll be taking the best parts of the qualities of top professional players and creating one player to dominate the Rift. We’ll be highlighting one player for each category of jungling to build the ultimate player. Each selection will be explained in depth with honorable mentions being listed at the end.
What would be the optimal Jungler if you could take the best traits of professional players and combine them into one? I’ll be attempting to create the best possible Jungler using the current professional player pool for all regions. The attributes that will be considered include pathing, ganking, mechanics, teamfighting, carry potential, and Champion pool. I will explain each category and selection, highlighting why they were picked and what they can bring to the table. Finally, no player will be selected twice and we will be focusing on the most recent year versus an all time list.
Gen.G Canyon’s camp sequencing is near flawless with his ability to maximize XP, gold, and time. He tailors each route to the Champion he’s playing and never wastes time. His dynamic route adjustments and adaptive pathing make it almost impossible to track his location. His biggest advantage over other Junglers is tempo, which he uses to always be one step ahead of his opponent. He makes quick decisions and adjusts to the game state based on what his team needs him to do. Canyon’s savvy veteran mind combined with elite decision making makes him difficult to play against. He knows how to win at the highest level and has proved to be a top three Jungler in the world year in and year out. Canyon will be my first selection for the pathing attribute with his elite track record and skillset.
T1 Oner is my pick as the best ganking Jungler due to his ability to read when and where to gank throughout the game. He thrives on early game tempo, using creative angles and pathing to surprise his opponent. Because T1 has some of the best solo laners in the world, it allows Oner to maximize his ganking efficiency and get teammates ahead. His aggressive playstyle combined with unpredictable routes makes Oner one of the best ganking Junglers in the world. He knows how to pressure the map and create advantages for his teammates, demonstrating his ability to snowball a game with ease. He’s an experienced veteran who has had an immense amount of team success due to his consistent performance throughout the years. Oner has been one of the rocks for T1’s roster, and will be a great asset to the player creation.
AL Tarzan is a mechanical savant, with the ability to play every Jungler archetype and thrive. His consistent skirmishing on duelists such as Lee Sin and Nidalee combined with his movement and ability usage make him unstoppable in most games. His “hands” are always present no matter the pressure, ping, or matchup making him the optimal mechanical player for our creation. Tarzan has proved that despite being a veteran he’s never regressed as a player and has remained a top jungler his entire career. He has always been individually dominant regardless of his team’s success and has been the best addition to AL’s roster this year.
HLE Peanut has been a relevant Jungler for a decade due to his consistency and teamplay. His spacial awareness in teamfights is great, being able to read the setup, cooldowns, and who the enemies biggest threat is. He prefers playing Champions such as Sejuani, Poppy, and Wukong, who have the ability to engage or peel depending on the situation. He syncs up with carries and his support to make plays around the map and take control. Peanut doesn’t rely on crazy outplays or mechanical prowess but instead plays to win through supporting his carries and taking optimal skirmishes. He’s an experienced veteran who knows how to win games and play fights with his strong carries. Peanut’s teamfighting will make a great addition to our player creation.
TES Kanavi has always been known as a carry Jungler with his ability to play Champions such as Bel’Veth, Lee Sin, and Graves. He knows how to convert resources into game-winning power spikes through his elite pathing and aggressive invades. He knows exactly when to farm, gank, or steal resources without sacrificing his tempo. His carry first mentality and alpha Jungler confidence leads to hyper aggressive plays that lets him take over games. He’s got a proven track record of carrying games in the LPL and thrives when his teammates play around him. Kanavi has the ultimate confidence and carry mindset that will be perfect for our hypothetical player,
FLY Inspired has a diverse and unique Champion pool with the ability to play every class of Jungler. He can play bruisers such as Xin Zhao, Jarvan, or Wukong, but can also play tanks such as Maokai or Sejuani. He can take first pick and choose a safe meta Champion or wait til last pick and counter pick the enemy. Inspired can adjust to whatever his team needs and can essentially play everything. He also has random picks such as Ivern and Fiddlesticks which he can play in very specific situations. Inspired’s Champion pool is deep and allows him to fit into any meta. He’s been regarded as the best western Jungler for the last several years because he’s a consistent player who can thrive with any team. Inspired’s Champion pool will give our player the ability to play anything, regardless of matchup.
My honorable mentions of players who just missed out on a selection include Wei, JieJie, and Cuzz. These players possess the skills required to have a selection but simply aren’t as consistent as the other selections. I believe the players selected have more proven abilities and will be better fits; however, there are so many other talented options that could have easily taken the spots as well.
My hypothetical Jungler would possess the strongest traits of the best Junglers in the world, such as Oner’s ganking and Tarzan’s mechanics. I wanted to create a player that could fit into any team, play any Champion, and act as a hard carry or supportive piece depending on the situation. Our Jungler has decades of experience through pro player veterans such as Peanut and Canyon while also including some of the best Junglers in the world at the moment in Kanavi and Inspired. Thank you for reading and I hope my hypothetical Jungler inspires appreciation for the incredible talent and dedication these players bring to the game we love.
