In Patch 4.20, we have seen major changes not only to the rift but also to Jungler. Season 4 top picks champions were Khazix, Jarvan IV, Elise, and Rengar are now replaced by season 3 nerfed champions like Lee Sin and Pantheon. Warwick is by far the most banned champion because of the changes as his mobility and cooldown benefit from the recent additions. Another commonly see jungle champion for Season 5 are Udry and Shaco. Before we go into the top 3 OP builds for jungle season 5, let us quickly review the recent changes.
The biggest changes to Jungler are the items and monsters as well as how the new smite interacts with both. With added benefits to smite on monsters, it demands summoners to hone out their routes, builds runes, and masteries to the new meta. We won’t focus on runes, masteries, and routes but strictly builds and champions as they effect on player performance.
The additions of the 4 new jungle items and their builds towards the enchantments is predicated on which champion summoners select. All Junglers must start with the basic build: Hunter’s Machete, 2 pots, and yellow trinket.
Starting Items
The stats for Machete have changed to accommodate the changes. It no longer does +10 more attack damage against monster nor offer +5 additional damage reduction. It now deals 30 magic damage over 2 seconds while gaining +7 health and +3 mana per second in combat with monsters. In addition, Hunter’s Machete is only a buyable item if you have Smite as a summoner spell. Hunter’s Machete can now build up to the following new items which upgrades the type of Smite.
Ranger’s Trailblazer/ 
Blasting Smite
(Smite) The cooldown of Smite is reduced by 15 seconds. Smite also deals half damage to all monsters and enemy minions near the target and stuns them for 1.5 seconds. Casting Smite on a monster restores 15% of missing health and mana.(Jungler) Deals 45 magic damage on hit to monsters over 2 seconds and gain 10 health and 5 mana per second while in combat with monsters
Skirmisher’s Sabre/ 
Challenging Smite
(Smite) Can be casted on enemy champions, marking them for 6 seconds. While marked, you deal 18-69 bonus true damage to them on hit, have vision of them, and reduce their damage to you by 20%.(Jungler) Deals 45 magic damage on hit to monsters over 2 seconds and gain 10 health and 5 mana per second while in combat with monsters
Stalker’s Blade/ 
Chilling Smite
(Smite) Can be casted on enemy champions, dealing 28-164 true damage and reducing their movement speed by 50% for 2 seconds(Jungler) Deals 45 magic damage on hit to monsters over 2 seconds and gain 10 health and 5 mana per second while in combat with monsters
Poacher’s Knife/ 
Scavenging Smite
(Smite) When you Smite and kill a large monster in the enemy jungle, the cooldown of Smite is halved, you gain +20 bonus gold, and you gain 175% increased Movement Speed decaying over 2 seconds(Jungler) Deals 45 magic damage on hit to monsters over 2 seconds and gain 10 health and 5 mana per second while in combat with monsters
Each one of these items can get one of the following enchantments just like how boots can build to enchanted boots. (Note: the weapon being displayed is the Stalker’s Blade with the different enchantments)
Devourer
ATTACK SPEED+50%MAGIC DAMAGE ON HIT+40Passive- Killing large monsters increases the magic damage of this item by +1. Champion kills or assists increase the magic damage of this item by +2.
Juggernaut
HEALTH +500COOLDOWN REDUCTION 10%TENACITY 35%
Magus
ABILITY POWER +80COOLDOWN REDUCTION 20%
Warrior
ATTACK DAMAGE +45COOLDOWN REDUCTION 10%ARMOR PENETRATION +10
In addition to new items, the jungle monsters have changed as well. No longer are Lizards and Big Golems the go-to mobs for buffs. All the smaller camps have beefed up their stats and offer great buffs to make jungler not only more of threat but a challenge. Note that in order to gain the buff on the mobs, junglers must smite the monsters at least once. You do not have to use Smite to kill monsters. Smite’s cooldown has also been increased from 40 to 60 to make Jungler’s ‘laning’ phase less OP(overpowering). Here are a list of the new jungle monsters and what they offer when smited upon.
KRUGS
Smiting the Krug grants Gift of Heavy Hands – stuns minions and monsters every 1st and 5th hit. Your first attack against a turret deals 50 (+15 per level) true damage but consumes this buff. Lasts 90 seconds.
RAPTORS
Smiting the Raptor grants Razor Sharp – gives you a warning and magical sight for 10 seconds when an enemy ward spots you. Lasts 90 seconds, with 1 charge.
MURKWOLVES
Smiting the Murkwolf creates a Rift Spirit – summons a Rift Spirit that watches over a portion of the jungle. Lasts 90 seconds, but that timer goes down when the spirit chases enemies.
GROMP
Smiting the Gromp grants Gift of the Toadstool – attackers are poisoned for 6 (+ 6 per level) magic damage over 3 seconds. Lasts 90 seconds.
RED BRAMBLEBACK
Restores 20% of maximum health
BLUE SENTINEL
Restores 25% of maimum mana
Now that we’ve gotten the jist of the Jungler changes down, be sure to look at my article on top jungle builds here.
