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jungle tier list

League of Legends Jungle Tier List (December 2025) Top Meta Picks

Table Of Contents

What Makes a Great Jungle Champion in League of Legends? The jungle role in League of Legends requires champions who excel at clearing camps efficiently, securing objectives, and creating pressure across the map. In December 2025, the best jungle champions combine strong early game presence with the ability to scale into late game teamfights. I’ve analyzed win rates, pick rates, and meta trends from top tier players to bring you this comprehensive ranking of every viable jungler in the current patch.

Choosing the right jungler can be the difference between climbing effortlessly and struggling in ranked matches. The jungle meta constantly shifts with each patch, making it crucial to stay updated on which champions dominate the current landscape. Some junglers excel at power farming and scaling into unstoppable late game threats, while others thrive on aggressive early game pressure that snowballs leads before enemies can react.

In this definitive tier list, I’ve evaluated every jungle champion based on critical performance metrics including clear speed, gank effectiveness, objective control, dueling potential, and overall impact across different skill brackets. Whether you’re a beginner looking for your first main or a seasoned veteran seeking the optimal pick for climbing, this guide covers everything you need to know about the jungle role in December 2025.

Understanding tier placements helps you make informed champion select decisions. S+ tier represents the absolute strongest junglers with dominant win rates and consistent performance. S tier champions excel in competitive play with clear advantages over other picks. A tier offers reliable consistency around 50% win rates. B tier requires greater skill investment, while C and D tier champions struggle in the current meta despite having dedicated player bases.

League of Legends Jungle Tier List Rankings

Understanding jungle tier rankings helps you maximize your climb through ranked matches. Champions are evaluated based on clear speed, gank potential, objective control, dueling power, and overall impact at different stages of the game.

S+ Tier Jungle Champions – Dominate Every Game

ChampionWin RateKey StrengthsDifficulty
Diana51.8%Fast clear, burst damage, teamfight ultimateMedium
Rek’Sai51.8%Map pressure, tunnel mobility, objective controlMedium
Warwick51.8%Sustain, tracking, beginner friendlyEasy
Bel’Veth51.5%Hyper scaling, true damage, void remora stacksHard

S Tier Jungle Champions – Meta Powerhouses

ChampionWin RateKey StrengthsDifficulty
Viego51.2%Resets, possession mechanic, versatilityMedium
Nocturne51.0%Global pressure, assassination, fear CCMedium
Kha’Zix50.9%Isolation damage, evolution adaptabilityMedium
Lee Sin50.5%Early game dominance, mobility, playmakingHard

A Tier Jungle Champions – Consistent Performers

ChampionWin RateKey StrengthsDifficulty
Graves50.4%AoE clear, burst damage, tankinessMedium
Elise50.3%Early ganks, tower diving, dual formHard
Amumu50.2%CC ultimate, tankiness, AP scalingEasy
Wukong50.1%Teamfight disruption, decoy, engageMedium
Jarvan IV50.0%Engage, flag combo, versatile buildsEasy

B Tier Jungle Champions – Situational Picks

ChampionWin RateKey StrengthsDifficulty
Vi49.8%Point and click ultimate, durabilityEasy
Xin Zhao49.7%Early dueling, knockup CC, sustainEasy
Volibear49.5%Tankiness, turret diving, sustainEasy
Hecarim49.4%Speed scaling, AOE fear, teamfightMedium
Ekko49.3%Burst damage, escape ultimate, AP scalingMedium
Shaco49.2%Deception, box traps, invisibilityHard
Jax49.1%Scaling, dueling, hybrid damageMedium
Master Yi49.0%Hyper carry, reset potential, true damageEasy

C Tier Jungle Champions – Requires Mastery

ChampionWin RateKey StrengthsDifficulty
Kayn48.8%Form transformation, mobility, sustainMedium
Fiddlesticks48.7%Fear CC, ultimate surprise, drain sustainHard
Rengar48.5%Assassination, bush mechanic, ferocityHard
Kindred48.4%Scaling marks, ranged kiting, invulnerabilityHard
Nidalee48.2%Poke damage, traps, mobilityVery Hard
Lillia48.0%Movement speed, AOE damage, sleepMedium
Gragas47.9%CC chain, engage/disengage, AP burstMedium
Zac47.8%Long range engage, sustain, CC knockupMedium

D Tier Jungle Champions – Avoid for Climbing

ChampionWin RateKey StrengthsDifficulty
Ivern47.5%Unique support style, brush controlHard
Sejuani47.3%Tank engagement, CC ultimateMedium
Taliyah47.2%AOE damage, wall ultimate, roamingHard
Rammus47.0%Armor scaling, taunt CC, speedEasy
Karthus46.8%Scaling damage, global ultimate, farmingMedium
Nunu & Willump46.5%Objective control, snowball CCEasy
Shyvana46.2%Dragon form, scaling, farmingEasy
Sylas45.8%Ultimate stealing, AP burst, sustainHard
jungle tier list

Diana – The Moonlit Assassin Dominates Jungle

Diana emerged as one of the absolute strongest jungle champions in December 2025 after receiving significant buffs to her monster damage modifier. Her clear speed jumped dramatically when Riot increased her monster mod from 2.6x to 3x, making her one of the fastest clearing junglers in the game. I’ve found Diana incredibly effective at power farming to level 6 and then dominating teamfights with her ultimate.

Her kit revolves around burst damage and AoE disruption. Start with your blue buff and full clear to reach level 3 quickly. Diana’s Moonsilver Blade passive deals bonus magic damage every third attack, which combined with Pale Cascade’s shield makes her incredibly healthy during clears. The key to Diana’s strength lies in her level 6 power spike where Lunar Rush becomes a devastating engage tool that can pull multiple enemies together for your team to follow up.

I recommend building Nashor’s Tooth first for the attack speed and on hit damage, followed by Riftmaker for sustain and magic penetration. Diana synergizes perfectly with team compositions that need a magic damage threat who can also dive backlines. Her main weakness is vulnerability before level 6 and susceptibility to early invades from aggressive junglers like Lee Sin or Elise.

Rek’Sai – The Void Burrower Controls the Map

Rek’Sai continues to dominate the jungle meta with unparalleled map pressure and objective control. Her unique tunneling system creates a highway across the entire jungle, allowing lightning fast rotations between lanes. I’ve consistently climbed ranks by using Rek’Sai’s tremor sense to track enemy movements and secure early kills through superior map awareness.

The Void Burrower excels at early game skirmishing thanks to her true damage from Queen’s Wrath and knockup from Unburrow. Her ultimate Void Rush provides guaranteed damage and a way to quickly return to lane after backing. Rek’Sai’s power comes from her ability to be everywhere on the map simultaneously, pressuring multiple lanes and invading enemy jungle with minimal risk.

Build Eclipse or Prowler’s Claw for lethality, then transition into Black Cleaver for armor shred. Max your tunnels in strategic locations around river and jungle entrances to create escape routes and chase paths. Rek’Sai works best when your laners have follow up CC and your team needs an aggressive early game jungler. Her main drawback is falling off slightly in late game teamfights compared to scaling carries.

Warwick – The Beginner Friendly Powerhouse

Warwick holds a special place as the most beginner friendly jungle champion while simultaneously maintaining one of the highest win rates in the role. His kit teaches fundamental jungling concepts like tracking, sustaining through camps, and timing ganks. I always recommend Warwick to players learning jungle because his Blood Hunt passive literally shows you when and where to gank.

His sustain through Eternal Hunger passive makes him incredibly forgiving during early clears. Warwick can start on either buff and remain healthy throughout his entire jungle path. Jaws of the Beast provides mobility and healing while Primal Howl offers damage reduction and a fear that sets up guaranteed kills. Blood Hunt activates on low health enemies, giving Warwick bonus movement speed and attack speed toward them.

Rush Divine Sunderer or Trinity Force followed by Titanic Hydra for dueling power. Warwick excels at objective control with his sustain allowing easy solo dragons and heralds. His ultimate Infinite Duress provides point and click CC that suppresses targets, making it perfect for locking down mobile carries. The main limitation of Warwick is his lack of gap closers against kiting teams and reduced effectiveness against full health targets.

Bel’Veth – The Empress of the Void Scales to Victory

Bel’Veth represents the ultimate hyper carry jungle champion capable of single handedly winning games if given time to scale. Her unique void remora stacking mechanic rewards efficient clearing and participation in takedowns. I’ve carried countless games by farming efficiently early and then becoming an unstoppable force in mid to late game teamfights.

Her Royal Maelstrom deals true damage based on her attack speed, making her exceptionally powerful against tanks. Death in Lavender dashes reset on takedowns, providing incredible mobility in chaotic teamfights. Bel’Veth’s defining feature is her Endless Banquet ultimate which transforms her into a massive void empress after consuming void coral from epic monsters or champions.

Build Kraken Slayer for attack speed and true damage, followed by Blade of the Ruined King and Wit’s End. Focus on power farming your jungle and looking for opportunities to secure void coral from dragons and barons. Bel’Veth struggles early against aggressive invades but becomes nearly unstoppable after two items. Coordinate with your team to secure epic monsters and watch as you demolish structures in your true form.

Viego – The Ruined King Possesses Victory

Viego brings a completely unique mechanic to jungle through his Sovereign’s Domination passive that allows possession of enemy champions after takedowns. This reset potential makes Viego incredibly dangerous in teamfights where getting one kill can snowball into team wipes. I’ve turned around countless losing fights by possessing high impact champions and using their abilities against their own team.

His Blade of the Ruined King ability provides sustain and gap closing while Spectral Maw stuns targets after a brief channel. Harrowed Path grants camouflage and movement speed, allowing creative ganking angles and escape options. Viego’s ultimate Heartbreaker teleports him to a target location while dealing damage based on missing health, perfect for executing low health enemies.

Prioritize Divine Sunderer or Trinity Force for sheen procs, then build Blade of the Ruined King for sustain and damage. Viego works exceptionally well with team compositions that provide CC to enable his resets. Practice positioning to quickly possess fallen enemies and extend your teamfight presence. His main weakness is vulnerability when his abilities are on cooldown and difficulty playing from behind.

Nocturne – Global Pressure Through Paranoia

Nocturne’s defining characteristic is his game changing ultimate Paranoia that reduces vision globally while allowing him to dive onto priority targets from enormous range. This global pressure forces enemies to play cautiously and creates constant threat across all lanes. I’ve secured countless advantages by coordinating Paranoia ganks with laners who have follow up CC.

His passive Umbra Blades heals him and deals AoE damage on auto attacks, providing decent clear speed and sustain. Duskbringer increases movement speed and leaves a damaging trail while Shroud of Darkness blocks the next enemy ability and grants bonus attack speed. Unspeakable Horror tethers an enemy and fears them if maintained, setting up guaranteed damage.

Build Eclipse or Stridebreaker for burst and stickiness, followed by Edge of Night for spell shield and lethality. Nocturne excels at assassination and picking off isolated targets. Use Paranoia to negate enemy vision and dive backline carries with your spell shield protecting you from peel. His limitation is reduced effectiveness in extended teamfights and vulnerability to heavy crowd control chains.

Kha’Zix – The Voidreaver Evolves to Dominate

Kha’Zix thrives on isolating and eliminating single targets through his powerful assassination pattern. His evolution mechanic allows you to adapt your playstyle based on game state, choosing between enhanced leap range, extended stealth duration, increased spike range, or void assault upgrades. I prefer evolving Q first for the massive isolation damage, then E for reset teamfight potential.

Taste Their Fear deals enormous bonus damage to isolated targets, making Kha’Zix deadly in 1v1 skirmishes. Void Spike provides ranged poke and wave clear while Leap resets on takedowns allowing him to hop around teamfights. Void Assault grants invisibility and damage reduction, perfect for repositioning or escaping danger.

Rush Eclipse or Duskbringer followed by Serylda’s Grudge for armor penetration and slow. Kha’Zix works best when enemies spread out, allowing him to pick them off one by one. Invade aggressively early game to get ahead and snowball your lead. The main challenge with Kha’Zix is learning proper isolation spacing and dealing with grouped enemies who stay together.

Lee Sin – The Blind Monk Demands Mechanical Mastery

Lee Sin represents the pinnacle of mechanical outplay potential in the jungle role. His kit rewards players who master ward hopping, ability canceling, and flash kicks that send enemies into your team. I’ve spent hundreds of hours perfecting Lee Sin mechanics because when played correctly, he’s one of the most impactful early game junglers who can completely take over matches.

Sonic Wave and Resonating Strike provide gap closing and execute damage while Safeguard offers mobility to wards and allies with a shield. Tempest and Cripple deal AoE damage and slow while providing vision of enemies. Dragon’s Rage kicks enemies away dealing damage, but the real power comes from kicking priority targets into your team for guaranteed kills.

Build Eclipse or Goredrinker followed by Black Cleaver for damage and utility. Lee Sin’s power lies in his level 2 and 3 ganks which can secure first blood before enemies expect jungle pressure. Practice Insec kicks in practice tool where you Q onto a target, ward hop behind them, and kick them into your team. Lee Sin falls off late game, so focus on snowballing early advantages and closing games quickly.

Graves – The Outlaw Bursts and Sustains

Graves combines ranged damage output with surprising tankiness through his True Grit passive that grants stacking armor. His unique auto attack pattern shoots pellets instead of normal projectiles, dealing more damage at close range. I’ve found Graves incredibly versatile, capable of building lethality for burst or bruiser items for sustained fights.

End of the Line fires a shotgun blast that explodes after a delay or upon collision, dealing significant AoE damage. Smoke Screen blinds enemies and blocks vision, making it one of the best disengage and outplay tools in jungle. Quickdraw provides a dash with bonus armor while reloading one shell, allowing frequent repositioning during fights.

Start Prowler’s Claw or Eclipse for lethality burst, then adapt your build toward Black Cleaver and Death’s Dance for durability. Graves clears camps incredibly fast once he gets his first item, so focus on power farming and counter jungling. Take favorable fights in your smoke screen where enemies can’t see or auto attack you effectively. His main weakness is reduced effectiveness against highly mobile teams that can kite around his range.

Elise – The Spider Queen Towers Dives Fearlessly

Elise brings unique dual form gameplay that separates good players from great ones. Her human form provides poke damage and crowd control while spider form offers gap closing and execution damage. I’ve mastered Elise for her incredible tower diving potential that secures early kills most junglers can’t accomplish.

Neurotoxin deals % health damage in human form while Venomous Bite executes in spider form. Volatile Spiderling provides vision and damage in human form while Spider Form / Human Form switches between forms while summoning spiderlings. Cocoon stuns the first enemy hit, setting up guaranteed damage and allowing tower dives with your spiderlings tanking shots.

Build Riftmaker or Night Harvester for magic penetration and ability haste, followed by Zhonya’s Hourglass for tower dive safety. Elise dominates the early game through aggressive ganks and invades. Use your spiderlings to tank tower shots while diving low health enemies. Her limitation is falling off significantly in late game teamfights, so focus on snowballing lanes early.

Amumu – The Sad Mummy Locks Down Teams

Amumu remains one of the simplest yet most effective team fight junglers in League of Legends. His ultimate Curse of the Sad Mummy can single handedly win games by stunning and rooting entire teams. I recommend Amumu to players who want straightforward gameplay focused on landing one game changing ultimate in critical moments.

Bandage Toss provides gap closing and stun while Despair deals sustained magic damage to nearby enemies. Tantrum reduces physical damage taken and deals AoE damage on a low cooldown, making Amumu surprisingly tanky. His passive Cursed Touch causes enemies to take increased magic damage, synergizing with AP heavy team compositions.

Rush Sunfire Aegis for clearing and tankiness, followed by Thornmail and Spirit Visage for durability. Amumu works perfectly in team compositions with follow up damage dealers like Miss Fortune or Orianna. Wait for enemy team to group then flash ultimate to lock them all down. His weakness is vulnerability to early invades and mobile teams that spread out to avoid his ultimate.

Wukong – The Monkey King Deceives and Disrupts

Wukong’s kit revolves around deception and teamfight disruption through his clone mechanic and knockup ultimate. His Warrior Trickster creates a clone that deals damage when enemies attack it while granting Wukong invisibility and movement speed. I’ve outplayed countless enemies by using the clone to juke skill shots and reposition for favorable trades.

Crushing Blow empowers his next attack to deal bonus damage and reduce enemy armor. Nimbus Strike dashes to a target dealing damage and granting attack speed to all nearby allies. Cyclone spins Wukong’s staff around him dealing damage and knocking up enemies, and can be cast twice for extended teamfight presence.

Build Divine Sunderer or Trinity Force for sheen procs, followed by Black Cleaver for armor shred. Wukong excels at flanking in teamfights and disrupting enemy formations with his ultimate knockup. Use your clone to fake retreats and bait enemy cooldowns. His limitation is reduced split push pressure compared to other fighters and vulnerability to getting kited.

Jarvan IV – The Exemplar of Demacia Engages Decisively

Jarvan IV combines straightforward engage tools with versatile build paths that adapt to team needs. His Demacian Standard and Dragon Strike combo provides gap closing, knockup CC, and attack speed for allies. I’ve found Jarvan incredibly reliable for setting up team fights and locking down priority targets with his Cataclysm ultimate.

Golden Aegis provides a shield based on nearby enemies, making Jarvan tankier in teamfights. Martial Cadence passive deals bonus % max health damage on first attacks, giving him surprising burst. Cataclysm traps enemies in an arena, preventing escape and allowing your team to focus fire isolated targets.

Rush Eclipse or Goredrinker depending on whether you need burst or sustain, followed by Black Cleaver for armor penetration. Jarvan works well in virtually any team composition due to his CC and engage potential. Practice EQ flash combos to surprise enemies with knockups from unexpected angles. His weakness is immobility once committed and limited escape options after engaging.

Vi – The Piltover Enforcer Locks Down Carries

Vi brings point and click engage through her ultimate Assault and Battery that suppresses a target while knocking aside other enemies. This makes her excellent for singling out priority targets who rely on mobility to survive. I’ve consistently succeeded with Vi because her engage pattern is straightforward and difficult to outplay.

Vault Breaker charges a punch that dashes forward knocking aside enemies and applying Denting Blows. Blast Shield provides a shield based on her max health when hitting enemies with abilities. Excessive Force empowers her next attack to deal AoE damage behind the target.

Build Divine Sunderer or Trinity Force for damage, followed by Sterak’s Gage for survivability. Vi excels at singling out and eliminating backline carries who lack peel. Use your ultimate to bypass frontlines and lock down ADCs or mages. Her limitation is predictable engage pattern that telegraphs your intentions and vulnerability during Vault Breaker charge.

Xin Zhao – The Seneschal of Demacia Duels Fearlessly

Xin Zhao’s kit revolves around sustained damage and dueling through his Three Talon Strike and Determination passive. His straightforward gameplay makes him accessible while his strong early game allows aggressive plays. I recommend Xin Zhao for players who enjoy fighting constantly and pressuring the enemy jungle.

Wind Becomes Lightning thrusts his spear in a line dealing damage, slowing, and extending his attack range. Audacious Charge dashes to a target dealing damage and slowing all nearby enemies. Crescent Guard creates a zone that blocks damage from enemies outside the circle while granting bonus durability.

Rush Eclipse or Divine Sunderer for burst damage, followed by Death’s Dance for sustain. Xin Zhao dominates early game skirmishes with his knockup CC and challenge passive. Look for level 3 ganks and invades to establish early leads. His weakness is falling off late game against coordinated teams and getting kited by ranged compositions.

Volibear – The Relentless Storm Dives with Impunity

Volibear combines tankiness with sustained damage through his Wounded passive and ultimate Stormbringer. His tower diving capabilities are among the best in the game thanks to his ultimate disabling turrets temporarily. I’ve secured countless kills by diving enemies under tower with Volibear’s ultimate negating tower damage.

Thundering Smash empowers his next attack to stun and deal bonus damage based on his bonus health. Frenzied Maul bites a target dealing damage and applying Wounded for additional attacks to deal magic damage. Sky Splitter calls down lightning dealing magic damage and granting Volibear a shield.

Build Divine Sunderer or Frostfire Gauntlet for health and damage, followed by Spirit Visage for healing amplification. Volibear works best with engage compositions that need a tanky frontline. Coordinate dives with laners using your ultimate to disable towers. His limitation is getting kited by mobile teams and reduced effectiveness when cooldowns are down.

Hecarim – The Shadow of War Charges Into Battle

Hecarim’s unique scaling from movement speed makes him incredibly fast at traversing the map and delivering devastating charges. His Devastating Charge deals more damage based on how far he travels, rewarding smart positioning. I’ve dominated games by building movement speed items and running down enemies who can’t escape.

Rampage stacks up to two times dealing increasing damage with each cast. Spirit of Dread heals Hecarim based on nearby damage dealt by him and allies. Onslaught of Shadows sends Hecarim charging forward creating a path of terror that fears enemies caught in his wake.

Rush Trinity Force or Divine Sunderer for sheen procs and movement speed, followed by Dead Man’s Plate for additional speed. Hecarim excels at flanking teamfights and running down isolated targets. Use your ultimate to fear enemies into your team and disrupt formations. His weakness is vulnerability to CC that stops his charges and reduced effectiveness when behind.

Ekko – The Boy Who Shattered Time Outplays Constantly

Ekko combines burst damage with incredible outplay potential through his ultimate Chronobreak that rewinds him to a previous position while healing. This makes him extremely safe for aggressive plays since he can always rewind mistakes. I’ve made countless aggressive dives and escaped certain death by properly timing Chronobreak.

Timewinder throws a device that expands and slows enemies, then returns to Ekko speeding him up. Parallel Convergence creates a zone that slows enemies and stuns them if Ekko appears inside, also granting a shield. Phase Dive dashes to a location then auto attacks deal bonus damage.

Build Rocketbelt or Night Harvester for burst, followed by Lich Bane for additional damage. Ekko works best against squishy compositions he can assassinate. Use your clone shadow to bait enemies into bad fights then rewind to safety. His limitation is reduced tankiness and vulnerability if caught without ultimate available.

Shaco – The Demon Jester Deceives and Terrorizes

Shaco’s entire kit revolves around deception, boxes, and invisibility that frustrates enemies and creates constant pressure. His Jack in the Box traps provide vision and crowd control while his Deceive grants invisibility and backstab damage. I’ve found Shaco incredibly effective at tilting opponents through constant unpredictable ganks and invades.

Two Shiv Poison deals damage and slows while passively reducing enemy damage output. Hallucinate creates a clone that deals damage and explodes upon death, providing incredible outplay potential. The clone can be controlled to trick enemies or split push lanes.

Build Liandry’s Anguish for AP bruiser or Duskblade for AD assassin depending on team needs. Shaco excels at controlling jungle with his box traps and counter jungling safely. Place boxes at buff camps and chokepoints to secure vision and catch enemies. His weakness is reduced effectiveness in teamfights and requiring good macro play to maximize impact.

Jax – The Grandmaster at Arms Duels and Scales

Jax recently rose in jungle popularity thanks to his strong dueling potential and excellent scaling into late game. His Counter Strike negates auto attacks while Empower enhances his next attack to deal bonus damage. I’ve found Jax incredibly reliable for securing objectives solo and out dueling enemy junglers.

Leap Strike dashes to a target dealing damage, providing gap closing and tower diving potential. Grandmaster’s Might grants bonus resistances and empowers his auto attacks to deal magic damage. His passive Relentless Assault grants stacking attack speed with each consecutive attack.

Rush Trinity Force for sheen procs and attack speed, followed by Blade of the Ruined King for dueling power. Jax works perfectly in compositions needing a hybrid damage threat who scales into late game. Focus on power farming early and looking for favorable skirmishes. His weakness is vulnerability to kiting before obtaining multiple items and weak early game against aggressive junglers.

Master Yi – The Wuju Bladesman Resets Through Teams

Master Yi represents the ultimate late game hyper carry jungler who resets his abilities on takedowns and melts through teams with true damage. His Alpha Strike grants untargetability while Meditate heals him and reduces incoming damage. I’ve carried countless games by power farming to two items and then becoming unstoppable in fights.

Wuju Style grants bonus true damage on auto attacks while Highlander grants movement speed and attack speed with resets on takedowns. His passive Double Strike makes every fourth attack hit twice, synergizing perfectly with on hit builds.

Build Kraken Slayer for true damage, followed by Guinsoo’s Rageblade and Blade of the Ruined King. Master Yi works best when your team can survive early game without jungle pressure. Focus on efficient farming and avoiding fights until you reach power spikes. His weakness is vulnerability to crowd control and getting focused in teamfights before securing resets.

Kayn – The Shadow Reaper Transforms the Game

Kayn’s unique transformation mechanic allows him to become either Rhaast the Darkin for sustain and tankiness or Shadow Assassin for burst and mobility. This adaptability makes him incredibly versatile for matching enemy team compositions. I choose my form based on enemy team having more tanks (Rhaast) or squishies (Shadow Assassin).

Reaping Slash deals damage in an arc while Blade’s Reach extends his blade dealing damage and slowing. Shadow Step allows Kayn to walk through walls, providing incredible mobility and creative gank paths. Umbral Trespass dives into an enemy champion dealing damage when exiting.

Build Eclipse or Prowler’s Claw for Shadow Assassin or Goredrinker for Rhaast. Kayn excels at farming quickly and transforming around 8-10 minutes. Use wall walking to surprise enemies from unexpected angles. His weakness is weak pre transformation state and vulnerability to invades before level 6.

Fiddlesticks – The Ancient Fear Surprises with Ultimate

Fiddlesticks relies entirely on landing devastating surprise Crowstorm ultimates that fear and damage entire teams. His drain sustain makes him healthy during clears while Terrify provides point and click fear. I’ve won teamfights instantly by finding perfect ultimate positions that catch enemies completely off guard.

Reap deals damage and silences while Dark Harvest passive grants bonus souls from clearing camps. Bountiful Harvest drains nearby enemies healing Fiddlesticks, making him incredibly durable. His effigies provide vision and fear enemies who approach them.

Build Rocketbelt or Hextech Alternator for burst, followed by Zhonya’s Hourglass for safety. Fiddlesticks works best with team compositions that can engage while you flank. Clear vision thoroughly before looking for ultimate flanks. His weakness is predictable engage pattern once enemies expect your ultimate positioning and vulnerability when caught before draining.

Rengar – The Pridestalker Assassinates from Stealth

Rengar’s bush mechanic and ferocity system reward players who master his unique playstyle and combo patterns. His ultimate Thrill of the Hunt grants invisibility and reveals the nearest enemy champion. I’ve secured countless assassinations by leaping from ultimate invisibility onto priority targets before they can react.

Savagery empowers auto attacks while Battle Roar provides a cleansing roar and ferocity grants heal. Bola Strike throws a bola that roots at max ferocity. His passive Unseen Predator allows leaping from bushes with empowered attacks.

Build Eclipse or Duskblade for lethality burst, followed by Edge of Night for spell shield. Rengar excels at deleting backline carries who position poorly. Practice one shot combos in practice tool for maximum burst. His weakness is difficulty playing from behind and vulnerability when cooldowns are down without escape options.

Kindred – The Eternal Hunters Mark Their Territory

Kindred’s unique marking system forces them to invade and secure marked targets for scaling. Marks provide permanent bonuses to auto attack range making Kindred stronger as the game progresses. I’ve dominated games by securing early marks and snowballing my range advantage into teamfight dominance.

Dance of Arrows provides mobility while Wolf’s Frenzy sends Wolf to attack nearby targets. Mounting Dread deals damage based on auto attacks and fears targets at max stacks. Lamb’s Respite creates a zone preventing death for all units inside, providing incredible outplay potential.

Build Kraken Slayer for true damage, followed by Blade of the Ruined King and Runaan’s Hurricane. Kindred works best with team compositions that can help secure marks. Coordinate with your team to secure marked objectives and camps. Their weakness is vulnerability when behind on marks and difficulty playing from behind.

Nidalee – The Bestial Huntress Requires Mechanical Excellence

Nidalee represents one of the highest skill cap junglers requiring perfect mechanical execution and decision making. Her dual form provides poke in human form and mobility in cougar form. I only recommend Nidalee to experienced players willing to invest significant practice time into mastering her complex combo patterns.

Javelin Toss deals damage based on distance traveled while Bushwhack traps reveal and damage enemies. Primal Surge heals and grants attack speed to allies. Her cougar form provides Takedown for execute damage, Pounce for mobility, and Swipe for AoE clear.

Build Night Harvester for burst damage, followed by Lich Bane and Zhonya’s Hourglass. Nidalee excels at power farming and securing early leads through aggressive invades. Land spears to mark targets for enhanced cougar form damage. Her weakness is extreme difficulty and falling off if behind.

Lillia – The Bashful Bloom Dances Through Fights

Lillia combines movement speed scaling with AoE damage and sleep ultimate that synergizes with team compositions. Her passive Dream Laden Bough applies stacks dealing magic damage over time. I’ve found Lillia incredibly effective at kiting around fights while applying consistent damage to multiple enemies.

Blooming Blows spins her censer dealing true damage at edge while Watch Out! Eep! throws her censer in a line dealing magic damage and slowing. Swirlseed rolls a seed that explodes slowing enemies. Lilting Lullaby puts marked enemies to sleep after a delay.

Build Liandry’s Anguish for burn damage, followed by Demonic Embrace and Cosmic Drive for movement speed. Lillia works perfectly with engage compositions that allow her to follow up with ultimate. Focus on landing your sleep on priority targets during teamfights. Her weakness is fragility requiring perfect kiting and positioning to survive.

Gragas – The Rabble Rouser Engages and Disengages

Gragas provides versatile engage and disengage tools through his barrel and ultimate displacement. His passive Happy Hour heals him periodically while Barrel Roll zones enemies with slow and damage. I’ve made incredible plays by using his ultimate Explosive Cask to knock enemies into my team or save allies from certain death.

Drunken Rage reduces damage taken and empowers his next attack to deal bonus damage. Body Slam dashes forward dealing damage and can be followed by Flash for extended range. Explosive Cask throws a barrel that knocks enemies away, providing incredible playmaking potential for engage or disengage.

Build Rocketbelt or Everfrost for utility, followed by Zhonya’s Hourglass and Frozen Heart. Gragas works well in compositions needing flexible engage options. Practice flash body slam and ultimate positioning for maximum impact. His weakness is reduced damage compared to dedicated assassins and difficulty executing perfect combos consistently.

Zac – The Secret Weapon Stretches Across Maps

Zac’s defining feature is his Elastic Slingshot providing one of the longest range engage tools in League of Legends. His passive Cell Division allows him to revive by collecting blob pieces, making him incredibly difficult to kill. I’ve secured countless teamfight victories by engaging from fog of war with max range slingshot onto grouped enemies.

Stretching Strikes grabs two enemies pulling them together while Unstable Matter deals % max health damage to nearby enemies. Let’s Bounce! bounces Zac around dealing damage and knocking up enemies multiple times, creating chaos in teamfights.

Build Sunfire Aegis for clearing and tankiness, followed by Warmog’s Armor and Spirit Visage for sustain. Zac excels at engaging from unexpected angles thanks to his slingshot range. Coordinate with your team before engaging to ensure follow up damage. His weakness is vulnerability to grievous wounds and getting kited after using slingshot without securing kills.

Ivern – The Green Father Supports from Jungle

Ivern represents a completely unique jungle playstyle focused on supporting laners rather than farming efficiently. His passive Friend of the Forest allows him to create groves instead of clearing camps, freeing him to roam and assist lanes constantly. I recommend Ivern only to players who understand supportive jungle concepts and prioritize team success over personal kills.

Rootcaller snares enemies after a delay while Brushmaker creates brush providing vision and empowering auto attacks. Triggerseed shields allies and deals damage around them when they receive damage or the shield expires. Daisy! summons a controllable golem that knocks up enemies with every third attack.

Build Moonstone Renewer for healing, followed by Staff of Flowing Water and Ardent Censer. Ivern works perfectly with hypercarry ADCs and auto attack focused team compositions. Focus on creating groves efficiently and constantly roaming to assist laners. His weakness is zero dueling potential and complete reliance on teammates to deal damage.

Sejuani – The Winter’s Wrath Engages Tanks

Sejuani brings incredible engage range and follow up crowd control through her ultimate Glacial Prison. Her passive Fury of the North grants immunity to slows while building stacks, then provides massive armor and magic resist. I’ve found Sejuani most effective in teamfight focused compositions that need a durable frontline.

Arctic Assault charges forward knocking up enemies while Winter’s Wrath deals damage in a line and applies Frost stacks. Permafrost stuns enemies with maximum Frost stacks, synergizing with her other abilities. Her ultimate throws a frost bomb that stuns the first champion hit and slows others.

Build Sunfire Aegis for damage and tankiness, followed by Thornmail and Warmog’s Armor. Sejuani excels at locking down priority targets and peeling for backline carries. Look for opportunities to engage with Arctic Assault then follow up with ultimate and Permafrost. Her weakness is slow clear speed and vulnerability to invades early game.

Taliyah – The Stoneweaver Controls Territory

Taliyah’s unique worked ground mechanic rewards efficient pathing while her ultimate Weaver’s Wall creates massive terrain barriers. Her Threaded Volley deals significant damage to single targets while Seismic Shove knocks enemies in a direction. I’ve dominated games by using Taliyah’s wall to cut off retreats and secure kills.

Unraveled Earth creates a field that slows and damages enemies who dash through it. Her passive Rock Surfing grants movement speed near walls, making her incredibly mobile for rotations. Weaver’s Wall creates a massive wall allowing Taliyah and allies to ride it across terrain.

Build Liandry’s Anguish for burn damage, followed by Rylai’s Crystal Scepter and Zhonya’s Hourglass. Taliyah works best with compositions that benefit from her zone control and terrain manipulation. Practice using worked ground efficiently to maximize clear speed. Her weakness is difficulty executing combos and reduced effectiveness in open terrain teamfights.

Rammus – The Armordillo Rolls and Taunts

Rammus provides straightforward engage through his Powerball roll and point and click Frenzying Taunt. His Defensive Ball Curl grants massive armor and magic resist while reflecting damage. I recommend Rammus specifically against AD heavy team compositions where his armor scaling becomes incredibly effective.

Tremors deals damage to nearby structures and enemies, making him surprisingly effective at securing objectives and splitting. Soaring Slam allows Rammus to leap after using Powerball, extending his engage range significantly. His passive Spiked Shell converts bonus armor into magic damage on basic attacks.

Build Sunfire Aegis for clearing efficiency, followed by Thornmail and Randuin’s Omen for maximum armor. Rammus excels at diving backline carries and reflecting massive damage against auto attackers. Use Powerball from fog of war to surprise enemies. His weakness is vulnerability to AP champions and kiting once Powerball ends.

Karthus – The Deathsinger Scales Through Farming

Karthus represents the ultimate power farming jungle who focuses on efficient clearing and scaling into late game teamfight dominance. His Lay Waste deals massive damage when hitting single targets while Wall of Pain shreds resistances. I’ve carried games by hitting level 11 before enemy junglers reach level 9 through efficient farming.

Defile deals constant AoE damage toggling on and off, making Karthus incredibly strong in extended teamfights. Requiem channels then deals damage to all enemy champions globally, perfect for securing kills across the map or finishing low health targets. His passive Death Defied allows him to continue casting for seven seconds after death.

Build Liandry’s Anguish for burn damage, followed by Seraph’s Embrace and Rabadon’s Deathcap. Karthus works best when your team can survive without early jungle pressure. Focus on power farming and hitting experience breakpoints before looking for fights. His weakness is vulnerability to invades and immobility making him easy to catch.

Nunu & Willump – The Boy and His Yeti Control Objectives

Nunu & Willump bring unmatched objective control through their Consume providing a second smite essentially. Their Biggest Snowball Ever! rolls a massive snowball that grows larger over time knocking up enemies. I’ve secured countless stolen objectives by using Consume plus Smite for over 2000 true damage.

Snowball Barrage throws multiple snowballs at targets slowing and damaging them. Absolute Zero channels dealing massive damage and slowing enemies while granting damage reduction. Their passive Call of the Freljord grants attack speed and movement speed after abilities.

Build Sunfire Aegis for tankiness, followed by Warmog’s Armor and Spirit Visage for sustain. Nunu & Willump excel at controlling neutral objectives and setting up ganks with snowball CC. Practice objective steals using Consume plus Smite combo. Their weakness is reduced teamfight impact compared to other tanks and vulnerability to interrupting their ultimate channel.

Shyvana – The Half Dragon Transforms and Farms

Shyvana’s defining characteristic is farming efficiently to reach level 6 and transform into dragon form. Her Twin Bite resets auto attacks while Burnout deals AoE damage and grants movement speed. I’ve found Shyvana most effective in games where I can power farm early and reach my item power spikes quickly.

Flame Breath deals damage and marks targets for bonus on hit damage from auto attacks. Dragon’s Descent transforms Shyvana granting bonus resistances, health, and empowering all her abilities. Her passive Fury of the Dragonborn grants bonus stats from slaying dragons.

Build Nashor’s Tooth for on hit damage, followed by Riftmaker and Demonic Embrace for AP scaling. Shyvana works best when your team doesn’t need early game jungle pressure. Focus on efficient clearing and securing every dragon to stack your passive. Her weakness is zero engage tools before level 6 and vulnerability to invades.

Sylas – The Unshackled Chains Through Kits

Sylas brings incredible versatility through his Hijack ultimate that steals enemy champion ultimates. His Chain Lash deals damage in a line while Kingslayer dashes to a target healing based on missing health. I’ve made incredible plays by stealing game changing ultimates like Malphite’s Unstoppable Force or Ashe’s Enchanted Crystal Arrow.

Abscond dashes to a location then can be recast to dash again and whip chains. His passive Petricite Burst empowers every third spell with bonus magic damage on his next two auto attacks, rewarding ability weaving. The power of Sylas fluctuates dramatically based on enemy team compositions.

Build Rocketbelt or Everfrost for utility, followed by Zhonya’s Hourglass and Cosmic Drive. Sylas excels against team compositions with powerful ultimates to steal. Practice weaving auto attacks between abilities for maximum damage. His weakness is difficulty clearing efficiently early and complete dependence on enemy ultimate availability.

How I Rank Jungle Champions for December 2025

My ranking methodology considers multiple factors beyond simple win rates. Clear speed determines how efficiently junglers can farm gold and experience. Gank potential evaluates how effectively they pressure lanes and secure kills. Objective control measures their ability to secure dragons, heralds, and barons. Dueling power shows how they perform in 1v1 and 2v2 skirmishes.

I also evaluate scaling trajectory to understand power spikes throughout the game. Some junglers like Master Yi and Bel’Veth scale incredibly well into late game while others like Lee Sin and Elise dominate early but fall off. Team composition flexibility determines how well champions fit various team compositions and strategies.

Finally, I consider skill floor and ceiling when ranking champions. Warwick and Amumu offer high win rates with minimal mechanical requirements while champions like Nidalee and Lee Sin demand hundreds of games to master but reward exceptional mechanical play.

What Makes S+ Tier Junglers Dominate December 2025

The four champions in S+ tier share common characteristics that make them exceptionally powerful in the current meta. They all have above 51.5% win rates while maintaining healthy pick rates, indicating they perform well across large sample sizes. Each provides fast and healthy clear speeds allowing efficient farming and frequent ganking opportunities.

These junglers excel at multiple aspects of the role rather than specializing in one area. Diana offers burst damage, teamfight presence, and fast clearing. Rek’Sai provides map pressure, early game power, and objective control. Warwick combines beginner friendliness with strong dueling and gank setup. Bel’Veth scales into an unstoppable hypercarry while clearing efficiently.

Most importantly, S+ tier junglers can solo carry games when played correctly. They don’t rely entirely on teammates to follow up or provide assistance. This independence makes them incredibly consistent for climbing ranked ladders.

Essential Jungle Clearing Paths for December 2025

Optimal clearing paths maximize experience and gold while maintaining healthy ganking opportunities. The standard full clear path starts Red Buff, Krugs, Raptors, Wolves, Blue Buff, Gromp, then Scuttle Crab. This path reaches level 4 with full health for early skirmishes or ganks.

For champions with strong level 3 ganks like Lee Sin, Xin Zhao, or Elise, I recommend the vertical jungle path. Start your bot side buff, clear the buff camp on the same side, then immediately gank the nearest lane at level 3. This aggressive path pressures lanes before enemies expect jungle presence.

Power farming junglers like Karthus, Master Yi, and Shyvana should focus on six camp clears prioritizing efficiency over ganking. Clear all camps, back for items, then repeat until reaching core items. This path sacrifices early pressure for guaranteed scaling advantages.

Objective Priorities: Dragons vs Heralds

Understanding when to prioritize different objectives separates good junglers from great ones. In December 2025, dragon soul remains the most impactful objective capable of winning games outright. However, first herald provides more immediate value through turret plates and map pressure.

I recommend securing first herald on champions who struggle with tower pressure or team compositions that need early tempo advantages. Champions like Rek’Sai, Lee Sin, and Elise should prioritize herald to convert early leads into tangible advantages.

Conversely, scaling junglers benefit more from stacking dragons to eventually secure soul. Champions like Bel’Veth, Master Yi, and Karthus prefer trading herald for dragons since they value late game power over early pressure. Coordinate with your team to decide which objective aligns better with your win condition.

How to Counter Popular Jungle Champions?

Understanding counter matchups helps you exploit enemy junglers and protect yourself from invades. Against early game junglers like Lee Sin, Elise, and Xin Zhao, ward your jungle entrances and avoid fighting before reaching power spikes. These champions want to invade and force fights when they’re stronger.

Scaling junglers like Karthus, Bel’Veth, and Master Yi are vulnerable to aggressive invades. If you’re playing an early game champion, identify their pathing and invade their jungle to deny farm and experience. These junglers rely on efficient farming to reach their power spikes.

Mobility based junglers like Kayn, Zac, and Rek’Sai can bypass wards through walls and tunnels. Place vision deeper in lanes rather than river bushes to spot their flanking attempts. Coordinate with laners to collapse when these junglers commit to ganks.

Best Jungle Champions for Beginners in December 2025

New jungle players should focus on mechanically simple champions that teach fundamental concepts. Warwick tops this list because his Blood Hunt passive literally shows you when and where to gank. His sustain through Eternal Hunger makes clearing forgiving while his point and click ultimate simplifies execution.

Amumu provides straightforward teamfight impact through his game changing ultimate. Focus on farming until level 6, then look for opportunities to flash ultimate grouped enemies. His simple kit allows you to focus on macro decisions rather than mechanical execution.

Master Yi teaches power farming efficiency and target selection. Focus on clearing camps quickly while avoiding fights until you complete two items. Then identify which enemies you can kill and hunt them down using your resets. His straightforward playstyle builds good farming habits.

Vi offers point and click engage making ganking decisions simple. Press R on priority targets and let your team follow up. Her healthy clears and tankiness forgive positioning mistakes while teaching proper engage timing.

Advanced Jungle Tracking Techniques

Jungle tracking involves predicting enemy jungler locations based on limited information. Start by noting which buff they began at during the initial leech. Most junglers start bot side for leash assistance, allowing you to predict their early pathing.

Camp spawn timers are crucial for tracking. Camps respawn 2 minutes and 30 seconds after clearing, with first spawn at 1:30. When you spot enemy jungler on one side of the map, their opposite side camps are likely available for stealing. Use this information to counter jungle safely.

Watch mini map constantly for lane states that indicate recent jungle proximity. If an enemy laner suddenly plays aggressively, their jungler is probably nearby. Conversely, if laners retreat despite having advantages, they’ve spotted you and warned teammates.

Optimal Rune Choices for Jungle Champions in December 2025

Rune selection significantly impacts jungle performance and should match champion playstyles. Conqueror works best for sustained damage dealers like Graves, Kindred, and Bel’Veth who stack it quickly in extended fights. The healing and adaptive force scale perfectly with their auto attack patterns.

Electrocute suits burst focused assassins like Kha’Zix, Rengar, and Evelynn who want to delete targets quickly. The burst damage amplifies their assassination patterns and synergizes with lethality builds. Pair it with Sudden Impact for additional lethality after dashing.

Predator benefits junglers who struggle with gap closing but want to impact lanes frequently. Champions like Hecarim, Skarner, and Rammus use Predator to deliver devastating ganks from long distances. The movement speed allows surprising enemies before they can react.

Tank junglers like Zac, Sejuani, and Amumu maximize value from Aftershock which grants resistances during engages. This allows them to dive into enemy teams and survive long enough for teammates to follow up. Pair it with Conditioning and Overgrowth for maximum tankiness.

FAQ Section

What is the best jungle champion for climbing in December 2025?

Diana currently holds the highest win rate among jungle champions with a 51.8% win rate in December 2025, making her the statistically best option for climbing. Her fast clear speed, strong teamfight ultimate, and ability to solo carry games make her incredibly reliable for gaining LP. However, the “best” champion ultimately depends on your playstyle and mechanical skill level.

Who are the easiest jungle champions for beginners?

Warwick stands out as the most beginner friendly jungler because his Blood Hunt passive shows exactly when and where to gank. Other excellent choices for new jungle players include Amumu for his simple ultimate focused gameplay, Master Yi for learning power farming concepts, and Vi for point and click engage patterns that simplify decision making.

How often should I gank versus farm jungle camps?

This depends entirely on your champion and game state. Power farming junglers like Karthus, Shyvana, and Master Yi should prioritize clearing camps efficiently and only gank when guaranteed kills present themselves. Early game junglers like Lee Sin, Elise, and Xin Zhao should look for ganks constantly after level 3 to snowball advantages before falling off.

What is the optimal jungle clearing path in December 2025?

The standard full clear path remains optimal for most junglers: start Red Buff, clear Krugs, Raptors, Wolves, Blue Buff, Gromp, then contest Scuttle Crab. This reaches level 4 with maximum gold and experience. However, champions with strong level 3 ganks should consider three camp into gank paths for early pressure.

How do I deal with enemy jungle invades?

Prevention through proper warding provides the best defense against invades. Place wards at jungle entrances before your first clear to spot incoming invaders. If you spot an invade early, either path away to avoid the fight or collapse with nearby laners to turn the fight. Never fight alone in your jungle when behind or at level disadvantages.

Should I prioritize dragons or heralds?

First herald generally provides more immediate value through tower plates and map pressure, especially for early game compositions. However, dragon soul remains the most impactful objective long term. Prioritize herald on early game champions and dragons on scaling champions. Coordinate with your team to determine which objective matches your win condition.

How do I know when to take objectives versus ganking?

Evaluate whether you can successfully gank based on lane states and enemy positions. If lanes are pushed up or enemies have escapes available, focus on clearing camps and securing objectives instead. Take dragons and heralds when enemy jungler shows on the opposite side of the map or after successful ganks that create numbers advantages.

What items should I build on jungle champions?

Itemization depends heavily on your champion class. Assassins prioritize lethality items like Eclipse and Prowler’s Claw. Fighters build sheen items like Divine Sunderer or Trinity Force. Tanks rush Sunfire Aegis for clearing and durability. Marksmen scale with Kraken Slayer and Blade of the Ruined King. Always adapt builds based on enemy team compositions.

How do I recover from falling behind as jungle?

Focus on power farming your jungle camps and taking safe objectives when enemy jungler shows elsewhere on the map. Avoid forcing ganks that risk giving up more kills. Ward defensively around your jungle to prevent invades. Look for opportunities to counter gank when enemies overextend for dives. Farm consistently and wait for enemies to make mistakes.

Which jungle champions counter each other?

Early game duelists like Lee Sin, Xin Zhao, and Elise counter farming junglers like Karthus, Master Yi, and Shyvana through aggressive invades. Conversely, these farming junglers outscale early game champions if they survive to late game. Tanks like Rammus and Sejuani struggle against mobile assassins while shutting down immobile carries effectively.

Conclusion

The jungle role remains one of the most impactful positions in League of Legends, capable of deciding game outcomes through strategic objective control, well timed ganks, and superior map pressure. This comprehensive tier list has covered all 38 viable jungle champions, ranking them based on current meta performance, win rates, and overall effectiveness across different skill levels.

Remember that tier placements serve as guidelines rather than absolute rules. I’ve seen dedicated one tricks climb to Challenger with D-tier champions through superior game knowledge and mechanical mastery. The key to climbing isn’t always picking the highest tier champion it’s finding a jungler that matches your playstyle and mastering their unique strengths.

Diana, Rek’Sai, Warwick, and Bel’Veth currently dominate the S+ tier with exceptional win rates and consistent performance. However, champions in lower tiers can still achieve success when piloted by skilled players who understand their power spikes and win conditions. Focus on mastering one or two champions deeply rather than playing every top tier pick superficially.

As you climb through ranked, continuously adapt your champion pool based on meta shifts and patch changes. The jungle landscape evolves with every update, making it essential to stay informed about buffs, nerfs, and emerging strategies. Practice efficient clearing paths, improve your objective timing, and develop strong map awareness to maximize your impact regardless of which champion you choose.

Now that you understand the current jungle tier list for December 2025, it’s time to queue up and put this knowledge into practice. Whether you prefer aggressive early game junglers or patient scaling carries, there’s a champion perfectly suited to your playstyle waiting to carry you to your desired rank. Good luck on the Rift, and may your ganks always succeed!

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