Just like every season in League of Legends, the Jungle role has the most impact of any of the roles. A good Jungler can take over the map and apply constant pressure to all of the enemies at any given time. With objectives being as crucial as ever, a strong Jungler needs the ability to take them quickly and efficiently.
In the newest season of League of Legends, we have seen many Junglers dominating the ranks, and in this guide, we are going to talk about five of the strongest Junglers in the new season of LoL. If you can master any of these champions, you will see yourself climbing very quickly, and you'll have the best start to the new season as possible.
Before we begin, the data in this article is from our Mobalytics tier list. It is also using Platinum+, global and mid-patch data. While some of these champions might not be statistically the best, they’re very strong overall, and our list is in no order...
1. Zed
While not the easiest Jungler to play, Zed can be extremely effective when played correctly. His strength comes from his ability to snowball games and completely take over if he gains an early lead. This contributes to his 49.7% win rate on patch 16.1.
Unfortunately, Zed is very hard to play, especially in the jungle role. He requires strong mechanical skill and good decision-making to avoid falling behind in the early game. Small mistakes early can be very punishing, making him less forgiving than other Junglers in the current meta. If Zed falls behind, it can be difficult to get back into the game.
When mastered, Zed is excellent at early ganks and getting kills, which helps him to snowball quickly. In the mid and late game, he is really good at getting picks and assassinating key targets like the enemy Support or ADC when they move around the map. If you make good use of the new Faelights, you can really dominate the enemy and get kill after kill.
How to Play Zed
2. Nunu
Nunu has a 53.4% win rate on patch 16.1, making him one of the strongest jungle picks in the game. His simple kit contributes significantly to his high win and pick rates, as he is easy to play and performs well across all ELOs.
He is pretty easy to play, with the hardest part being controlling his snowball and avoiding the walls as it destroys the ball. y An easy champion is really good for climbing as you can play them quicker in ranked as they do not require a lot of prior experience and skill. This makes Nunu a good option for those who are in the lower ELOs.
Nunu is excellent in team fights thanks to his AoE ultimate, and he has some of the best objective control in the game with his Q. He is also a strong early ganker, helping him to snowball himself and his laner early. Combined with his versatile build paths, Nunu can adapt to different game situations effectively.
How to Play Nunu
3. Diana
Diana is a great pick in the current meta due to her ability to snowball and apply pressure across the map. Currently, Diana has a 51.9% win rate on patch 16.1, making her one of the best jungle options right now.
She is a snowball-heavy champion, capable of securing early kills and soloing the early Drakes and Grubs. Diana has strong control over major objectives such as Dragon and Rift Herald, allowing her team to gain the early advantage you often need to win in the current meta.
Her ultimate is extremely powerful and often results in multiple kills when used correctly. If you want to truly dominate on Diana, in either the mid or jungle roles, make sure you’re being proactive with your Ultimate and looking for plays whenever it is up.
How to Play Diana
4. Gwen
Gwen currently has a 52.4% win rate on patch 16.1, and she is a very strong pick in both the top lane and jungle. She benefits heavily from the current meta and is particularly effective due to recent item changes. She has benefited heavily from new items like Dusk and Dawn, which help her while trading or fighting the enemy champions.
Gwen is also very snowball-heavy, meaning that once she gains a lead, she can maintain it and extend it as the game develops. A fed Gwen can be really hard to play against, especially when she has an item advantage or two.
Although she is somewhat difficult to play, consistent practice in both roles can make her extremely rewarding to play and you’ll be climbing in no time if you main Gwen this season!
How to Play Gwen
5. Malphite
Malphite has a 52.8% win rate, making him a very reliable jungle pick in all ELOs. He is also by far the easiest champion on this list, which makes her a great choice for all players who find themselves loading in as the Jungler or being off-rolled.
He performs well in both top and jungle roles, and he is currently one of the strongest top laners in season 26. His versatile build path allows him to adapt to the needs of his teams, whether that means focusing on armor, magic resistance or going damage.
Malphite becomes especially strong post-6, where his ultimate enables him to make plays and get picks. Good Malphite players will look to play around this cooldown and look to gank whenever his Ultimate is up. His Ultimate makes him very strong in team fights, and if you can Ult a key target, then you can win the fight with ease!
How to Play Malphite
Final Thoughts
That wraps up this article. We hope you found it helpful and that one of these five champions helps you climb the ranks efficiently. Be sure to check out our guides page, where we’re covering plenty of new-season content, including role-specific guides to support your climb across all the roles.