The Jungle Revolution: What's Changed in 2025
Here's the thing about Patch 1.10.5 (dropped October 16, 2025) – it completely flipped the script on what we thought we knew about jungling. Mobility champions got serious love while sustained damage dealers? Well, let's just say they're having a rough time.
The November 15 Plus Update threw another curveball with performance-based matchmaking from Iron to Legendary. Now your kill participation, objectives secured, and damage output actually matter for climbing. Those SSS ratings aren't just for bragging rights anymore – they're literally worth +2 stars. As someone who's been covering MOBA metas for years, I can tell you this is a game-changer.
But here's what really caught my attention: King's World Cup 2025 data. We're talking $10 million prize pool, 58 million peak viewers, and some absolutely wild statistics. Rush Down compositions hit a 68% win rate. Level 2 ganks? They boost your chances by 73%. That's not just significant – that's meta-defining.
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S-Tier Junglers: The Absolute Monsters
Lam: When You Need to Hard Carry
Let me be blunt – Lam is broken right now. 54.9% win rate, 24.1% pick rate, 38.7% ban rate. But the real kicker? 98% pro pick/ban rate with a 67% win rate across 64 matches at Worlds. Those aren't just good numbers; they're this champion warps the entire draft numbers.
Space Split marks targets for those satisfying basic attack dashes. Death From Below? It's basically a death sentence if you're caught out of position. And Wavebreaker creates these water zones that give you 30% CDR and health restoration – it's like having a mini fountain wherever you want it.
The combo that's terrorizing solo queue: Wavebreaker → Space Split → Death From Below. Master this, and you'll understand why everyone's banning Lam.
Build path: Boots of Tranquility, Muramasa, Blade of Despair, Fenrir's Tooth. It's all about that armor penetration. Arcana setup: Hunt x10, Eagle Eye x10, Mutation x10. Standard but effective.
Augran: The Unkillable Carry Machine
Augran's sitting pretty with a 55.1% win rate and a whopping 45.2% ban rate. Here's what makes this champion absolutely infuriating to play against – the self-healing is just ridiculous. Combined with mobility dashes for engagement and escape, Augran can literally 1v9 carry games.
The November Plus Update gave tank items a 10% HP increase, which only made Augran stronger. Sometimes I wonder if the balance team actually plays their own game (editor's opinion, obviously).
Tank build that's dominating: Resistance Boots, Dominance Ice, Shield of the Lost, Twilight Armor. You become this immovable object that somehow also deals massive damage.
Feyd: The Wall-Jumping Nightmare
Feyd's wall-jumping mobility is unique in the current roster, and that Hardened Jade Mark recovery makes dueling almost unfair. The November update's 5% early damage reduction shifted the power spike to level 3+, but honestly? It barely slowed this champion down.
What I love about Feyd is the mind games. That wall-jumping provides pathing options that most players don't even think about. Strong against tanky comps, effective counter to mobility-heavy teams.
A-Tier: Solid Picks That Won't Let You Down
Wukong: The Reliable Workhorse
52.7% win rate tells the story here. Clearing speed that's 15-20 seconds faster than average? Yes, please. Those clone tactics in team fights never get old, and the synergy with Rush Down comps is chef's kiss.
Dian Wei: Perfect for Climbing Out of Diamond
If you're Diamond or below, seriously consider Dian Wei. High damage, lifesteal sustainability, and combos that won't make your fingers hurt. Blue start path for sustained clearing, simple execution, strong dueling. Sometimes simple is better.
Prince of Lanling: The Stealth Deletion Service
That guaranteed stun combo (skill 4 into 2) is just mean. Red start for aggressive plays, stealth positioning that makes ADCs cry, and honestly? Nothing feels better than deleting an immobile carry from stealth.
Builds That Actually Work (Not Theory-Crafting)
Start with Hunting Knife (250g) – that 25% reduced monster damage and 20% bonus experience isn't optional. Upgrade to Relentless Blade (700g) for those sweet physical attack stacks.
For assassins: Muramasa for armor pen, Blade of Despair and Fenrir's Tooth for that burst damage, Boots of Tranquility because positioning is everything. CDR caps at 45%, so plan accordingly.
Tank builds got interesting: Resistance Boots, Dominance Ice, Shield of the Lost, Twilight Armor. Those 10% HP increases with 8 new items and 12 reworked options? The item team went a bit overboard, but we're not complaining.
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Runes: The Details That Separate Good from Great
Lam's setup: Hunt x10, Eagle Eye x10, Mutation x10. Enhanced clearing and burst potential. Feyd configuration: Reaver x5, Eagle Eye x10, Mutation x10, Stealth x5. Pure assassin optimization. Tank runes: Focus on resistance scaling, health amplification (synergizes beautifully with those 10% HP buffs), crowd control reduction.
The November update enhanced support runes with +15% gold income acceleration and 45% CDR cap efficiency. Enhanced health/mana regen too. Small changes, big impact.
Solo Queue Strategies That Actually Work
Clearing Paths: Science, Not Art
Red Buff Start (for the aggressive souls):
- Crimson Golem at 00:30 (15% slow, burn damage)
- Azure Golem at 00:45 (20% CDR, mana restoration)
- Small camps for experience
- Level 3 gank by 01:15
This secures both buffs by 01:15 and creates a 15-20% gold lead. Works beautifully for auto-attack champions like Lam and Wukong.
Blue Buff Start (the sustainable approach):
- Azure Golem at 00:30 with mid assistance
- Small camps at 00:45
- Crimson Golem at 01:15
- Gank window 01:30-02:00
You'll hit level 4 by 02:00-02:30 with 67% gank success rates. Math doesn't lie.
Early Ganks: The Make-or-Break Moment
That 01:00-01:30 window? It's everything. Target overextended marksmen, low-health enemies without mobility, lanes with CC setup. And please – avoid pre-4:00 tower dives unless you enjoy giving away free kills.
Objective Control: Where Games Are Won
Dragon prep at 3:30, vision control at 3:45. Secure those River Sprites for 126g and wards. Coordinate smite timing, maintain >70% team health for Lord attempts.
Blue buff priority: Jungler → Mid → ADC. Red buff: Jungler → ADC late game. Those 90-second respawn cycles matter more than you think.
Mistakes That'll Keep You Hardstuck
Clearing errors: Poor animation canceling, missing that crucial 01:15 both-buff timing, failing to hit level 4 by 02:30. Gank mistakes: Missing the 01:00-01:30 window, forcing ganks on full-health tanks, terrible recall timing. Vision deficiencies: Missing jungle entrance wards, poor minimap awareness, not alerting your team 55 seconds before objectives.
Master 2-3 S-Tier champions for 65%+ win rates over 20 games. Maintain 70-80% kill participation for those SSS ratings.
What's Coming Next
December patch expectations? Assassin mobility cooldown adjustments, more 10% HP increases for tank items, potential Augran nerfs (finally). The International Championship (November 14-30, 2025) might introduce new strategies worth watching.
New champion Zephyr (assassin/mage hybrid with 15% movement speed bonus) could shake up the jungle rotation. Long-term trends favor continued mobility and burst dominance, though those tank item enhancements might create some defensive alternatives.
FAQ
Who are the best junglers for solo carrying in Honor of Kings 2025? Lam leads with 54.9% win rate and 98% pro pick/ban rate, followed by Augran at 55.1% win rate. Both offer exceptional solo carry potential.
What makes the difference between S-Tier and A-Tier junglers? S-Tier achieves 52-55% win rates with superior early gank potential and objective control. A-Tier maintains 47-52% win rates with situational effectiveness.
How important is early ganking in the current meta? Critical. Successful 01:00-01:30 ganks boost win rates by 73%. Level 2 ganks with proper combos define the meta.
Which jungle path should I prioritize for climbing? Red buff start for aggressive champions provides 73% higher win rates. Blue buff start suits mana-dependent champions for sustained clearing.
How do I optimize jungle builds for maximum impact? Start Hunting Knife for 25% reduced monster damage, cap CDR at 45% for assassins, prioritize armor penetration for burst, adapt to 10% HP tank item increases.
What are the most common jungle mistakes to avoid? Missing 01:00-01:30 gank window, inefficient clearing through poor animation canceling, forcing ganks on full-health tanks, inadequate vision control.
