Wukong Jungle: 10K Guide for Dominating the Rift

Introduction

Wukong, the Monkey King, has emerged as a formidable force in the jungle, unleashing his unmatched agility, burst damage, and crowd control abilities. With a win rate of 54.2% in Season 12, as reported by League of Graphs, Wukong has become a must-pick for junglers seeking to dominate the Rift.

Understanding Wukong's Jungle

As a jungler, Wukong excels in early-game ganks and skirmishes. His passive, Stone Skin, grants him bonus armor, allowing him to engage fearlessly. His Q, Crushing Blow, deals significant damage, while his E, Warrior Trickster, provides mobility and slows enemies.

Runes and Itemization

Runes:

• Conqueror: Enhances Wukong's sustained damage output.
• Triumph: Grants additional gold and healing after takedowns.
• Legend: Tenacity: Boosts tenacity, reducing crowd control effects.
• Last Stand: Increases damage when below 30% health.

Items:

• Trinity Force: Provides a blend of damage, attack speed, and health.
• Sterak's Gage: Enhances Wukong's durability and grants bonus attack damage.
• Death's Dance: Boosts sustain and reduces incoming damage.

Jungle Route and Pathing

Standard Jungle Route:

1. Start at Blue Buff with Smite.
2. Clear to Gromp, Wolves, and Raptors.
3. Back at level 6 to purchase items.
4. Gank mid or top lane while prioritizing objectives.

Alternate Pathing:

1. Start at Red Buff to secure an early lead and invade enemy jungle.
2. Clear to Raptors, Wolves, and Blue Buff.
3. Focus on securing Rift Herald and dragon objectives.

Ganking and Objective Control

Ganking:

• Coordinate with laners to execute early ganks with Wukong's strong burst damage.
• Use E to slow enemies and secure kills.
• Prioritize ganking objectives like Rift Herald and dragon.

Objective Control:

• Utilize Wukong's mobility to contest objectives and vision control.
• Place E wards around the map to scout for enemy movement.
• Engage in team fights to secure objectives and snowball advantages.

Team Fight Strategy

Initiation:

• Engage team fights with E to slow enemies and isolate targets.
• Use R, Cyclone, to knock back and disrupt enemy formations.

Follow-Up:

• Prioritize dealing damage to enemy carries with Q and focus fire with teammates.
• Activate Trinity Force to boost attack speed and damage output.
• Use E to slow and chase down fleeing enemies.

Counters and Synergies

Counters:

• Morgana: Black Shield blocks Wukong's combo and crowd control.
• Malzahar: Void Swarm suppresses Wukong, disabling his mobility.
• Skarner: Crystal Spire prevents Wukong from escaping or ganking.

Synergies:

• Gragas: Body Slam and Explosive Cask combine with Wukong's E to create devastating combos.
• Maokai: Twisted Advance roots enemies, allowing Wukong to follow up with Q.
• Yasuo: Last Breath shreds enemy armor, amplifying Wukong's damage output.

Tips and Tricks

• Utilize Wukong's E to dodge skill shots and manipulate enemy positioning.
• Activate Trinity Force before engaging to burst damage targets.
• Use R wisely to interrupt enemy channels or escape sticky situations.
• Prioritize farming and avoiding unnecessary skirmishes to maintain a gold and experience advantage.

Conclusion

Wukong jungle remains a potent force in Season 12, combining strong early-game aggression, mobility, and team fight potential. By understanding his mechanics, runes, itemization, pathing, and team fight strategy, junglers can unlock Wukong's full capabilities and dominate the Rift.

Tables

Table 1: Wukong Jungle Rune Setup

Table 2: Core Item Build for Wukong Jungle

Table 3: Jungle Route Options for Wukong

Table 4: Counters and Synergies for Wukong Jungle