Old TL guide
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1. Pros and Cons
Pros:
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- Noob-friendly
- Quite tanky but still have damage
- Independant of blue buff (you still need the first one though).
- Very strong at level 3-4 (the golden moment of junglers).
- Incredible good at closed-combat.
- The next legendary skin is Spirit Guard Udyr (don't tell anyone from Garena Vietnam or they will fire my friend).
Cons:
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- Lack an ultimate, so he doesnt have a strong impact at mid game.
- Can be kited/poked easily
- Too many champions can do well against him, please don't first pick him blindly.
2. Why you shouldn't choose Tiger
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When jungling, don't learn Q except you really know what you are doing. There are some reasons why Saintvicious, TheOddOne, Diamondprox.... only take Phoenix:
- Phoenix stance work better with Monkey's Agility. Switching stances already gives you a lot of AS and MS (30% AS and 15 MS at 3 stacks, and you can reach this at level 2). So all you need is damage.
- Phoenix stance does decent AOE damage. As a jungler, you will use much time at Wraith camp. Faster farming lead to better map controlling.
- Tiger stance force you buy Lantern. You choose lifesteal (useless on Udyr since Turtle stance already gives it) instead of mana regen, tenacity (precious stats) from spirit items.
- Last but not least, Phoenix now have burst damage like Tiger. So Phoenix stance not only help you at farming, but also decent at ganking.
3. Abilities
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Monkey's Agility:
Each time Udyr switches stances, he gains 5 movement speed and 10% attack speed for 5 seconds. This effect can stack up to 3 times.
One reason of his insane clearing speed. 30% attack speed at early is no joke. Also gives decent MS, so when ganking, switching stance 2 times in the bush, then go straight to the target and activate E, for max MS.
Tiger Stance:
Stance Activation: Udyr gains attack speed for 5 seconds. Udyr's first attack after activation will deal bonus physical damage over 2 seconds to the target.
Persistent Effect: Udyr's basic attacks deal bonus physical damage equal to 15% of his attack damage.
I don't learn it except after winning a teamfight and I need to kill turret quickly.
Turtle Stance:
Stance Activation: Udyr gains a shield for 5 seconds.
Persistent Effect: Udyr gains life steal.
The activation is what make Udyr very tanky. The shield has an AP ratio but don't think about it, CDR is what you need.
Bear Stance
Stance Activation: Udyr gains increased movement speed and ignores unit collision for a few seconds. If he attacks an enemy during this time, he will also dash slightly closer to them.
Persistent Effect: Udyr's basic attacks stun his target for 1 second. This effect cannot reoccur on the same target within 6 seconds.
The only ganking tool of Udyr. Sometimes you have to save it to interrupt channeling (such as Katarina's ult).
Phoenix Stance
Stance Activation: Udyr unleashes pulsing waves of fire around himself, dealing magic damage each second to enemies within 250 range for 5 seconds.
Persistent Effect: On the first attack after activation and on every third subsequent attack, Udyr engulfs enemies in flames, dealing magic damage in a cone in front of him.
Your bread and butter. Now you can proc double fire: Activating R, run to your target but don't do anything, When you reach him, attack then activating R again for another pulse.
Each time Udyr switches stances, he gains 5 movement speed and 10% attack speed for 5 seconds. This effect can stack up to 3 times.
One reason of his insane clearing speed. 30% attack speed at early is no joke. Also gives decent MS, so when ganking, switching stance 2 times in the bush, then go straight to the target and activate E, for max MS.
Tiger Stance:
Stance Activation: Udyr gains attack speed for 5 seconds. Udyr's first attack after activation will deal bonus physical damage over 2 seconds to the target.
Persistent Effect: Udyr's basic attacks deal bonus physical damage equal to 15% of his attack damage.
I don't learn it except after winning a teamfight and I need to kill turret quickly.
Turtle Stance:
Stance Activation: Udyr gains a shield for 5 seconds.
Persistent Effect: Udyr gains life steal.
The activation is what make Udyr very tanky. The shield has an AP ratio but don't think about it, CDR is what you need.
Bear Stance
Stance Activation: Udyr gains increased movement speed and ignores unit collision for a few seconds. If he attacks an enemy during this time, he will also dash slightly closer to them.
Persistent Effect: Udyr's basic attacks stun his target for 1 second. This effect cannot reoccur on the same target within 6 seconds.
The only ganking tool of Udyr. Sometimes you have to save it to interrupt channeling (such as Katarina's ult).
Phoenix Stance
Stance Activation: Udyr unleashes pulsing waves of fire around himself, dealing magic damage each second to enemies within 250 range for 5 seconds.
Persistent Effect: On the first attack after activation and on every third subsequent attack, Udyr engulfs enemies in flames, dealing magic damage in a cone in front of him.
Your bread and butter. Now you can proc double fire: Activating R, run to your target but don't do anything, When you reach him, attack then activating R again for another pulse.
4. Skill build
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R>W>E>Q. Some people prefer learning one point of Q at level 2 for better clearing and killing power.
5. Summoner spells
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Smite is mandatory since you are the jungler.
You can choose Flash or either Ghost. Personally I prefer Ghost because with a low cooldown, it can help me gank across the map. But Flash is needed for clutch plays such as jumping over walls.
You can choose Flash or either Ghost. Personally I prefer Ghost because with a low cooldown, it can help me gank across the map. But Flash is needed for clutch plays such as jumping over walls.
6. Masteries
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4/26/0 if you pick Ghost (Diamondprox' setup).
0/21/9 for Flash. Mastermind is amazing because it reduces Flash cooldown about 30s. You will have 30s timing window for Flash + Bear stance while enemy Flash isn't up. Have 63s cooldown Smite also help you stealing camp better (use Smite and clear all their wolf camp, then go back when your Smite is up).
Since Udyr no longer has armor and magic resist from Monkey's Agility, Honor Guard is mandatory and you should pick it everytime.
0/21/9 for Flash. Mastermind is amazing because it reduces Flash cooldown about 30s. You will have 30s timing window for Flash + Bear stance while enemy Flash isn't up. Have 63s cooldown Smite also help you stealing camp better (use Smite and clear all their wolf camp, then go back when your Smite is up).
Since Udyr no longer has armor and magic resist from Monkey's Agility, Honor Guard is mandatory and you should pick it everytime.
7. Runes
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- 9x AS Mark
- 9x Armor Seal
- 5x MR per level Glyph
- 4x MR Glyph
- 3x MS Quint.
Standard rune for jungling. I prefer counter jungling so some early MR definitely helps.
8. Items
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Start with Machete+5pots.
After 1st Recall: Normally, Spiritstone, it is mandatory if you want to steal their 2nd buffs. Buy Philo instead if you are behind (it payback after 10 mins, so even you have an ankward midgame, you will be more useful at late game). Buy Madred + Crystaline Flask if their jungler is a very aggressive one such as Vi or Shaco.
After 2nd Recall: Boots of Speed. Sightstone if against strong ganker such as Jarvan (you need one ward at his wraith so you can track him down). Otherwise Ruby Crystal -> Kindlegem.
Mid game core items are Locket and Aegis. Bulwark if needed. Buy Spirit of Ancient Golem if you are not behind because CDR and Tenacity are great. Best boots is Boots of Swiftness.
Randuin / Frozen Heart are end game items. Shurelia is overnerfed so don't buy it. Wit's End or Iceborn Gauntlet are luxury items, only get them if you are stomping.
After 1st Recall: Normally, Spiritstone, it is mandatory if you want to steal their 2nd buffs. Buy Philo instead if you are behind (it payback after 10 mins, so even you have an ankward midgame, you will be more useful at late game). Buy Madred + Crystaline Flask if their jungler is a very aggressive one such as Vi or Shaco.
After 2nd Recall: Boots of Speed. Sightstone if against strong ganker such as Jarvan (you need one ward at his wraith so you can track him down). Otherwise Ruby Crystal -> Kindlegem.
Mid game core items are Locket and Aegis. Bulwark if needed. Buy Spirit of Ancient Golem if you are not behind because CDR and Tenacity are great. Best boots is Boots of Swiftness.
Randuin / Frozen Heart are end game items. Shurelia is overnerfed so don't buy it. Wit's End or Iceborn Gauntlet are luxury items, only get them if you are stomping.
9. Jungling
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Udyr gameplay is not much, therefore I will only focus on jungle routes.
Safe route
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Those red points are where I use Smite. This route is recommended for newbie, since they don't have enough rune nor experience. Start at double golem - the safest place in the jungle help you against any invasion. Everytime you face a big monster, your Smite is up, so you will have enough sustain.
Lane swap
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At Blue team
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At Purple team
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Safe route
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Those red points are where I use Smite. This route is recommended for newbie, since they don't have enough rune nor experience. Start at double golem - the safest place in the jungle help you against any invasion. Everytime you face a big monster, your Smite is up, so you will have enough sustain.
Lane swap
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In this case, just farm your double buffs quickly. You can gank mid if there is an opening, otherwise, defend your weaker lane. It helps your solo laner, and losing bottom turret as purple team may lead to losing two dragons (iG also made this mistake when playing against WE).
At Blue team
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I prefer Blue side when playing Udyr. There are many routes, and the first one is the most used:
The main idea is reach level 3 ASAP, so you can gank very early, and secure your double buffs.
Skill order: R - W - E.
Kill Wraith before Red because it spawns sooner. Since you are near your mid laner, ADC and support, you will get a hard leash at Red. So you can go straight to Blue buff, kill it then gank mid or top. After ganking, kill Wolf, recall for Spiritstone then farm.
If you just wanna farm, you can choose 2nd route:
This is very common in season 2. Skill order: R - W - R - E. Start at blue then farm across the jungle.
If the enemy jungler is good at stealing or ganking, then you may lose your Red buff, or your mid laner will die few times. I am not recommend use this route since at silver Elo or higher, a jungler must have some impact at level 3.
Above is the "counter Red" route, that I use against slow jungler such as Amumu.
Mana jungler usually clear Blue first if they are at purple side, so you can sneak to their Red buff and kill it in time.
Skill order: R - E. Tell your teammate hard leash your Blue. Use your Bear stance to run quickly. Lure all monsters to the bush (so the enemy wont see you). After finish, you can learn either Q or W then gank top or mid.
If you success, well that is the best route because not only you have stolen their buff, but your gank is also very powerful. But that route is useless against red starter such as Lee Sin or Shaco. They can gank even at level 2, and you cannot sure where they are. It's hard when you have to counter gank Lee Sin, so if your teammates don't ward near their Red, use the 4th route:
Udyr now has lower manacost so you can start at Red and still counter gank effectively.
Skill order: R. Don't level up anything at level 2, just sneak to the mid turret then wait about 20s.
The main idea is reach level 3 ASAP, so you can gank very early, and secure your double buffs.
Skill order: R - W - E.
Kill Wraith before Red because it spawns sooner. Since you are near your mid laner, ADC and support, you will get a hard leash at Red. So you can go straight to Blue buff, kill it then gank mid or top. After ganking, kill Wolf, recall for Spiritstone then farm.
If you just wanna farm, you can choose 2nd route:
This is very common in season 2. Skill order: R - W - R - E. Start at blue then farm across the jungle.
If the enemy jungler is good at stealing or ganking, then you may lose your Red buff, or your mid laner will die few times. I am not recommend use this route since at silver Elo or higher, a jungler must have some impact at level 3.
Above is the "counter Red" route, that I use against slow jungler such as Amumu.
Mana jungler usually clear Blue first if they are at purple side, so you can sneak to their Red buff and kill it in time.
Skill order: R - E. Tell your teammate hard leash your Blue. Use your Bear stance to run quickly. Lure all monsters to the bush (so the enemy wont see you). After finish, you can learn either Q or W then gank top or mid.
If you success, well that is the best route because not only you have stolen their buff, but your gank is also very powerful. But that route is useless against red starter such as Lee Sin or Shaco. They can gank even at level 2, and you cannot sure where they are. It's hard when you have to counter gank Lee Sin, so if your teammates don't ward near their Red, use the 4th route:
Udyr now has lower manacost so you can start at Red and still counter gank effectively.
Skill order: R. Don't level up anything at level 2, just sneak to the mid turret then wait about 20s.
- If your enemy gank mid, learn E and fuck him with your insane DPS.
- If he gank top, steal his blue.
- If he doesn't show up, check your Blue buff. After clearing it, go back to mid turret because there is a high chance that he will come.
At Purple team
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Since Udyr has weak CC and no dash, he usually cannot take Red buff then gank at level 2 like Lee Sin or Jarvan. Counter red is very risky because the enemy duo lane can show up immediately. So you just have one route:
It is mostly the 1st route from Blue team. Same skill order: R - W - E.
It is mostly the 1st route from Blue team. Same skill order: R - W - E.
10. Matchup
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Difficult: 4/5
Many people think that Amumu is a easy candy for Udyr, because he is no match to you.
Except it is not. In season 3, Amumu is very tanky, you cannot kill him in the jungle without be gangbanged by his teammate. At level 6 and so on, Amumu can easily Q then R your team, but you can do literally nothing. His hard CC is also hard counter to your move speed. Last but not least, Amumu is picked with some powerful mage such as Katarina or Karthus - and Udyr hate them. I usually have to ban Amumu.
Counter:
Difficult: 3.5/5
Annoying opponent. He can gank everywhere, everytime. Invading is not a option because of his flag. I recommended just farm and try to counter gank.
Difficult: 2.5/5
Like Jarvan, his gank are very powerful. He also can steal your buff, so get your level 3 quickly. But he cannot win you 1vs1 directly. Try to counter gank, because Lee Sin is useless at later if unfed. Buy Sightstone to track him down.
Difficult: 2/5
The recent buff make him on par. His gank are deadly with 4 CC. But he is weak like a minion at 1vs1, so just counter jungle and fight him everytime you see him. An early invasion is even better.
Many people think that Amumu is a easy candy for Udyr, because he is no match to you.
Except it is not. In season 3, Amumu is very tanky, you cannot kill him in the jungle without be gangbanged by his teammate. At level 6 and so on, Amumu can easily Q then R your team, but you can do literally nothing. His hard CC is also hard counter to your move speed. Last but not least, Amumu is picked with some powerful mage such as Katarina or Karthus - and Udyr hate them. I usually have to ban Amumu.
Counter:
- Rush Bulwark. Buy a Philo first to get more gold.
- Invade his 1st Blue buff. Amumu is very reliant on his first blue, and he has no dueling power, so a good invasion will deny him hard. Tell your support place a green ward at your Blue buff so he won't steal yours.
- Steal his red, wraith, wolf to delay his level 6.
- Outgank him. At level 3-4, your gank is far more powerful than him. Gank top many times so he has to come top, thus delay his farming streak.
Difficult: 3.5/5
Annoying opponent. He can gank everywhere, everytime. Invading is not a option because of his flag. I recommended just farm and try to counter gank.
Difficult: 2.5/5
Like Jarvan, his gank are very powerful. He also can steal your buff, so get your level 3 quickly. But he cannot win you 1vs1 directly. Try to counter gank, because Lee Sin is useless at later if unfed. Buy Sightstone to track him down.
Difficult: 2/5
The recent buff make him on par. His gank are deadly with 4 CC. But he is weak like a minion at 1vs1, so just counter jungle and fight him everytime you see him. An early invasion is even better.
10. Invasion
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This is how blue team invade (purple team does the same thing). B1 and B2 are the path for invading Blue Buff, same go for R1 and R2
B2 and R2 are long paths but much better. You run quickly to #1 point, then wait to 1:35, go to #2 point (if you run too slow, you may get caught).
B2 and R2 are long paths but much better. You run quickly to #1 point, then wait to 1:35, go to #2 point (if you run too slow, you may get caught).
11. Warding
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This is warding map of blue team jungler. It's not much different from purple side.
- Their Wraith: The farming camp of junglers, mid laners, even top laners. You must have a ward here, because it even protect your blue buff.
- Their Blue: Steal it will make their mid laner struggles.
- Your Wraith: You have to ward here if you wanna gank top (so mid and bottom still receive your helping).
- Dragon.
- Their Red.
- This ward is for killing a mage waiting for blue buff.
- For protecting your mid laner.
- For protecting your top laner
- A pink ward at baron is necessary after 25mins.