5 unexpected champions poised to dominate League’s jungle in patch 11.8 with massive buffs
Introduction
The jungle meta is about to undergo a radical transformation in League of Legends patch 11.8, with five unlikely champions receiving game-changing buffs that could redefine their roles.
Traditional laners Darius, Diana, Mordekaiser, Morgana, and Zed are being retooled as potential jungle powerhouses through targeted damage increases against neutral monsters.
This marks Riot’s latest attempt to diversify jungle champion selection following previous unsuccessful efforts in Season 10. The development team has learned from past mistakes, implementing more substantial mechanical changes this time.
Champion Changes Breakdown
The most dramatic changes affect Darius, Diana, Mordekaiser, and Zed, whose passive damage limitations against monsters have been virtually eliminated. Their bonus damage multipliers now reach staggering 500% values, enabling unprecedented clear speeds.
Morgana receives slightly different treatment – her Tormented Shadow (W) now deals 300% damage to monsters (up from 150%), which synergizes powerfully with her Soul Siphon healing passive. This creates unique sustain advantages in the jungle.
Pro Tip: Morgana’s waveclear potential makes her an excellent choice for players who prioritize objective control, as she can quickly clear camps before rotating to Dragon or Herald fights.
Community Reactions
Early testing on the PBE has generated both excitement and concern, with players achieving jungle clear times as fast as 2:55 – surpassing most current meta junglers. These blistering speeds have sparked debates about game balance.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don’t assume these clear times translate directly to live servers. PBE matches often lack the competitive intensity of ranked games, and early advantages may not hold against coordinated teams.
Riot developers are closely monitoring the data but appear committed to testing these changes with the broader player base before making final adjustments.
Developer Insights
Riot developers have been transparent about their goals, with ‘Phlox’ stating: “None of these numbers are permanent… this is decently early in the PBE cycle.” The team emphasizes these are experimental changes that will receive tuning.
‘GalaxySmash’ elaborated on the philosophy: “We want these champions to be playable in the jungle, but won’t force them to be S tier.” This suggests Riot is seeking to expand options without disrupting the existing jungle hierarchy.
Advanced Tip: Watch for potential hotfixes in the first 48 hours after patch deployment, as Riot often makes quick adjustments to overtuned jungle changes.
Patch Timeline
Mark your calendars for April 14, when these jungle experiments are scheduled to go live alongside the Rammus mini-rework. The concurrent release suggests Riot wants to evaluate multiple jungle changes simultaneously.
These modifications represent just one part of a broader Season 11 initiative to refresh gameplay dynamics. Players should prepare for potential meta shifts in both solo queue and competitive play.
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