Riot plotting to shift Nautilus back into jungle with LoL patch 11.11 buffs

Nautilus jungle revival: Season 11 buffs, clear speed strategies, and meta impact

The Titanic Return

League of Legends’ colossal anchor-wielder Nautilus is making waves with his impending jungle resurgence in Season 11. Riot Games has confirmed significant buffs coming in patch 11.11 specifically designed to transition the Titan of the Depths from his support role back to his jungle roots.

The development team is focusing on enhancing Nautilus’ clear speed through targeted ability modifications, particularly to his Riptide (E) which will now deal double damage to jungle camps.

From Support to Jungle: Nautilus’ Journey

Marking his ninth anniversary in League of Legends, Nautilus originally dominated as a jungler before Season 7’s meta shift. His kit—featuring the iconic Dredge Line (Q) hook and devastating Depth Charge (R) ultimate—made him an exceptional roaming threat.

Riot’s push toward engage-heavy supports in 2017 saw Nautilus transition to bot lane, where his crowd control abilities excelled. The changes intentionally weakened his jungle viability by reducing his clear speed and sustain against monsters.

Now, five years later, the developers are reversing course. Lead designer RayYonggi has indicated these jungle-focused adjustments aim to diversify champion roles while maintaining Nautilus’ core identity as a tanky initiator.

Patch 11.11: The Key Buffs Explained

The centerpiece of Nautilus’ jungle revival is a massive buff to Riptide (E). Previously balanced around support play, this area-of-effect ability will now deal 200% damage to jungle monsters—effectively doubling its effectiveness against camps.

This change specifically targets Nautilus’ early clear speed, which had been his primary weakness in the jungle. Internal testing shows first full clears completing in approximately 3:20, putting him on par with current meta junglers.

Notably, his crowd control-heavy abilities—Dredge Line (Q), passive root, and Depth Charge (R)—remain unchanged. This maintains his signature playmaking potential while addressing his jungle viability through damage adjustments rather than kit reworks.

Clearing the Jungle: Speed and Efficiency

With the Riptide buffs, Nautilus can now efficiently clear camps using an ability rotation that maximizes his AOE damage. Optimal pathing starts with Raptors or Wolves, where his enhanced E can hit multiple targets simultaneously.

Early testing reveals:

• Level 1 E provides enough damage to clear small camps with two casts
• Blue/Red buff takes approximately 15 seconds with proper kiting
• Full clear possible before 3:30 with optimal pathing

However, players should note these numbers may change—Riot has already indicated the buffs might be adjusted before the patch goes live. The current iteration represents an intentional overbuff to test viability before final tuning.

Shaking Up the Jungle Meta

Nautilus’ return creates interesting dynamics in the Season 11 jungle hierarchy. His kit offers something unique compared to current S-tier picks—Elise’s burst damage, Lee Sin’s mobility, or Kha’Zix’s isolation damage.

Key differentiators include:

• Unmatched crowd control among junglers (3 forms of hard CC)
• Tankiness that scales better than most early-game junglers
• Exceptional gank potential with Q and R

Current support statistics (51.22% win rate, 10.24% play rate) suggest Nautilus remains viable in his old role, meaning players may need to adapt their bans and picks based on his potential flex between jungle and support.

Mastering Jungle Nautilus: Advanced Strategies

For players preparing to take Nautilus into the jungle, consider these expert techniques:

1. Ability Sequencing: Open with E for AOE damage, then auto-attack to proc passive root before using Q for repositioning
2. Gank Pathing: Use terrain walls to hide Q animations—his hitbox is deceptively wide
3. Itemization: Bami’s Cinder synergizes exceptionally well with his E for faster clears
4. Objective Control: Time your E cooldowns to maximize damage against Dragon and Herald

Common mistakes to avoid:

• Overusing Q for damage—it’s better saved for engages or escapes
• Taking too much damage from camps early—kite effectively between E cooldowns
• Wasting ultimate on single targets—look for multi-person knockups in teamfights

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