What is the standard jungle clear in League of Legends?

The standard full clear starts at your buff with a leash, then clears all camps on one side before crossing to the other side. A full clear should finish around 3:15-3:30 for most junglers. The path is typically: Buff -> Wolves -> Raptors -> Buff -> Gromp -> Scuttle or Gank. Some junglers like Fiddlesticks and Karthus have specialized clears that maximize AoE damage.

When should I do a level 3 gank instead of full clearing?

Level 3 ganks work best on early-game junglers like Lee Sin, Xin Zhao, and Jarvan IV. The path is: Buff -> Camp -> Buff (usually red -> raptors/wolves -> blue) then gank the nearest lane immediately. This gives you level 3 with red buff duration still active for maximum pressure. Only gank a pushed lane — ganking a frozen lane wastes your early advantage.

How do I adapt my jungle path based on matchup?

Against aggressive invaders like Lee Sin or Nidalee, start on the opposite side of the map and path away from their expected invade. Against scaling junglers like Karthus or Evelynn, invade their camps early to deny their farm. When playing a weak early-game jungler, ask your laners for deep vision and avoid the enemy jungler entirely. The path should always account for which lanes have priority.

Jungle Path Guide — LoLGuide - League of Legends Wiki

Overview

Jungle pathing is about efficiency and impact. Every second matters — the most efficient junglers can full clear by 3:15-3:30, arriving at scuttle crab right when it spawns. A good path maximizes gold and XP while creating pressure on the map.

Your first clear determines your early game impact. Some junglers want level 3 ganks (Elise, Jarvan, Lee Sin), while others want a full clear into scuttle (Karthus, Lillia, Fiddlesticks, Evelynn). Choose your path based on your champion's power spikes and the enemy team comp.

Pathing is not static. Adapt based on: which lane has priority, where the enemy jungler started, and which lanes have setup CC for your ganks. The best junglers change their path every game based on the specific circumstances.

Standard Path

The standard path: Buff -> Gromp/Krugs -> Buff -> Gank or Scuttle. This is the most versatile path and works for most junglers. Start at your bot lane side for a better leash, clear your first buff and adjacent camp, then take your second buff and look for a gank.

Red side pathing (red buff start): Red -> Raptors -> Blue -> Gromp -> Scuttle/gank. This path gives level 3 by 2:45-3:00, perfect for early gank junglers like Lee Sin, Xin Zhao, and Jarvan IV. After ganking, path toward scuttle or invade the enemy jungle.

Blue side pathing (blue buff start): Blue -> Gromp -> Wolves -> Red -> Scuttle/gank. This path is better for scaling junglers who need mana sustain. It also puts you closer to bot side for dragon control.

Full Clear

A full clear clears all 6 camps before the first recall. This gives you level 4 and 900+ gold for a full item purchase. Full clear comps (Karthus, Fiddlesticks, Lillia, Graves, Morgana) sacrifice early pressure for scaling.

Full clear timing: optimize your path to minimize walking. Red -> Krugs -> Raptors -> Wolves -> Blue -> Gromp is the most efficient path on most champions. With proper kiting, you can finish by 3:15-3:20, arriving at scuttle right as it spawns.

If the enemy jungler ganks while you full clear, ping your team to play safe. Do not interrupt your clear to counter-gank unless you are 100% sure you will be useful. Wasted time walking across the map is worse than letting a gank succeed.

Level 3 Gank Path

The fastest level 3 route: Red -> Blue -> Gromp. This gives level 3 in about 2:30, the fastest possible. Champions with strong early ganks (Elise, Lee Sin, Jarvan, Xin Zhao, Rek'Sai) can gank top or mid at 2:30-2:45 before the enemy expects it.

After the level 3 gank, do not linger. If the gank fails, immediately path toward scuttle or your remaining camps. Do not waste time waiting for another gank window. Efficiency is the jungler's religion.

Level 3 ganks work best when: the enemy lane is pushed, your laner has CC to follow up, and you know the enemy jungler is on the opposite side of the map.

Vertical Jungling

Vertical jungling means splitting the map: you take the enemy's camps on your side, they take yours on their side. This happens when the enemy jungler invades your opposite-side jungle early. Instead of fighting for your own camps, take theirs on the other side.

When to vertical jungle: you started top side and the enemy jungler showed bot side invading your blue. Do not walk all the way bot to contest — take their top side camps (gromp, wolves) and trade. You both lose equal value, but you are safer.

Vertical jungling resets when scuttle spawns. Both junglers return to normal pathing after scuttle. Use this window to track the enemy jungler — they will path toward their respawning camps.

Pathing efficiency separates good junglers from great ones. A full clear with 0:30 downtime is better than a partial clear followed by a failed gank. If in doubt, farm. Gold and XP do not miss.