Jungle Tier List: Best Invaders Before Level 4

Hey guys! Ready to dominate the jungle from the get-go? We're diving deep into a tier list specifically focused on those early game jungle invaders – the champions who can make life miserable for the enemy jungler before they even hit level 4. Forget scaling, forget late-game team fights, we're talking about early aggression, ganking prowess, and counter-jungling dominance. This tier list will break down the best picks to terrorize the enemy jungle and secure an early lead. So, buckle up, grab your favorite energy drink, and let's get started!

What Makes a Good Early Game Jungle Invader?

Before we jump into the champion rankings, let's quickly discuss what makes a champion a successful early game jungle invader. It's not just about raw damage, guys; there's a lot more to it than that. Understanding these core elements will help you not only understand the tier list better but also make informed decisions in your own games.

1. Early Game Duel Potential: This is the most obvious one. A top-tier early game invader needs to be able to hold their own – and preferably win – a 1v1 against most other junglers in the early game. This means having a strong combination of damage, sustain, and mobility. Think about champions who can burst down opponents quickly or out-sustain damage with healing or shielding.
2. Mobility and Ganking Prowess: Invading the jungle isn't just about fighting the enemy jungler; it's also about applying pressure to lanes. A good invader needs to be able to move quickly between camps and lanes, setting up ganks and catching enemies off guard. Champions with dashes, blinks, or high movement speed are key here. Imagine the fear your enemies will feel when they see you constantly appearing in their lanes!
3. Objective Control (Early Dragons/Rift Herald): Securing early objectives can snowball your lead and put your team way ahead. Champions who can quickly take down Dragons or Rift Herald with minimal assistance are invaluable in the early game. This often involves having good sustained damage output and the ability to tank some damage. Think about how much pressure you can put on the enemy team by taking an early Dragon!
4. Vision Control and Tracking: Knowing where the enemy jungler is and denying them vision is crucial for a successful invade. Champions who can quickly clear wards or provide vision for their team are strong assets. This element is often overlooked, but it's a game-changer when executed correctly. You can completely shut down the enemy jungler by controlling their vision.
5. Adaptability and Escape Potential: Things don't always go according to plan. A good invader needs to be able to adapt to different situations and escape if things get too hot. This often means having a reliable escape ability or being able to turn a losing fight around with a well-timed play. Remember, living to invade another day is better than dying for a single kill.

Jungle Invader Tier List (Before Level 4)

Alright, let's get to the meat of the tier list! Remember, these rankings are based on a champion's effectiveness as an early game jungle invader specifically before reaching level 4. Things can change drastically once ultimates come into play.

S-Tier: The Apex Predators

These champions are the absolute best at invading the jungle early. They possess a potent combination of damage, mobility, and objective control, making them incredibly difficult to deal with. If you want to dominate the early game, these are your go-to picks.

• Elise: Elise is a queen of the early game. Her human form provides ranged poke and crowd control, while her spider form offers burst damage and sustain. She can easily duel most junglers early, secure objectives quickly, and gank lanes effectively. Her Cocoon is a devastating tool for catching out enemies, and her spiderlings provide excellent objective control.

  • Why Elise is S-Tier: Elise's ability to switch between forms grants her unparalleled versatility in the early game. Her combination of ranged harass, burst damage, and mobility makes her a nightmare for enemy junglers. She excels at both invading and ganking, making her a constant threat on the map. Elise's Spiderlings also allow her to take early objectives like Rift Herald with ease, further solidifying her dominance.

    Elise’s kit allows her to aggressively enter the enemy jungle and challenge the opponent jungler early on. Her Human Form Q, Neurotoxin, deals significant damage based on the enemy's current health, making it a powerful tool for poking and initiating fights. When combined with her Human Form W, Volatile Spiderling, which provides vision and can explode for additional damage, Elise can effectively scout the enemy jungle and set up ambushes. In Spider Form, Elise gains access to her Spider Form Q, Venomous Bite, which deals damage based on the enemy's missing health, making it an excellent execute. Her Spider Form W, Skittering Frenzy, grants her bonus attack speed and on-hit damage, enhancing her dueling potential. Elise's E, Rappel, allows her to quickly engage or disengage from fights, providing her with unmatched mobility and outplay potential. This ability is crucial for dodging skillshots, escaping from ganks, or diving onto vulnerable targets. Furthermore, Elise’s ability to switch between forms on the fly gives her adaptability in various situations. She can use her Human Form to poke and harass from a distance, then switch to Spider Form to burst down enemies or secure objectives. Her Spiderlings also contribute significantly to her objective control, allowing her to solo early dragons and Rift Herald with relative ease. Elise’s early game dominance extends to ganking lanes as well. Her Cocoon (Human Form E) provides reliable crowd control, making it easy for her to lock down targets and set up kills for her team. Her ability to rappel onto enemies adds an element of surprise, making her ganks difficult to predict and counter. Overall, Elise's comprehensive kit, which includes high damage output, mobility, crowd control, and objective control, makes her an S-Tier jungler for early game invades. Her ability to adapt to different situations and apply pressure across the map makes her a formidable force to be reckoned with.

• Lee Sin: The Blind Monk is a master of mobility and early game skirmishes. His Q (Sonic Wave/Resonating Strike) allows him to quickly close the gap on enemies, while his W (Safeguard/Iron Will) provides sustain and mobility. His early game damage output is exceptionally high, and he can easily snowball a lead with early ganks and invades. Lee Sin’s ability to ward hop and kick enemies into his team makes him a constant threat.

  • Why Lee Sin is S-Tier: Lee Sin exemplifies early game aggression with his potent damage output and unparalleled mobility. His ability to quickly traverse the jungle and apply pressure to lanes makes him a terror for the enemy team. Lee Sin thrives in 1v1 situations, making him a fearsome invader. He can efficiently clear camps while simultaneously looking for opportunities to gank or counter-jungle, further amplifying his early game impact. Lee Sin’s Sonic Wave/Resonating Strike (Q) is a signature ability that allows him to engage from a distance and deal significant damage. If the Sonic Wave hits an enemy, Lee Sin can follow up with Resonating Strike, closing the gap and continuing the assault. This mobility and damage combination makes him highly effective at catching out enemies and securing early kills. His Safeguard/Iron Will (W) provides sustain through shielding and lifesteal, making him difficult to kill in early skirmishes. This ability also allows him to ward hop, a crucial mechanic for navigating the jungle quickly and escaping from unfavorable situations. The combination of mobility and sustain makes Lee Sin a formidable duelist in the early game. Lee Sin’s Tempest/Cripple (E) slows enemies, making them easier to hit with subsequent abilities and providing crucial utility in ganks. His Dragon's Rage (R) is a game-changing ultimate that can kick enemies into his team, setting up devastating plays. While this tier list focuses on pre-level 4 invades, the threat of Dragon's Rage often forces enemies to play cautiously, giving Lee Sin an additional edge. Lee Sin's strength in the early game lies in his ability to control the tempo of the match. He can disrupt the enemy jungler's farm, secure early objectives, and set up ganks with ease. His proactive playstyle and high skill ceiling make him a rewarding champion for players who enjoy aggressive early game strategies. However, it’s important to note that Lee Sin requires a high level of mechanical skill and understanding of jungle pathing to be played effectively. Players need to be adept at ward hopping, chaining abilities, and making split-second decisions. Lee Sin’s reliance on skillshots also means that he can be countered by enemies who can dodge his abilities or play at a safe distance. Nonetheless, when played to his full potential, Lee Sin is undoubtedly one of the strongest early game junglers in the game. His ability to impact all areas of the map and snowball a lead makes him a top-tier pick for players looking to dominate the early game.

A-Tier: The Strong Contenders

These champions are excellent invaders, but they might have a slight weakness compared to the S-tier picks. They still possess strong early game potential and can be incredibly effective in the right hands. These are the reliable choices that can consistently deliver results.

• Graves: Graves is a powerful marksman jungler who excels at burst damage and objective control. His auto attacks deal massive damage in close range, and his abilities provide excellent mobility and utility. Graves can quickly clear camps, duel enemy junglers, and secure objectives like Dragons and Rift Herald. His Smokescreen can also be a powerful tool for denying vision and setting up ganks.

  • Why Graves is A-Tier: Graves stands out as an A-Tier jungle invader due to his exceptional damage output, efficient clear speed, and strong dueling potential. His kit is tailor-made for early game aggression, allowing him to bully the enemy jungler and secure a significant advantage before level 4. Graves' basic attacks are unique; they fire shotgun shells that deal massive damage in a cone in front of him. This makes him incredibly effective at clearing camps quickly, as he can hit multiple monsters simultaneously. The burst damage from his basic attacks, combined with his abilities, allows him to quickly take down neutral objectives like the Red and Blue buff, often before the enemy jungler can contest. Graves' ability Q, End of the Line, is a versatile skill that deals significant damage in a line and then explodes after a delay or upon hitting terrain. This ability is useful for both clearing camps and dealing damage in skirmishes. The explosion adds an extra layer of burst, making it difficult for enemies to engage on Graves in close quarters. His W, Smokescreen, is a powerful utility tool that creates a cloud of smoke, reducing the vision range of enemies inside. This is invaluable for invading the enemy jungle, as it allows Graves to move undetected, set up ambushes, and escape from unfavorable situations. Smokescreen can also be used in ganks to disorient laners and make them easier targets for his team. Graves's E, Quickdraw, is a dash that provides him with a stack of True Grit, increasing his armor and magic resistance. This ability gives him the mobility he needs to navigate the jungle, dodge skillshots, and reposition in fights. The added resistances from True Grit make him surprisingly tanky in early skirmishes, allowing him to outlast opponents in duels. Graves' playstyle revolves around aggressive counter-jungling and early ganks. He can enter the enemy jungle with confidence, knowing that he can likely win a 1v1 against most junglers before level 4. His ability to quickly clear camps and secure buffs denies resources from the enemy jungler, putting them behind. Graves also excels at ganking lanes, using his Smokescreen to create confusion and his burst damage to secure kills. While Graves is incredibly strong in the early game, he does have some weaknesses. He is relatively immobile without his Quickdraw, making him vulnerable to crowd control. He also needs to manage his ammo effectively, as he has a limited number of shots before needing to reload. Despite these weaknesses, Graves' strengths in the early game make him a formidable invader. His ability to dish out damage, control vision, and stay alive in skirmishes allows him to consistently impact the game before level 4, earning him a well-deserved spot in the A-Tier.

• Nidalee: Nidalee is a highly mobile and versatile mage jungler. Her human form offers ranged poke and healing, while her cougar form provides burst damage and mobility. Nidalee can quickly clear camps, kite enemy junglers, and gank lanes effectively. She requires a high level of mechanical skill to play effectively, but in the right hands, she can be a nightmare to deal with in the early game.

  • Why Nidalee is A-Tier: Nidalee secures her place in the A-Tier as an early game jungle invader due to her exceptional mobility, burst damage, and ability to poke from a distance. Her unique kit, which allows her to transform between Human and Cougar forms, gives her unparalleled versatility in the jungle, making her a formidable threat before level 4. Nidalee's Human Form Q, Javelin Toss, is her signature ability. It deals significant magic damage based on distance traveled, allowing her to poke enemies from afar and whittle down their health before engaging. A well-aimed Javelin Toss can be devastating in early skirmishes, especially when combined with her other abilities. Her Human Form W, Bushwhack, places traps that grant vision and deal magic damage when triggered. These traps are invaluable for scouting the enemy jungle, setting up ambushes, and providing early warning of incoming threats. They can also be used to control key areas, such as jungle entrances and objective sites. Nidalee's Human Form E, Primal Surge, heals herself and grants bonus attack speed to an ally. This ability provides sustain in the jungle and enhances her dueling potential. The bonus attack speed can also be used to quickly take down neutral objectives or push towers with her team. In Cougar Form, Nidalee gains access to a new set of abilities that focus on mobility and burst damage. Her Cougar Form Q, Takedown, deals bonus damage to enemies based on their missing health, making it an excellent execute. Cougar Form W, Pounce, is a dash that allows her to quickly close the gap on enemies or escape from danger. The ability to traverse walls with Pounce gives her exceptional mobility in the jungle, allowing her to navigate quickly and set up unexpected ganks. Nidalee's Cougar Form E, Swipe, deals damage in a cone in front of her, making it useful for clearing camps and dealing damage in close quarters. Nidalee's playstyle is centered around aggressive counter-jungling and opportunistic ganks. She can use her mobility and vision control to invade the enemy jungle, steal camps, and disrupt the enemy jungler's farm. Her ability to poke from a distance and burst enemies down in Cougar Form makes her a fearsome duelist. Nidalee also excels at ganking lanes, using her mobility to quickly reach the target and her burst damage to secure kills. However, Nidalee requires a high level of mechanical skill and game knowledge to play effectively. She needs to be able to land her skillshots consistently, manage her mana efficiently, and make quick decisions about when to engage and disengage. Her squishiness also makes her vulnerable to crowd control and burst damage. Despite these challenges, Nidalee's strengths in the early game make her a potent invader. Her ability to deal damage from a distance, move quickly around the map, and burst down enemies up close allows her to consistently impact the game before level 4, securing her a spot in the A-Tier.

B-Tier: The Situational Picks

These champions can be effective invaders, but they require specific circumstances or team compositions to truly shine. They might have a particular strength that makes them good in certain matchups, but they also have clear weaknesses that can be exploited. You need to be smart and tactical to make these picks work.

• Shaco: The Demon Jester is a tricky champion who excels at ganking and ambushing enemies. His Q (Deceive) allows him to stealth and blink to a target location, making him incredibly difficult to predict. Shaco's early game damage output can be surprisingly high, especially with his E (Two-Shiv Poison), which slows and deals bonus damage based on missing health. However, Shaco is relatively squishy and can struggle in prolonged fights. You have to play smart and pick your battles carefully.

• Kindred: The Eternal Hunters are a marksman jungler with good sustained damage and mobility. Kindred's passive (Mark of the Kindred) allows them to mark enemy champions and jungle monsters for bonus stats, encouraging them to invade and gank. Kindred can kite enemies effectively and deal significant damage with their Q (Dance of Arrows) and E (Mounting Dread). However, Kindred's early game is relatively weak, and they can struggle against more aggressive junglers.

C-Tier: The Risky Choices

These champions are generally not ideal for invading the jungle early. They might have a few strengths, but their weaknesses are too significant to make them reliable picks in most situations. You're taking a gamble if you pick these for an early invade. It might work out, but it's a risk!

• Amumu: The Sad Mummy is a tank jungler who excels at crowd control and team fighting. Amumu's Q (Bandage Toss) allows him to quickly engage on enemies, and his ultimate (Curse of the Sad Mummy) is a game-changing team fight ability. However, Amumu's early game is incredibly weak, and he can easily be bullied by more aggressive junglers. He's much better off farming up and scaling into the mid and late game.

• Sejuani: The Fury of the North is a tank jungler with strong crowd control and engage potential. Sejuani's Q (Arctic Assault) allows her to dash to a target location, knocking up enemies in her path. Her early game clear speed is decent, but she lacks the damage output to win most early game duels. Like Amumu, she's better suited for scaling into the late game.

How to Use This Tier List to Your Advantage

Okay, guys, so you've got the tier list, but how do you actually use this information to climb the ranks? Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Understand Your Champion's Strengths and Weaknesses: This seems obvious, but it's crucial. Don't try to play an early game invader like a scaling champion, and vice versa. If you pick Elise, be aggressive and look for early opportunities. If you pick Amumu, focus on farming and scaling.
• Scout the Enemy Jungle: Use your wards and vision control to track the enemy jungler's movements. Knowing where they are allows you to plan your invades more effectively and avoid getting caught out. A well-placed ward can be the difference between a successful invade and a disastrous one.
• Communicate with Your Team: Let your laners know your intentions. Tell them if you're planning to invade, and ask for their assistance if needed. A coordinated invade is much more likely to be successful than a solo attempt. Good communication is key to winning games.
• Adapt to the Game: Don't force an invade if it's not a good idea. If the enemy team has strong early game laners or the enemy jungler is playing a champion that counters yours, it might be better to play it safe and focus on farming. Being flexible and adaptable is a sign of a good jungler.

Final Thoughts: Invade and Conquer!

So there you have it, guys! A comprehensive tier list of the best jungle invaders before level 4. Remember, mastering the early game is a crucial step towards victory in League of Legends. By understanding which champions excel at invading and how to execute successful invades, you can gain a significant advantage over your opponents and climb the ranks. Now get out there, invade, and conquer the jungle! Good luck, and have fun!