Hey Summoners! Ever found yourself grinding through the lower ranks, feeling like you're hitting a wall? We've all been there. You might have seen the title and thought, "High ELO is easier? No way!" But stick with me, because in the wild world of League of Legends jungle, especially with champions like Udyr in Patch 13.7, that statement holds a surprising amount of truth. This isn't just theory; it's about understanding the game at a deeper level. We're diving into why experienced players often find navigating High ELO with a champion like Udyr to be a smoother ride than struggling in Low ELO.
Table of Contents
Understanding ELO: Low vs. High
Before we talk Udyr, let's clarify what we mean by ELO. In the context of League of Legends, ELO is the backbone of the ranked system, categorizing players from Iron all the way up to the prestigious Challenger tier. Generally, "Low ELO" encompasses players from Iron through Platinum, where the game mechanics can feel chaotic and unpredictable. Conversely, "High ELO" typically refers to the Diamond to Challenger brackets – the players who have a deep understanding of macro-strategy, champion matchups, and objective control.
Udyr's Jungle Dominance in Patch 13.7
Patch 13.7 was a significant patch for many junglers, and Udyr, the Spirit Walker, was a notable beneficiary. He received buffs that amplified his already strong early game presence and his ability to control objectives like Dragons and Rift Heralds. Udyr’s kit, with its stances providing different combat and utility effects, allows for incredible flexibility. Whether you need to dive, sustain, or chase, Udyr has a stance for it. This adaptability makes him a potent pick, especially when his numbers are tuned favorably by the developers.
The Udyr Conundrum in Low ELO
Now, here's where things get interesting. You might think a strong champion like Udyr would be easy to dominate with in Low ELO. However, this is often not the case. Why? Udyr, despite his straightforward attack-stance gameplay, has a surprisingly high skill ceiling when it comes to maximizing his potential. Players in Low ELO often struggle with:
- Mana Management: Udyr can burn through mana quickly if his stances aren't used efficiently.
- Stance Weaving: Knowing when to switch stances to maximize damage, sustain, or crowd control is key.
- Jungle Pathing: Inefficient pathing means less farm, delayed objectives, and falling behind the enemy jungler.
- Objective Control: Low ELO players might not prioritize or effectively contest crucial objectives like early Dragons or Baron Nashor.
These factors combine to make Udyr a champion that, in the hands of an inexperienced player, can feel clunky and underpowered. You might find yourself out of mana, unable to secure objectives, or simply not knowing where to be on the map.
In my personal experience, playing Udyr in Silver felt like swimming against a tide of poor decision-making, both mine and my team's. It wasn't the champion, but the game environment.
Why Udyr Shines in High ELO
This is where the "High ELO is easier" argument truly takes hold for Udyr. Players in Diamond and above possess a refined understanding of the game's intricacies:
- Jungle Pathing Mastery: High ELO junglers know the optimal routes to maximize experience and gold, ensuring they hit crucial power spikes on time. This allows Udyr to hit his early game power spikes effectively.
- Objective Priority: They understand the immense value of Dragons, Heralds, and Barons, and how to secure them, often setting up coordinated plays.
- Champion Mechanics: High ELO players have practiced Udyr's stance combinations and mana management to an art form. They know precisely when to use each stance for maximum impact, whether it's landing a crucial stun or sustaining through a tough fight.
- Map Awareness: Excellent awareness means they know where the enemy jungler is, allowing them to counter-jungle, secure objectives safely, or counter-gank effectively.
Essentially, the High ELO environment provides the perfect backdrop for Udyr's strengths to flourish. The players aren't fighting the game's fundamentals; they're playing the game *well*, which allows Udyr to truly express his power.
The Crucial Role of Team Coordination
Perhaps the most significant factor is teamwork. Udyr excels in skirmishes and team fights, especially when he can get on top of priority targets. In High ELO, players are far more likely to:
- Communicate intentions: Ping rotations, objective calls, and enemy movements are standard.
- Follow up on engages: When Udyr dives in, his team is ready to follow up with crowd control and damage.
- Peel for carries: Udyr can also act as a front-liner or disruptor, peeling for his own damage dealers.
- Coordinate pressure: Teams work together to create map pressure, allowing Udyr to make plays without significant risk of being collapsed upon by uncoordinated opponents.
This synergy is something that's often lacking in Low ELO, where individual plays and random fights are more common than structured team coordination. Playing Udyr in a coordinated team environment feels infinitely more rewarding and easier than trying to force plays in a disorganized solo queue.
The difference in team play between a Plat Udyr game and a Diamond Udyr game is night and day. In High ELO, Udyr feels like a rampaging force; in Low ELO, he often feels like a lost sheep.
Tips for Climbing Out of Low ELO
If you're a Low ELO player aspiring to reach higher ranks, or just want to improve your jungle game:
- Focus on Fundamentals: Master jungle pathing. Watch high-level streamers and analyze their clears.
- Objective Practice: Always prioritize Dragons, Heralds, and Baron. Understand spawn timers and how to set up for them.
- Champion Mastery: Pick 1-3 champions and truly learn their limits, including mana costs, cooldowns, and optimal combos. Practice Udyr's stance weaving in practice tool!
- Communication: Use pings effectively. Even basic communication can make a huge difference.
- Review Your Games: Watch replays to identify mistakes in your pathing, decision-making, and mechanics.
Ultimately, the statement that High ELO is easier for Udyr jungle in Patch 13.7 boils down to the increased game knowledge and coordination present at higher ranks. While Low ELO players might struggle with Udyr's nuances and the overall macro game, High ELO players leverage their expertise to make him a dominant force. It's a testament to how understanding and execution can transform a champion's perceived difficulty. Keep practicing, keep learning, and you'll climb!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Udyr a difficult champion to play?
Udyr has a low mechanical barrier to entry but a high skill ceiling. While basic attacks and stance swaps are easy, mastering his mana management, stance weaving for optimal effect, and jungle pathing requires significant practice and game knowledge.
What made Udyr strong in Patch 13.7?
Patch 13.7 provided several buffs to Udyr that increased his base stats and the effectiveness of his abilities, particularly enhancing his early-game power and objective control capabilities, making him a more dominant force in the jungle.
Why do High ELO players seem to have an easier time with Udyr?
High ELO players possess superior game knowledge regarding jungle pathing, objective control, and team fight coordination. They also have a refined understanding of Udyr's specific mechanics, allowing them to utilize his stances and mana pool efficiently, which is often lacking in Low ELO environments.
What are the key skills needed to succeed as a jungler in High ELO?
Key skills include expert jungle pathing, efficient objective control, strong map awareness, effective ganking and counter-ganking, and excellent team communication and coordination. Understanding champion matchups and power spikes is also crucial.
How can a Low ELO player improve their jungle gameplay?
Focus on mastering fundamental jungle pathing, consistently prioritizing objectives, learning the mechanics of 1-3 core champions, improving map awareness through minimal map checking, and practicing clear communication via pings.
What are your thoughts? Do you agree that Udyr jungle becomes easier in High ELO? Share your experiences and strategies in the comments below! Join our GamingSpeedrun Discord to connect with fellow speedrunners and gamers, discuss strats, and maybe even find your next speedrun partner!