Draft / Ranked opening · separate from item 1
Scorchclaw Pup
450 goldProvides a Smite upgrade and damage plus a slowing burn after the companion is fully grown.
Game patch 26.20Data Dragon 16.20.1
Reference patch 16.20.1
Darius Jungle · Normal Draft
Darius can be selected here as a deliberate player-chosen strategy, but it is not a primary role. The pick still needs a matchup and team plan.
Player-chosen flexStandard Summoner's Rift preparationReview patch unknownRecommendation review pending
These patches track recommendation review, build validation and item lookup separately. Updating item data does not complete a build review.
- Recommendation patch
- — Data Dragon
- Build validation patch
- 16.19.1 Data Dragon
- Item lookup patch
- 16.20.1 Data Dragon
Normal Draft · Jungle
Fighter jungle baseline
Follow the completed-item order as a pre-game reference. Components and owned items do not create extra inventory slots.
First item
Trinity Force
3,333 goldAdds health, haste and a flexible first fighting power spike.
Boots
Plated Steelcaps
1,200 goldReduces pressure from physical attacks during ganks and objective fights.
Armour shred
Black Cleaver
3,000 goldShreds armour during extended fights after your first item.
Fight sustain
Death's Dance
3,300 goldAdds temporary durability when you commit to a physical-damage fight.
Safety
Guardian Angel
3,200 goldAdds a revive after the damage core is established.
Health and recovery
Warmog's Armor
3,100 goldAdds a large health pool and out-of-combat recovery after enough bonus health is already established.
Complete build choices
Choose the route before play
Recommendation review pending
AlternativeToo much healingChempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.
View full route▾
Best when: Chempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.
- First itemTrinity Force
- BootsPlated Steelcaps
- Chempunk Chainsword
- Fight sustainDeath's Dance
- SafetyGuardian Angel
- Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor
AlternativeSustained magic damageKaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.
View full route▾
Best when: Kaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.
- First itemTrinity Force
- BootsPlated Steelcaps
- Armour shredBlack Cleaver
- Kaenic Rookern
- SafetyGuardian Angel
- Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor
Runes and summoner spells
Runes and summoner spellsDariusJungle
Reach the fight with control available and absorb the first response.
Resolve
Aftershock
Font of Life
Conditioning
Overgrowth
Precision
Triumph
Legend: Haste
Flash
SmiteSmite is part of Jungle companion progression and objective security. The movement or combat spell beside it is the adjustable slot.
Ghost can fit sustained access; Flash can fit one immediate reposition. Use the champion's route and intended fights to choose.
Static alternatives
Compare the problem before changing the plan
These choices are not selected from live scores. Use one only after you identify the stated match problem yourself.
Too much healing
Chempunk Chainsword
Chempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.
Sustained magic damage
Kaenic Rookern
Kaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.
Kit reference
Darius abilities
Ability names, descriptions and numeric fields come from Riot Data Dragon. Practical reads are independently written; the current in-game tooltip remains authoritative.
Abilities Data Dragon 16.20.1Cooldown / Cost / Range Data Dragon 16.20.1
P
Passive
Hemorrhage
What it doesDarius' attacks and damaging abilities cause enemies to bleed for physical damage over 5 seconds, stacking up to 5 times. Darius enrages and gains massive Attack Damage when his target reaches max stacks.
Practical readHemorrhage is an automatic part of the kit involving damage. Track when its condition is active instead of treating every fight the same way.
Q
Q ability
Decimate
What it doesDarius winds up and swings his axe in a wide circle. Enemies struck by the blade take more damage than those struck by the handle. Darius heals based on enemy champions and large monsters hit by the blade.
Practical readDecimate contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown9/8/7/6/5 secCost25/30/35/40/45
Protection
The protection or sustain is part of the cast's value. Compare its timing with incoming damage rather than reading only the offensive effect.
W
W ability
Crippling Strike
What it doesDarius's next attack strikes an enemy's crucial artery. As they bleed out, their Move Speed is slowed.
Practical readCrippling Strike contributes a slowing effect. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown5 secCost40Listed range300 units
E
E ability
Apprehend
What it doesDarius hones his axe, passively causing his physical damage to ignore a percentage of his target's Armor. When activated, Darius sweeps up his enemies with his axe's hook and pulls them to him.
Practical readApprehend contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown26/23.5/21/18.5/16 secCost70/60/50/40/30Listed range535 units
R
Ultimate
Noxian Guillotine
What it doesDarius leaps to an enemy champion and strikes a lethal blow, dealing true damage. This damage is increased for each stack of Hemorrhage on the target. If Noxian Guillotine is a killing blow, its cooldown is refreshed for a brief duration.
Practical readNoxian Guillotine contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown120/100/80 secCost100/100/0Listed range460 units
Movement
The cast changes position or access. Account for where the champion finishes, not only where the ability begins.
Adapt the plan
What to do when the game changes
Judge the whole lane or map state, not only personal kills. Choose the situation closest to the current game.
Ahead plan
Convert tempo into camps, vision and objectives
Pathing
Take efficient camps between plays so a lead does not disappear into repeated waiting.
Map play
Use lane priority before invading or starting an objective, and leave when nearby lanes cannot move.
Fights
Enter through controlled vision and keep a route out; a winning Jungler still loses a shutdown when isolated.
Even plan
Keep the clear moving and choose high-information plays
Pathing
Track opposing camps and lane states instead of forcing the first visible target.
Map play
Trade sides of the map when contesting would require weaker lanes to move first.
Fights
Save important control for the enemy who threatens your carries or objective access.
Behind plan
Recover guaranteed camps and avoid desperate invades
Pathing
Path through known territory and help lanes only when the opponent is genuinely vulnerable.
Map play
Cross-map rather than arriving late to a lost objective, then restore defensive vision with an ally.
Fights
Play around the strongest teammate and make the enemy commit into your control.
Pings, movement and objectives
Darius Jungle map plan
Link each clear to the next informed decision. Pings should tell lanes where you are pathing and whether the team is contesting or trading an objective.
Turn tempo into controlled territory
- Ping
- Use On My Way before entering a lane, Assist Me before an objective and Danger when nearby lanes cannot move to an invade.
- Path or gank
- Gank when the lane has reach, damage and a safe exit. Do not wait beside a protected target while camps and the next objective disappear.
- Objective
- Establish vision with the nearest winning lane, keep Smite available and avoid chasing away from the objective after gaining control.
Choose the play with the clearest information
- Ping
- Use On My Way early enough for the lane to prepare, Assist Me only when nearby lanes can move, and Retreat when the contest has already become late.
- Path or gank
- Prefer a lane with crowd control, damaged opponents or a favourable wave. A visible opponent is not automatically a usable gank.
- Objective
- Check Mid and Bot priority before Dragon, or Mid and Top before Herald. Set a safe entrance before beginning the objective.
Trade the map instead of forcing recovery
- Ping
- Ping Retreat from lost contests, Danger on likely invades and On My Way when covering a vulnerable lane or remaining camp.
- Path or gank
- Counter-gank or help only when allies can survive until arrival. Repeated low-chance ganks deepen the camp and level deficit.
- Objective
- If entry is unsafe, trade for camps, a wave, vision or the opposite objective. Keep Smite and crowd control for a contest the team can actually reach.
Objective setup
Four calls, in order
Pings create a shared plan; they do not replace checking waves, vision and who can move.
- 1Before the route
Decide which camps lead toward the objective and ping the nearby lanes before they spend the wave or recall timing.
- 2Check priority
Confirm which nearby lanes can move first. Do not convert an isolated objective marker into a forced fight.
- 3Control entry
Move with a teammate, sweep one entrance and keep Smite available before committing damage to the objective.
- 4Finish or turn
Call whether the team is finishing, fighting or leaving. Mixed decisions are more dangerous than either clear choice.
Later objectives: Repeat the same process around later major objectives: handle nearby income, communicate the route, enter through vision and agree on the fight before committing.
Use the guide
Put Darius into a real matchup
Compare a specific opponent, return to the champion overview, or choose another champion without losing the queue distinction.