Several games are now played in the professional gaming scene to the point where some stood out from the rest. Even though there is a wide variety of genres to choose from, a lot of players grew fond of the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games such as Defence of the Ancients (Dota) 2 as it promotes teamwork. 

Valve’s Dota 2 is one of the leading games in the esports industry wherein players need to learn how the game is played to join casually or competitively. This means that each player should understand the roles and the skills needed to dominate the battlefield. 

Even though there are several roles available, each is important in achieving victory against the opposing teams. One of the important roles players can try in Dota 2 is the jungler role. Here is a better understanding of what jungling is all about. 

What is jungling? 

Jungling, also known as bushing, is a skill that requires players to focus on killing the neutral creeps during the game. This also refers to the Forests or Jungles between the lanes on either side where the neutral creeps are usually spawned. 

Neutral creeps will spawn in jungle camps within 60 seconds into the game and will respawn every minute unless the camp is eradicated. There must be no units inside a camp to clear it, including neutral creeps, heroes, and/or wards (lane creeps do not block camps). Creeps can be enticed away from a camp, but they will return after a while. 

When creep stacking, effective junglers can wipe creeps out of the camp during respawn time, allowing a second wave to appear while the first is still alive. Players can also persuade creeps to follow them into their lane, where their lane creeps will engage in combat when creep pulling.

Jungling allows a hero to earn Experience and Gold without having to deal with hostile heroes or dividing Experience with allies. Compared to laning, jungling makes last-hitting considerably easier and provides higher total results. 

Keep in mind that a jungling hero cannot be in the lane and requires a team to add another solo lane. Having more solo lanes makes another hero susceptible, especially because the other team does not have to make as many sacrifices to impose pressure on them. However, jungling can be difficult for new players and mastering it takes a lot of practice.

Jungler skills 

Jungler heroes have an impressive skill set that gives them an advantage whenever they play. Here are some of them: 

Lifesteal

Heroes with this skill can jungle Mana-independently and be equipped with a consistent source of Health Regeneration. However, in the early game, the amount of lifesteal they have may not be enough resulting in their slow jungling speed making them more useful in the lane. This may also cause users to distribute their ability points unsuccessfully.

Creep stacking 

Creep stacking is a skill wherein a hero lures neutral creeps away from their camp, causing them to flee before a new wave of creeps respawns. It also allows players to greatly increase the number of creeps in a camp while giving the stacker a 35% payout. However, it is only allowed if the creep camp is removed by the teammates.

Creep pulling

A hero can ‘pull’ a group of neutral creeps towards their lane forcing them to attack the creeps. This is done by attracting the attention of the closest creep camp to the lane and timing it with the lane creeps’ spawns. Creep pulling also allows heroes to dodge damage from neutral creeps and cool down their activities..

Jungler heroes 

There are several heroes who are well-equipped with the jungler skill. Here are some of them: 

Axe 

Axe, also known as Mogul Khan, is a melee strength hero popular for creating chaos in battle and thriving off of it. This hero is usually played as an initiator since his potent disables can disrupt an enemy’s formation and open fights for his team.

Crystal Maiden 

Rylai is a Crystal Maiden and ranged intelligence hero who wields frost and ice to incapacitate and dispatch her enemies. She is a slow and vulnerable support who gains strength in her battery of powerful nukes, disables, and slows.

Lycan 

Banehallow is a Lycan melee strength hero who is capable of causing huge physical damage. He also moves rapidly, pushes buildings, and enhances his team’s damage and health. He can summon wolves who are powerful sources of damage and objective control.

Enchantress 

Aiushtha, the Enchantress, is a ranged intelligence hero who can push through lanes and gank with reasonable ease thanks to her skills. Aiushtha is a good early game jungler since she maximizes the usefulness of her Enchant ability. She can also harass enemies in lane with Impetus, which delivers damage according to how far away her victim is.

Ursa 

Ulfsaar, the Ursa Warrior, is a melee agility hero whose abilities primarily focus on increasing attack damage and enabling some of the game’s most spectacular sustained damage. He also specializes in inflicting damage against his target, attacks at nearly maximum speed, and gains additional damage for each consecutive hit.

Other heroes 

Here are other popular jungler heroes every Dota 2 player should know:  

• Batrider
• Bloodseeker
• Chen
• Dark Seer
• Enigma
• Keeper of the Light
• Lifestealer
• Lone Druid
• Nature’s Prophet
• Sand King

Mentioned above are just some of the basic information every Dota 2 player must know about the jungler skill. By learning more about how this skill is used, players will have a superb gaming experience with better chances of winning victory. They may also use this skill to know their place in the team so that they can contribute better to their respective teams!