How to Play Darius Jungle: Tips & Power Spikes (26.20)

Max order: Q > E > W
First item: Gustwalker Hatchling0.1 min
Gold vs lane at 15: +135
Win rate 1k gold ahead: 68.6%
Win rate 1k gold behind: 24.3%

Overview Build Runes Abilities Stats Counters Synergies Matchups Arena ARAM Tips Guide

Darius Power Spikes (Patch 26.20)

Jungle

When Darius Jungle gets stronger, in the order it happens in a typical ranked game: ability unlocks from the most common skill order, item spikes at the median minute players finish them, and the game length Darius wins most.

Lv 3
All three basic abilities at level 3
Darius's full combo is online — the first point where trading all-in is realistic.
Lv 6
Ultimate rank 1 at level 6
The biggest early spike: look for a kill or a roam as soon as Darius hits it.
Lv 11
Ultimate rank 2 at level 11
Lower ultimate cooldown means more fights Darius can start or win.
Lv 16
Ultimate rank 3 at level 16
Lower ultimate cooldown means more fights Darius can start or win.
0.1 min
First item at 0.1 min
Gustwalker Hatchling is done — Darius's first real damage or durability spike.
10.6 min
Two items at 10.6 min
Gustwalker Hatchling + Youmuu's Ghostblade: the window to group and take objectives.
18.2 min
Three-item core at 18.2 min
Gustwalker Hatchling + Youmuu's Ghostblade + Dead Man's Plate completes Darius's core build.
20 min
Strongest in games of about 20 minutes
Darius wins 60.0% of games that end around this point.

Item timings are medians: half of players finish later. Fall behind in farm and every item spike moves back with it.

Darius Jungle Laning Plan

Darius is a lane bully: trade early and often, push the advantage, and turn the gold lead into the first item spike. On average Darius Jungle is 135 gold ahead of the lane opponent at 15 minutes and ahead in 55% of games. A 1,000-gold lead at 15 turns into a 69% win rate; a 1,000-gold deficit leaves 24%. Darius averages 0.38 solo kills by 15 minutes.

Darius win rate by gold at 15

1,000+ gold ahead68.6%
Ahead62.4%
Behind31.2%
1,000+ gold behind24.3%

Darius Mid and Late Game

What Darius does better or worse than other champions after laning, from this patch's ranked games — percentiles where 100 is the highest of every champion.

Play to these strengths

Side-lane pressure pays: Darius rates 82/100 for damage to buildings. Push a side wave while the team holds mid.
Play around dragons, Grubs and Baron — Darius rates 71/100 for objective control.

Playing Darius

Decimate is a powerful harassment ability. Strike an enemy from maximum range for the greatest effect.
Noxian Guillotine does more damage the more attacks you can land prior to it. Use Noxian Might to deal maximum damage.
Darius benefits greatly from enhanced survivability. The longer you can prolong a fight, the more powerful he becomes.

Playing Against Darius

When Darius's axe grab is on cooldown, he is vulnerable to harassment attacks.
Darius's ability to escape from fights is limited. If you have an advantage against him, press your lead.

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How to Play Darius FAQ - Patch 26.20

When does Darius power spike?

Darius's spikes in a typical ranked game: All three basic abilities at level 3; Ultimate rank 1 at level 6; Ultimate rank 2 at level 11; Ultimate rank 3 at level 16; First item at 0.1 min.

Can Darius come back from behind?

Darius wins 31% of games when behind in gold at 15 minutes (over 157 games), against 62% when ahead — so a lost lane costs Darius games, but it is not decisive.

What is Darius's first item?

Most Darius players finish Gustwalker Hatchling first, at a median of 0.1 minutes.

How do you play Darius Jungle?

From this patch's ranked data, Darius wins by playing to these strengths: pressure side lanes; fight around objectives.

Darius How to Play: Tips & Power Spikes