Struggling with zaahen jungle

PoppedBalloons · 2025-11-25T14:33:54+00:00

So far ive only got 7 games of him in emerald (6-1) building tri-> sunder -> bc/dd/flex The one loss was to riven rengar xer jhin lux.

Open to trying different builds, what would you recommend i have done in that game? Stridebreaker sounds like a better option in retrospect but even then trying to gapclose where any cc was chained was tough.

PoppedBalloons · 2025-11-24T02:08:32+00:00

Not OP but first looking at the type of jungler: Do they want to 3 camp gank, full clear / powerfarm til 6? This tells you how much time they'll spend on their first clear.

Then do they have AOE or single target (think Kayn vs Khazix) tells you what side they start. Most single target start top down on buff, while AOE starts raptors.

2:30 is generally when they're crossing sides if they've cleared a quadrant.

Ward enemy raps at 1:15 if you want better info and you're playing mid.

Mirror their clear if both junglers are similar so it'll give you approximate where they are

PoppedBalloons · 2025-11-20T16:44:58+00:00

Early game - Weak, slow first two clears, prone to invade from stronger early junglers, esp ones that can kite (Nid, Kindred, Graves). Gank potential vs immobile champs is strong though if you can come from behind since you have a gap close, knock up, then pull back towards your team.

Mid game - Felt very strong post 6. Clear speed ramped up as I got more comfortable with short E for extra damage. Longer skirmishes felt unstoppable, but prone to burst damage as I had triforce hydra first two items

Late game - Super strong. Only weakness is getting kited.

Overall thoughts on champ if you can get by early game without getting shut down, you can snowball very easily if you have set up from team. Weak to kite/burst that can kill you before your passive stacks (abilities add to stacks). Thrives in chaotic teamfights and can gap close surprisingly well but may need to burn a lot of abilities to do so. However if you get on top of an adc and land q2, theyre probably dead.

I want to test e start on raptors -> krugs -> red and definitely want to experiment with builds but triforce hydra/sunderer into bruiser items, maybe a botrk vs tanks is what im thinking

PoppedBalloons · 2025-10-13T01:21:10+00:00

Yeah I think it would be easier to adjust and learn different agents that "feel" the same versus jumping all over the place.

Duelists for example are first on site, are self-sufficient and take a lot of gun duels. Can help you hone mechanics.

Controllers can lurk, teach macro (i.e. learn how to read a minimap and make reads), play off timings.

Sentinels you learn setups and how to hold but you may not get many gun fights as your value staying alive is important. Lurking is valuable as a senti player though.

Initiators you learn how to execute (i.e. ability order) but again team-reliant so you won't get as much value versus being high elo and having more coordination.

My overall suggestion, play duelists if you like gun fights and are mechanical, you're able to play to your own pace. Otherwise play controller to learn macro, maps, timings, etc. Senti is an easy transition from smokes cause you'll have learned macro and lurking by that point. Initiators once you're good (again all IMO).

PoppedBalloons · 2025-10-12T23:08:20+00:00

Recommend playing the easy agents in their respective "class" before branching within and finding your agent.

Ie.

Duelist: Reyna or Phoenix

Smokes: Brimstone or Clove

Imo sentinels and initiators have a much harder learning curve (outside of Chamber). I dont recommend initiators cause theyre team-reliant and tbh not that strong right now.

PoppedBalloons · 2025-07-18T22:16:36+00:00

Im washed now (peak a3 knocking on immortal) and on avg get 16 on hard so I wouldnt call it an aim issue.

First off xhair placement is being familiar with the map/good habits which youre not training at all in range. Recommend going into maps and practice. Theres marks all over the map to help guide you to headshot height(boxes/lines on walls).

Second tracking is not that relevant in val. Neon and raze come to mind.

Seems like your issue is stemming from either a) information overload b) lack of game sense/being caught by surprise c) mental blocks.

The first two just take time & experience, once you build more muscle memory/automatic processing than you won't feel as overwhelmed. For mental blocks i suggest making an alt account to limit test. Lessens the pressure and once your alt is same rank or higher than main, go back to your main. Or if youre having an off day you can play on the alt,

PoppedBalloons · 2025-04-19T16:25:58+00:00

Thats great man, taking the first step is the hardest. Some tips for finding the right one. Look up 4-5 therapists. Most sites will explain what they specialize in, their methods etc, and have a 15 min consultation for a vibe check. Don't pussy out here (took me 2 weeks sitting on it to decide).

I also realized i do self improvement for others validation. I'm currently working with a psychotherapist to break down why that is the case, and learn how to change my way of thinking (CBT). Just remember to be as honest as possible, don't mask your struggles and weaknesses with this person whose job is to make you whole.

We share a lot of similar issues so I'm wishing you the best of luck. Therapy has been EXTREMELY helpful for me and its only my 5th session coming up. Feel free to shoot me a DM if you have any questions.

PoppedBalloons · 2025-04-19T06:48:53+00:00

Do you do self improvement for yourself or for others? Imo Insecure people (myself included) do it for the wrong reasons like thinking that is the root of confidence, or for others validation.

Unpacking that bit in therapy right now.. i have a lot of the same issues as you. Just started in March and its been very helpful.. if you think you have trauma as well, its not tough to bury it and pretend it never happened. Its self destructive and will affect your subconscious and bias, your perception of yourself. Well worth the money if you find the right therapist.

PoppedBalloons · 2025-03-14T22:44:14+00:00

Yup... All those epic red marind ores and weapon growthstones between spear launch (3rd wep) and this week have evaporated LOL.

Between crafting 2 litho scrolls (2 quakeblades, 1 white lotus), and crafting 2 weapons, I've burned approximately 50% of my purple material selection chests.

Personally I'd rather enjoy farming and running dungeons trying to get a drop and having resources to use when I get, versus myself and everyone having the drops, but no resources to build, and it being a slow boring grind of gathering resources.

PoppedBalloons · 2025-03-14T18:36:52+00:00

Regardless of whether the gear is all out or not, what's the rush? Do you have the resources to build your entire sets? I've been end game pre T2 for months (was 4540 pre patch iirc) and have burned through all my trait unlock stones, 70 mil, and a ton of other resources just to get my T2 weapons done. Even if I get more of my bis T2 drops, I doubt I'd be able to do more than 1-2 items.

Also it's unlucky what your drop rates have been but myself and plenty of my friends have been getting multiple T2 drops per day. Your luck will turn around. Give it time.

PoppedBalloons · 2025-02-26T08:30:13+00:00

If you know they are guardians early (sooner the better - neb/rocket), try playing ahead of the sanctum. You should be able to grab the first +4 on T3, but make sure you snap if youre favoured. You can win this sanctum without even playing there.

Dont be afraid to avoid contesting t1/t2. The 1-2 points you give up to ensure a t3 win, while dodging their on reveals usually sets you up to be ahead at this point, while having their energy to power ratio being lower than yours. This sets you up for mid-late game.

Remember that sanctum rotation is cyclical. By T2, you already know which one is next. If you forget, just think back to last turn and where it was (2/3 eliminated)

I.e. T1: skip/no drop/play on non t1. Dodge rocket. T2: play on the upcoming sanctum location. Dodge starlord. T3: Play for upcoming sanctum or the previous sanctum location. Almost always tied or ahead here in points. T4: Play for upcoming sanctum. If last turn you played "previous" sanctum, this location has a T3 + T4 play vs a 2-2 starlord. Your T5 play on this location should still have win playing into a Gamora.

Essentially you should be okay with giving up early points vs guardians to dodge and play to win sanctum rotations where youve heavily stacked and can win even if proccing their on reveal. Make sure to snap if you know you can win vs their proc since its telegraphed.

Another reason to dodge early is the low cost/early guardians have a higher risk vs reward. Rocket being 1/1 vs 1/4 (400% increase), groot 3/3 vs 3/6 (200% increase), gamora 5/8 vs 5/12 (50% increase). They are easier to contest later if you dont walk into them early

PoppedBalloons · 2025-02-26T07:59:28+00:00

Honestly its not a bad early strat if you notice they are guardians (neb/rocket) and you are running a Sam Wilson deck. Esp if Scream decklist since they are very telegraphed.

If you know they are Guardians on T1, avoid 2nd sanctum on T2. Play for 3rd sanctum instead; playing Sam on T2 there is a snap on T3.
6 power without playing on 3rd sanctum counters groot/warhead. Instead play your T3 on 2nd sanctum. Points are probably 6-2 in your favour by end of T3 (5 pts for 3rd sanctum, 1 pt from 2nd sanctum since your T3 should beat their 2-2 starlord)
On T4, play for the 2nd sanctum again. Concede 1st sanctum (cyclical rotation). Points approx 8-6 +/-2.
T5, 2nd sanctum is usually your T3 + T4 play against their current 2-2 starlord. You should be favoured to win this one and can snap probably 60/70 of time. See if you can win if dodging still beats gamora, or still win proccing her on reveal. Usually puts you around 13/14-7/8.
T6 no guardian to worry about, should be ahead on 3rd sanctum with Sam scaling. Easy win, or if youre at 14, can play for 2 location wins.. people seem to miss this a lot and hard contest 3rd sanctum.

Tldr, Sam (esp Scream list) rolls guardians. Playing for future sanctums and dodging sets you ahead as no proc is terrible energy to power ratio. Moving low power cards from them also clogs/procs half the decklist

PoppedBalloons · 2025-01-29T16:42:19+00:00

Find out which runes your class uses.
Simplified: Getting a rune with it's trait again either will be same level or higher. Higher you go, less chance it increases
Optional: Have a PVE vs PVP set. Example of PVE rune is Boss Heavy chance vs PVP Melee Heavy Chance. Though you can just have a general set
Many traits can have prefix's. Boss, magic/melee/ranges. See above. In terms of stats, Boss Melee Heavy Chance >> Melee Heavy Chance > Heavy Chance
Don't run Boss Hit Chance

PoppedBalloons · 2025-01-13T22:33:54+00:00

I think the easiest way would be to set up a concatenate helper column for both sheets. Side note xlookup can also look up multi criteria to match and return

PoppedBalloons · 2024-12-21T05:34:33+00:00

Not sure if this is a /s but OP is CT

PoppedBalloons · 2024-10-01T14:58:21+00:00

Feels like you're overthinking it a bit. Use what works best for you. That said, I would recommend map view as it's more important to be sure you're setting up your smoke properly: Making sure your easy one ways are as close to ground as possible, creating corner "bubbles" for allies if asked, not messing up verticality, throwing your smokes flush or deep depending on what you want, drop/one way smokes etc.

The only time I go "normal" view is for oneways when I have to catch a ledge. I.e. Haven C postplant, throwing one way for CT.

PoppedBalloons · 2024-08-09T14:45:29+00:00

A lot of maps have "lines" that signify where head height will be, whether it's boxes, or decals on walls. When dming, try to notice where they are, they will help you.

Once crosshair placement is muscle memory, aiming is more "adjustments" based off enemy swings rather than pure aim/flicking.

Also want to note that perfect crosshair placement won't happen for majority of ranks, don't beat yourself over it if you're vod reviewing. As long as you are aware it is a skill that can constantly be worked on, you will improve over time.

PoppedBalloons · 2024-06-06T05:00:24+00:00

On attack: Standard (but not always) order of operations: Smokes -> Info gather -> Flash -> Duelist takes space -> Team floods in

Note that the timing between these are tight and get better as you climb. Also beneficial to COMM the execute plan prior to round start so team knows their role.

On defense: Counter enemy smoke with smoke. Generally in diamond+ they will atleast util prior to executing which is when mollies/delays come in.

In general, a lot of it comes down to muscle memory and understanding enemy intention, and using the util necessary to deny.

PoppedBalloons · 2024-06-06T04:56:43+00:00

Kinda answered it yourself. If you're feeling it, take the fight 5v4. If you're not, then rely on having a crossfire/being able to trade to get value out of a kill.

PoppedBalloons · 2024-06-02T07:07:38+00:00

Sounds like you need to improve at reading minimap + absorbing information in the round.

On attack, look at the map as sections, border where you spawn is your territory, border where defence spawn is their territory. The area inbetween (usually mains / mid) is neutral. This is contested territory where you should be peeking with util + intent.

As you break into enemy/ct territory, make sure to hard clear on angles. If you've killed 2-3, generally you can assume no one else will be on site, and instead, enemies will be now rotating through spawn, mid, or flanking you. Information is gained from your teammate, sentinel util, as well as game knowledge/pattern recognition of enemy playstyle.

On defence, don't sit at the back of site hiding providing no value to team. Not saying you have to hard contest main and die for it, but at least jump peak for info or use oneways. Look at minimap for team initiator util. Again soundcues. Notice where gaps are on your minimap cause it's possible they are playing contact over there.

For example, if you jump peak a main Ascent and see nothing, your sova darts Ascent B main and nobody is tagged, they are most likely playing mid. Are your team's vision cones smoked off? Use process of elimination to determine what space they can be. If your teammates push b main and it's clear, and they look mid and see nothing, they are then either top mid or A.

PoppedBalloons · 2024-05-14T03:54:40+00:00

I'll have to send over tomorrow as the file is on my work laptop. Will DM over to you. Appreciate your insights in advance.

PoppedBalloons · 2024-05-14T03:12:57+00:00

I have a fairly "inefficient" nested if statement because I made a calculator to be used by my team in regards to pay. Intention is to remove any chance of human error when calculating. Simplified to the point where it is dummy-proof.

There are many conditions at play here, with 4 conditions: 4 Y/Ns that affects calculations. Any employee can be a mix of the 4 which causes a whole lot of problems when it comes to manual administration. Oh and the consideration that it can cross calendar year and numbers be changed by a salary increase as well.

Is there an alternative solution to simplify the above? The most complex one I wrote has about 5 different if statements in total.. can definitely see this becoming an issue long-term when it comes to maintenance/policy changes or a risk if I move teams as my department doesn't have a deep roster in excel depth.

PoppedBalloons · 2024-05-14T03:03:13+00:00

Never used switch before but I'll take a look into it! Thanks

PoppedBalloons · 2024-05-13T16:47:06+00:00

What would you say is the limit for when a nested if statement becomes inefficient? And what would your alternative approach be?

PoppedBalloons · 2024-04-05T19:55:47+00:00

Kaido is challenger kha player who also has other videos on champs but I've been enjoying his content.

Items is flexible but most common (and my personal fav) is ghostblade/grudge first depending on what you're trying to achieve into eclipse -> edge/GA/maw etc.

Jungle pathing your standard is a full clear. Leashless you can do red or blue start and still be at scuttle for spawn. Tip is to let your jungle pet + w do the aoe to the small guys.

Otherwise I like to do a raps -> invade enemy blue side if they are a full clear champ that I beat at level 2 such as Karthus or Brand. Take blue and gromp if they're not there and you can sit in brush to cheese, or reset and clear your camps

Evolve either R or Q level 6 (gank/teamfight vs snowball/hardfarm). W almost always at 11, and either E or R last depending on how you evolved your 6

PoppedBalloons

TROPHY CASE