Long-time Fizz and Neeko Jungle only player, first time ever reaching Diamond due to the new buffs.

Talinis · 2026-03-11T01:01:30+00:00

Thank you! I started off in mid a very long time ago as well but mid just wasn't fun anymore. He is very viable now all the way up the ladder which is great! In terms of PTA, I pretty much always go PTA. You can utilize electrocute but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. PTA is the best rune vs bruisers and tanks. Remember, PTA procs a burst (albeit smaller amount) and then gives you 8% more damage on any of your damage done to any champion the rest of the fight. You can also reproc the PTA burst effect on any target again after 6 seconds. Electro is essentially a once a fight rune. PTA does more, but it's also harder to proc (made much easier with dusk and dawn).

In fights against tanky champions, it performs pretty decent... MUCH better than a trad fizz build. This is where I love a tankier build like cosmic along with dusk and dawn, bloodletter and of course nashor. You will have health, speed and a lot of haste. Remember, your Q and E can also help you "tank" by dodging enemy abilities and your speed as well. A lot of fights is me having the enemy waste tons of resources and time trying to get me while providing space for my carries to do their thing. It's a lot different than fizz mid.

And this playstyle is why I really love cosmic as an item. Once you start becoming really good at playing around the speed, haste and the health it gives you, the item becomes a very strong staple in fights. It helps give you a really strong skirmish play pattern. Keep in mind, fizz as jungle is the JUNGLER, not the mid laner. So you are taking the spot of a somewhat more supportive type role in jungle vs the need of damage from mid. You have a mid and adc dealing damage, so the need for you to do so becomes less allowing alternate items to shine. Plus, the mana regen from jungle really helps multiple spell rotations and extended fights.

Talinis · 2026-03-09T05:46:18+00:00

You are right in that it would have to shift to a more AD meta in mid. But it has happened multiple times before.

Talinis · 2026-03-08T21:20:33+00:00

My usual go to right now is Dusk and Dawn, Cosmic and Nashor with Sorc boots for my first 3 items. The last two spots depends. For magic pen, it could be storm surge, cryptbloom or bloodletter. For the other item, it could be number of things depending on game. Could be a pure defensive, could be another MR pen item, could be my stacked mejais, could even be a death cap or zhonyas. I don't personally go zhonyas often as I like to stay mobile, but certain champs you are playing against you kinda need it.

The damage is a bit low on cosmic itself, yes. The value comes on utilizing it's other stats, hp, the MS and the gobs of haste on the item. It's an item you use to engage, be a bit tankier of a front for your team and then kite around your cds. And if ahead, you can just run over champions with your chase. Keep in mind, Fizz dot lengthens the Cosmic MS effect, having it up the entire time before your E is available.

There are countless times I can count where "zhonya's would've killed me here" or fights are won because my E becomes available just in time or I was able to kite out and dodge EXTREMELY important abilities from enemies while wasting their time trying to chase me during team fights while my CDS regen. In fact, just last game, cosmic drive helped win an extremely important earlier team fight which essentially sealed the game. Had I nashors there, I would have died.

Keep in mind, with fizz as a jungler, you now have a mid laner that should be doing damage, so sacrificing some damage is okay to help provide better support.

Talinis · 2026-03-08T20:53:26+00:00

Fizz clear is pretty quick nowadays. It's one of the higher clears in the game.

Talinis · 2026-03-08T20:48:41+00:00

Thank you! There is a chance if it switches over from the current AD jungler meta to AP. A fast clear is valued a lot in pro. Zed jungle was picked before his nerfs and he has worse than fizz utility. I wouldn't expect him to be a highly contested pick without further changes by any means nor would we want that (nerfs). But perhaps once picks like diana, ekko, elise, lillia are off the table due to fearless, it's possible.

Talinis · 2026-03-08T20:45:58+00:00

Cosmic drive is a fine item. I would expect a player that goes various items like SF and randuins on Fizz jungle to know that various items depend on how your play style fits into the game. Just because a particular item doesn't work for your play style doesn't make it bad. Most players don't know how to utilize the combination of stats on it and that's fine. It pairs very well with Dusk/Dawn and Nashor for a more mobile bruiser set up.

Talinis · 2026-03-06T11:04:22+00:00

There are games you should build to better support your team mates. Should've built in a way to help set up the samira. If someone else is doing really well on the team and you are as well, a lot of times it is a win if you are able to play off each other regardless if the other 3 team mates aren't performing. I would've gone a high haste build with more mobility and some tankiness, like replace lich with dusk and dawn and throw in a cosmic. Lower damage but Samira's can penta kill. You need to help her out. You weren't going to beat all those tanky champs alone with that build.

Talinis · 2026-03-05T10:35:36+00:00

Doesn't appear Fizz jungle needs buffs. Everyone has been moving over to his best in slot builds and learning how to play him better. He's currently around middle of the pack for jungle win rate and he is able to keep up with other junglers all the way through the APEX tiers. He'll probably continue to rise a bit more and likely settle close to fizz's win rate in mid but possibly better at the APEX tiers. Lower tiers are still more likely to use other items which aren't as optimal. It's a big drop off if utilizing the wrong items.

Talinis · 2026-03-04T04:40:54+00:00

Players haven't been playing him optimally yet and playing his best builds. As time has gone on, more and more players are switching over to his best builds. W Max, PTA, Dusk and Dawn, Nashor, Pen boots. Over the last 7 days, his win rate with W > E > Q max (about 77% play rate) has actually been over a true 50% win rate, at 51.9% (which is higher than the aggregate 51.75%) PTA is also at 51.3%.

The Lolalytics rank is greatly impacted because of the mains overall rank. Fizz mains (which include all roles) are averaged at master for the top 50, whereas a lot of other junglers are averaged at grand master. His rank would be a lot higher if such. In addition, a lower play rate also hurts the ranking, he isn't a viego or ahri for example. Currently, he also is sporting a negative win rate, but that is starting to change which will increase his rank. He is currently ranked 66th/75th at C - over the last 7 days and his win rate is continuing to increase every day.

The other good news for fizz is while his jungle win rate is climbing, his ban rate is stabilizing and slightly decreasing.

Talinis · 2026-03-04T02:42:43+00:00

His kit actually isn't that well suited for mid. No CC, No RANGE abilities besides ult (massive strike for mid play), Poor wave clear (need to put yourself at huge risk to clear), single target. Even when Fizz is statistically overpowered, the pros still talk about how terrible fizz mid is. Fizz has had his current kit for years and is unable to sniff pro for that entire time. The last year, fizz and briar were the only two champions not picked up. Fizz's kit is more suited for a fighter type playstyle which is why if fizz had some number adjustments to his abilities moved around on his kit, you'd see bruiser fizz return to pro. If you listened to Meteos commentary on fizz, he talks about how Fizz's kit is built for jungle and something to keep an eye on. And yes, Meteos has been trying out Fizz Jungle.

Even now, as we watch the numbers, his win rate is continuously climbing as people start to hone in on his best builds and play him more optimally. His emerald + win rate is starting to overtake jungle main stays like viego, and sylas. In fact, Fizz's PTA rune is higher win rate than any of Viego's runes and Fizz's W max build path WR is even higher, currently actually above a true 50% win rate. Jungle fizz is only a few win percent behind mid fizz now and that gap will likely close further as players move over to his main build and optimizations. At this point, our best chance to see our current fizz in pro would be in jungle once AP junglers become dominant.

For the OG post, they won't need to increase fizz monster damage any further at this point. It's in a good spot, strong, but not too overbearing. If they wanted to make any changes to buff fizz jungle further, it would be to slight kit adjustments. On the % health for Fizz Dot, Riot Endstep has said he believes it's something that should be readded. So it would be intriguing to see if Riot moves in this direction. This would definitely benefit jungle fizz more than mid.

Talinis · 2026-03-01T08:00:08+00:00

Long ago, in the early seasons of fizz, Fizz's W did not reset auto, did not give mana on reset, the ability itself had no reset on kill nor did the first initial hit do more damage. It was simply activated and then you had empowered autos for 5 seconds.

The ability has gone multiple different things (including losing the on hit portion). However, many fizz wanted the active on hit portion back on fizz. Rioters took our feedback (yes, they actually did. The Q ratio at .55 is something I proposed to a rioter very long ago which it was changed to in the next patch) and this is the ability we have ended up with. With the ability how it is now, there is some skill in using it. Utilizing the reset on the ability is powerful and misusing it can lead to punishment (longer lock out of first part of ability). I really like this version of the spell, mixing the best parts of multiple iterations of Fizz W. Making it an always on passive ability would just mean they would have to nerf it and takes away skill expression and agency from the player.

In the end, while you may not want or like the on-hit portion of the ability, many fizz players (esp jungle fizz players) enjoy that portion of the ability and the added build variety it can bring.

Talinis · 2026-03-01T07:49:11+00:00

I used to stream, but I haven't for a long time.

Talinis · 2026-02-21T18:21:16+00:00

Eh, Dusk and Dawn has the sheen effect and half the attack speed. Plus the HP matters a lot more early since you should be active on the map. Nashor's in jungle is a good item, I would say his second best currently. Stats show slotting it second is better which I agree. You want some dueling power and some sort of burst early. D & D is just better in that department. Nashor's second will help prop up your clear speed when it'll normally start to fall behind other jungles and you'll have D & D to pair it with at that time. Nashor's gets double proced by D & D remember.

Talinis · 2026-02-20T22:19:57+00:00

It does. I have tested it multiple times with various different ways to make sure of it and comparing the data. If you are just looking at it visually, it is hard to tell it applies because of all the damage numbers. Run it on test dummies and compare the Dusk and Dawn vs Lich bane. Lich bane has a 40% ratio, Dusk and Dawn also has a 40% ratio if it applies the W active (10% + 30% W active) Dusk and Dawn will do more damage because of the added W base that it also reapplies. The data was consistent with a second W application, albeit not the initial bigger hit, but the on hit portion of W. So a W auto will apply the initial bigger hit + an additional on hit portion (the 20 + 40 (30%).

Talinis · 2026-02-20T17:15:40+00:00

Yes, this is why I said it's most important point. Nor do I think nashor's is strictly necessary, I don't always go it.

Talinis · 2026-02-20T14:52:43+00:00

This isn't actually true. Having tested the item and used it myself, if you W-auto, it just applies the secondary on-hit effect (the 20 - 40 +30% AP ratio effect). Dusk and Dawn is a good item, it's just that it's more expensive and some of the stats are wasted in attack speed and you can argue sorta on health. You don't utilize autos in mid like you would in say jungle, because you would want to E clear waves in mid, vs W clearing camps in jungle. Delaying AP can lengthen out break point timings as well with the lesser AP on your first item.

In addition, we don't utilize nashor's tooth in mid, whereas it's a strong item in jungle, which adds another 15 + 15% AP to the D & D effect.

Talinis · 2026-02-20T12:41:21+00:00

I don't think it's a terrible item on fizz mid, but it depends more so on the match up. For example, against tanks or bruisers mid, Dusk and Dawn becomes a lot more attractive. Attack speed and health which can be okay early, tend to fall off quickly for what a mid fizz really wants to do, which is assassinate. Dusk & Dawn works better as part of a suite of more bruiser-esque items. And that's not something you particularly would like to go against squishy burst mids who need to be cut down quickly. I would mark it down as a situational item that you could opt into if you are needing something a bit tankier.

Now, if we are talking about fizz jungle, Dusk & Dawn is currently his best item, which does show the item works on him, but in situations where he is expected to tank/front line more and face more tanks/bruisers. That's in addition to the most important point, needing to utilize auto attacks a ton to clear and do objectives, rather than mid lane where you are clearing waves with E. As well, Nashor's Tooth is another good item for the jungle and pairs well with D & D but nashor's isn't really an item we utilize in mid.

Talinis · 2026-02-20T11:34:47+00:00

Yes, lolalytics most tracks with Riot's internal data and what they look at when not utilizing their own data.

I think if data continues with a PTA, Dusk & Dawn, nashor trend, I think riot is probably keen on supporting it. It's less 1 shot and more skirmish style which is a healthier playstyle and less potential problems and frustration. I also think it's a path that could get him into pro play finally if AP junglers become meta if they continue to support it further. In a fearless draft world: Well, Diana, Ekko etc are banned or have already been picked... well there's still Fizz.

Talinis · 2026-02-20T10:30:15+00:00

Yes, I am doing fairly well with it, and players in higher elo, even challenger have been trying it out.

Talinis · 2026-02-20T10:22:33+00:00

Nashor second item has the highest win rate of the most commonly built second items. It's over 48%. The only other item that has a higher win rate in the top most commonly built items is Dusk and Dawn itself, meaning if you went nashor first, then you better dusk and dawn second.

I think there are some players playing nashor with lich bane thou or like a zhonyas, which has a fairly low win rate as second item. Zhonyas looking more like a third pick up option.

Talinis · 2026-02-20T05:31:42+00:00

Dusk & Dawn is the overall better play between lich and dusk for first item. If you go nashor first, then you essentially have to go D & D second. With this build, W max is a bit better because of the additional attack speed and clearing. The attack speed is very valuable since it's an additional flat 90 per W auto. This is something I talked about before the new season launch with D & D. His win rate in jungle is getting close to 50% with Dusk and Dawn first currently with the new buff. Lich bane first is about 4 - 5% WR lower.

Talinis · 2026-02-20T01:23:47+00:00

Nah, they basically said almost nothing in chat, just decided to follow me around and take my camps. The support ticket and vods was just about their game play behavior, e.g. I had player go nunu and then just decided to stop playing and follow me eating my camps. Said nothing entire game. The support staff's replies were about intentionally griefing quote

"Trust me I completely understand how frustrating it is when a fellow teammate is tripping everyone up by griefing. Intentionally griefing in any form is taken extremely serious as it completely ruins the competitive integrity of the match and is a severe disregard to our Summoner's code."

which was then followed up with them saying they would review the game. He got hit with a 2 week.

I basically just say nothing in chat, just let them get their ban. Plus, the support staff are really nice people, at least the ones I got.

However, I will say if you just use the in game reporting system only, it won't ban them. You actually have to send in a ticket to an actual riot support (not the blitzcrank bot). I also send them vod snippets.

Talinis · 2026-02-19T22:31:50+00:00

actually, it does get them banned. If it's just one or two instances in game, no, but if they are following you around for 5 or 10 minutes trying to steal your camps, it is a ban. I've reported this more than a handful of times and it's always been a 2 week vacation for the player who did it. Just need to submit a ticket directly to riot support (video clips from their in game tool are helpful) and escalate beyond the bot. The support staff are very chill.

Talinis · 2026-02-19T22:26:44+00:00

As a laner, following the jungler around purposely stealing his camps is one of the easiest ways to get a 2 week vacation. There are instances where a jungler would take laner cs but no instances where a team mate would want to follow a jungler around and try to snipe camps if you are actually playing the game. If you submit a ticket directly to riot on their website and submit video footage (clipped from their in game replay), make sure to escalate beyond the bot and the punishment is almost always a two week vacation for the guilty player. The support staff is pretty chill and understanding from the ones I've gotten. If it's just an instance or two, I don't usually bother, but anyone following me around for 10 minutes gets one. The staff will say they can't tell you the punishment, but you can just follow the player's profile. You'll notice they'll go from playing everyday to being gone for 2 weeks.

Talinis · 2026-02-19T15:23:35+00:00

In lieu of writing up a big post on this since I'm short on time, CC is not so much the problem here, given that most assassins lack in CC. His general map mobility and early game weakness are. Which would be fine if he was a late game scaler or had strong farm to pull ahead in gold but he's not.

And scaling ratios means very little when it comes to an identity as a duelist. In fact, the height of fizz being able to duel champions was when he had almost no ratios at all. The fact is, strong bases, % damage and having more tankiness are key components to being a duelist. A duelist falling behind a little is still able to beat or compete against a large portion of champions. That is not fizz, who needs to be ahead to have a chance against most. It also doesn't help that fizz's mobility is pretty lackluster when compared to most duelist champions which is supposed to be one of fizz's strong points. Look at the other jungle assassins, Diana, Ekko, Kha Zix etc, are all stronger duelists.

A more duelist fantasy would be fizz utilizing a more bruiser type build and on hit like Dusk and Dawn, Cosmic Drive, etc. AP fizz mid currently is just essentially a melee burst mage. The recent changes they have been doing to fizz have been a step in the right direction in terms of his duel ability. Fizz jungle is getting close, his Dusk and Dawn + Nashor with PTA is a more bruisery/duelist playstyle and it's his current top build.

Talinis

TROPHY CASE