Unleashing the Power of Runes on Warwick: Mastering the Jungle

Warwick, one of League of Legends’ iconic champions, is a feared presence in the jungle. His brute strength and ability to hunt down enemies make him a potent force to be reckoned with. But what truly sets Warwick apart from other junglers is his potential to harness the power of runes.

In this in-depth guide, we will explore the optimal rune choices for Warwick, covering both primary and secondary options. We will also delve into the reasoning behind each selection, providing you with the tools to dominate the jungle as Warwick.

Primary Runes for Warwick:

Selecting the perfect primary rune setup is crucial for maximizing Warwick’s potential. While there are multiple viable options, we will focus on two primary rune paths that have proven to be extremely effective.

1. Precision + Domination (The Ferocious Predator):

This rune setup emphasizes Warwick’s predatory nature, enabling him to relentlessly hunt down targets.

Keystone Rune: Predator

Predator is the cornerstone of this build. Its active effect allows Warwick to activate his boots, transforming him into a bloodthirsty predator seeking out vulnerable opponents on the map. When activated, Predator provides a significant burst of movement speed, making ganks and engages incredibly potent. Remember to activate your Predator boots before initiating fights to catch enemies off guard.

Why Predator?:

Predator synergizes perfectly with Warwick’s kit. As a melee champion, he can quickly close gaps and engage on the enemy team. The increased movement speed from Predator grants him unparalleled mobility, making it easier to land his skill shots and secure kills in team fights or during skirmishes in the jungle.

Secondary Runes: Taste of Blood, Eyeball Collection, Ravenous Hunter

This secondary rune selection provides additional sustain, burst damage, and lifesteal, enhancing Warwick’s survivability and allowing him to outlast opponents in extended engagements.

Taste of Blood: This rune provides a small amount of healing every time you damage an enemy champion. This sustain is particularly important during early skirmishes and jungle clears, allowing Warwick to stay healthy and continue farming the jungle.

Eyeball Collection: This rune grants bonus adaptive force for completing takedowns. As a jungler, Warwick will be involved in numerous skirmishes and ganks, ensuring a steady flow of takedowns. The bonus adaptive force further boosts Warwick’s damage potential.

Ravenous Hunter: Ravenous Hunter offers spell vamp, healing Warwick for a percentage of the damage dealt by his abilities. This healing effect is particularly potent since most of Warwick’s abilities are considered AoE (area of effect), allowing him to restore significant amounts of health during team fights.

Stat Shards: Attack Speed, Adaptive Force, Armor or Magic Resist

When it comes to selecting the ideal stat shards on Warwick, focusing on Attack Speed and Adaptive Force provides the highest benefit. Increased Attack Speed enables him to apply his passive, Eternal Hunger, more frequently, healing him for each basic attack. Adaptive Force further enhances his damage output, making him a formidable force in the jungle.

For the last stat shard, it is crucial to adjust based on the enemy team composition. If facing a heavily AD (Attack Damage) team, prioritize Armor for added defense. If the enemy team is mainly AP (Ability Power) focused, opt for Magic Resist to mitigate their magic damage.

2. Precision + Resolve (The Unbreakable Warrior):

This rune setup emphasizes Warwick’s resilience, allowing him to sustain through the toughest encounters and serve as a frontline tank for his team.

Keystone Rune: Grasp of the Undying

Grasp of the Undying provides Warwick with additional sustain, allowing him to heal and deal bonus damage every few seconds. This keystone works particularly well in extended trades and skirmishes, making Warwick a formidable duelist.

Why Grasp of the Undying?:

Warwick excels at sticking to his target thanks to his Q ability, Jaws of the Beast, which latches him onto an enemy and deals damage while healing himself. Grasp of the Undying further amplifies his sustain, granting him extra health and damage over time. This allows Warwick to survive extended fights and stack up his passive Eternal Hunger.

Secondary Runes: Conditioning, Second Wind, Unflinching

The secondary rune options in the Resolve tree significantly enhance Warwick’s tankiness and resilience throughout the game.

Conditioning: This rune provides bonus resistances after 10 minutes, further bolstering Warwick’s effective health. The additional resistances make him even harder to kill during team fights and skirmishes.

Second Wind: Second Wind is a great sustain option, especially when facing aggressive early-game champions or heavy poke. It provides consistent healing in the form of a percentage of missing health regeneration. This rune effectively allows Warwick to shrug off incidental damage in the jungle or during trades.

Unflinching: Unflinching synergizes well with Warwick’s Q ability, Jaws of the Beast, as he becomes unstoppable during its recast. This rune grants additional tenacity and slow resistance, making it easier for Warwick to close gaps and stick to his target.

Stat Shards: Attack Speed, Adaptive Force, Armor or Magic Resist

The stat shard selection for the Precision + Resolve path remains the same as the Precision + Domination path. Prioritize Attack Speed and Adaptive Force for the highest effectiveness, while adjusting the last shard based on the enemy team composition.

Conclusion

Discovering the optimal rune setup for Warwick is essential for dominating the jungle and carrying games. Whether you choose to unleash the predator within or embrace the unbreakable warrior, selecting the right runes can make all the difference. Experiment with different setups, take note of their impact, and adjust accordingly based on the enemy team composition.

Remember to adapt your playstyle and build to the specific needs of each game. While runes contribute to your success as Warwick, mastering his kit and jungle pathing is equally important. Keep practicing, refining your gameplay, and climbing the ranked ladder with the power of runes on your side.

Sources:

• https://www.mobafire.com/league-of-legends/build/warwick-jungle-guide-best-runes-builds-and-tips-573882
• https://na.leagueoflegends.com/en-us/champions/warwick/