Shyvana Build Guide by scaffdaddy

Introduction

Shyvana is one of the fastest junglers and best counter-junglers in the game to date, and I feel that any laning Shyvana is a waste of her full potential. This is a short guide for jungling and counter-jungling with Shyvana, it's not the only or necessarily the best way to build Shyvana, but it's always worked for me as a sure way for jungling success. It will not suit all playing styles, but it works for me and I hope you will give it a go.

Pros / Cons

Pros

Very fast jungler
No mana = Spam abilities all day
High early game DPS
Great at counter jungling, can usually win a 1v1 with an enemy jungler

Cons

No CC, ganking can be difficut
Not as useful endgame

Summoner spells

Runes

Pretty standard rune setup, magic resist per level glyphs because we won't be encountering much magic damage early game, flat armor seals so the jungle monsters dont kill us early game. And of course attack speed quints and damage marks for more damage/clear speed.

Items

Some of the items in the build are situational, if there isn't really any strong AP characters in the enemy team I don't get a Wit's End and replace Mercury's Treads with Ninja Tabi because the magic resist is a waste of gold, sometimes if I really want to do a lot of DPS I'll get a The Bloodthirster, but no matter what I always start with Cloth Armor and 5 health pots.

Why not boots and 3 health pots?

Some players go for the boots, but I don't for a few reasons, first of all the bit of added armor makes a lot of difference in taking damage from jungle monsters, so you can stay out there longer, the two extra health pots also contribute to this. Some people say that you have to get boots for the faster ganking, but the speed boost from her Burnout ability is more than enough.

Wriggle's Lantern

One of the best early game items there is, gives everything we want for Shyvana, more armor for jungle monsters, attack damage for better farming/ganking, and life steal so you can stay out there. I always get this before finishing my boots for a few reasons. The extra attack damage is more useful than tier 2 boots, because Shyvana has her Burnout speed boost to make her faster than most champions anyway. And the lifesteal means you should't need to buy health pots anymore. The ward wriggle's gives is very useful as well.

Wit's End

This item is so good on Shyvana because of its passive, the bonus magic damage is applied to both of your hits when you use Twin Bite, and the magic resist is great when your ganking mid AP champions.

Frozen Mallet

Another great item on Shyv, I always get it for its CC, if your chasing down an enemy champion, use Burnout to catch up to them and then hit them to slow and you have a kill. The extra attack damage and health is great too.

Late game

After these items the build really depends on the enemy team, if they have heavy AD, then I get a Sunfire Cape. If they have AP carries that are doing well, then a Maw of Malmortius. Whatever I buy, it is always a tanky item because at this stage of the game I often use, Dragon's Descent to initiate team fights. All the armor, health and magic resist are handy for surviving long enough for the rest of your team to come in and help. After Sunfire Cape, you're gonna have a lot of health so Atma's Impaler is a great item to get.

Last thing to add, if there any enemies armoring up a lot (like Garen), then The Black Cleaver or Last Whisper come in very handy.

Skill Sequence

The skill sequence I've put in is just a general guide, if I'm covering a lane for someone against a ranged champion I'll get her Flame Breath before her Twin Bite so I can harrass them a bit. Basically you want to max her Burnout first, just cause it's so great at farming, then her Twin Bite for its good damage. Go for the Dragon's Descent at 6,11 and 16. The passive magic resist and armor increase her tankiness.

Using her abilities

Burnout

Burnout has many uses, it is great for farming, useful for catching up to/getting away from enemies and great for its AoE damage in teamfights, both in and out of dragonform. I hit this as soon as I enter any fight if its not already on for its extra damage, you can always do this due to Shyvana's lack of mana.

Twin Bite

I use this much the same as burnout in fights, hit it before you enter the fray and the first enemy you hit will be hit twice! In dragon form this ability is great for damaging multiple enemies, useful for taking down turrets that bit faster as well.

Flame Breath

This ability is Shyvana's only ranged ability, it is a akillshot and can be very easy to miss with. I use this very similarly to Shyvana's two other abilites, in any fight with champions, monsters or creeps, it does a bit of damage but also reduces their armor for a short period, use it at the start of a fight so your attacks do even more damage!

Dragon's Descent

While in dragon form all your abilites gain AoE damage. Charge it up by farming minions and monsters, then jump into a fight and wreak havoc! I often come around behind enemies and then use this to push them into my teammates. Another useful thing about Shyvana's dragon form is that her Burnout leaves a burning trail that deals damage, so in addition to being able to get away quicker while its on, enemies chasing you will be hurt by it. Don't be afraid to use her ulti to get away, it may seem like a waste but you get it again quickly, it's not worth dying just to save your ulti for another time. Just pop burnout then ulti away and any enemies chasing you will be hurt by the fire trail you leave.

Jungling

Counter Jungling

Counter jungling relies on warding of the enemy jungle so that you know what the enemy jungler is doing, two good places for wards are at the enemies blue buff and red buff. Here is a general map guide for warding

Key

1: Baron and dragon, most important, ward these even when not counter jungling.
2: Red and blue, put these in for counter jungling.
3: Other bushes, not as important, only if you want to really know what the enemy jungler is doing all the time.
I usually put these in later game when mid is pushed a bit. Often enemies can go into the jungle bushes to get away or to come and attack from behind, wards here help you stop the enemy getting away or alert you to a surprise attack from behind.

Warding the buffs

Having sight at enemy buffs is very useful. When an enemy jungler goes for them you come in and kill them and steal the buff as well if possible, smite makes this easy. While doing this it is important to keep watch on the other lanes to see if they are coming to help their teammate. If they are coming, you might not secure the kill, but it will allow your teammates to push. Shyvana is one of the best counter junglers because she does damage very quickly, so it is rare that the enemy will get away, or that the team will get there quick enough to save them.

When to enter the enemy jungle

You have to be very careful when entering the enemy jungle, if they have warded up their own jungle, you will most likely get ganked by the enemy team. Only go into the enemy jungle if all enemies are accounted for, either you can see them or they are dead. When you go in to steal their buffs or even their other camps, leave one of the small monsters behind, the bulk of the reward is always from the big monster, then stick a ward there. Then when an enemy comes to get the buff, there will only be a little monster because the camp won't respawn unless all monster have been killed, and the ward will let your team know where they are.

Summary

That's it, thanks for reading my guide, I know it still needs a few things so if you downvote it, please leave feedback telling what was wrong with it and I'll change it. This is just the way I play Shyvana and it works for me, I can't imagine it working for all playing styles though so if you don't go well with it, don't downvote and say rubbish guide. Thanks for reading and see you on the fields of justice!