Jungle Cow is one the most productive junglers in the game when it comes to feeding lanes. This guide is aimed at focusing on playing a very strong support role in the late game while feeding lanes early on.

For masteries I prefer to use a 0/21/9 primerily because as jungle cow you will not be required to deal much damage. The CC you bring into the fight is what you need to feed your lanes (explained later). Taking tank masteries in defense help me sustain in lane while mana/MS in utility give you a little faster clear time.

This skill sequence is based on dishing out the maximum amount of damage through mid game with ganks with out any damage bonuses. Taking Pulverize into Headbutt first is the most important aspect of jungle cow. The level 2 gank from Alistar is one of the strongest, if not THE strongest early ganks in the game. The amount of CC dished out at level 2 by alistar surpasses all other champions in my opinion.

Standard jungle spells, no need for exhaust because of the massive amounts of CC. Flash is essential for late game to help protect the carry/escape from sticky situations.

Items are designed to make you insanely tanky while being quite mobile in teamfights. Be sure to use the actives on the Randuin's and Shurelyia's

PROS:
Massive amounts of CC
Strongest tank ult in the game IMO
Is very tanky and a strong support
Does wonders when defending the AD carry.
Cons:
slow jungling time
failed ganks can ruin the game

Summary: The level 2 gank can make it or break it for Jungle Cow. If the gank fails, Alistar is put at a major setback because he is behind in gold and most likely will have to go back to restock on pots to continue jungling.

Always begin with wolves and then blue on jungle Alistar. From there IMMEDIATELY GANK the nearest lane(on blue team gank top/purple(bot/mid)) to gank be sure to go from behind the Tri-Bush to come from behind them once the lane is neutral or pushed to your own tower. from there you have 2 options. Headbutt Pulverize or Pulverize into Headbutt. If you can go in for the Pulverize without their escape, always pulverize first. To play it safe it would be best to Headbutt into an immediate Pulverize. First blood is almost impossible to miss when executed correctly.

For mid do the exact same thing just come from behind the lane, NOT from the bush!

After blue you can return to wolves again if they are up, otherwise continue to wraiths then to the Lizard Camp.
DO NOT GET THE SMALL GOLEMS WITH JUNGLE ALISTAR
DO NOT GET THE SMALL GOLEMS WITH JUNGLE ALISTAR
DO NOT GET THE SMALL GOLEMS WITH JUNGLE ALISTAR
DO NOT GET THE SMALL GOLEMS WITH JUNGLE ALISTAR

The golems deal way too much damage than their worth in gold. It is best to go and gank another lane after clearing your jungle than to waste time on the golems.

by late game, the teams have gathered together to duke it out over the objectives. Your have 2 jobs as jungle Alistar. Initiate and find the AD carry on their team and Protect yours.

Initiation on Alistar is quite simple. Cast your Ult and Headbutt in to close the gap. from there you must find the enemy AD carry fast. If you find them go after. If not go to step 2.


STEP 1
you can do either 2 things to the enemy AD carry. Get them out of the fight. Or allow your team to kill them. I reccomend only using 1 of your skills as needed. Headbutt to knock them away. or Pulverize for your team to burst them down.

STEP 2
Use the other skill to PROTECT THE AD CARRY. your support should also be doing this but they will probably have been bursted down by this time in the fight. spam your heal in team fights and use the other skill to CC the enemies hitting your carry.

I hope this guide was helpful as it is my first. I just think that Alistar is a very under appriciated jungler and needs to be proved worthy of being a great champion.