Udyr is a very flexible champion because of Udyr's high itemless damage output and survivability. Udyr benefits from a lot of items allowing him to focus more on damage and on surivability as well. You'll have to find a good balance every game, sometimes more offensive, other times more defensive. Udyr is able to jungle safely, flexible and fast, although Udyr's a terribad laner.

Abbreviated Terms
AA = Auto-attack (Basic Attacks)
CC = Crowd Control (Stun, fear, slow, snare, etc)
FB = First Blood
AP = Ability Power
AD = Attack Damage
MD = Magic Damage
AS = Attack Speed
MS = Movement Speed
MR = Magic Resistance
ArPen = Armor Penetration
MPen = Magic Penetration
LS = Life Steal
SV = Spell Vamp
DPS = Strong Auto-attacker
MDPS = Strong spells; casters
CDR = Cooldown Reduction
OOM = Out of Mana
MP = Mana
HP = Health
MP Regen = Mana Regeneration per 5 seconds
HP Regen = Health Regeneration per 5 seconds

Welcome to my guide of Udyr, The Animal Spirit! Udyr really is an unique champion because he has no ultimate but rather four stances. As a jungler and offensive tank he's a great asset to any team. His strong ganking ability and survivability makes him a viable jungler. He becomes almost unstoppable and stays a great teamfighter all game long.



Pros:

• flexible
• good chaser
• damage output
• decent jungler
• towerdives easily

Cons:

• needs to get and stay in melee range
• has some mana issues early game

Bridge Between - A nice passive. It gives you a little bit of dodge chance and attack speed. While it may not look that much it's quite strong especially late game when you can afford to quickly change between your stances.

Wilding Claw (Q) - On Activation Udyr will deal a high amount of damage over 2 seconds with his first attack. While in Wilding Claw Udyr's attack speed is passively increased by 30-70%, too. This is a great offensive stance. The damage it can deal is ridiculous especially if combined with Trinity Force and Wingborne Storm.

Iron Mantle (W) - On Activation Udyr gains a temporary shield that absorbs damage. While in Iron Mantle Udyr's attacks cannot crit, but he restores his health and mana equivalent to a percentage of his damage dealt. This is a great defensive stance. The amounts of damage you're able to absorb are surprising because it scales with your resistances. It's great for jungling and to counter the initial burst damage.

Blazing Stampede (E) - On Activation Udyr gains a large movement speed increase for a short duration. While in Blazing Stampede Udyr's attacks stun his target for 1 second. This effect cannot occur on the same target for several seconds. This is a great offensive and defensive stance, offensive to gank, chase and CC opponents and defensive to escape and interrupt spells. Remember that you can only stun a target once every 6 seconds, so try to stun multiple targets. The movement speed gain is huge as well.

Wingborne Storm (R) - On Activation Udyr sends out pulsing waves of fire dealing damage to nearby foes for 5 seconds and has increased ability power and damage. While in Wingborne Storm every third attack, Udyr engulfs enemies in front of him in flame, too. This is a great offensive stance, too. It's great for jungling and teamfights because it deals AoE damage. The damage you can deal is ridiculous especially if combined with Trinity Force and Wingborne Storm.


Jungle: Wingborne Storm R and Iron Mantle W equally

Mid Game: Blazing Stampede E, Wingborne Storm R and Iron Mantle W to Level 3

Late Mid Game: Wilding Claw Q to Level 3

Late Game: Blazing Stampede E and Iron Mantle W to Level 5, Wingborne Storm R and Wilding Claw Q to Level 4

Ghost: Remember that you fight your opponents in melee range. It will make it easier to gank by a lot. You can also use it to escape.

Smite: We have to get it because we are a jungler. It will speed up our jungle time, make it safer and secures that buffs don't get stolen from us. There's no valid reason not to get it 'cause we are jungling anyways.


Exhaust: Use it to slow down your opponents (offensively and defensively) and to kill the opponent DPS carry although it's less powerful after the nerf.

1) Greater Mark of Attack Speed RECOMMENDED
5) Greater Mark of Desolation

Greater Mark of Attack Speed provide Udyr with increased attack speed to increase your damage output and especially your jungle time. You will not only be able to jungle faster but also a lot safer. If you don't have those or want to rely more on Wilding Claw, get Greater Mark of Desolation.

1) Greater Seal of Armor RECOMMENDED
2) Greater Seal of Evasion

Greater Seal of Armor provide Udyr with flat armor to to make Udyr stronger against PDPS. The important thing is that you can rely on the armor but not on the dodge chance. If you don't have those, get Greater Seal of Evasion.

1) Greater Glyph of Scaling Magic Resist RECOMMENDED
2) Greater Glyph of Scaling Cooldown Reduction

Greater Glyph of Scaling Magic Resist provide Udyr with MR per Lvl to make him stronger against casters. Since you won't need the MR that much early game while you're jungling, I prefer per Level. If you want to rely on your abilities even more, get Greater Glyph of Scaling Cooldown Reduction and Youmuu's Ghostblade.

1) Greater Quintessence of Attack Speed RECOMMENDED
2) Greater Quintessence of Movement Speed
3) Greater Quintessence of Desolation

Greater Quintessence of Attack Speed provide Udyr with increased attack speed to increase your damage output and especially your jungle time. You will not only be able to jungle faster but also a lot safer. If you don't have those, get Greater Quintessence of Movement Speed to increase your very important MS. If you don't have those and want to rely more on Wilding Claw, get Greater Quintessence of Desolation.

For Udyr's mastery tree, I go a 0/14/16 build. You could go 0/21/9 if you want to be even tankier and doesn't want to sacrifice defense for utility. It's completely viable imo. The defense tree makes Udyr able to jungle safer. The utility tree instead makes you able to jungle faster and to keep neutral monsters buff longer.


Udyr's jungle staying power and jungle safety are increased by a lot. There's no reason not to take these. So take them. Seriously.

Udyr wants to jungle quickly, flexible and safely, so why not allow it?!

Udyr's experience gain will be increased by 5% allowing Udyr to jungle safer and faster yet again. Additionally Udyr's regeneration and MS will be increased as well. Improved Ghost and increased neutal monsters' buff durations are useful as well.

Udyr wants to jungle quickly, flexible and safely, so why not allow it?! But Udyr wants to gank as well, the MS and buff duration increase will help you. Trust me.

Start off with Cloth Armor and 2 Health Potions. When you port back to base, you should have roughly 400 gold. Buy Boots and another Health Potion.


Get at least 1 Sight Ward every single time you return to base. Every. Seriously.


Cloth Armor allows Udyr to survive in the jungle. Take it and love it.

Health Potionare needed to stay alive early game. Don't be afraid to buy some.

Mercury's Treads increase Udyr's movement speed by a lot (when everybody else doesn't have boots yet) and makes you gank with ease. Udyr's a melee champion. He needs to jump right in the middle of the action.

Madred's Razors will increase Udyr's jungle speed, make it safer and it'll help Udyr farm. But it is possible to skip this item if you're getting stomped.

Wriggle's Lantern is even better than Madred's Razors and will increase your survivability by a lot. Udyr will be able to jungle even faster 'cause it will proc more often and heal yourself at the same time. The free wards it'll grant Udyr is awesome. This item will pay off pretty quickly imo. But it is possible to skip this item if you're getting stomped.

Catalyst the Protector provides Udyr with a fair amount of health. Everytime Udyr levels up, Udyr will restore some mana and health. It's great and later it builds into Banshee's Veil. But it is possible to skip this item if they have no magical damage at all.

Heart of Gold provides Udyr with a very nice amount of armor and a fair amount of health. Keep in mind it gives money as well. It will make Udyr a lot tougher. But it is possible to skip this item if they have no physical damage at all.




These are items to get when you need more survivability. Here I will explain what items are good to get for more survivability, why they are good for Udyr and when you might want to get them.

Banshee's Veil is a great item to counter casters and to block CC/initiation spells. Remember you should and want to be right in the middle of the action. Take it if you have problems with casters or CC.

Randuin's Omen provides Udyr an amazing defense against physical damage although the best part however is the active ability. It'll make it very hard to run from you. Take it if you face physical damage.

Wit's End increases Udyr's MR and AS. Your attacks will deal 42 bonus magic damage as well and remove up to 42 mana. Now it'll damage nomana-champions like Kennen, Katarina, Garen etc. as well. Take it if you face a lot of mana users that rely on their abilities or face a lot of magic damage.

Sunfire Aegis provides Udyr with a magic damage AoE, a lot of HP and quite some armor. Don't underestimate the damage, it's quite strong. Consider to take it when you are facing a lot of physical damage.

Force of Nature provides the most MR of any one item in the game. If you're facing just too much MDPS you can possibly handle, take it after Banshee's Veil.

Quicksilver Sash allows Udyr to counter CC. Seriously. This item is underrated although it works. Trust me. Take it if you have trouble surviving because you're CCed all day long in a teamfight.

Aegis of the Legion provides Udyr and his team with an aura which seems weak but it isn't because Udyr should stay in the middle of the fight. In fact the less resistances your team has, the more effective this item will get. Take it early if your teammates are all squishy or if their team is really balanced and you have trouble surviving against them.

Hexdrinker helps Udyr to survive against magic burst damage and increase your damage output. It's a cheap counter to Requiem, Finales Funkeln, Trueshot Barrage ... Take it early if you struggle against magical damage.

Atma's Impaler provides Udyr with some defense against physical damage and more damage based on your HP. The more health you have, the more damage you'll get. Take it if you don't struggle against physical damage but have to face it.



These are items to get when you need more damage. Here I will explain what items are good to get for more damage, why they are good for Udyr and when you might want to get them.

Trinity Force is one of the best items for Udyr because because Udyr can spam all his abilities late game. He profits from all of the ingredients. Get it, if you feel confident enough to and want to improve Udyr's offensive capabilities by a lot.

The Brutalizer provides you with AD, ArPen and 10% CDR. Udyr's damage output will increase by a lot and it's cheap as well, so take it, if you want to deal more damage.

Youmuu's Ghostblade is even better than The Brutalizer and has an active ability. When activated, you'll move and attack faster. It can be used as a mini-ghost for escaping/chasing. Take it if you can afford it, you don't have to rush it though if you've already gotten The Brutalizer.

Black Cleaver is now even more powerful on Udyr than it was before. It gives 45 armor reduction with 3 stacks. Getting 3 stacks should be easy 'cause Udyr already has Wingborne Storm. Take it if you feel confident enough to and want to improve Udyr's raw damage output by a lot.

Zeke's Harbinger helps Udyr to stay alive in team fights with its AS and LS aura.
The armor reduction is a nice bonus to your team's physical damage output. Take it you feel confident enough to and want to offensively improve Udyr's staying power.

Bloodthirster provides Udyr with a lot AD and LS to punish your opponents and to keep your HP up. There are better choices imo. Take it only if you're fed.

Against an Unthreatening opposing team


Against a Balanced opposing team


Against a heavy Physical opposing team


Against a heavy Magic opposing team


Remember that these builds are just examples, not how to build but rather how you could build. For example you can skip Wriggle's Lantern if you have trouble to survive in teamfights and you know what you're doing. Don't skip it if you have to rely on it.

We purchase Cloth Armor and two Health Potions and start at Wolves camp.
We open up with Wingborne Storm and use it a second time after you hit at least six times.
Afterwards we walk to Wraiths camp and use Smite on the big wraith and pop our first Health Potion. As we level up we put a point into Iron Mantle.
Next we head to Golems camp. We kill them in Wingborne Storm while using our second Health Potion. We'll level up again and put another point into Wingborne Storm.
Now we port back to base and buy Boots and at least one Health Potion.

Back at the Blue Golem camp, we use Wingborne Storm and our Health Potion waiting to use Smite on the Blue Golem once it's low enough.
Next is Wolves camp. We clear the camp by opening with Wingborne Storm and after our 3rd hit we acticate Iron Mantle to regain some health. As we level up, we put another point into Iron Mantle.
Afterwards we kill the Wraiths camp in the same way.
Then we head to Golems camp again and kill it by switching back and forth between Wingborne Storm and Iron Mantle.
At the end we go to the Red Lizard camp and kill it the same way we killed the Golems camp before waiting to use Smite on it once it's low enough. We'll level up again and put our first point into Blazing Stampede.
Now Udyr's ready to gank!

My jungle path is the same as Offensive Phoenix but my build is different. You could also try his out, but well I recommend mine of course.

But what if you're new to this game and low-level? Well, try his low-level path out. It works if you follow his itembuild.

Now what if the other jungler has a jungler as well? This video explains a lot of you can do.

After you finished your jungle, you want to gank lanes. If you actually kill them or not, isn't that important. Just keep the pressure up. You can't always be succesful but with MS of Blazing Stampede, Ghost and Boots as well as Red buff and the stun from Blazing Stampede it should be possible. Try to go for the right target at the right moment. It's actually harder to do than to say it, but maybe that's just me... Anyways you should have some map awareness as a jungler (doesn't matter if it's Udyr or not). Ward the map and keep watching at it.


Does Udyr have problems with magical or physical damage? Does Udyr need more damage (if Udyr has no problems to survive at all)? Which item to get?

Ward the map with your team. Udyr shouldn't have to be the one to buy all the wards. Just make sure to keep at least dragon, baron and the most common teamfights areas warded.

Grab the lizard buff whenever possible unless there's someone who needs it even more than Udyr does. If Udyr got it, try to gank a lane. Lizard buff is really strong on Udyr because it helps him to stay in melee range. Udyr's opponents won't be able to get away from Udyr that easily anymore.

You're able to initiate teamfights quite well unless there's another tank on your team. While Udyr can do it, there a lot of champions better at initiating teamfights. If you have to, try to disable their carries and/or casters with Blazing Stampede. The following is entirely situational. You should fight how you have to. If you want to deal damage, switch between Wingborne Storm and Wilding Claw. Mix in Iron Mantle to soak up damage and Blazing Stampede to stun them again.
If you are not initiating, try the same thing after your tank initiated on them and try to protect your squishies as well.


You should play just like in the mid game phase except there are even more teamfights.

Push whenever the time is right but don't overdo it. You don't want to fight their team at their turret if you're at a disadvantage. Just don't force yourself into bad spots.

Remember you're an offensive tank so try to be a threat to the squishie opponents. Stay together with your team and wait for the opponents to make a mistake.

Know when and why to switch your stances. Keep your passive going late game.

Don't be too scared of their turrets. You can tank quite a few shots.


Map Control and Map Awareness are very important if you want to win. You have to buy wards and to keep watching at the minimap.
Two simple rules:
1. Get 1 Sight Ward every time you return to base.
2. Look at the minimap every time before you do something.



Priority:
Red > Blue > Orange + Green

Red spots should always be warded after 5 (Dragon) or 15 (Baron Nashor) minutes. Those are very important to have warded all the time. The teamfights around them can really make or break your game.

Blue spots should be warded to prevent ganks top, bot and mid and to observe enemy movements. The areas around these spots are also common teamfight areas.

Orange spots should be warded to secure your own jungle buffs and/or to watch the opponents' ones. These can be really helpful if the enemy has a jungler or if you can catch someone alone.

Green spots should be warded to gain even more map awareness and control. The areas around these spots are also common teamfight areas.

Udyr is a flexible champion and should be played as one. You will have to jungle as Udyr, but don't worry despite common belief he's able to it without any runes or masteries. Udyr is powerful if you know how to handle him. It's not easy but he's not that hard to play either. If you're able to play while adapting to your opponents and your team, he's really rewarding. It might be challenging to do at first though.

Q. Isn't your skill order kind of messed up?
Q. Why would you ever want to skip Wriggle's Lantern?
Q. Why do you prefer Wriggle's Lantern to Madred's Bloodrazor?
Q. What's the reason behind your jungle route?

First I want to really thank SixSonatas for this great template a lot.

Secondly I want to thank stonewall008 and cakeandcereal for their great videos.

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