Sylvanas Jungle Is It Possible?

Hi Tandrake,

This is an interesting concept and I will say I've never considered this, nor ever played him in a non-tanky role, so take my feedback with that in mind.

I like the concept, but hate the god. I just don't like playing Sylv. His basic attack is awkward, and although powerful due to having the AOE, just doesn't feel reliable. So I hesitate to consider any build that involves AS on him. I do know that people have used Hunter's Blessing on him, so I know AS does work...just that it feels sketchy to me.

But in a jungle role, with main consideration being clear speed at camps, I could see a bit of AS being helpful for those camps, and for objective takedown. But I would then consider or expect that AS to be built earlier, not as 4th item ( Demonic Grip).

I do feel that he'd be best built with some protections, not just Magi's Cloak 6th. He has some control, but outside of his ult, nothing truly reliable. Nature's Grasp is easy to miss unless you've rooted with Verdant Growth. And that's also not the easiest CC to hit, at least in my experience.

Build:

In looking at the build, the first 3 items are questionable to me, but I get the concept. As Kriega said, he definitely got a minor base speed increase, but I don't think that's quite enough to really make up for his lack of mobility...so I understand Traveler's Shoes first. But depending on how you engage and rotate and whatnot, that slight amount of added mobility is all you're getting from the item, and I'd think that Shoes of Focus would have higher overall utility.

If doing that, you could drop Chronos' Pendant from being the 2nd item, and go for something that might help your clear a bit more. You could consider that Demonic Grip for quicker basic attack clear (and added MS to make up for not getting Traveler's), and it'll help aggression if you do like the basic attack route. Or you could consider something to help your overall immediate aggression out a bit more. An early Stone of Binding, or a Void Stone, or as you've listed situationally, Spear of the Magus, etc. Yes, Sylv's CDs are loooong. He definitely wants some CDR. But Chronos that early isn't going to help much with an early fight in my mind. You're not tanky enough to stick around an early fight to get off 2 rounds of your abilities, even with 20% CDR. And with Verdant Growth being prioritized first (for quicker jungle camp clear I assume), your heal won't be very strong.

Shaman's Ring is also an interesting choice, and maybe it works. But I feel, if you're trying to be aggressive, you're going to want at least some pen before the 4th item (which with Demonic is unreliable pen). Sure, there's additional MS in the ring, and you argued in a different way about needing the MS...and mentioned Baka/Merc as often having similar MS to the amount you've built. In that concept, I think trying to match them is a fail...that's not your strength, and one that Baka/Merc absolutely function well with (Merc with his passive, Baka with Katana). Don't try to compete with them in their strength by trying to cover your weakness would be my suggestion. Cover your weakness as well as possible, but also work to your strengths.

INSTEAD of very high MS...you should consider an item that should have some good control in the opposite direction. Instead of speeding yourself up, slow them down. Gem of Isolation should work very well with both Wisps and Wrath of Terra.

Bancroft's Talon is also an interesting item, but also one that seems out of place. You've got healing in your kit, and you might already be getting countered with anti-heal. Yes, you can expect to take a lot of damage, but your abilities are mostly not burst...they're DoTs, and that makes the lifesteal unreliable, as you won't be able to sustain yourself that well in a fight (not like Anubis or Freya). His damage abilities are also all AOE/multi-hit abilities, which means they're subject to the 0.33x lifesteal coefficient.

Magi's Cloak is an obvious jungle pick, but one I feel might not be best for Sylv. Why? That Beads effect is always handy, but unreliable, and usually best for gods that can take advantage of getting out of that CC, by making a hasty retreat with their mobility ability. But you don't have one. So you might get out of that CC to still only die in the end.

As such, I would propose a drastically different build for jungle purposes... Shoes of Focus, a pen type item as starting. Depending on need, Chronos' Pendant / Gem of Isolation / protections in whatever order.

All in all, as a non meta pick to throw off people, this could be fun, but I think the itemization could be improved. Again, this is all theoretical, and you've got the experience, but your proposed build just doesn't feel synergistic enough to be reliable, and passing the MS soft cap just to help make up for his lack of mobility cuts into other item options with more potential utility.

Skill Leveling

Just wanted to point this one out. You've got Verdant Growth maxed by level 8, but you can only max by 9, unless you're planning to point-skip.

Would love to hear your thoughts.

I would build instead: Shoes of the Magi, Void Stone/ Dynasty Plate Helm (pref Void Stone), Spear of the Magus, Soul Reaver, Magi's Cloak, Rod of Tahuti/ Ethereal Staff.

For the start I would get tier 1 spear and Assassin's Blessing. Also change the level 19 ult point to be at level 17 instead. Change the level 12 ult point to level 13 as level 12 is impossible to level your ult.

The hell is this troll build?

"While when i play in a party i like to mix things up and make things kinky most of the time it is out of wonder of how to make other players struggle that bit more and have fun doing it." - interesting choice of words...

Interesting concept. I like the idea of Spear of the Magus on him since his Wisps can apply it.

For a full damage build, I'd personally replace the Demonic Grip with Spear of the Magus.