An interview with Crumbz on jungle balance and teamwork

After week 9 of the LCS, I had the honor to talk with Alberto 'Crumbz' Rengifo, Jungler for Team Dignitas' League of Legends team in North America. Crumbz answered questions regarding jungle balance and shared his thoughts regarding teamwork situations. Enjoy!

How do the new jungle items Quill Coat and Spirit of the Ancient Golem affect you and your style?

Crumbz: Unfortunately Quill Coat and the new Ancient Golem are not enough to bring the tank/utility junglers to the highest tier of play. So for now it's just an item to get on your non lizard junglers if you want to be extra tanky with the early armor and hp.

 

If you were capable of rebalancing the jungle items, what changes would you make?

Crumbz: I think the jungle items are balanced at the moment actually. The champions played, not so much.

 

Do you suspect Riot will rework or release a new champion that seriously affects the jungle?

Crumbz: No, I think they announced their next champion to be a top laner?

 

What is your idea of a perfect kit for a jungle champion?

Crumbz: Everything that is Lee Sin.

 

If you could buff or nerf a single jungle champion, who would you change and why?

Crumbz: Nocturne ult cooldown lowered. That's all he needs really, or I'd start there at least. Because he is fun and looks cool.

 

Based on what you do know about enemy vision, how do you decide when and where to gank?

Crumbz: It all depends on the mission of your team comp and the champion you have. You can always deny vision with pink wards to get good routes, otherwise, you can just gank in plain sight and force the enemy to retreat ensuring that you now have pressure on the enemy for a little bit.

 

You are also known to buy a lot of wards yourself, do you budget your gold, determining how much you will spend on wards beforehand?

Crumbz: I don't think about my money that much. 1 ward can win the game at all stages of the game. So I like having many because it increases your chances of winning. Even if I had minimal items, with proper ward coverage you can still win a skirmish.

 

In your last match against EG you played a mean Nunu, why haven't you played him more this split?

Crumbz: The meta shifted more and more to hypercarries, so Nunu is best now with the rise of these and changes to Infinity Edge.

 

Since the beginning of the split, you've had a strong synergy with Zion and Shiphtur considering they are relatively new, what lead to such strong teamwork?

Crumbz: I don't think it's that good. But regardless, lots of duo q.

 

Do you have a rival in the LCS, a player you can compare yourself to and try to defeat?

Crumbz: I have no rivals in LCS. Must beat everyone.

 

You use a hand towel to prevent a loose grip on your mouse, but why the looney-toons theme?

Crumbz: I use a towel over my mouse because I have hyperhydrosis, it's so I don't damage my mouse. As for the looney toons, why not?

 

Any shout-outs or final remarks?

Crumbz: Just a shoutout to all my fans, dig fans and everyone who is a part of making the esports scene what it is.