The early game in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is a jungle battlefield—especially if you’re the team’s jungler. Enemies will invade, Turtles are up for grabs, and buffs are always at risk. But with these seven pro jungle tips, you’ll navigate the early game with confidence and set your team on the road to victory.
Table of contents
- 1. Don’t Gank Gold Lane First—Focus on XP Lane
- 2. Don’t Contest Turtle Against Strong Early Enemies
- 3. Leave Your Buffs to Defend Turrets When Needed
- 4. Don’t Always Use Retribution on the First Buff
- 5. Use the Scoreboard Jungle Trick to Predict Enemy Movements
- 6. Farm Minions After 5 Minutes
- 7. Don’t Waste Retribution on Turtle
1. Don’t Gank Gold Lane First—Focus on XP Lane
Instead of starting with a gold lane gank, prioritize the XP lane before Turtle spawns (around the 2nd minute). Eliminating the enemy XP laner denies them their ultimate for the Turtle fight, making it easier for your team to secure the objective. In solo queue, gold laners aren’t always reliable, so save your resources and focus on the XP lane to maximize early impact.

2. Don’t Contest Turtle Against Strong Early Enemies
If the enemy team has a stronger early game lineup, don’t force a fight over the Turtle. Instead, look for a gank on the opposite lane or try stealing their buff. Most enemies expect a Turtle contest, so changing your plan can catch them off guard and may even net you a turret.
3. Leave Your Buffs to Defend Turrets When Needed
If you suspect enemies might push your turret, don’t hesitate to leave your buff or jungle creeps and rotate to defend. This situation usually happens when your teammates lose their lane and there’s no one left to defend. Always keep an eye on the minimap and move quickly to protect your towers.
4. Don’t Always Use Retribution on the First Buff
You don’t always have to use Retribution on your first buff. If the enemy has invaders like Fanny, Franco, Hanzo, Hilda, or Natalia, it’s safer to save Retribution for the second buff. Losing your second buff hurts much more than being slightly slower on the first. If the enemy has a weak early lineup, using Retribution for faster farming is fine, but stay alert for enemy mages with Flame Shot or Novaria.

5. Use the Scoreboard Jungle Trick to Predict Enemy Movements
Check the enemy jungler’s gold on the scoreboard while they farm buffs. If their gold increases by 23, they took the small creep on Purple Buff; around 120 gold means they took Orange Buff. This info helps you read the enemy jungler’s path and predict potential ganks so you can warn your teammates or set up an ambush.

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6. Farm Minions After 5 Minutes
If your allies leave their lane after 5 minutes, farming minions will help you scale faster than just clearing jungle creeps. Always take minions when the lane is empty, but don’t neglect jungle camps and buffs nearby.

7. Don’t Waste Retribution on Turtle
Unless you’re certain there are no enemies hiding in bushes (with long-range skills like Moskov or Xavier), save your Retribution. If it’s safe, use Retribution to invade the enemy jungle or to secure a lane gank, making your plays more aggressive and efficient.
Conclusion
By mastering these seven jungle tips, you’ll take your early game in MLBB to the next level. No matter how aggressive your opponents are, you’ll keep control and guide your team toward victory as a true jungle pro.
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FAQ
A: Always prioritize the XP lane before Turtle spawns for the best impact and to deny the enemy laner their ultimate.
A: No. If the enemy has a stronger early game or better position, consider trading objectives or setting up a gank elsewhere.
A: Save Retribution for the second buff if there’s a risk of enemy invasion. Otherwise, use it on the first buff for faster farming.
A: Check the scoreboard for gold increments as they take buffs—23 gold for Purple Buff, ~120 gold for Orange Buff.
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