Matchup

Heavy CCStrong engageCountered by spell shieldVery tanky

Build vs Nautilus

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Gustwalker Hatchling

Core build

Malignance
1Mage
Zhonya's Hourglass
2vs AD
Shadowflame
3vs Tank

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Liandry's Torment
5Mage tank

Summoner spells

411100%

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Banshee's Veil
5vs AP

Anti Tank

Void Staff
5vs Tank

DPS

Liandry's Torment
Mage tank
Hextech Rocketbelt
Mage tank
Rabadon's Deathcap
Mage
100.0% WR1 games
DominationDomination
ElectrocuteElectrocute
Cheap ShotCheap Shot
Grisly MementosGrisly Mementos
Ultimate HunterUltimate Hunter
SorcerySorcery
TranscendenceTranscendence
Axiom ArcanistAxiom Arcanist
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
FiddlesticksFiddlesticks
NautilusNautilus
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral

Nautilus's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Staggering Blow (P)

Nautilus' first Attack against a target deals increased physical damage and roots them briefly.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
314s12s7s
612s12s7s2m
910s12s7s2m
1110s12s7s1m40
1610s12s6s1m20
1810s12s5s1m20

Playing against Nautilus

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

His Q hook can hit terrain (he pulls himself to the wall): minions do NOT block it, unlike Blitz/Thresh.

2

Respect his level 2: Q + passive root is one of the best support engages at level 2.

3

His R is point-and-click: you can't dodge it, but you can Zhonya's or position so it doesn't knock up your allies along the way.

4

Nautilus is slow without his Q — kite him after he uses his hook.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026