Matchup

Heavy AD damageSustained DPSHigh sustain

Build vs Nilah

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Scorchclaw Pup
Health Potion

Core build

Eclipse
1DPS
Spear of Shojin
2Bruiser
Frozen Heart
3vs AD

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Sundered Sky
5Bruiser

Summoner spells

411100%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Guardian Angel
5vs AD

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Spirit Visage
5vs AP

Anti Tank

Black Cleaver
5vs Tank
Profane Hydra
vs Tank
Youmuu's Ghostblade
vs Tank

DPS

Sundered Sky
Bruiser

Other options

Sterak's Gage
Survival
100.0% WR1 games
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
TriumphTriumph
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
JarvanIVJarvan IV
NilahNilah
Passive
Favorable
Favorable

Nilah's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Joy Unending (P)

Nilah gains increased experience from last-hitting minions along with the ability to enhance and share nearby healing and shielding from her allies.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
34s26s0.5s
64s26s0.5s1m50
94s25s0.5s1m50
114s24s0.5s1m35
164s22s0.5s1m20
184s22s0.5s1m20

Playing against Nilah

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Nilah's W blocks autos — switch to abilities or wait for the zone to expire.

2

Poke her at range: as a melee ADC, she's weak against ranged harassment.

3

Watch out for her XP advantage: she can hit level 6 before you and all-in with R.

4

Mage supports (Brand, Zyra) counter her because they don't rely on the autos that her W blocks.

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