Matchup

Heavy AP damageHeavy pokeHigh burstDive threat

You are stronger late game — farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Nidalee

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Bow
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Nashor's Tooth
1DPS
Dusk and Dawn
2Mage tank
Rabadon's Deathcap
3Mage

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Shadowflame
5vs Tank

Summoner spells

41244%
3425%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Zhonya's Hourglass
5vs AD

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Anti Tank

Shadowflame
5vs Tank
Void Staff
vs Tank

DPS

Phantom Dancer
DPS
100.0% WR3 games
PrecisionPrecision
Press the AttackPress the Attack
Absorb LifeAbsorb Life
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Last StandLast Stand
SorcerySorcery
CelerityCelerity
Gathering StormGathering Storm
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
KayleKayle
NidaleeNidalee
Passive
Neutral
Aggressive

Nidalee's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Prowl (P)

Moving through brush increases Nidalee's Move Speed by 10% for 2 seconds, increased to 30% toward visible enemy champions within 1400 range.Hitting champions or monsters with Javelin Toss or Bushwhack triggers a Hunt, granting True Sight of them for 4 seconds. During this time, Nidalee gains 10% Move Speed (increased to 30% toward the Hunted target) and her Takedown and Pounce are enhanced against them.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
36s13s12s
66s13s12s3s
96s12s12s3s
116s11s12s3s
166s9s12s3s
186s9s12s3s

Playing against Nidalee

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Dodge her Q (javelin): without the mark, her cougar burst is significantly reduced.

2

Nidalee scales poorly into late game — if you survive her early pressure, you'll have the advantage later.

3

Deep ward: Nidalee excels at jungle invading and fast ganks thanks to her cougar speed.

4

Tanks and champions with high HP counter her: her burst becomes less and less effective on tanky targets.

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