Matchup

Heavy AD damageSustained DPSHigh sustain

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

Build vs Nilah

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Bow
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Statikk Shiv
1DPS
Nashor's Tooth
2DPS
Dusk and Dawn
3Mage tank

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Rabadon's Deathcap
5Mage

Summoner spells

4667%
41233%

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

Rabadon's Deathcap
Mage
Phantom Dancer
DPS
100.0% WR1 games
PrecisionPrecision
Lethal TempoLethal Tempo
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
NilahNilah
Passive
Neutral
Aggressive

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