Locke vs Nami
You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.
Build vs Nami
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Locke: Lich Bane, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Rabadon's Deathcap, Void Staff, Banshee's Veil, Stormsurge.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Nami's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
When Nami's Abilities hit allied champions they gain Move Speed for a short duration.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 12s | 10s | 11s | – |
| 6 | 10s | 10s | 11s | 2m |
| 9 | 8s | 10s | 11s | 2m |
| 11 | 8s | 10s | 11s | 1m50 |
| 16 | 8s | 10s | 11s | 1m40 |
| 18 | 8s | 10s | 11s | 1m40 |
Playing as Locke
Tips to maximize your impact
- Nails first, then Pursuit
Cast Ritual Nails (Q) before Ashen Pursuit (E): your hits consume the nails stuck in the target, and each extra nail adds damage.
- Finish them with autos
Finish off wounded targets with autos: Silver Stake (passive) adds magic damage that grows with their missing health.
- Activate W as the trade starts
Activate Soul Ignition (W) at the start of a trade: it costs you health, but at the end, you heal back part of the last damage taken, plus more based on your missing health.
- Save E for a kill or a gank
Save Ashen Pursuit (E) for a sure kill or to escape a gank: it's your only instant movement, it has a 10-second cooldown, and only a takedown resets it.
- Save Purgatory to finish
Save Purgatory (R) to finish: it seals marked enemies below a health threshold, and when you pick up the artifact, each sealed champion raises that threshold for good.
Playing against Nami
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Dodge her bubble, then step up
Change direction when she casts Aqua Prison (Q), then step up if she misses: it's her only stun outside her ult, on a 12 to 8 second cooldown.
- Back off when she blesses her ADC
Avoid trading when she casts Tidecaller's Blessing (E) on her ally: their next autos and abilities slow you and deal more damage.
- Dodge the wave sideways
Step out to the side of Tidal Wave (R): it travels a long way but moves slowly, and its slow lasts longer the more distance it has covered.
- Target her: she has no dash
If you can engage, target Nami when she steps up: with no dash or leap, she can only walk away.
Other Locke matchups
Patch 16.21.1