Locke vs Nautilus

Locke
vs
Not enough games
Nautilus
Heavy CCStrong engageHeavy AP damageVery tanky

You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.

Build vs Nautilus

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, Dark Seal, Mejai's Soulstealer, Rabadon's Deathcap, Void Staff.

Starting items

Scorchclaw Pup
Health Potion

Core build

Lich Bane
1
Shadowflame
2
Zhonya's Hourglass
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Dark Seal
5

Summoner spells

FlashSmite100%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Dark Seal
Mejai's Soulstealer
Rabadon's Deathcap
Void Staff
Banshee's Veil
Stormsurge
DominationDomination
Dark HarvestDark Harvest
Sudden ImpactSudden Impact
Sixth SenseSixth Sense
Treasure HunterTreasure Hunter
PrecisionPrecision
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
TriumphTriumph
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

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 as Locke

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. 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.

  2. Finish them with autos

    Finish off wounded targets with autos: Silver Stake (passive) adds magic damage that grows with their missing health.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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 Nautilus

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Stay behind your minions

    Once he hits level 2, stay behind your minions: the Dredge Line (Q) anchor hooks the first enemy hit, then the Staggering Blow (passive) auto keeps you in place.

  2. Hold still against Riptide

    When he casts Riptide (E) near you, stay put until it ends: its three explosions spread out around him, and running too early makes you take the next ones and their slow.

  3. Back off after his anchor

    When Dredge Line (Q) misses you, keep your distance: it's his only spell to reach you, on a 14 to 10 second cooldown.

  4. Get out of his shockwave's path

    When he aims Depth Charge (R) at an ally, don't stand between them: the shockwave chases its target, and every enemy in its path takes a knock-up.

Patch 16.21.1