Nami vs Mel
Favorable matchup
Build vs Mel
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Nami: Echoes of Helia, Moonstone Renewer, Ardent Censer, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Dream Maker, Staff of Flowing Water, Mikael's Blessing, Imperial Mandate.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Mel's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Whenever Mel uses an ability, she gains three bonus projectiles (up to nine maximum) on her next attack.When Mel deals damage through an ability or attack, she applies Overwhelm, which can stack infinitely. If the enemy is hit by Mel with enough Overwhelm damage, the stacks are consumed to execute the target.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10s | 38s | 11s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 38s | 11s | 2m |
| 9 | 6s | 35s | 11s | 2m |
| 11 | 6s | 33s | 11s | 1m40 |
| 16 | 6s | 26s | 10s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 6s | 26s | 9s | 1m20 |
Playing as Nami
Tips to maximize your impact
- Bubble a slowed target
Cast Aqua Prison (Q) on a slowed or immobile target, or where they're heading: the bubble lands in an area and stuns every enemy on impact.
- Bless your ADC before their trade
Cast Tidecaller's Blessing (E) on your ADC just before they trade: their next autos and abilities slow and deal bonus magic damage.
- Bounce your Ebb and Flow
Cast Ebb and Flow (W) so it bounces from one champion to another: it heals each ally, damages each enemy, and only hits the same champion once.
- Tidal Wave to engage or disengage
Cast Tidal Wave (R) to engage or to break an enemy engage: enemies hit take a knock-up and a slow, which lasts longer on those farther away.
Playing against Mel
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Dodge her snare's orb
Dodge the orb of Solar Snare (E): a direct hit roots you, and its aura slows and damages around it.
- Don't shoot into her barrier
If you have projectiles, don't fire them into Rebuttal (W): the barrier reflects champion projectiles back at their caster.
- Let her marks expire
At low health, back off for a few seconds to let Overwhelm expire: with enough stacks, Searing Brilliance (passive) executes you on her next hit.
- Jump on her if you can
If you can engage, jump on her: Mel has no dash or leap, only the move speed Rebuttal (W) gives her.
Other Nami matchups
Patch 16.21.1