Nautilus vs Neeko
Skill matchup
Build vs Neeko
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Nautilus: Locket of the Iron Solari, Knight's Vow, Bandlepipes, Plated Steelcaps, Celestial Opposition, Solstice Sleigh, Thornmail, Bramble Vest.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Neeko's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Neeko can look like an ally champion or as other units on the map. Receiving immobilizing crowd control, casting damaging spells, damaging enemy towers as a non-champion, or your disguise taking damage equal to its healthbar breaks the disguise.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9s | 16s | 12s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 16s | 12s | 2m |
| 9 | 7s | 15s | 12s | 2m |
| 11 | 7s | 14s | 12s | 1m45 |
| 16 | 7s | 12s | 11s | 1m30 |
| 18 | 7s | 12s | 10s | 1m30 |
Playing as Nautilus
Tips to maximize your impact
- Hook their carry
Aim Dredge Line (Q) at their carry: you and your target are pulled toward each other, and they're briefly stunned.
- Auto right after your Dredge Line
After Dredge Line (Q), land an auto right away: Staggering Blow (passive) roots the target after the stun, giving your ADC time to arrive.
- Switch targets to root
In teamfights, hit a new target whenever you can: your first auto on each target triggers Staggering Blow (passive) and briefly roots them.
- Depth Charge on their backline carry
Cast Depth Charge (R) on their backline carry: every enemy the shockwave crosses along the way also takes a knock-up and a stun.
Playing against Neeko
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Don't line up with your minions
Don't stand lined up behind your minions: Tangle-Barbs (E) passes through them, empowers itself on contact, and roots every enemy in its path.
- Leave her area at the first sign
Leave her area as soon as she prepares Pop Blossom (R): the leap comes after a short preparation, hidden if she's disguised.
- Engage after her Pop Blossom
If you can engage, do it once Pop Blossom (R) is used: it's her only area stun, on a 120 to 90 second cooldown.
- Spot her disguises
Be wary of an enemy acting strangely: with Inherent Glamour (passive), Neeko can look like one of her allies or another unit.
Other Nautilus matchups
Patch 16.21.1