Nidalee vs Viego
Skill matchup
Build vs Viego
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Nidalee: Lich Bane, Hextech Rocketbelt, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Shadowflame, Dark Seal, Rabadon's Deathcap, Mejai's Soulstealer.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Viego's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Enemies who fall before Viego become wraiths. By attacking a wraith, Viego temporarily seizes control of the dead enemy's body, healing for a percentage of his target's max health and gaining access to their basic abilities and items. He replaces their Ultimate with a free cast of his own.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 5s | 8s | 14s | – |
| 6 | 4s | 8s | 14s | 2m |
| 9 | 3s | 8s | 14s | 2m |
| 11 | 3s | 8s | 14s | 1m40 |
| 16 | 3s | 8s | 10s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 3s | 8s | 6s | 1m20 |
Playing as Nidalee
Tips to maximize your impact
- Throw your javelin from range
Cast Javelin Toss (Q) from range: its damage increases with the distance it travels before hitting.
- Javelin, then cougar
After landing Javelin Toss (Q), switch to cougar with Aspect Of The Cougar (R): the target is hunted, which empowers Pounce (W) and Takedown (Q) against them.
- Trap your jungle entrances
Place Bushwhack (W) at your jungle entrances: the trap stays invisible for 2 minutes, reveals the enemy who steps on it and marks them as hunted.
- Get ahead early
Gank and invade a lot early on: Prowl (passive) speeds you up in brush, and even more when you move toward a visible enemy champion.
Playing against Viego
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Dodge his Spectral Maw
Get out of his line when he charges Spectral Maw (W): he dashes and stuns the first enemy hit, for longer the longer he charged.
- Back off after each of his spells
Don't stay in melee range after one of his spells: thanks to Blade of the Ruined King (Q), his next auto strikes twice and heals him.
- Don't be the lowest in his range
In teamfights, don't stay in his range if your health percentage is the lowest: Heartbreaker (R) strikes that champion, with damage based on their missing health.
- Back off when an ally falls near him
If an ally dies in front of him, back off: by hitting their wraith, Viego restores health and takes their basic spells and items through Sovereign's Domination (passive).
- Reveal him in his Mist
When he disappears into the Harrowed Path (E) Mist, place a Control Ward: it reveals camouflaged enemies, and he's only camouflaged inside the Mist.
Other Nidalee matchups
Patch 16.21.1