Matchup

Heavy AD damageSustained DPSHigh sustain

Build vs Nilah

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Hextech Rocketbelt
1Mage tank
Riftmaker
2Mage tank
Zhonya's Hourglass
3vs AD

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Rabadon's Deathcap
5Mage

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Anti Tank

Shadowflame
5vs Tank

DPS

Rabadon's Deathcap
Mage
Cosmic Drive
Mage tank
Lich Bane
Mage

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
SylasSylas
NilahNilah
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral

Nilah's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Joy Unending (P)

Nilah gains increased experience from last-hitting minions along with the ability to enhance and share nearby healing and shielding from her allies.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
34s26s0.5s
64s26s0.5s1m50
94s25s0.5s1m50
114s24s0.5s1m35
164s22s0.5s1m20
184s22s0.5s1m20

Playing against Nilah

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Nilah's W blocks autos — switch to abilities or wait for the zone to expire.

2

Poke her at range: as a melee ADC, she's weak against ranged harassment.

3

Watch out for her XP advantage: she can hit level 6 before you and all-in with R.

4

Mage supports (Brand, Zyra) counter her because they don't rely on the autos that her W blocks.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026