Matchup

Varus
Varus
64%
36%

vs

51.2%

over 471 games

Nasus
Nasus
54%
46%
Split pushHeavy AD damageSustained DPSVery tanky

Skill matchup

Build vs Nasus

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Dusk and Dawn
1Mage tank
Riftmaker
2Mage tank
Zhonya's Hourglass
3vs AD

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Experimental Hexplate
5Bruiser

Summoner spells

42133%
3430%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Jak'Sho, The Protean
5vs Hybride
Randuin's Omen
vs AD
Guardian Angel
vs AD

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Banshee's Veil
5vs AP
Wit's End
vs AP
Mercurial Scimitar
vs AP

Anti Tank

Shadowflame
5vs Tank
Void Staff
vs Tank
Terminus
vs Tank
Stormsurge
vs Tank
Bloodletter's Curse
vs Tank

DPS

Experimental Hexplate
Bruiser
Nashor's Tooth
DPS
Statikk Shiv
DPS
Rabadon's Deathcap
Mage
Blade of The Ruined King
DPS
Hextech Gunblade
Mage
Hextech Rocketbelt
Mage tank
Malignance
Mage

Other options

Guinsoo's Rageblade
Dark Seal
Oblivion Orb
Executioner's Calling
85.7% WR7 games
PrecisionPrecision
Press the AttackPress the Attack
TriumphTriumph
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
OvergrowthOvergrowth
Bone PlatingBone Plating
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
VarusVarus
NasusNasus
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral

Nasus's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Soul Eater (P)

Nasus drains his foe's spiritual energy, giving him bonus Life Steal.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
37.5s15s12s
65.5s15s12s2m
93.5s14s12s2m
113.5s13s12s1m40
163.5s11s12s1m20
183.5s11s12s1m20

Playing against Nasus

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Punish Nasus CONSTANTLY in early game: he is very weak before his stacks and depends on Q farming. Zone him away from minions.

2

Freeze the lane near your tower to prevent him from farming safely — he has to expose himself to ganks.

3

Don't let him free farm: a Nasus with 400+ stacks at 20 minutes is nearly unbeatable in 1v1.

4

Kite him in teamfights: despite his W slow, he's still a melee champion with no real gap-closer.

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