Vel'Koz vs Nautilus

Vel'Koz
vs
Not enough games
Nautilus
Heavy CCStrong engageHeavy AP damageVery tanky

Build vs Nautilus

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Vel'Koz: Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Rabadon's Deathcap, Horizon Focus, Banshee's Veil, Stormsurge.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Luden's Echo
1
Shadowflame
2
Zhonya's Hourglass
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Rabadon's Deathcap
5

Summoner spells

FlashBarrier100%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Rabadon's Deathcap
Horizon Focus
Banshee's Veil
Stormsurge
Void Staff
SorcerySorcery
Arcane CometArcane Comet
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
TranscendenceTranscendence
Gathering StormGathering Storm
PrecisionPrecision
Cut DownCut Down
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Ability HasteAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Nautilus's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Staggering Blow (P)

Nautilus' first Attack against a target deals increased physical damage and roots them briefly.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
314s12s7s–
612s12s7s2m
910s12s7s2m
1110s12s7s1m40
1610s12s6s1m20
1810s12s5s1m20

Playing as Vel'Koz

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Three spells for the burst

    Hit the same target with three spells: at three stacks, Organic Deconstruction (passive) bursts and deals true damage to them.

  2. Poke and farm with your rift

    Stay back and poke with Void Rift (W): its two charges let you kill minions while stacking your passive on your opponent.

  3. Split your plasma to hit at an angle

    Recast Plasma Fission (Q) to split it: the two bolts fly off at 90 degrees, which lets you hit a target hiding behind their minions.

  4. Start your ray after a knock-up

    Cast Life Form Disintegration Ray (R) after the Tectonic Disruption (E) knock-up: your target can't escape, and the ray deals true damage to targets of Organic Deconstruction (passive).

Playing against Nautilus

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Stay behind your minions

    Once he hits level 2, stay behind your minions: the Dredge Line (Q) anchor hooks the first enemy hit, then the Staggering Blow (passive) auto keeps you in place.

  2. Hold still against Riptide

    When he casts Riptide (E) near you, stay put until it ends: its three explosions spread out around him, and running too early makes you take the next ones and their slow.

  3. Back off after his anchor

    When Dredge Line (Q) misses you, keep your distance: it's his only spell to reach you, on a 14 to 10 second cooldown.

  4. Get out of his shockwave's path

    When he aims Depth Charge (R) at an ally, don't stand between them: the shockwave chases its target, and every enemy in its path takes a knock-up.

Patch 16.21.1