Matchup

Heavy CCStrong engageCountered by spell shieldVery tanky

Build vs Nautilus

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Riftmaker
1Mage tank
Statikk Shiv
2DPS
Dusk and Dawn
3Mage tank

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Spirit Visage
5vs AP

Summoner spells

41480%
3413%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Unending Despair
5vs AD
Randuin's Omen
vs AD
Dead Man's Plate
vs AD

Anti Heal

Thornmail
6vs Hybride

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Spirit Visage
5vs AP

DPS

Navori Flickerblade
DPS

Other options

Jak'Sho, The Protean
vs Hybride
100.0% WR1 games
PrecisionPrecision
Lethal TempoLethal Tempo
TriumphTriumph
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
DemolishDemolish
RevitalizeRevitalize
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
VolibearVolibear
NautilusNautilus
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral

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 against Nautilus

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

His Q hook can hit terrain (he pulls himself to the wall): minions do NOT block it, unlike Blitz/Thresh.

2

Respect his level 2: Q + passive root is one of the best support engages at level 2.

3

His R is point-and-click: you can't dodge it, but you can Zhonya's or position so it doesn't knock up your allies along the way.

4

Nautilus is slow without his Q — kite him after he uses his hook.

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