Matchup
Heavy CCStrong engageCountered by spell shieldVery tanky
Build vs Nautilus
Build adapted to this matchup
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Anti AD
Anti Heal
Anti AP
Anti Tank
DPS
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
Xayah
NautilusCareful
Careful
Aggressive
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
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 14s | 12s | 7s | – |
| 6 | 12s | 12s | 7s | 2m |
| 9 | 10s | 12s | 7s | 2m |
| 11 | 10s | 12s | 7s | 1m40 |
| 16 | 10s | 12s | 6s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 10s | 12s | 5s | 1m20 |
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