Matchup

Zac
Zac
30%
70%

vs

49.5%

over 1239 games

Nocturne
Nocturne
82%
18%
Dive threatHeavy AD damageHigh burstCountered by stasis

Skill matchup

Build vs Nocturne

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Mosstomper Seedling
Health Potion

Core build

Hextech Rocketbelt
1Mage tank
Sunfire Aegis
2vs AD
Mejai's Soulstealer
3

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Spirit Visage
5vs AP

Summoner spells

411100%
3110%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Thornmail
5vs Hybride
Randuin's Omen
vs AD
Unending Despair
vs AD
Zhonya's Hourglass
vs AD
Knight's Vow
vs AD
Frozen Heart
vs AD

Anti Heal

Morellonomicon
6vs Heal

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Spirit Visage
5vs AP
Hollow Radiance
vs AP
Abyssal Mask
vs AP
Kaenic Rookern
vs AP
Force of Nature
vs AP

Anti Tank

Bloodletter's Curse
5vs Tank
Shadowflame
vs Tank

DPS

Liandry's Torment
Mage tank
Riftmaker
Mage tank
Cosmic Drive
Mage tank

Other options

Jak'Sho, The Protean
vs Hybride
Protoplasm Harness
Survival
Zeke's Convergence
Tank
Warmog's Armor
Survival
Heartsteel
Survival
Bandlepipes
vs Hybride
87.5% WR16 games
ResolveResolve
AftershockAftershock
Font of LifeFont of Life
ConditioningConditioning
RevitalizeRevitalize
PrecisionPrecision
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
TriumphTriumph
Ability HasteAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
ZacZac
NocturneNocturne
Passive
Favorable
Favorable

Nocturne's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Umbra Blades (P)

Every few seconds, Nocturne's next attack strikes surrounding enemies for bonus physical damage and heals himself. Nocturne's basic attacks reduce this cooldown.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
38s20s15s
68s20s15s2m20
98s18s15s2m20
118s16s15s1m55
168s12s13s1m30
188s12s11s1m30

Playing against Nocturne

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

When the screen goes dark (R), group up immediately: Nocturne is looking for the isolated carry.

2

His W only blocks one ability: bait it with a small spell before throwing your main CC.

3

Nocturne is an assassin who scales with attack speed — hard CC stops him dead while he's auto-attacking.

4

Deep ward in your jungle: his R range is limited, and vision helps you spot him before he arrives.

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