Nidalee's origins are shrouded in mystery, as she was abandoned as a child and raised by a family of cougars in the treacherous jungles of Kumungu. Adopting the ways of her feline companions, she honed her hunting skills and developed a deep connection with the natural world. Now, she prowls the Summoner's Rift, fiercely defending her territory and unleashing her primal instincts upon any who dare to threaten it. When you embark on your journey, mmowow accounts can lend a helping hand when you need help.
Champion Role and Positioning
Nidalee is primarily played as a jungler, utilizing her mobility and versatility to control the map and apply pressure across multiple lanes. She excels at skirmishes and picks due to her ability to burst down targets with her long-range spears and execute them with her cougar form abilities.
Skills and Abilities
Passive - Prowl
Nidalee gains bonus movement speed when moving through bushes or nearby terrain, allowing her to roam the jungle with ease.
Q - Javelin Toss / Takedown
In human form, she hurls a javelin that deals magic damage to the first enemy hit, scaling with distance. In cougar form, this ability becomes Takedown, dealing bonus damage based on the target's missing health.
W - Bushwhack / Pounce
In human form, she lays a trap that reveals and damages enemies. In cougar form, this ability becomes Pounce, allowing her to leap a short distance and deal damage to nearby enemies.
E - Primal Surge / Swipe
In human form, she heals herself or an ally. In cougar form, this ability becomes Swipe, dealing damage in a cone in front of her.
R - Aspect of the Cougar
Nidalee shapeshifts into a cougar, gaining new abilities and increased movement speed. This allows her to close the gap on enemies and execute devastating combos.
Skill Order and Playstyle
Skill Priority: R Q E W
Maxing Q (Javelin Toss / Takedown) first provides strong poke and execute potential.
E (Primal Surge / Swipe) is maxed next for sustain and wave clear.
W (Bushwhack / Pounce) is maxed last but taken at level 3 for vision control and mobility.
Rune Setup
Domination Tree:
Electrocute: Provides burst damage after hitting enemy champions with three separate attacks or abilities.
Sudden Impact: Grants bonus lethality and magic penetration after using a dash or leap ability.
Sorcery Tree:
Absolute Focus: Increases AP when above 70% health, enhancing poke potential.
Gathering Storm: Grants scaling AP over time, scaling well into the late game.
Item Build
Starting Items:
Hunting Knife: Provides jungle sustain and faster clear speed.
Refillable Potion: Sustains health during early clears.
Core Items:
Luden's Tempest: Offers ability power, mana, and bonus burst damage on ability hits, enhancing poke and wave clear.
Sorcerer's Shoes: Provides magic penetration, improving damage against enemy champions.
Zhonya's Hourglass: Offers ability power, armor, and a stasis effect, providing survivability in team fights.
Situational Items:
Rabadon's Deathcap: Provides a massive boost to ability power, amplifying Nidalee's damage output.
Lich Bane: Offers ability power, mana, and bonus damage on basic attacks after using an ability, enhancing her burst potential.
Early, Mid, and Late Game Strategy
Early Game (Jungle Clear):
Start with a Javelin Toss in human form to poke jungle camps from range.
Use Pounce in cougar form to close gaps and clear camps quickly.
Look for opportunities to invade the enemy jungle or gank lanes with your strong early-game presence.
Mid Game (Map Pressure):
Use Nidalee's mobility to apply pressure across multiple lanes, securing objectives and controlling vision.
Utilize Javelin Toss to poke enemies and create opportunities for picks or engages.
Late Game (Team Fights):
Position carefully in team fights, poking with Javelin Toss and healing allies with Primal Surge.
Shapeshift into cougar form to execute low-health targets with Takedown and Swipe.
Combos and Techniques
Standard Combo:
Start in human form and poke with a Javelin Toss.
Shapeshift into cougar form and engage with Pounce.
Use Swipe for AoE damage and Takedown to finish off low-health targets.
Ganking Combo:
Approach from behind the enemy laner and lead with Javelin Toss.
Follow up with Pounce and Swipe for burst damage.
Use Bushwhack to trap escaping enemies and secure the kill.
Recommended Team Compositions
Engage Comps:
Pair Nidalee with champions like Malphite or Leona who can initiate fights, allowing her to follow up with burst damage.
Poke Comps:
Champions like Lux or Ezreal can soften up enemies before Nidalee engages with her abilities.
Split Push Comps:
Nidalee excels at applying pressure in side lanes while her team groups elsewhere on the map, making her a strong pick for split-push compositions.
Nidalee vs. Annie: A Lane-by-Lane Analysis
Early Game (Laning Phase)
Preparation and Positioning:
Keep your distance from Annie to avoid her stun combo. Utilize bushes to zone and poke safely with a Javelin Toss.
Focus on farming and harassing Annie when she goes for the last hits.
Wave Management:
Freeze the wave near your tower to deny Annie opportunities for an all-in engagement. Punish her if she overextends with aggressive poke.
Use traps strategically to control bushes and provide vision against potential ganks.
Mid Game
Roaming and Map Pressure:
As Nidalee, you have superior mobility. Use this advantage to roam and apply pressure in other lanes, leaving Annie stuck in the lane to farm.
Objective Control:
Secure vision around Dragon and Herald to set up picks and control objectives. Utilize your poke to zone enemies away from contested areas.
Late Game
Team Fight Presence:
Position cautiously in team fights, poking with Javelin Toss while staying at the backline.
Use your cougar form to execute low-health targets or peel for your carries with Swipe.
Engaging and Disengaging:
Avoid being caught out by Annie's Flash + Tibbers engagement. Save Pounce to escape or reposition if needed.
Look for opportunities to engage on squishy targets with the Flash + Javelin Toss combo.
Why Nidalee is a Suitable Champion for Players
Versatility:
Nidalee's ability to switch between human and cougar forms provides diverse playstyles, catering to both poke-oriented and assassin-like gameplay.
Her mobility allows players to exert map pressure and control objectives effectively.
Skill Expression:
Mastering Nidalee requires skillful positioning, accurate skill shots, and an understanding of jungle pathing. This provides a rewarding learning curve for players seeking a challenge. However, when some players choose to further explore and become familiar with a certain hero, some players will choose a safe and reliable supplier of lol items for sale.
High Impact Plays:
Successful spears or well-timed engages in cougar form can turn the tide of team fights and secure objectives, making Nidalee a game-changing champion in the right hands.
Analysis of Nida Lee's Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
Mobility: Nidalee's ability to traverse terrain with Pounce and gain bonus movement speed in bushes gives her unmatched map presence.
Sustain: Primal Surge provides sustain in the jungle and during skirmishes, allowing her to stay healthy while exerting pressure.
Burst Damage: Landing a spear followed by a cougar form combo can instantly delete squishy targets, making her a potent assassin.
Weaknesses:
Skillshot Reliance: Nidalee's effectiveness heavily depends on hitting skill shots, particularly Javelin Toss. Missing key abilities can significantly impact her damage output.
Squishiness: Nidalee is relatively squishy compared to other junglers, making her vulnerable to burst damage if caught out of position.
High Skill Floor: Nidalee's kit requires precise execution and game knowledge to maximize her potential,
which can be challenging for newer players.
Practical Tips for Nidalee Players
Practice Skillshots: Spend time mastering Javelin Toss to consistently land pokes and secure kills.
Map Awareness: Keep track of enemy jungler's movements and prioritize vision control to avoid ganks and secure objectives.
Adaptability: Be flexible in adapting your playstyle based on team compositions and game state, whether it's focusing on counter-jungling, split pushing, or team fighting.
Conclusion
Nidalee offers a thrilling and rewarding gameplay experience for players willing to invest time in mastering her mechanics. With her versatility, mobility, and high skill ceiling, she can be a formidable force on the Rift in the hands of skilled players. By understanding her strengths and weaknesses, adapting your playstyle accordingly, and consistently practicing her mechanics, you can become a fearsome Nidalee player capable of dominating the game and leading your team to victory.