League of Legends Nidalee: A Complete Guide to the Bestial Huntress

Introduction

League of Legends Nidalee is a versatile and formidable jungler who brings both utility and damage to the battlefield. With her unique ability to transform between human and cougar form, she offers diverse gameplay options and can adapt to various team compositions and situations. This guide delves into the intricacies of Nidalee's abilities, builds, runes, and strategies, empowering you to master the Bestial Huntress and dominate the jungle.

Abilities

1. Javelin Toss (Human Form)

Description: Nidalee throws a javelin that deals damage to the first enemy hit. If the javelin kills the target, its cooldown is reduced.
Tips:
* Use Javelin Toss to harass enemies from a safe distance.
* Aim for low-health targets to potentially reset the cooldown.
* Max this ability second for early-game poke damage.

2. Bushwhack (Human Form)

Description: Nidalee surrounds herself with three traps that arm after a short delay and immobilize enemies who step on them for 2 seconds.
Tips:
* Place traps in chokepoints or near objectives to control enemy movement.
* Use traps to interrupt high-priority enemy abilities.
* Max this ability last, as its cooldown is relatively long.

3. Primal Surge

Description: Nidalee transforms into a cougar, gaining increased movement speed, attack range, and new abilities.
Tips:
* Use Primal Surge to engage on enemies or escape from danger.
* The increased attack range allows you to safely poke from afar.
* Max this ability first for better mobility and damage.

4. Takedown (Cougar Form)

Description: Nidalee leaps towards an enemy, dealing damage and applying a mark. The mark can be detonated to deal additional damage.
Tips:
* Use Takedown to close the distance and engage on targets.
* The mark can be detonated with Pounce or Swipe.
* Save the mark for high-priority enemies or when you need extra burst damage.

5. Pounce (Cougar Form)

Description: Nidalee pounces on an enemy, dealing damage and slowing them. If the target is marked, it will also detonate the mark.
Tips:
* Use Pounce to engage on fleeing enemies or interrupt their abilities.
* The slow makes Pounce an effective chasing tool.
* Prioritize detonating the mark with Pounce over Swipe.

6. Swipe (Cougar Form)

Description: Nidalee swipes at an enemy, dealing damage and healing herself for a portion of the damage dealt.
Tips:
* Use Swipe to clear jungle camps or sustain yourself in fights.
* The self-heal makes Nidalee more durable while in cougar form.
* Use Swipe to detonate the mark for extra damage when it is not possible to use Pounce.

Builds

Core Items

• Runeglaive: Provides Nidalee with ability power, cooldown reduction, and on-hit effects.
• Sorcerer's Shoes: Increases magic penetration for increased spell damage.
• Zhonya's Hourglass: Offers a valuable stasis effect for survivability or to interrupt enemy abilities.

Situational Items

• Liandry's Torment: Deals damage over time to enemies in combat, enhancing Nidalee's sustained damage.
• Void Staff: Enhances magic penetration to counter enemies with high magic resistance.
• Rabadon's Deathcap: Provides a significant boost to ability power for maximum spell damage.

Runes

• Domination:
  • Electrocute: Provides burst damage on enemy champions.
  • Sudden Impact: Grants bonus damage when engaging from stealth or bushes.
  • Eyeball Collection: Increases Nidalee's damage based on collected eyeballs.
  • Ravenous Hunter: Heals Nidalee with a percentage of damage dealt with abilities.
• Precision:
  • Presence of Mind: Restores Nidalee's mana on takedowns.
  • Legend: Alacrity: Increases Nidalee's attack speed.
  • Last Stand: Grants bonus damage when Nidalee is below a certain health threshold.

Strategies

Early Game

• Focus on farming and controlling the jungle.
• Use Javelin Toss to harass enemies and maintain distance.
• Ward key entrances to the jungle to track enemy junglers.
• If given the opportunity, gank lanes with either Javelin Toss or Primal Surge.

Mid Game

• Continue farming and look for opportunities to gank.
• Use Bushwhack to control enemy movement and disrupt their plans.
• Prioritize objectives such as dragons and Rift Heralds.
• Stay vigilant and ward key areas to prevent enemy counter-ganks.

Late Game

• Teamfight around Nidalee's crowd control and burst damage.
• Protect Nidalee as she is vulnerable when caught out of position.
• Utilize her mobility to flank and pick off isolated enemies.
• Coordinate with teammates to focus high-priority targets.

Tips and Tricks

• Use traps wisely: Nidalee's traps can provide valuable crowd control and vision. Place them in strategic locations to interrupt enemy movement or spot potential ganks.
• Manage mana: Nidalee's abilities can be mana-intensive. Use them efficiently and prioritize mana-saving strategies such as using Primal Surge to move around the map.
• Stay fluid: Switch between human and cougar form seamlessly to adapt to different situations. Use human form for poke and traps, and cougar form for engage and burst damage.
• Communicate: Coordinate with your team to track enemy junglers, secure objectives, and initiate ganks effectively.
• Ward effectively: Place wards in key jungle areas and lanes to prevent enemy invades and ganks.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Overstaying in cougar form: Nidalee is more vulnerable in cougar form due to her lower health and defenses. Avoid staying in cougar form for extended periods.
• Misusing traps: Don't place traps randomly. Use them to block enemy paths or control specific areas.
• Ignoring human form: Nidalee's human form offers significant utility with Javelin Toss and Bushwhack. Don't neglect her human form abilities.
• Getting caught out of position: Nidalee lacks mobility in human form. Avoid overextending and always be aware of your surroundings.
• Poor mana management: Nidalee's abilities consume a lot of mana. Pay attention to your mana pool and use abilities judiciously.

Conclusion

League of Legends Nidalee is a complex and versatile champion that requires adaptability and skill. By mastering her abilities, builds, runes, and strategies, you can harness her true potential and dominate the jungle. Embrace the Bestial Huntress and become a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.