How to beat Nidalee

Common role: Jungle

The best counter to Nidalee in Jungle is Gwen: 59.6% win rate over 133 ranked games on patch 26.17.

A poke-heavy jungler who spears you from afar and pounces in as a cougar to execute.

What makes Nidalee dangerous

Nidalee throws long-range spears (Q) that deal more damage the farther they travel and more to low-health targets, then shifts into cougar form to pounce, heal and burst wounded prey. She poke-ganks and picks off low targets, but she's very squishy and reliant on landing her spears.

How to play against Nidalee

• 1Dodge her spears (Q) — they're her main damage and hit harder from range and on low-health targets. Stand behind minions and don't stay low.
• 2She's extremely squishy — if you can reach her (she has no hard escape in human form), burst her down.
• 3Don't sit at low health near her — her cougar Q executes wounded targets. Heal up before she can pounce.
• 4She has no hard CC — group up and she can't pick you if you don't overextend into her spears.

Weaknesses to exploit

• ✓Extremely squishy — burst her if you reach her.
• ✓Spear-reliant — dodge Q and she does little.
• ✓No hard CC.
• ✓Weak if denied poke picks; falls off vs tanky teams.

Abilities & how to counter them

What each of Nidalee's abilities does — and how to play around it.

• P
  Prowl

  Moving through brush increases Nidalee's Move Speed by 10% for 2 seconds, increased to 30% toward visible enemy champions within 1400 range.Hitting champions or monsters with Javelin Toss or Bushwhack triggers a Hunt, granting True Sight of them for 4 seconds. During this time, Nidalee gains 10% Move Speed (increased to 30% toward the Hunted target) and her Takedown and Pounce are enhanced against them.

• Q
  Javelin Toss / Takedown

  In human form, Nidalee throws a spiked javelin at her target that gains damage as it flies. As a cougar, her next attack will attempt to fatally wound her target, dealing more damage the less life they have.

  Strong: a long-range spear that hits harder from distance and on low-health targets. Weak: dodge it behind minions and don't stay low — it's her whole threat.

• W
  Bushwhack / Pounce

  In human form, Nidalee lays a trap for unwary opponents that, when sprung, damages and reveals its target. As a cougar, she jumps in a direction, dealing damage in an area where she lands.

• E
  Primal Surge / Swipe

  In human form, Nidalee channels the spirit of the cougar to heal her allies and imbue them with Attack Speed for a short duration. As a cougar, she claws in a direction, dealing damage to enemies in front of her.

• R
  Aspect Of The Cougar

  Nidalee transforms into a cougar, gaining new abilities.

  Strong: cougar form to pounce, heal and execute wounded prey. Weak: she's extremely squishy in this range — burst her when she dives in.

Itemization

Nidalee is a poke/assassin jungler. Dodge her spears, don't stay low (her cougar Q executes), and burst her (very squishy). Group up to deny her picks.

This guide covers Nidalee's core kit and playstyle — advice that holds up across patches.