10 Best Champions To Counter Nidalee In League of Legends

Nidalee is a highly mobile and versatile jungler in League of Legends, known for her strong poke, healing, and ability to quickly traverse the map. With her Javelin Toss (Q) for long-range poke, Primal Surge (W) for healing, and Aspect of the Cougar (R) for mobility and damage, Nidalee can be a constant threat if left unchecked. However, she has clear weaknesses that the right champions can exploit, such as her squishiness, reliance on skill shots, and vulnerability to crowd control. Whether you’re looking for champions that can quickly burst her down, lock her in place, or out-sustain her, there are plenty of ways to counter Nidalee. In this article, we’ll cover the 10 best champions to counter Nidalee and provide strategies to limit her impact on the game.

#10: Gragas

Gragas is a strong counter to Nidalee due to his tankiness, crowd control, and ability to engage in fights. Nidalee relies on landing Javelin Toss (Q) from a distance and kiting her opponents, but Gragas’s Body Slam (E) allows him to close the gap quickly, making it hard for Nidalee to poke safely. Additionally, Gragas’s Drunken Rage (W) provides a shield and bonus damage reduction, which helps mitigate Nidalee’s poke and burst. The biggest counter to Nidalee is Explosive Cask (R), which can displace her and her team, making it difficult for her to position and execute her abilities effectively. Since Nidalee struggles against champions who can engage quickly, absorb damage, and disrupt her positioning, Gragas forces her into a passive playstyle where she has limited impact.

#9: Kha’Zix

Kha’Zix is a strong counter to Nidalee due to his burst damage, mobility, and ability to isolate her in fights. Nidalee relies on her mobility and poke to whittle down enemies, but Kha’Zix’s Leap (R) allows him to quickly close the distance and engage on her, preventing her from escaping. Additionally, Kha’Zix’s Taste Their Fear (Q) deals significant damage to isolated targets, making Nidalee extremely vulnerable when separated from her team. The biggest counter to Nidalee is Kha’Zix’s Void Assault (R), which provides stealth and mobility, allowing him to reposition and surprise her in skirmishes or ambushes. Since Nidalee struggles against assassins who can quickly burst her down and isolate her, Kha’Zix forces her into a difficult position where she has little room to outplay or escape.

#8: Olaf

Olaf is a strong counter to Nidalee due to his sustain, high dueling potential, and ability to outlast her poke. Nidalee relies on landing her Javelin Toss (Q) to poke from a distance and Primal Surge (W) to heal, but Olaf’s Vicious Strikes (W) provides him with bonus attack speed and lifesteal, allowing him to sustain through her poke and out-damage her in extended trades. Additionally, Olaf’s Reckless Swing (E) deals true damage, making it easier to chunk through Nidalee’s health despite her mobility or healing. The biggest counter to Nidalee is Olaf’s Ragnarok (R), which grants him immunity to all slows, including Takedown (Q) and Javelin Toss (Q), allowing him to stick to her in fights and prevent her from kiting. Since Nidalee struggles against champions who can sustain through her damage and engage on her without being slowed, Olaf forces her into a passive role where she has limited control.

#7: Hecarim

Hecarim is a strong counter to Nidalee due to his mobility, tankiness, and ability to engage quickly. Nidalee relies on kiting and using her range to poke, but Hecarim’s Devastating Charge (E) allows him to close the gap quickly and disrupt her positioning, making it difficult for Nidalee to poke safely. Additionally, Hecarim’s Spirit of Dread (W) provides sustain, healing him through damage, which helps him mitigate Nidalee’s poke and burst in skirmishes. The biggest counter to Nidalee is Onslaught of Shadows (R), which provides a large AoE fear that can disorient her and her team, preventing Nidalee from using her mobility to escape or execute her combo. Since Nidalee struggles against champions who can engage quickly, soak damage, and disrupt her positioning, Hecarim forces her into a defensive playstyle where she has limited opportunities to outmaneuver him.

#6: Viego

Viego is a strong counter to Nidalee due to his mobility, sustain, and ability to reset fights. Nidalee relies on poking from a distance and kiting enemies with her Javelin Toss (Q) and Primal Surge (W), but Viego’s Blade of the Ruined King (W) allows him to close the gap quickly and heal off of his damage, which makes it harder for Nidalee to whittle him down. Additionally, Viego’s Heartbreaker (R) allows him to execute low-health enemies, making him a threat to Nidalee when she’s low on health. The biggest counter to Nidalee is Viego’s Sovereign’s Domination (R), which allows him to possess a target and use their abilities, giving him an advantage in extended fights. Since Nidalee struggles against champions who can sustain through her poke and reset fights, Viego forces her into a matchup where she has limited opportunities to control the lane.

#5: Jarvan IV

Jarvan IV is a strong counter to Nidalee due to his ability to lock her down with crowd control, engage quickly, and absorb damage. Nidalee relies on her mobility and poke to kite enemies, but Jarvan’s Dragon Strike (Q) combined with Golden Aegis (W) allows him to engage quickly and provide a shield, making it difficult for Nidalee to poke effectively. Additionally, his Demacian Standard (E) increases his attack speed, which allows him to deal more damage in trades. The biggest counter to Nidalee is Cataclysm (R), which traps her inside a wall, preventing her from escaping or using her mobility to disengage. Since Nidalee struggles against champions who can lock her down and prevent her from using her kiting tools, Jarvan IV forces her into a passive position where she has little room to maneuver or escape.

#4: Xin Zhao

Xin Zhao is a strong counter to Nidalee due to his sustain, strong early-game presence, and ability to engage quickly. Nidalee relies on poking from a distance with Javelin Toss (Q) and healing with Primal Surge (W), but Xin Zhao’s Three Talon Strike (E) allows him to close the gap and burst her down in trades, while his Audacious Charge (W) helps him stick to her and prevent her from escaping. Additionally, Xin Zhao’s Battle Cry (Passive) provides extra sustain, healing him as he deals damage, which helps mitigate Nidalee’s poke. The biggest counter to Nidalee is Xin Zhao’s Crescent Sweep (R), which knocks back enemies and deals significant damage, disrupting her positioning and preventing her from getting away. Since Nidalee struggles against champions who can engage quickly, sustain through damage, and burst her down, Xin Zhao forces her into a difficult position where she has little opportunity to trade or escape.

#3: Rek’Sai

Rek’Sai is a strong counter to Nidalee due to her ability to engage quickly, burrow underground for mobility, and disrupt Nidalee’s poke-heavy playstyle. Nidalee relies on her ranged abilities, particularly Javelin Toss (Q), to poke and kite, but Rek’Sai’s Unburrow (W) allows her to quickly close the gap and engage, preventing Nidalee from freely poking. Additionally, Rek’Sai’s Fury of the Xer’Sai (Passive) gives her sustain, allowing her to heal during trades and mitigate Nidalee’s poke damage. The biggest counter to Nidalee is Rek’Sai’s Tunnel (Q), which provides great mobility, allowing her to catch Nidalee off guard and set up quick, impactful engagements. Since Nidalee struggles against champions who can quickly dive onto her and negate her kite-heavy playstyle, Rek’Sai forces her into a defensive role, making it hard for her to control the pace of the game.

#2: Elise

Elise is a strong counter to Nidalee due to her high early-game damage, crowd control, and ability to outplay her in skirmishes. Nidalee relies on poking from a distance and healing with Primal Surge (W), but Elise’s Cocoon (E) can stun her, preventing her from positioning safely or escaping trades. Additionally, Elise’s Venomous Bite (Q) deals high burst damage, allowing her to quickly punish Nidalee before she can heal or kite effectively. The biggest counter to Nidalee is Elise’s Spider Form (R), which allows her to deal sustained damage while also granting mobility to close gaps and avoid her skill shots. Since Nidalee struggles against champions with strong crowd control and burst potential in the early game, Elise forces her into a tough matchup where she can’t freely poke or heal, limiting her impact on the game.

#1: Lee Sin

Lee Sin is the best counter to Nidalee due to his early-game aggression, mobility, and ability to negate her poke and burst damage. Nidalee relies on landing Javelin Toss (Q) from a distance and using Primal Surge (W) to heal, but Lee Sin’s Sonic Wave (Q) allows him to quickly close the gap and follow up with a strong engage, while Safeguard (W) offers him mobility and sustain to mitigate Nidalee’s poke. Additionally, Lee Sin’s Tempest (E) provides AoE damage and a slow, making it harder for Nidalee to escape or kite effectively. The biggest counter to Nidalee is Dragon’s Rage (R), which allows Lee Sin to kick her back and isolate her from her team, preventing her from using her mobility to escape. Since Nidalee struggles against champions who can engage quickly, dodge her poke, and burst her down, Lee Sin forces her into a difficult position where she has limited room to maneuver or trade.

Conclusion

Nidalee may be a strong and mobile jungler, excelling at poking and healing, but the right champions can limit her impact and shut her down. Champions like Lee Sin, Elise, and Rek’Sai can close the gap quickly, disrupting her poke-heavy playstyle and preventing her from kiting effectively. Tanks like Gragas and Olaf can absorb her damage, while burst-heavy champions like Kha’Zix and Xin Zhao can quickly burst her down before she can heal. Champions with crowd control, such as Jarvan IV and Hecarim, can lock her down and prevent her from using her mobility to escape. By picking the right champion, engaging at the right time, and playing strategically, you can neutralize Nidalee’s strengths and reduce her impact in the game.