League of Legends Nidalee Guide: Best Build, Runes & Combos

Nidalee is one of the most unique and versatile champions in League of Legends, known for her ability to poke from a distance and dive in with deadly precision. Whether you’re sniping enemies with long-range spears or pouncing in cougar form for the kill, Nidalee thrives in the hands of players who enjoy fast-paced, skillful gameplay. In this guide, we’ll break down the best runes, build, items, and combos to help you dominate the jungle and turn the tide of battle with her aggressive, high-mobility playstyle.

Nidalee Abilities Overview In League of Legends

Nidalee has two forms—human and cougar—and each comes with its own set of abilities. In human form, Javelin Toss (Q) hurls a spear that deals more damage the farther it travels. Bushwhack (W) sets a trap that marks enemies, reducing their magic resist. Primal Surge (E) heals an ally and grants them bonus attack speed. Her passive, Prowl, lets her track marked enemies and gain bonus movement speed toward them. When near a hunted target, she can use Aspect of the Cougar (R) to transform. In cougar form, her Takedown (Q) deals more damage the lower the target’s health. Pounce (W) lets her leap a short distance, resetting on hunted targets. Swipe (E) deals area damage in front of her. Mastering both forms and knowing when to switch is key to unlocking Nidalee’s full carry potential.

How To Play Nidalee In League of Legends

Best Summoner Spells For Nidalee

The best summoner spells for Nidalee are Smite and Flash. Smite is a must-have for jungling, helping you secure key objectives like Dragon, Rift Herald, and Baron while also allowing you to clear camps efficiently. Flash gives you the ability to reposition quickly, escape dangerous situations, or make aggressive plays by diving in or chasing down enemies. Combining both gives Nidalee the mobility and control she needs to dominate the jungle and impact every lane with her high-tempo playstyle.

Best Runes For Nidalee

The best runes for Nidalee focus on maximizing her early game damage and mobility. Take Dark Harvest as your keystone in the Domination tree to scale burst damage with each takedown. Pair it with Sudden Impact for extra lethality after pouncing, Eyeball Collection for bonus AP as you get kills or assists, and Treasure Hunter to snowball gold faster. For your secondary tree, go Sorcery with Absolute Focus to boost damage when at high HP and Waterwalking to enhance your river control and gank presence. Use Adaptive Force, Adaptive Force, and Health or Armor/Magic Resist in your stat shards depending on matchups.

Best Build For Nidalee

The best build for Nidalee in League of Legends focuses on burst damage and mobility. Start with Hailblade or Scorchclaw Smite and rush Night Harvester or Hextech Rocketbelt for explosive engage potential. Follow with Shadowflame or Zhonya’s Hourglass depending on whether you need penetration or survivability. Grab Sorcerer’s Shoes for magic penetration. Round out your build with Rabadon’s Deathcap for max AP scaling, Void Staff for dealing with MR-stacking enemies, and Banshee’s Veil if you need spell shield protection. This build turns Nidalee into a fast, lethal assassin with excellent jungle pressure and strong skirmishing power.

Best Combos To Learn For Nidalee

The best combos to learn for Nidalee revolve around quick burst damage and smooth transitions between human and cougar form. Start with Human Form Q (Javelin Toss) from max range to poke or engage, then W (Bushwhack) to apply the hunt debuff. Immediately switch to cougar form with R, then W (Pounce) to leap to the hunted target, E (Swipe) to deal AoE damage, and finish with Q (Takedown) for massive execute damage. For ganks, use Q-W-R-W-E-Q in fast sequence. In duels or chases, rely on E-Q-W in cougar form to stick to targets and burst them down quickly. The key is hitting your spear and pouncing on hunted targets for bonus damage and resets.

Conclusion

Nidalee is a high-skill, high-reward jungler who shines when played with confidence and precision. By mastering her unique human-to-cougar transitions, hitting long-range spears, and executing her combos effectively, you can carry games through aggressive early-game plays and strong objective control. With the right runes, optimized build, and good map awareness, Nidalee becomes a deadly assassin and map-dominant force. Whether you’re invading, ganking, or bursting down enemies, this guide gives you all the tools to unleash her full potential in every match.