Max order
E›
Q›
WStart
Core
Max orderW›Q›EStart
Core
Max orderQ›W›EStartCoreRunes, masteries, skill order and items on this page mirror what is actually being played in Classic on patch 26.16, not a reconstruction of a 2013 patch.
+0.95 attack damage×9
+1.41 armor×9
+1.34 magic resist×9
+2.25 attack damage×3
Skill Leveling Order
Max order E → Q → WQQQQQWWWWWEEEEE
RRRMax in the order E → Q → W, taking R at 6, 11 and 16.
Item Build
Live Classic, patch 26.16Data collected 2026-08-16Build path · Doran's Ring → Health Potion → Mercury's Treads → Trinity Force → Blade of the Ruined King → Frozen Mallet
Open with Doran's Ring + Health Potion.Mercury's Treads››
Masteries
Open in simulator →
1/1
3/4
0/4
0/2
4/4
0/4
0/1
0/3
1/1
0/1
0/2
0/2
0/3
0/1
0/1
0/3
0/4
0/1
0/1
2/3
4/4
0/2
3/3
0/3
0/1
2/2
0/2
1/1
0/1
1/1
3/3
3/3
1/1
0/3
0/1
0/1
1/1
0/1
0/3
0/3
0/1
0/1
0/3
0/3
0/2
0/4
0/1
0/3
0/1
0/2
0/4
0/3
0/1
0/1
0/3
0/121 points into Defense to hold the lane and survive trades.
Jungle Nidalee, clearing in cougar and finishing what the spear starts.
+0.87 magic penetration×9+1.41 armor×9+1.34 magic resist×9+2.01 magic penetration×3Skill Leveling Order
Max order W → Q → EQQQQQWWWWWEEEEERRRMax in the order W → Q → E.
Item Build
Off-meta buildBuild path · Hunter's Machete → Health Potion → Sorcerer's Shoes → Rabadon's Deathcap → Void Staff → Zhonya's Hourglass
An off-meta build people actually run in Classic. Stat sites do not track it, so this one is curated from how the abilities scale in this patch — treat it as a starting point, not measured data.
Sorcerer's Shoes››
Masteries
Open in simulator →1/10/44/40/20/44/40/12/30/11/10/20/23/31/10/10/34/41/10/10/30/40/20/30/30/10/20/20/10/10/10/30/30/10/30/10/10/11/10/33/31/10/13/30/30/20/41/10/30/10/20/40/30/10/10/30/121/0/9 split, shaped around the ability this build actually scales.
Playstyle
Cougar autos clear the camps fast, and ganks are a spear followed by a pounce onto the mark. Traps cover vision and counter-jungling at once, and after a Deathcap a single javelin takes a squishy to half. Manage the early health pool and she can appear in any lane.
AP Nidalee, taking people off the screen with a single spear.
+0.87 magic penetration×9+1.41 armor×9+1.34 magic resist×9+2.01 magic penetration×3Skill Leveling Order
Max order Q → W → EQQQQQWWWWWEEEEERRRMax in the order Q → W → E.
Item Build
Off-meta buildBuild path · Doran's Ring → Health Potion → Sorcerer's Shoes → Rabadon's Deathcap → Void Staff → Zhonya's Hourglass
An off-meta build people actually run in Classic. Stat sites do not track it, so this one is curated from how the abilities scale in this patch — treat it as a starting point, not measured data.
Sorcerer's Shoes››
Masteries
Open in simulator →1/10/44/40/20/44/40/12/30/11/10/20/23/31/10/10/34/41/10/10/30/40/20/30/30/10/20/20/10/10/10/30/30/10/30/10/10/11/10/33/31/10/13/30/30/20/41/10/30/10/20/40/30/10/10/30/121/0/9 split, shaped around the ability this build actually scales.
Playstyle
Javelin Toss scales up with the distance it travels, so with a Deathcap it takes a squishy to half from the far edge of vision. Poke in human form, and once the mark lands, swap to cougar and finish. Void Staff carries it through magic resist. Miss the spear and the build has nothing else to offer, which is the whole risk.
Base Stats
Lv1 · growth · Lv18Skills
Passive · Q · W · E · R
Moving through brush increases Nidalee's Movement Speed by 15% for 2 seconds.
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.
In human form, Nidalee lays a damaging trap for unwary opponents that, when sprung, reveals the target and reduces their Armor and Magic Resist for 12 seconds. As a cougar, she pounces forward, dealing a small amount of damage when she lands. Pounce is not affected by cooldown reduction.
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 rapidly claws enemies in front of her.
Nidalee transforms into a cougar, gaining new abilities and increased Movement Speed.
Champion Tips
Riot officialPlaying as
- Use brush to your advantage! Moving in and out of brush can heavily alter your effectiveness in battle.
- In team fights start by harassing with your Javelin Toss, and then switch to cougar form to chase down anyone who flees.
- Cougar abilities have no cost associated with them, allowing you to maintain a full stack of Guinsoo's Rageblade for extended periods of time.
Playing against
- Nidalee's traps are difficult to see, but are visible to both teams.
- Nidalee's Javelin Toss deals more damage the farther she is. If she is far away, it's imperative to dodge it.
- It's difficult to catch a Nidalee pouncing away, so be selective about when to pursue her.
Frequently Asked
The quick answers, straight from this buildWhat runes for Nidalee?
Marks Greater Mark of Attack Damage 9, Seals Greater Seal of Armor 9, Glyphs Greater Glyph of Magic Resist 9, Quints Greater Quintessence of Attack Damage 3
What mastery setup for Nidalee?
9/21/0 split. 21 points into Defense to hold the lane and survive trades.
What is Nidalee’s skill order?
Max in the order E → Q → W, taking R whenever available. Max in the order E → Q → W, taking R at 6, 11 and 16.
What is Nidalee’s item build?
Start: Doran's Ring + Health Potion → Boots: Mercury's Treads → Core: Trinity Force · Blade of the Ruined King · Frozen Mallet
How do you build Jungle Nidalee?
Jungle Jungle — Hunter's Machete → Health Potion → Sorcerer's Shoes → Rabadon's Deathcap → Void Staff → Zhonya's Hourglass. Jungle Nidalee, clearing in cougar and finishing what the spear starts.
How do you build AP Nidalee?
AP Mid — Doran's Ring → Health Potion → Sorcerer's Shoes → Rabadon's Deathcap → Void Staff → Zhonya's Hourglass. AP Nidalee, taking people off the screen with a single spear.
Who is Nidalee weak against?
Kassadin
Lore
There are few dwellers, let alone champions, residing in the blasted and dangerous lands that lie south of the Great Barrier. Much of that world still bears the scars of past Runes Wars, especially the mysterious Kumungu Jungle. There are ...
