Game patch 26.20Data Dragon 16.20.1

Reference patch 16.20.1

Naafiri

the Hound of a Hundred Bites

Naafiri is a burst-focused champion who looks for a reachable priority target and a route back out. This overview keeps the explanation practical and leaves patch-sensitive numbers to Riot's structured data and the current in-game tooltip.

JungleMostly physical damageMelee attacks

Open matchup guide Find counters Status effects

Usual roleJungle · Mid

ClassAssassin · Fighter

DifficultyLow · 2/10

Basic attacksMeleeMelee basic attacks · 125 range.

Damage profileMostly physical damageMost normal kit pressure is physical. Armour may help, but check whether attacks or abilities are the main source.

Reference patch16.20.1

Strengths and limits

What Naafiri does well, and what can go wrong

These are kit-level patterns, not a promise that every lane or matchup plays the same way.

Good patterns

Threatens reachable priority targets through burst, mobility or an unusual angle.
Combines damage and durability in committed skirmishes or extended exchanges.

Limits to respect

A failed commitment can leave no clean exit and little value until cooldowns return.
Can be worn down or controlled before reaching the range where the kit is strongest.
Basic attacks require close access, so enemy range, slows and displacement can deny a clean trade.

Riot ally tips

Use these while learning the champion

Across the sands of Shurima, a chorus of howls rings out. It is the call of the dune hounds, voracious predators who form packs and compete for the right to hunt in these barren lands. Among them, one pack stands above all, for they are driven not only by canine instincts, but by the ancient power of the Darkin.

Practical champion reading

How to read Naafiri in a real fight

Use these patterns to ask better questions before choosing an item, target or commitment. They describe the kit, not a guaranteed result.

Damage delivery

Primarily physical pressure

Armour can reduce the broad physical profile. Separate basic attacks from physical abilities before relying on an item passive that only affects attacks.

Fight rhythm

One short window carries much of the threat

Track the key setup and highest-impact cooldown. A missed or blocked opening can create a safer window before the full rotation returns.

Range and access

Needs close access for basic attacks

Range, slows, displacement and terrain can deny the clean contact this champion wants. Plan the route in as carefully as the damage after arrival.

Typical team job

Threaten a reachable priority target

A clean angle matters more than attacking the nearest unit immediately. Keep an exit, reset or follow-up route in mind before committing.

Control check

Movement may be the cleaner defence

When hard control is not the main threat, distance, vision and a safe route out can be more useful than buying Tenacity automatically.

Protection and sustain

Check whether recovery changes the fight

Anti-heal or anti-shielding is situational. Buy it only when the effect is materially protecting targets and your champion can apply the answer reliably.

Resource pattern

Mana and cooldowns both matter

A spell being available does not mean the complete sequence is sustainable. Watch the resource bar as well as the setup and escape cooldowns.

Defensive item reference

What can help against Naafiri?

Start with the threat that is actually affecting the match. These are conditional comparisons, not an automatic counter build.

Pre-game choices

DEFENSIVE BOOTS

Neither pair is automatic

This champion is not cleanly answered by the passive on either defensive pair.

Use Plated Steelcaps for meaningful basic attacks, Mercury's Treads for magic damage or reducible control, or keep the build's normal Boots.

Healing or sustainShields

PHYSICAL DEFENCE

Physical defence

Armour · health · role-appropriate defence

Armour can reduce physical damage, but Plated Steelcaps' passive is specific to attacks.

Match the item to attacks, critical strikes or ability burst rather than buying armour from the label alone.

MEANINGFUL HEALING

Meaningful healing

Bramble Vest or Thornmail · Morellonomicon · Mortal Reminder

A role-appropriate Grievous Wounds item can reduce healing.

Buy it only when healing is materially changing fights and your champion can apply it reliably.

REPEATED SHIELDS

Repeated shields

Serpent's Fang

Anti-shielding can matter when repeated shields are protecting important targets.

Its offensive stats do not fit every champion; another teammate may apply it more efficiently.

BURST WINDOW

Burst window

Zhonya's Hourglass · Banshee's Veil · Edge of Night

Stasis or a spell shield can deny one decisive engage or spell when the item fits the build.

These do not replace positioning, vision or ordinary durability.

Normal Draft and Ranked role map

Where Naafiri fits on Summoner's Rift

Each lane is assessed separately. Open a role to reach its queue-specific build and matchup preparation.

TopUnestablished route

Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Naafiri is normally played Jungle or Mid and does not currently have a reviewed Top route. Top usually needs independent laning, durable trading or reliable side-lane pressure. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.

Review this role

JungleEstablished role

Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Naafiri has an established clear and map plan that can function without lane income while contesting camps and objectives.

Review this role Open matchup

MidEstablished role

Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Naafiri has an established central-lane plan with access to waves, both sides of the river and meaningful pressure between objectives.

Review this role Open matchup

BotUnestablished route

Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Naafiri is normally played Jungle or Mid and does not currently have a reviewed Bot route. Bot usually needs dependable duo-lane scaling and sustained damage with shared early pressure. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.

Review this role

SupportUnestablished route

Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Naafiri is normally played Jungle or Mid and does not currently have a reviewed Support route. Support usually needs useful engage, peel or utility while operating on low gold income. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.

Review this role

Kit reference

Naafiri abilities

Ability names, descriptions and numeric fields come from Riot Data Dragon. Practical reads are independently written; the current in-game tooltip remains authoritative.

Abilities Data Dragon 16.20.1Cooldown / Cost / Range Data Dragon 16.20.1

Passive

We Are More

What it doesNaafiri spawns packmates that attack the targets of her attacks and abilities.

Practical readWe Are More is the always-on rule shaping Naafiri's normal trading and fight pattern. Watch its in-game state before committing.

Q ability

Darkin Daggers

What it doesNaafiri hurls up to two daggers, each inflicting bleed, or each inflicting bonus damage if the target is already bleeding. Packmates leap to attack the first champion or monster hit by this skill.

Practical readDarkin Daggers contributes movement or repositioning and damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

Cooldown9/8.5/8/7.5/7 secCost50/60/70/80/90Listed range900 units

Movement

The cast changes position or access. Account for where the champion finishes, not only where the ability begins.

W ability

The Call of the Pack

What it doesNaafiri becomes Untargetable and empowers her pack, spawning additional packmates and gaining increased Move Speed and Attack Damage.

Practical readThe Call of the Pack contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

Cooldown26/24/22/20/18 secCost60Listed range400 units

E ability

Eviscerate

What it doesNaafiri dashes and damages enemies in an area around her, recalling her packmates and fully healing them.

Practical readEviscerate contributes protection or sustain and damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

Cooldown11/10/9/8/7 secCost40Listed range450 units

Protection

The protection or sustain is part of the cast's value. Compare its timing with incoming damage rather than reading only the offensive effect.

Movement

The cast changes position or access. Account for where the champion finishes, not only where the ability begins.

Ultimate

Hounds' Pursuit

What it doesNaafiri and her packmates dash at a champion, dealing damage. Naafiri reveals nearby enemies if she scores a takedown and can recast this Ability once. The second cast grants a shield.

Practical readHounds' Pursuit contributes movement or repositioning and protection or sustain. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

Cooldown110/95/80 secCost100Listed range900 units

Recast

This button has a follow-up cast. The first activation and recast have different jobs, timing or safety checks.

Vision

This ability supplies sight or reveals its target. That information effect can matter even when damage is not the main reason to cast it.

Protection

The protection or sustain is part of the cast's value. Compare its timing with incoming damage rather than reading only the offensive effect.

Movement

The cast changes position or access. Account for where the champion finishes, not only where the ability begins.

Levels 1–18

Naafiri · Health / Mana · Abilities

Base values exclude items, runes, temporary buffs and mode-specific modifiers. Cooldowns are the listed base cooldown before ability haste.

Level 1610 Health400 Mana

Level 3765 Health481 Mana

Level 61,025 Health617 Mana

Level 111,531 Health883 Mana

Level 162,130 Health1,196 Mana

Level 182,395 Health1,335 Mana

Cooldown Data Dragon 16.20.1

Basic abilityDarkin Daggers

Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.

Rank 19 secRank 28.5 secRank 38 secRank 47.5 secRank 57 sec

Basic abilityThe Call of the Pack

Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.

Rank 126 secRank 224 secRank 322 secRank 420 secRank 518 sec

Basic abilityEviscerate

Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.

Rank 111 secRank 210 secRank 39 secRank 48 secRank 57 sec

UltimateHounds' Pursuit

First rank becomes available at level 6; later ranks normally become available at levels 11 and 16.

Rank 1110 secRank 295 secRank 380 sec

Open every levelHealth and mana from level 1 to 18

Level	Health	Mana	Ability milestone
1	610	400 Mana	Choose the first basic ability
2	686	440 Mana	Add another basic ability or rank
3	765	481 Mana	Add another basic ability or rank
4	848	525 Mana	Spend one ability point
5	934	570 Mana	Spend one ability point
6	1,025	617 Mana	First ultimate rank normally available
7	1,119	666 Mana	Spend one ability point
8	1,216	718 Mana	Spend one ability point
9	1,318	771 Mana	Spend one ability point
10	1,423	826 Mana	Spend one ability point
11	1,531	883 Mana	Second ultimate rank normally available
12	1,644	941 Mana	Spend one ability point
13	1,760	1,002 Mana	Spend one ability point
14	1,879	1,065 Mana	Spend one ability point
15	2,003	1,130 Mana	Spend one ability point
16	2,130	1,196 Mana	Final ultimate rank normally available
17	2,261	1,265 Mana	Spend one ability point
18	2,395	1,335 Mana	Spend one ability point

Choose the next question

Turn the profile into a pre-game plan

Choose a queue-aware build, compare a lane opponent, or return to the full champion library.

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