Game patch 26.20Data Dragon 16.20.1

Reference patch 16.20.1

Nidalee Jungle · Normal Draft

Nidalee has an established clear and map plan that can function without lane income while contesting camps and objectives.

Primary roleStandard Summoner's Rift preparation

Champion overview

Historical referenceRecommendation review pending

These patches track recommendation review, build validation and item lookup separately. Updating item data does not complete a build review.

Recommendation patch: 16.16 Data Dragon
Build validation patch: 16.19.1 Data Dragon
Item lookup patch: 16.20.1 Data Dragon

Normal Draft · Jungle

Reviewed Nidalee tempo Jungle

Follow the completed-item order as a pre-game reference. Components and owned items do not create extra inventory slots.

Primary role

Draft / Ranked opening · separate from item 1

Gustwalker Hatchling

450 gold

Provides Smite progression and the movement-focused Jungle companion.

First item

Lich Bane

2,900 gold

Rewards following an ability with a basic attack.

Boots

Sorcerer's Shoes

1,100 gold

Adds flat magic penetration against low-resistance targets.

Core

Hextech Rocketbelt

2,650 gold

This item is part of the most-supported coherent core in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot. Treat the sample as context, then adjust only for a clearly identified matchup problem.

Second core

Zhonya's Hourglass

3,250 gold

Adds armour, ability power and a player-timed stasis.

Late defence

Rabadon's Deathcap

3,500 gold

Multiplies ability power after the functional core is complete.

Flexible

Void Staff

3,000 gold

Adds percentage magic penetration after enemies buy meaningful resistance.

Complete build choices

Choose the route before play

Recommendation review pending

AlternativeToo much healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

View full route

Best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

First itemLich Bane
BootsSorcerer's Shoes
Morellonomicon
Second coreZhonya's Hourglass
Late defenceRabadon's Deathcap
FlexibleVoid Staff

AlternativeOne spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

First itemLich Bane
BootsSorcerer's Shoes
CoreHextech Rocketbelt
Banshee's Veil
Late defenceRabadon's Deathcap
FlexibleVoid Staff

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsNidaleeJungle

The AP Jungle page rewards completed spell-damage windows after a safe clear. Smite remains mandatory; the movement spell protects pathing and gank exits.

Normal Draft

Primary tree

Domination

Dark Harvest

Sudden Impact

Grisly Mementos

Ultimate Hunter

Secondary tree

Sorcery

Transcendence

Waterwalking

Summoner spells

Flash

Smite

Keep Smite

Smite is part of Jungle companion progression and objective security. The movement or combat spell beside it is the adjustable slot.

Change the movement spell

Ghost can fit sustained access; Flash can fit one immediate reposition. Use the champion's route and intended fights to choose.

Static alternatives

Compare the problem before changing the plan

These choices are not selected from live scores. Use one only after you identify the stated match problem yourself.

Only when enemy healing is deciding fights

Oblivion Orb

Oblivion Orb supplies healing reduction without committing to a completed Morellonomicon. Skip both when healing is not the problem or an ally already covers your target reliably. Healing reduction does not reduce shields.

Conditional component, not a core item. Complete Morellonomicon only when its stats and slot efficiency justify delaying another purchase.

One spell stops me

Banshee's Veil

Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

Situational AP purchase

When should you buy anti-heal?

Buy healing reduction when enemy healing or regeneration is deciding fights and you can keep damaging the relevant target. Grievous Wounds reduces healing; it does not reduce shields, magic damage or crowd control.

Start with the component

Oblivion Orb can provide healing reduction without immediately paying for a completed Morellonomicon. Fit the component around your core damage, mana and survival needs; check the current queue's item tooltip.

Finish when it fits the fight

Complete Morellonomicon when its stats and slot efficiency suit your build. Do not treat it as a mandatory first item just because your champion deals magic damage.

Coordinate coverage

Multiple Grievous Wounds sources do not add their percentages together. Another reliable applier may cover the same target, but you may still need your own source for a separate fight or target.

Repeated spell damage and damage over time can maintain coverage more reliably than a single hit. Match the purchase to your actual spell access, enemy sustain and the teammates who can apply the debuff.

Will the fight last long enough?

If you die before dealing damage, you apply no healing reduction. If your target dies before healing, there is little healing to prevent. The debuff applies on qualifying damage immediately; it does not need to build up. It remains briefly after your last hit, so teammates can benefit even after you disengage.

Only healing during the active debuff counts. For example, 40% reduction prevents 80 of a 200-point heal, or 400 of a 1,000-point heal, before other modifiers. Compare that with the damage, penetration or survival you delayed; neither example guarantees a kill. Healing after the debuff expires is unaffected.

See the Oblivion Orb and Morellonomicon references for current effects and queue availability. These are situational decisions, not a measured best-build claim.

Kit reference

Nidalee 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

Prowl

What it doesMoving 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.

Practical readProwl is an automatic part of the kit involving vision information. Track when its condition is active instead of treating every fight the same way.

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.

Q ability

Javelin Toss / Takedown

What it doesIn 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.

Practical readJavelin Toss / Takedown is a ranged cast involving damage. Respect its line or target area, and avoid spending it when the opponent can simply step away before the important exchange.

Cooldown6 secCost50/55/60/65/70Listed range1500 units

W ability

Bushwhack / Pounce

What it doesIn 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.

Practical readBushwhack / Pounce creates setup or area pressure. Place it where the opponent must choose between entering its space, changing route or giving up the immediate contest.

Cooldown13/12/11/10/9 secCost30/35/40/45/50Listed range900 units

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.

E ability

Primal Surge / Swipe

What it doesIn 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.

Practical readPrimal Surge / Swipe contributes protection or sustain and basic-attack interaction. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

Cooldown12 secCost50/55/60/65/70Listed range900 units

Cast commitment

This cast has a wind-up, charge or channel. Movement, interruption or a changing target state can matter before the effect completes.

Ultimate

Aspect Of The Cougar

What it doesNidalee transforms into a cougar, gaining new abilities.

Practical readAspect Of The Cougar is part of Nidalee's R pattern. Read its listed effect first, then track the cooldown and condition that make the next use valuable.

Cooldown3 secListed range20 units

Adapt the plan

What to do when the game changes

Judge the whole lane or map state, not only personal kills. Choose the situation closest to the current game.

Even plan

Keep the clear moving and choose high-information plays

Pathing

Track opposing camps and lane states instead of forcing the first visible target.

Map play

Trade sides of the map when contesting would require weaker lanes to move first.

Fights

Save important control for the enemy who threatens your carries or objective access.

Pings, movement and objectives

Nidalee Jungle map plan

Link each clear to the next informed decision. Pings should tell lanes where you are pathing and whether the team is contesting or trading an objective.

Ahead

Turn tempo into controlled territory

Ping: Use On My Way before entering a lane, Assist Me before an objective and Danger when nearby lanes cannot move to an invade.
Path or gank: Gank when the lane has reach, damage and a safe exit. Do not wait beside a protected target while camps and the next objective disappear.
Objective: Establish vision with the nearest winning lane, keep Smite available and avoid chasing away from the objective after gaining control.

Even

Choose the play with the clearest information

Ping: Use On My Way early enough for the lane to prepare, Assist Me only when nearby lanes can move, and Retreat when the contest has already become late.
Path or gank: Prefer a lane with crowd control, damaged opponents or a favourable wave. A visible opponent is not automatically a usable gank.
Objective: Check Mid and Bot priority before Dragon, or Mid and Top before Herald. Set a safe entrance before beginning the objective.

Behind

Trade the map instead of forcing recovery

Ping: Ping Retreat from lost contests, Danger on likely invades and On My Way when covering a vulnerable lane or remaining camp.
Path or gank: Counter-gank or help only when allies can survive until arrival. Repeated low-chance ganks deepen the camp and level deficit.
Objective: If entry is unsafe, trade for camps, a wave, vision or the opposite objective. Keep Smite and crowd control for a contest the team can actually reach.

Objective setup

Four calls, in order

Pings create a shared plan; they do not replace checking waves, vision and who can move.

1
Before the route
Decide which camps lead toward the objective and ping the nearby lanes before they spend the wave or recall timing.
2
Check priority
Confirm which nearby lanes can move first. Do not convert an isolated objective marker into a forced fight.
3
Control entry
Move with a teammate, sweep one entrance and keep Smite available before committing damage to the objective.
4
Finish or turn
Call whether the team is finishing, fighting or leaving. Mixed decisions are more dangerous than either clear choice.

Later objectives: Repeat the same process around later major objectives: handle nearby income, communicate the route, enter through vision and agree on the fight before committing.

Use the guide

Put Nidalee into a real matchup

Compare a specific opponent, return to the champion overview, or choose another champion without losing the queue distinction.

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