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Jungle · Normal DraftMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Nidalee vs Vex

Build, runes, abilities and practical pre-game checks in one queue-aware reference.

NidaleeVSVex

Matchup guide

Choose the matchup

Search every champion, choose the assigned role, then open the exact queue page.

VS
Role
Selected laneJungle

Choose two champions from the list.

Role fit

JungleNidalee

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

Primary role
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
S
Draft / Ranked opening · separate from item 1

Gustwalker Hatchling

450 gold

Provides Smite progression and the movement-focused Jungle companion.

1
First item

Lich Bane

2,900 gold

Rewards following an ability with a basic attack.

2
Boots

Sorcerer's Shoes

1,100 gold

Adds flat magic penetration against low-resistance targets.

3
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.

4
Second core

Zhonya's Hourglass

3,250 gold

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

5
Late defence

Rabadon's Deathcap

3,500 gold

Multiplies ability power after the functional core is complete.

6
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.

  1. First itemLich Bane
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Second coreZhonya's Hourglass
  5. Late defenceRabadon's Deathcap
  6. 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.

  1. First itemLich Bane
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. CoreHextech Rocketbelt
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Late defenceRabadon's Deathcap
  6. FlexibleVoid Staff

Complete build comparison

Complete build comparison

Recommendation review pending

Build review neededReviewed Nidalee tempo JungleRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. First itemLich Bane
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. CoreHextech Rocketbelt
  4. Second coreZhonya's Hourglass
  5. Late defenceRabadon's Deathcap
  6. FlexibleVoid Staff
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.

  1. First itemLich Bane
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Second coreZhonya's Hourglass
  5. Late defenceRabadon's Deathcap
  6. 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.

  1. First itemLich Bane
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. CoreHextech Rocketbelt
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Late defenceRabadon's Deathcap
  6. 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 HarvestSudden ImpactGrisly MementosUltimate Hunter
Secondary tree

Sorcery

TranscendenceWaterwalking
Summoner spells
FlashSmite
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.

Matchup notes

What changes when Vex is opposite you?

Pre-game kit comparison
Kit comparison

Respect the opponent's reliable threat

Track the cooldown and range of the ability that starts their safest trade. Do not treat this page as a statistical counter claim.

Your plan

Use the route you prepared

Treat Vex as one part of the map state. Their Jungler, nearby waves and which teammates can move determine whether the same trade or rotation is safe.

Ability reminders

Nidalee reminders

  • Use brush to your advantage! Moving in and out of brush can heavily alter your effectiveness in battle.
  • Start team fights by harassing with your Javelin Toss, and then switch to cougar form to chase down Hunted targets.
  • Bushwhack traps deal damage based on their victim's current Health. Set them up in your team's backline before fights break out during sieges to help your team deal damage to the enemy frontline.

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.

Ability reference

Compare both kits

Ability reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

Cooldown (s) / Cost / Listed range (units) Data Dragon 16.20.1

Nidalee

  1. P
    Prowl

    Moving 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.

  2. Q
    Javelin Toss / Takedown

    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.

    Cooldown (s) 6 · Cost 50/55/60/65/70 · Listed range (units) 1500
  3. W
    Bushwhack / Pounce

    In 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.

    Cooldown (s) 13/12/11/10/9 · Cost 30/35/40/45/50 · Listed range (units) 900
  4. E
    Primal Surge / Swipe

    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 claws in a direction, dealing damage to enemies in front of her.

    Cooldown (s) 12 · Cost 50/55/60/65/70 · Listed range (units) 900
  5. R
    Aspect Of The Cougar

    Nidalee transforms into a cougar, gaining new abilities.

    Cooldown (s) 3 · Listed range (units) 20

Vex

  1. P
    Doom 'n Gloom

    Vex periodically becomes empowered, causing her next basic Ability to fear enemies and interrupt dashes. Whenever a nearby enemy dashes, Vex applies a mark that can be consumed for bonus damage that also reduces the cooldown of her empowered state.

  2. Q
    Mistral Bolt

    Launch a damaging missile that accelerates mid-flight.

    Cooldown (s) 8/7/6/5/4 · Cost 45/50/55/60/65 · Listed range (units) 1200
  3. W
    Personal Space

    Gain a shield and damage nearby enemies.

    Cooldown (s) 16/15/14/13/12 · Cost 75 · Listed range (units) 475
  4. E
    Looming Darkness

    Summon a damaging and slowing zone that applies Gloom to enemies.

    Cooldown (s) 12 · Cost 70/80/90/100/110 · Listed range (units) 800
  5. R
    Shadow Surge

    Fire a missile that marks an enemy champion. Recast to dash to them and deal damage.

    Cooldown (s) 140/120/100 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 2000/2500/3000

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

1
Pathing

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

2
Map play

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

3
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. 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. 2
    Check priority

    Confirm which nearby lanes can move first. Do not convert an isolated objective marker into a forced fight.

  3. 3
    Control entry

    Move with a teammate, sweep one entrance and keep Smite available before committing damage to the objective.

  4. 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.

Keep preparing

Use the champion page or choose another opponent

The matchup page is a pre-game reference. It does not predict the result or alter its recommendation from changing live match data.

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