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Nasus

the Curator of the Sands

SClassic SRTopFighter · Tank
Patch 26.19 · updated 2026-09-23

Quick build

Top AD Juggernaut

Full build
TopClassic SR9/21/0 masteries
Max
1–3
FlashTeleport

First buy

Core

  • Mercury's Treads
  • Spirit Visage
  • Frozen Heart

Loadout

Top · Top Tank Nasus · 9/21/0 masteries

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Overview

Difficulty
Difficulty 3 of 10
Class
Fighter, Tank
Released
· original roster

Base stats

Health
500+90
HP regen
1.68+0.18
Mana
245+45
Mana regen
1.42+0.1
Attack
56.8+3.5
Armor
22.5+3.5
MR
31.25+1.25
Move speed
350
Range
125
Attack speed
0.638+3.48%

Abilities

P, Soul Eater

Description

Innate: Nasus gains 10/15/20% life steal at levels 1/6/11.

Build

Each build as its own page: Top AD Juggernaut (Top) · Jungle AD Juggernaut (Jungle)

TopClassic SR
Max
1–3
FlashTeleport

  1. First buy

  2. Early

    • Mercury's Treads
    • Spectre's Cowl
    • Kindlegem

    Toward Spirit Visage.

  3. Core

    • Spirit Visage
    • Frozen Heart

  4. Late

    • Trinity Force
    • Warmog's Armor
    • Guardian Angel

  5. Full build

    • Mercury's Treads
    • Spirit Visage
    • Frozen Heart
    • Trinity Force
    • Warmog's Armor
    • Guardian Angel

Situationalswap into the late slots

  • Randuin's Omen
  • Thornmail
  • Force of Nature
  • Frozen Mallet
  • Banshee's Veil
  • Sunfire Cape
  • Shurelya's Reverie

Runes & masteries

9/21/0 · Top

Top Tank Nasus

Marks
  • 9× +1.25 Lethality
Seals
  • 9× +1 Armor
Glyphs
  • 9× 0.1% Cooldown Reduction per level
Quintessences
  • 3× +1.5% Life Steal

Page total

Armor
+9
Cooldown Reduction per level
+0.9%
Lethality
+11.25
Life Steal
+4.5%
Summoner's WrathSummoner's WrathUp to 1 rankImproves the Summoner Spells Exhaust, Ignite, Ghost, Surge, Rally, and PromoteFury (4 of 4 ranks)Fury4 / 4 ranks+1% Attack Speed per rankSorcery (4 of 4 ranks)Sorcery4 / 4 ranks+1% Cooldown Reduction per rankButcherButcherUp to 2 ranksBasic attacks deal 2/4 bonus damage to minions and monsters
Deadliness (1 of 4 ranks)Deadliness1 / 4 ranks+0.166/0.333/0.498/0.664 Attack Damage per levelBlastBlastUp to 4 ranks+0.25/0.5/0.75/1 Ability Power per levelDestructionDestructionUp to 1 rankIncrease damage to turrets by 5%
HavocHavocUp to 3 ranksIncreases damage dealt by 0.67%/1.33%/2%Weapon ExpertiseWeapon ExpertiseUp to 1 rank+8% Armor PenetrationArcane KnowledgeArcane KnowledgeUp to 1 rank+8% Magic Penetration
LethalityLethalityUp to 2 ranks+2.5%/5% Critical Strike Damage (5%/10% for melee)Brute ForceBrute ForceUp to 2 ranks+1.5/3 Attack DamageMental ForceMental ForceUp to 3 ranks+2/4/6 Ability PowerSpellswordSpellswordUp to 1 rankDeals 5% of your Ability Power as magic damage on basic attacks
FrenzyFrenzyUp to 1 rankGrants 10% attack speed for 2 seconds after landing a critical hitSunderSunderUp to 3 ranks+2/4/6 LethalityArchmageArchmageUp to 4 ranksIncreases Ability Power by 1.25%/2.5%/3.75%/5%
ExecutionerExecutionerUp to 1 rank · CapstoneIncreases damage dealt by 5% to targets below 50% Health

offense9

Summoner's ResolveSummoner's ResolveUp to 1 rankImproves the Summoner Spells Cleanse, Heal, Smite, Barrier, and FortifyPerseverance (3 of 3 ranks)Perseverance3 / 3 ranksGrants up to +2/4/6 Health Regen per 5 seconds based on missing HealthDurability (4 of 4 ranks)Durability4 / 4 ranks+1.5/3/4.5/6 Health per levelTough SkinTough SkinUp to 2 ranksReduces damage taken from monsters by 1/2
Hardiness (3 of 3 ranks)Hardiness3 / 3 ranks+2/4/6 ArmorResistance (3 of 3 ranks)Resistance3 / 3 ranks+2/4/6 Magic ResistBladed ArmorBladed ArmorUp to 1 rankDeals 6 damage to any enemy monster that attacks you
Unyielding (2 of 2 ranks)Unyielding2 / 2 ranksReduces damage taken from enemy champions by 1/2Relentless (2 of 2 ranks)Relentless2 / 2 ranksReduces the effectiveness of slows by 7.5%/15%Veteran's Scars (1 of 1 ranks)Veteran's Scars1 / 1 ranks+30 HealthSafeguardSafeguardUp to 1 rankReduces damage taken from turrets by 5%
Block (1 of 1 ranks)Block1 / 1 ranksReduces damage taken from champion basic attacks by 3Tenacious (2 of 3 ranks)Tenacious2 / 3 ranksReduces the duration of crowd control effects by 5%/10%/15%JuggernautJuggernautUp to 3 ranksIncreases your maximum Health by 1.5%/2.75%/4%
DefenderDefenderUp to 1 rankGrants +1 Armor and Magic Resist for each nearby enemy championLegendary ArmorLegendary ArmorUp to 3 ranksIncreases bonus Armor and Magic Resist by +2%/4%/6%Good HandsGood HandsUp to 1 rankReduce time spent dead by 10%Reinforced ArmorReinforced ArmorUp to 1 rankReduce damage taken from critical strikes by 10%
Honor GuardHonor GuardUp to 1 rank · CapstoneReduces damage taken from all sources by 3%

defense21

Summoner's InsightSummoner's InsightUp to 1 rankImproves the Summoner Spells Teleport, Flash, Clarity, Revive, and Clairvoyance.WandererWandererUp to 3 ranksGrants +0.66%/1.33%/2% increased Movement Speed when out of combatMeditationMeditationUp to 3 ranks+1/2/3 Mana Regen per 5 secondsImproved RecallImproved RecallUp to 1 rankReduces the cast time of Recall by 1 second
ScoutScoutUp to 1 rankWards gain 25% increased vision range for the first 3 seconds after placing themMastermindMastermindUp to 3 ranksReduces the cooldown of Summoner Spells by 4%/7%/10%Expanded MindExpanded MindUp to 3 ranks+4/7/10 mana per levelArtificerArtificerUp to 2 ranksReduces the cooldown of activated items by 7.5%/15%
GreedGreedUp to 4 ranksGrants an additional +0.5/1/1.5/2 gold every 10 secondsRunic AffinityRunic AffinityUp to 1 rankIncreases the duration of neutral monster buffs by 20%VampirismVampirismUp to 3 ranks+1%/2%/3% Lifesteal and Spell VampBiscuiteerBiscuiteerUp to 1 rankStart the game with a regenerative biscuit that restores 80 Health and 50 Mana over 10 seconds
WealthWealthUp to 2 ranksIncreases starting gold by 40/75AwarenessAwarenessUp to 4 ranksIncreases Experience earned by 1.25%/2.5%/3.75%/5%Strength of SpiritStrength of SpiritUp to 3 ranksUp to +1/2/3 Health Regen per 5 seconds for each 400 Mana you possessExplorerExplorerUp to 1 rankStart the game with an Explorer's Ward.
PickpocketPickpocketUp to 1 rankGrants 5 gold (melee) or 3 gold (ranged) each time you basic attack an enemy champion (5s cooldown)IntelligenceIntelligenceUp to 3 ranks+2%/4%/6% Cooldown Reduction
NimbleNimbleUp to 1 rank · CapstoneGrants 3% increased Movement Speed

utility0

Skill order

Max order››
Skill order by level for Top AD Juggernaut
Lv123456789101112131415161718
Q1Q at level 13Q at level 35Q at level 57Q at level 79Q at level 9
W2W at level 24W at level 48W at level 810W at level 1014W at level 14
E12E at level 1213E at level 1315E at level 1517E at level 1718E at level 18
R6R at level 611R at level 1116R at level 16

Matchups

Strong against

  • GarenGarenWitherWitherWActive: Nasus ages the target enemy champion for 5 seconds, slowing them by 35% and crippling them by 17.5%, both increasing every second over the duration. slows Garen by 35% and his attack speed by 17.5%, ramping each second to 95% and 47.5% at rank 5, and Decisive StrikeDecisive StrikeQActive: Garen cleanses himself of all slows affecting him and gains 35% bonus movement speed for a few seconds. Additionally, his next basic attack within 4.5 seconds deals bonus physical damage and silences his target. Decisive Strike resets Garen's basic attack timer.'s silence does not stop an auto-attack. Siphoning StrikeSiphoning StrikeQActive: Nasus empowers his next basic attack within 10 seconds to deal bonus physical damage. If Siphoning Strike kills the target, Nasus permanently gains 3 stacks, increased to 6 if the target is a champion, large minion, or large monster. Siphoning Strike resets Nasus' basic attack timer. keeps growing through the trade.Full matchup page
  • SionSionBoth scale on stacks; only Nasus's come with Soul EaterSoul EaterPassiveInnate: Nasus gains 10/15/20% life steal at levels 1/6/11.'s lifesteal. WitherWitherWActive: Nasus ages the target enemy champion for 5 seconds, slowing them by 35% and crippling them by 17.5%, both increasing every second over the duration. turns off the EnrageEnrageEWhile active, Sion gains Attack Damage, spends Health on each basic attack and permanently gains maximum Health from kills. window, and Cryptic GazeCryptic GazeQSion's stare terrifies a single enemy, dealing damage and stunning them. is one stun against Fury of the SandsFury of the SandsRActive: Nasus empowers himself for 15 seconds, gaining health, increased size, and range and 100 bonus cast range for the duration. While Nasus is empowered, he deals magic damage every 0.5 seconds to nearby enemies, capped at 240 per second, 5% of that damage is converted to Attack Damage AD.Full matchup page
  • TryndamereTryndamereUndying RageUndying RageRActive: Tryndamere's lust for battle becomes so strong that he becomes immune to death for 5 seconds and gains Fury. is five seconds of survival and WitherWitherWActive: Nasus ages the target enemy champion for 5 seconds, slowing them by 35% and crippling them by 17.5%, both increasing every second over the duration. is five seconds of moving and attacking at half speed. Tryndamere spends the ultimate and still does not get the kill.Full matchup page

Weak against

  • JaxJaxJax wins level two and every level until the stacks arrive. Counter StrikeCounter StrikeEActive: Jax enters Evasion for 2 seconds: a defensive stance that causes him to dodge all incoming non-turret basic attacks and take 25% reduced damage from all area of effect abilities sourced from champions. Counter Strike can be recast after 1 second, and does so automatically after the duration. Recast: Jax deals physical damage to nearby enemies, with the total damage increased by 20% for each attack dodged, up to a 100% increase, and stuns them for 1 second. blanks the Siphoning StrikeSiphoning StrikeQActive: Nasus empowers his next basic attack within 10 seconds to deal bonus physical damage. If Siphoning Strike kills the target, Nasus permanently gains 3 stacks, increased to 6 if the target is a champion, large minion, or large monster. Siphoning Strike resets Nasus' basic attack timer. auto, and Leap StrikeLeap StrikeQActive: Jax dashes to the target unit's location. If the target is an enemy and they are in range upon arrival, Jax deals physical damage to them. Jax can cast any of his abilities during the dash. answers WitherWitherWActive: Nasus ages the target enemy champion for 5 seconds, slowing them by 35% and crippling them by 17.5%, both increasing every second over the duration.'s slow.Full matchup page
  • OlafOlafReckless SwingReckless SwingEActive: Olaf strikes thunder onto the target enemy, dealing true damage.'s true damage ignores the armor Nasus builds, RagnarokRagnarokRActive: Olaf becomes enraged for 6 seconds, cleansing himself of all crowd control and becoming immune to them, as well as gaining bonus armor, bonus magic resistance, and lethality. answers WitherWitherWActive: Nasus ages the target enemy champion for 5 seconds, slowing them by 35% and crippling them by 17.5%, both increasing every second over the duration. entirely, and Vicious StrikesVicious StrikesWActive: For 6 seconds, Olaf gains bonus attack damage, life steal, and spell vamp. out-sustains Soul EaterSoul EaterPassiveInnate: Nasus gains 10/15/20% life steal at levels 1/6/11. in the trade that decides the lane.Full matchup page
  • VayneVayneSilver BoltsSilver BoltsWPassive: Vayne's basic attacks on-hit and Condemn apply a stack of Silver Bolts for 3.5 seconds, refreshing on subsequent applications, expiring upon attacking a new enemy, and stacking up to 3 times. The third stack consumes them all to deal bonus true damage, with a minimum threshold. Silver Bolts is capped at 200 damage against monsters. takes a percentage of the health Nasus stacks, CondemnCondemnEActive: Vayne fires a heavy bolt at the target enemy that deals physical damage and knocks them back 475 units, though not through terrain. If the target collides with terrain, they take the same physical damage and become stunned for 1.5 seconds. answers the walk-up, and WitherWitherWActive: Nasus ages the target enemy champion for 5 seconds, slowing them by 35% and crippling them by 17.5%, both increasing every second over the duration. is a slow that TumbleTumbleQActive: Vayne dashes a fixed distance in the target direction, though not through terrain, and empowers her next basic attack within 3 seconds to deal bonus physical damage. Tumble resets Vayne's basic attack timer. works straight through.Full matchup page
  • TeemoTeemoBlinding DartBlinding DartQActive: Teemo shoots a dart at the target enemy that deals magic damage and blinds them for a duration. blanks the Siphoning StrikeSiphoning StrikeQActive: Nasus empowers his next basic attack within 10 seconds to deal bonus physical damage. If Siphoning Strike kills the target, Nasus permanently gains 3 stacks, increased to 6 if the target is a champion, large minion, or large monster. Siphoning Strike resets Nasus' basic attack timer. trades and Toxic ShotToxic ShotEPassive: Teemo's basic attacks are empowered to deal bonus magic damage on-hit and inflict poison. poison: The target takes magic damage every second over 4 seconds. Subsequent inflictions refresh the duration. poke denies the farm the stacks come from; Teemo starves Nasus from range.Full matchup page

Classic vs modern11 base-stat shifts

Base-stat shifts11
Base health
Classic: 500Current League: 650
Health per level
Classic: 90Current League: 104
Health regen
Classic: 1.68Current League: 9
Base mana
Classic: 245Current League: 326
Mana per level
Classic: 45Current League: 62
Base attack damage
Classic: 56.8Current League: 67
Attack damage per level
Classic: 3.5Current League: 0
Base armor
Classic: 22.5Current League: 34
Armor per level
Classic: 3.5Current League: 4.7
Base magic resist
Classic: 31.25Current League: 32
Magic resist per level
Classic: 1.25Current League: 2.05

Skins

  • Nasus

  • Pharaoh Nasus

  • Riot K-9 Nasus

  • Infernal Nasus

  • Lunar Guardian Nasus

  • Space Groove Nasus

Nasus has 1 more skin in Classic with no English name, not shown here.

History & Notes

Released 2009-10-01, one of the original forty champions. Classic freezes the kit at patch 3.13.24; the modern game still runs its descendant. Riot's next 3 balance steps after the freeze are listed below.

Changed after 3.13

  1. V3.14
    • Visual Update, New models and textures for all skins.
    • Soul Eater, Bonus Life Steal changed to 10;15;20% from 14;17;20.
  2. V4.1
    • Wither, Cast range reduced to 600 from 700.
    • Fury of the Sands, Removed: Granting 100 bonus cast range while active.
  3. V4.5
    • Stats, Armor increased to 19 from 15.
Contributors
Reio