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Nidalee

the Bestial Huntress

AClassic SRMidTopAssassin · Mage
Patch 26.19 · 2 changes · updated 2026-09-23

Quick build

Hybrid Skirmisher

Full build
MidClassic SR9/21/0 masteries
Max
FlashIgnite

First buy

  1. Doran's Ring
  2. Health Potion, 2 of them

15 ability power scales both Javelin Toss and Primal Surge, and the 3 mana per 5 keeps Nidalee casting them.

Core

  • Blade of the Ruined King
  • Ninja Tabi
  • Trinity Force

Loadout

Mid · AP Standard · 9/21/0 masteries

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Overview

Difficulty
Difficulty 10 of 10
Class
Assassin, Mage
Released
· later addition

Base stats

Health
460+90
HP regen
1.12+0.12
Mana
265+45
Mana regen
1.5+0.1
Attack
52.5+3.5
Armor
18.5+3.5
MR
30
Move speed
335
Range
525
Attack speed
0.67+3.22%

Abilities

P, Prowl

Description

Moving through brush grants Nidalee 15% Movement Speed for 2 seconds.

Build

Each build as its own page: Hybrid Skirmisher (Mid) · AD Bruiser (Top)

MidClassic SR
Max
FlashIgnite

  1. First buy

    1. Doran's Ring
    2. Health Potion, 2 of them

    15 ability power scales both Javelin Toss and Primal Surge, and the 3 mana per 5 keeps Nidalee casting them.

    Alternative start:
    1. Doran's Blade
    Alternative start:
    1. Boots of Speed
    2. Health Potion, 4 of them

    Prowl already gives 15% through brush. The boots add 25 flat, for the parts of the lane without any.

  2. Early

    • Bilgewater Cutlass

    Toward Blade of the Ruined King.

  3. Core

    • Blade of the Ruined King
    • Ninja Tabi
    • Trinity Force

  4. Late

    • Frozen Mallet
    • Spirit Visage
    • Frozen Heart

  5. Full build

    • Blade of the Ruined King
    • Ninja Tabi
    • Trinity Force
    • Frozen Mallet
    • Spirit Visage
    • Frozen Heart

Runes & masteries

9/21/0 · Mid

AP Standard

Marks
  • 9× +1 Attack Damage
Seals
  • 9× +1 Armor
Glyphs
  • 9× +1.2 Ability Power
Quintessences
  • 3× +26 Health

Page total

Ability Power
+10.8
Armor
+9
Attack Damage
+9
Health
+78
Summoner's Wrath (1 of 1 ranks)Summoner's Wrath1 / 1 ranksImproves the Summoner Spells Exhaust, Ignite, Ghost, Surge, Rally, and PromoteFury (3 of 4 ranks)Fury3 / 4 ranks+1% Attack Speed per rankSorcerySorceryUp to 4 ranks+1% Cooldown Reduction per rankButcherButcherUp to 2 ranksBasic attacks deal 2/4 bonus damage to minions and monsters
Deadliness (4 of 4 ranks)Deadliness4 / 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 Expertise (1 of 1 ranks)Weapon Expertise1 / 1 ranks+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 (2 of 3 ranks)Perseverance2 / 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 ArmorResistanceResistanceUp to 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 1/2RelentlessRelentlessUp to 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 (3 of 3 ranks)Tenacious3 / 3 ranksReduces the duration of crowd control effects by 5%/10%/15%Juggernaut (3 of 3 ranks)Juggernaut3 / 3 ranksIncreases your maximum Health by 1.5%/2.75%/4%
Defender (1 of 1 ranks)Defender1 / 1 ranksGrants +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 Guard (1 of 1 ranks)Honor Guard1 / 1 ranks · 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 Hybrid Skirmisher
Lv123456789101112131415161718
Q1Q at level 14Q at level 45Q at level 57Q at level 79Q at level 9
W2W at level 28W at level 810W at level 1012W at level 1213W at level 13
E3E at level 314E at level 1415E at level 1517E at level 1718E at level 18
R6R at level 611R at level 1116R at level 16

Matchups

Strong against

  • KarthusKarthusJavelin Toss needs one thing: a target standing still. Karthus stands in DefileDefileEPassive: Karthus restores mana whenever he kills an enemy. This passive is disabled when Defile is toggled on. Toggle: Karthus surrounds himself in a necrotic aura that deals magic damage every second to all nearby enemies. Toggling Defile off triggers a final tick of damage. Defile is toggled off automatically if Karthus becomes unable to pay its mana cost. to deal damage, Bushwhack holds him for the follow-up, and Wall of PainWall of PainWActive: Karthus erects a wall of pain at the target location perpendicular to his facing that lasts 5 seconds, granting sight around its pillars and center. Enemies that touch the wall are inflicted with magic penetration and become slowed for 5 seconds, decaying over the duration. This can affect enemies only once per cast. does not reach the spear's range.Full matchup page
  • VeigarVeigarVeigar walks up to farm Baleful StrikeBaleful StrikeQUnleashes dark energy at target enemy, dealing magic damage. If a unit is killed, Veigar gains some Ability Power permanently. and stands inside Event HorizonEvent HorizonEActive: Veigar forms a cage at the target location that erects after a 0.5 second delay, remaining there for 3 seconds. Enemies that collide with the edges of the cage are stunned for a duration. Event Horizon can affect enemies only once per cast. to use it. The javelin gains damage the further it flies, and Nidalee never has to come closer.Full matchup page
  • SionSionCryptic GazeCryptic GazeQSion's stare terrifies a single enemy, dealing damage and stunning them. at 550 against a spear thrown from three times that. Bushwhack covers the approach and Pounce leaves before Sion's one gap-closer returns.Full matchup page

Weak against

  • KassadinKassadinCougar form is speed, not distance: RiftwalkRiftwalkRActive: Kassadin blinks toward the target location, dealing magic damage to all nearby enemies upon arrival. He then gains a stack of Riftwalk for 8 seconds, refreshing on subsequent casts and stacking up to 10 times. Riftwalk: For each stack, Riftwalk deals 60 bonus magic damage at an increased 100 mana cost. covers more of it, and Null SphereNull SphereQActive: Kassadin fires an orb of void energy at the target enemy that deals magic damage and silences them. silences the form swap. Her escape is a dash into the champion who dashes better.Full matchup page
  • ShacoShacoDeceiveDeceiveQActive: Shaco instantly blinks to the target location and becomes invisible for up to 3.5 seconds. Shaco's next basic attack within 6 seconds to critically strike for bonus critical damage. opens from behind, where the javelin's charge-up is worthless, and 460 base health does not survive BackstabBackstabPassiveInnate: Shaco deals 20% bonus damage when attacking an enemy from behind. plus Two-Shiv PoisonTwo-Shiv PoisonEPassive: Shaco's basic attacks poison his targets, slowing them for 2 seconds and reducing minions' chance to hit for 2 seconds. This passive is lost when Two-Shiv Poison is on cooldown. Active: Shaco throws a dagger at the target enemy, dealing magic damage and slowing them for 3 seconds..Full matchup page
  • Lee SinLee SinSonic Wave gives Lee Sin the vision and the dash in one cast. Pounce is a short hop against two gap-closers with Dragon's RageDragon's RageRActive: Lee Sin roots the target enemy champion over the cast time, then roundhouse kicks them to deal physical damage and knock them back up to 800 units over 0.8 seconds, rendering them airborne for 1 second. Enemies that collide with the displaced enemy while it is airborne take the same damage and are knocked up for 1 second. waiting at the end.Full matchup page
  • PantheonPantheonSpear ShotSpear ShotQActive: Pantheon hurls his spear at the target enemy, dealing them physical damage. Certain Death causes Spear Shot to deal (100% + Infinity Edge 25%) bonus physical damage. out-trades everything bruiser Nidalee has before six, and Aegis ProtectionAegis ProtectionPassiveInnate: Pantheon gains a stack of Aegis Protection when he lands a basic attack or casts an ability, up to a maximum of 4. Upon reaching 4 stacks, he consumes all stacks and gains Aegis Protection. Aegis Protection: Pantheon blocks the next incoming basic attack from an enemy champion, large monster, minion, or the next incoming shot from a turret. Can only block damage exceeding 40–100 pre-mitigation damage. Stacks of Aegis Protection cannot be gained during the blocking, also he cannot gain 2 Aegis Protection at the same time. blocks the Takedown pounce that starts her combo.Full matchup page
  • KayleKayleKayle matches the ranged harass, and InterventionInterventionRActive: Kayle bathes the target allied champion or herself in holy light, rendering them invulnerable for 2.5 seconds. blanks the one Javelin Toss pick Nidalee's whole lane is built around.Full matchup page

Classic vs modern9 base-stat shifts

Base-stat shifts9
Base health
Classic: 460Current League: 610
Health per level
Classic: 90Current League: 109
Health regen
Classic: 1.12Current League: 6
Base mana
Classic: 265Current League: 295
Base attack damage
Classic: 52.5Current League: 58
Attack damage per level
Classic: 3.5Current League: 0
Base armor
Classic: 18.5Current League: 32
Armor per level
Classic: 3.5Current League: 5
Base attack speed
Classic: 0.67Current League: 0.638

Skins

  • Nidalee

  • Pharaoh Nidalee

  • Headhunter Nidalee

  • Challenger Nidalee

  • Dawnbringer Nidalee

  • Kittalee

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

History & Notes

Released 2009-12-17, part of the 2009–2013 wave Classic drew its roster from. 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
    • Javelin Toss, Bonus damage calculation start changed to projectile's cast point from Nidalee's location when target is hit.
    • Javelin Toss, Bonus damage gain start changed to after exceeding Nidalee's human form basic attack range from Nidalee herself (maximum damage unchanged).
    • Bushwhack, Sight duration reduced to 8 seconds from 12.
    • Bushwhack, Resistances reductions duration reduced to 8 seconds from 12.
  2. V4.1
    • Bushwhack, New Effect: Casting inside walls will place the traps in the nearest available ground.
  3. V4.5
    • Stats, Armor increased to 15 from 11.
Contributors
Reio