Nidalee Review

Welcome to the wild world of Nidalee, the jungle huntress that’s been prowling the League of Legends since her release back in 2009. As a specialist in the jungle, Nidalee is a versatile champion that can shift between forms and wreak havoc on her enemies. In this article, I’m going to give you the lowdown on why I want to review this champion and everything you need to know about Nidalee. So, grab your spear and let’s dive into the untamed jungle of Nidalee!

Lore

Raised in the deepest jungle, Nidalee is a master tracker who can shapeshift into a ferocious paka at will. Neither wholly woman nor beast, she viciously defends her territory from any and all trespassers, with carefully placed traps and deft spear throws. She cripples her quarry before pouncing on them in feline form—the lucky few who survive tell tales of a wild woman with razor-sharp instincts, and even sharper claws…

Nidalee is a fearsome huntress who embraces the nature of the wild and takes enjoyment from hunting prey. She is protective towards her paka and the jungle they live in, being distrustful towards outsiders who trespass into her tribe’s homeland. She usually tries to intimidate them and chase them away, but won’t hesitate to kill should they ignore her warnings.

Champion Abilities

Nidalee’s abilities are as wild as she is:

Prowl (Passive): Nidalee’s passive makes her a jungle prowler. Moving through the brush increases her move speed and hitting champions with her Javelin Toss or Bushwhack triggers a Hunt, revealing enemies and enhancing her abilities.
Javelin Toss / Takedown (Q): In human form, Nidalee throws a javelin that deals more damage the further it flies. In cougar form, she goes in for the kill, dealing even more damage to weakened foes.
Bushwhack / Pounce (W): In human form, Nidalee sets traps that damage and reveal her prey. In cougar form, she pounces on her enemies, dealing damage where she lands.
Primal Surge / Swipe (E): In human form, Nidalee can heal and boost her allies’ attack speed. In cougar form, she slashes at her enemies in front of her.
Aspect of the Cougar (R): Nidalee can transform into a cougar, gaining a new set of abilities.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Nidalee

In the world of League of Legends, Nidalee has her strengths and weaknesses:

Pros:

Consistently Strong in the META: Nidalee remains a competitive pick in the current meta.
Can 1v9 Games at All ELOs: With skill and practice, Nidalee can take over and carry games.
High Skill Cap: Mastering Nidalee is rewarding and challenging.
Extremely Fun and Enjoyable: As you improve with her, she becomes even more enjoyable to play.
AP Jungler: Nidalee offers diversity by being an AP jungler, which can expand your champion pool.
Limitless Options: Nidalee’s kit provides numerous playstyle options and strengths.

Cons:

No Hard CC: She lacks hard crowd control abilities in her kit.
Squishy When Built Full Damage: Nidalee can be vulnerable when built with a full-damage build.
Hard to Play from Behind: Catching up when falling behind can be a challenging feat.
Steep Learning Curve: Learning Nidalee’s mechanics and combos takes time and practice.
Requires Strong Clearing Fundamentals: Efficient jungle clearing is essential for Nidalee’s success.

Best Items for Nidalee

Now, let’s gear up for Nidalee. The best items to pick include:

Hextech Rocketbelt: This core item provides great mobility and damage, allowing Nidalee to make aggressive plays and secure objectives.
Zhonya’s Hourglass: Essential for survival, this item can keep Nidalee alive while making daring moves in fights.
Rabadon’s Deathcap: When you’re confident and there are no major threats, boost your damage with this item.
Lich Bane: If you crave more damage, Lich Bane is an excellent option to enhance your burst.
Banshee’s Veil: When facing heavy AP threats or skillshot-reliant champions, this can save you from dangerous situations.
Shadowflame: If the enemy team relies on shielding, consider this to reduce their defenses.
Void Staff: A solid choice when facing tanky opponents with significant magic resist. It enhances your damage output against these foes.
Shadowflame: A great option to mitigate enemy shielding, especially when facing champions reliant on shields or protective abilities.
Morellonomicon: When facing teams with strong healing capabilities, Morellonomicon can cut down their sustain, making it easier to secure kills.
Rylai’s Crystal Scepter: If you’re looking to add some utility to your kit, this item provides a slow on your abilities, making it harder for enemies to escape.
Ionian Boots of Lucidity: These boots offer cooldown reduction to allow you to use your abilities more frequently.
Mercury’s Treads: When dealing with heavy crowd control or magic damage, these boots can help you stay alive in fights.
Sorcerer’s Shoes: For a boost in magic penetration, these are a great choice to increase your damage output.

Best Lanes and Roles for Nidalee

Nidalee thrives in the jungle, where she can show her early game dominance. She’s a ganking powerhouse, so look to make plays and gank frequently. Moreover, Nidalee is excellent at counter-jungling and stealing the enemy’s camps, which can help you get ahead while setting your opponents back.

Champion Picks and Counter Picks

To ensure your success with Nidalee, it’s essential to know the champion matchups. Nidalee tends to do well against champions like Talon and Wukong in the jungle. On the flip side, champions like Rammus and Fiddlesticks can be nightmares for her. It’s generally best to avoid playing against these tough opponents.

Price of this Champion in 2023

Nidalee’s price in 2023 stands at 3150 Blue Essence (BE) or 790 Riot Points (RP).

My Feedback

Nidalee is a champion for the bold, the ones willing to embrace the wild side of League of Legends. She excels in the early game with fast jungle clears and potent ganking potential. Her burst damage can give her an edge in duels, making her a formidable opponent.

However, Nidalee is no easy pick for the casual player. She demands a steep learning curve and dedication to master her intricate mechanics. You’ll need to understand her combos, terrain traversal, and jungle clears. Plus, Nidalee leaves no room for errors. Falling behind can be a daunting challenge to overcome.

With experience, you’ll develop the ability to predict enemy moves and make strategic plays. A skilled Nidalee player can shape the course of the game, exerting map pressure and exhibiting outstanding skill.

Best Guide for Nidalee in 2023

If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of Nidalee, I recommend checking out this comprehensive guide for 2023:Nidalee Guide. It offers insights, tips, and strategies that can help you become a more formidable jungle predator.

Best Skins for Nidalee

Nidalee offers a variety of skins, but not all are created equal. Here’s a rundown of some of her skins:

Pharaoh Nidalee (Released: Jan 10, 2011 – Price: 520 RP): An older skin with a simple champion model change, lacking new animations or particles.
Snow Bunny Nidalee (Released: Dec 17, 2009 – Price: 520 RP): An even older recolor skin with little to differentiate it from the base model.
French Maid Nidalee (Released: Jun 24, 2010 – Price: 520 RP): Known for its suggestive splash art, but offers minimal changes to the champion model and no new animations.
Leopard Nidalee (Released: Feb 24, 2010 – Price: 520 RP): Honest theme, distinct human form outfit, and a cougar form that’s more than just a recolor.
Warring Kingdoms Nidalee (Released: Feb 10, 2015 – Price: 975 RP): Detailed human character model, impressive cougar form, and minor particle changes.
DWG Nidalee (Released: Apr 29, 2021 – Price: 1350 RP): A divisive skin with a dull color palette and a majestic cougar form but some drawbacks in animations and sound effects.
Ocean Song Nidalee (Released: Jun 9, 2022 – Price: 1350 RP): A decent skin with detailed character models, good cougar form, and pleasant backing animations but lacks diverse particles.
Challenger Nidalee (Released: Jan 14, 2016 – Price: 975 RP): Offers new particles, design changes for traps and passive, detailed character models, but features a highly visible red spear.
Super Galaxy Nidalee (Released: Oct 16, 2017 – Price: 1350 RP): Features a cool drill spear, crisp sound effects, unique cougar form, and dynamic animations.
Headhunter Nidalee (Released: Mar 20, 2013 – Price: 975 RP): A classic, offering an interesting theme with distinct character models and good design choices.
Bewitching Nidalee (Released: Oct 19, 2011 – Price: 975 RP): A seasonal skin that’s beloved by many, offering unique character models, fun particles, and hard-to-see spears.
Cosmic Huntress Nidalee (Released: Nov 24, 2020 – Price: 1350 RP): An aesthetic skin with deity-like character models, impressive animations, and an overall godly feel.
Dawnbringer Nidalee (Released: Dec 12, 2019 – Price: 1350 RP): Offers clean animations, particles, and sound effects, with a timeless design philosophy and a powerful feel.

Champion’s Tricks and Interesting Facts

Nidalee is packed with interesting quirks and tricks:

Nidalee is one of the few champions with multiple textures per skin, distinct for human and cougar forms.
She was the first champion with a transformation ability, paving the way for others like Elise, Gnar, Shyvana, and Swain.
Nidalee boasts four running animations, two for each form, showcasing her agile prowess.
In the past, Nidalee had a hidden passive that granted bonus experience to nearby allied champions, boosting their growth.
To maximize her potential, use alternative ganking routes by leaping over small walls with Bushwhack / Pounce, evading commonly placed wards.
Nidalee thrives in a guerrilla warfare style, poking enemies down before engaging in team fights.

So there you have it, a complete rundown of Nidalee’s world in League of Legends. Whether you’re a jungle enthusiast or simply seeking an exciting challenge, Nidalee offers a wild and untamed journey through the Rift. Embrace your inner huntress and conquer the jungle with the agility and power of Nidalee.

Stay tuned for more gaming insights and tips right here, where the wild gaming adventure never ends!

FAQ

Who is Nidalee in League of Legends?

Nidalee is a jungle huntress champion known for her shapeshifting abilities and exceptional hunting skills. She hails from the jungle and fiercely protects her territory from intruders.

What are Nidalee’s key abilities?

Nidalee has a versatile kit with abilities that change between human and cougar forms. These include Javelin Toss, Bushwhack, Primal Surge, Swipe, and Aspect of the Cougar.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of playing Nidalee?

Pros include her strong performance in the current meta, the ability to carry games with skill, and diverse playstyle options. Cons include a lack of hard crowd control, vulnerability when built with full damage, and a steep learning curve.

What are the best items and roles for Nidalee in 2023?

Recommended items for Nidalee include Hextech Rocketbelt, Zhonya’s Hourglass, and Rabadon’s Deathcap. She excels in the jungle role, where she can dominate early game with ganking and counter-jungling.

Which are the best Nidalee skins and interesting facts about the champion?

Some of Nidalee’s notable skins include Warring Kingdoms, Cosmic Huntress, and Dawnbringer. Interesting facts include her multiple textures per skin, the first champion with a transformation ability, and her guerrilla warfare playstyle.