Nami is a high-tempo enchanter whose job is to poke the enemy ADC with W, empower your ADC's auto attacks with E, and threaten all-ins with Q bubble. When you land a Q, your ADC should immediately walk up and auto-attack the knocked-up enemy for a free kill.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Surging Tides
Passive
When Nami's Abilities hit allied champions they gain Move Speed for a short duration.
Surging Tides gives movement speed to allies you heal or buff. Cast W or E on allies before they engage — the speed lets them chase down enemies after your Q lands.
Q
Aqua Prison
Skillshot · Toss · Airborne
Sends a bubble to a target area, dealing damage and stunning all enemies on impact.
CD: 12/11/10/9/8 · Cost: 60
Q tosses an arc bubble — it has travel time. Throw it at running targets aiming ahead of their feet. Against stationary targets, aim directly. The bubble launches them 1.5 seconds.
W
Ebb and Flow
Point-click · Heal/Damage · Bounce
Unleashes a stream of water that bounces back and forth between allied and enemy champions, healing allies and damaging enemies.
CD: 10 · Cost: 70/75/80/85/90
W bounces between two targets (ally or enemy) — aim it at an enemy first to damage them, then let it bounce to you or your ADC for the heal. Start with the enemy for maximum value.
E
Tidecaller's Blessing
Buff · Empowered Autos · Slow
Empowers an allied champion for a short duration. The ally's basic attacks and spells deal bonus magic damage and slow the target.
CD: 11 · Cost: 55/60/65/70/75
E empowers the next 3 basic attacks of your ADC. Apply it before they auto-attack, not after. The slow on empowered autos locks enemies in place for your Q follow-up.
R
Tidal Wave
Skillshot · Wave · Knockup · Slow
Summons a massive Tidal Wave that knocks up, slows, and damages enemies. Allies hit gain double the effect of Surging Tides.
CD: 120/110/100 · Cost: 100
R creates a wave that travels outward, knocking up all enemies it hits. Use it diagonally across choke points for maximum hits. It can also be used to peel divers off your ADC.
Skill Leveling Order — Max W first, then E, then Q · R at 6 / 11 / 16
| Level | Q | W | E | R | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take W — heal and sustain online | ||||
| 2 | Take Q — CC threat established | ||||
| 3 | Level W — healing improves | ||||
| 4 | Take E — empowered autos for trades | ||||
| 5 | Level W | ||||
| 6 | R — Tidal Wave unlocked | ||||
| 7 | Level W | ||||
| 8 | Level E | ||||
| 9 | W maxed | ||||
| 10 | Level E | ||||
| 11 | R rank 2 | ||||
| 12 | Level E | ||||
| 13 | E maxed | ||||
| 14 | Level Q | ||||
| 15 | Level Q | ||||
| 16 | R rank 3 | ||||
| 17 | Level Q | ||||
| 18 | Q maxed |
Itemization
Recommended Builds
Starter Items
Spellthief's Edge
W and Q constantly proc Spellthief. Essential gold generation for expensive enchanter items.
400g
Health Potion
Sustain for aggressive early lanes.
50g
Core Build
Moonstone Renewer
W heals proc Moonstone in combat — consistent sustained healing through every trade and fight.
2500g
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
More Q bubbles and more W heals per fight cycle.
950g
Ardent Censer
E empowered autos trigger Ardent. Your ADC gains massive attack speed and magic on-hit from Ardent + E.
2300g
Redemption
AoE heal for teamfights. Your passive movement speed from heals helps allies reposition to receive it.
2300g
Situational
Mikael's Blessing
Cleanse + shield vs heavy CC comps. Pairs with Q bubble to give your ADC double safety layers.
2300g
Shurelya's Battlesong
Movement speed amplifies your ADC's chase after R knockup. Devastating AoE engage tool.
2500g
Staff of Flowing Water
When your ADC is AP-based (Kog'Maw, Tristana) or you have AP carries, Staff amplifies their damage.
2300g
Moonstone first for sustained healing. Then Ardent to empower your ADC's auto attacks. Nami's W heal procs both items consistently in fights.
Poke Core
Seraph's Embrace
Mana sustain for constant W and Q spam. Nami runs OOM without mana investment.
2600g
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ability haste for constant ability pressure.
950g
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
W's enemy-bounce slows with Rylai's. The W enemy hit + slow makes running away impossible.
2600g
Morellonomicon
Grievous wounds on W enemy hits. Shuts down healing-reliant ADCs.
2500g
Poke Nami plays like a mage support — prioritize W enemy bounces for damage rather than ally heals. More aggressive but less sustain for your carry.
Runes
Sorcery Primary
Summon Aery
Procs on every W cast and every E buff. Constant Aery damage and shield generation makes every trade favorable.
Manaflow Band
Nami has significant mana costs. Manaflow keeps you spamming W heals throughout a long lane.
Transcendence
Ability haste reduces Q, W, E cooldowns. More heals and bubbles per fight.
Scorch
Extra burn on W enemy hits and Q. Makes Nami's otherwise low poke damage meaningful.
Resolve Secondary
Font of Life
Q bubble marks enemies — allies heal when attacking them, stacking with your W heal.
Bone Plating
Reduces burst from hard engage supports targeting you specifically in lane.
Shards
Ability Haste · Mana · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Nami
01
Early Game
W Poke, E Empowerment, Q All-In
- Level 1: W bounce — aim W at the enemy first so it bounces back to heal you or your ADC. The enemy takes damage and you heal; pure value.
- Constantly apply E to your ADC during every trade. Three empowered autos slow the enemy and proc Ardent Censer.
- Q prediction is the key skill — practice throwing Q at where a walking target will be, not where they are.
- Maintain Spellthief stacks by landing W on enemies regularly. Every bounce generates gold.
- Don't back until forced — your W sustain means you can stay longer than most supports.
02
Mid Game
Roam with R, Contest Objectives
- Post-6, use R to engage on grouped enemies near objectives or in skirmishes. R wave travels fast and hits multiple.
- E your ADC before dragon fights begin. The slow on empowered autos locks enemies out of running.
- Your passive movement speed on healed allies makes your team fast. Use this to chase dragon or disengage.
- Roam mid with R when there's an opportunity for a 3-man knockup. The knockup win condition is always threatening.
- Ward river aggressively and push the enemy bot under tower to create roam windows.
03
Late Game
R Engage, Heal Through Fights
- R in teamfights to initiate or peel. Use it down a choke point for maximum knockup area.
- Cycle W onto your ADC constantly in fights — the heal is significant and proc Moonstone + Ardent.
- Pre-E your ADC before engages. The slow on empowered autos enables your entire team to catch up.
- In late game, your ADC should be fed and protected. W them every time they take damage.
- Save Q for anyone diving your backline rather than always trying to land it on the enemy ADC.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Nami
Nami teamfights by combining R knockup engage with W healing sustain and E empowered auto attacks from her ADC. One well-placed Tidal Wave on the enemy backline paired with a fed ADC can end fights immediately.
1
Pre-Fight — E Your ADC, Position R
Before engage
01
Cast E on your ADC before the fight starts — proactive empowerment means they deal bonus damage from the very first auto.
02
Position your R angle to hit the enemy backline, not the frontline — carries dying matters far more than tanks.
03
Watch your ADC's positioning relative to the enemy carry — your job is to enable the kill, not initiate it.
Do NOT R into a fight if it will only hit tanks. R travels slowly and is easily walked around by mobile champions. Use it to catch backline carries or to peel divers.
2
Fight — Bubble Carriers, Heal Loop
Main fight phase
01
Q bubble the enemy carry as your ADC walks up for the all-in. The airborne enemy takes full ADC auto combo.
02
Cycle W constantly between your ADC and nearest enemy — damage enemy, heal ally each cast.
03
Re-cast E on your ADC after the first three autos are used for a second empowerment cycle.
04
R to peel any diver targeting your backline — the knockup creates distance and buys time.
3
Aftermath — Chase Support
Post-fight
01
Passive movement speed from heals lets your ADC chase fleeing enemies faster. Keep casting W.
02
R can be used to catch enemies running away through a choke point — it's not just an engage tool.
03
Keep E fresh on your ADC through the mop-up phase. The empowered slow keeps enemies from escaping.
Nami's W can hit the same target twice if you bounce it from an enemy to yourself, then the return bounce sometimes chains again near grouped targets. Look for W bounces that hit multiple enemies.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Nami.
Basic
W Bounce Priority
Always aim W at an enemy first so it bounces to heal an ally. Starting W on an ally means it bounces to an enemy and back — less healing, less damage. Enemy first = free damage + free heal every cast.
Basic
E Before Auto Attacks
Cast E on your ADC before they attack, not after. The empowerment only lasts 3 auto attacks. If your ADC already auto'd twice before E, you wasted most of the buff. E first, then your ADC attacks.
Intermediate
Q on Stationary Targets
Q is a tossed arc that travels in a parabolic path. Against stationary targets behind turrets or channeling abilities, aim directly at them — no prediction needed. Against moving targets, aim ahead of their feet based on direction.
Intermediate
Passive Speed Synergy
Surging Tides gives 45–90 movement speed to allies you heal or buff with W and E. After empowering your ADC with E, they move faster toward targets. Use this to close the gap for a Q bubble follow-up after trades begin.
Advanced
R Angle for Backline Access
R travels in a straight line from Nami. To hit the enemy carry hiding behind their frontline, position slightly to the side of their team before casting — the wave hits the frontline and the carry simultaneously. Diagonal angles find gaps between tanks.
Basic
Spellthief Fishing
W's enemy bounce generates Spellthief charges. Even in unfavorable matchups where you can't walk up, throw W at enemies from range and let it bounce back to you. Three of these per wave generates all your Spellthief gold safely.
Advanced
W Self-Heal Sustain
In extended fights where you're being poked, aim W from an enemy bounce back to yourself. The heal on a maxed W with Moonstone is massive. Use this to out-sustain poke supports in longer lane fights.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Nami struggles against engage supports who close the gap before she can Q. She excels against passive poke lanes where her W sustain tips the health advantage over time.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
One hook means instant death in a 2v2 trade. Nami can't dodge a well-placed Blitzcrank hook, and her W heal can't respond fast enough to save a grabbed ally.
Never stand in a line with your ADC. Keep minions between you and Blitzcrank at all times. W pre-heal your ADC when Blitzcrank walks forward — he always hooks on approach.
Leona's all-in kills Nami before she can Q back. Your squishiness means you die first in any Leona engage, leaving your ADC exposed.
Poke Leona with W from max range. Never let her reach level 3 with full health. Q her the moment she uses Zenith Blade on your ADC — it's your only way to stop her dive.
Nautilus passive root on every auto makes it impossible to walk up for W. His hook + ult chain kills you before your ADC can respond.
Keep maximum distance and throw W from absolute edge of range. If Nautilus hooks your ADC, immediately R to peel him away from them.
Wins Against
Soraka's heals can't keep up with your W poke + Scorch burn. She heals her ADC but also loses HP every time she uses Astral Infusion without Q self-healing first.
Poke Soraka with every W bounce. If she's below half health, she stops using Astral Infusion — her lane falls apart. Force her out with constant Q + W pressure.
Yuumi attached to her ADC means your W hits both simultaneously — one cast damages ADC + Yuumi or heals your ally. Your Q on the ADC tosses Yuumi too.
Your Q launches the ADC into the air, forcing Yuumi to detach. Yuumi is helpless when unattached. Q the ADC whenever Yuumi is passive — she instantly detaches.
Lulu's whimsy polymorph can be escaped with Q bubble timing. Your W sustain outpaces her poke and your E empowered autos trade favorably against her.
Bait out Lulu's Whimsy, then immediately walk up for a Q bubble all-in. She's vulnerable for 4 seconds after using Whimsy — commit to the all-in with full E empowerment.