Nilah is a melee ADC who trades range for lifesteal, dodge, and bonus XP. She hits power spikes before other bot lanes and becomes an unkillable drain-fighter late game.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Joy Unending
Passive
Nilah gains increased experience from last-hitting minions along with the ability to enhance and share nearby healing and shielding from her allies.
Joy Unending: you share bonus XP with your support. You hit level spikes earlier than other bot lanes.
Q
Formless Blade
Dash · AoE · AA Reset
With a snap of her whip-blade, Nilah damages any enemies she hits in a straight line in her chosen direction. This action extends her attack range for a short duration.
CD: 4 · Cost: 30
Q is a dash that empowers autos. Use for gap-close and wave clear.
W
Jubilant Veil
Dodge · Shield
Nilah envelops herself in mist, increasing her movement speed and allowing her to gracefully dodge all incoming attacks. Any allies she touches during the mist's duration will also gain this effect.
CD: 26/25/24/23/22 · Cost: 60/45/30/15/0
W creates a field where you dodge all auto-attacks. Allies in the field also dodge. Game-changing vs auto-attack ADCs.
E
Slipstream
Dash · Damage
Nilah enthusiastically dashes toward her target, dealing damage to any enemies she passes through on the way.
CD: 0.5 · Cost: 40
E dashes through a target, dealing damage. Use to stick to enemies.
R
Apotheosis
AoE · Pull · Heal
Twirling her whip-blade in joyful exuberance, Nilah deals damage to enemies around her before pulling them closer with her weapon.
CD: 110/95/80 · Cost: 100
R pulls all enemies toward center and heals you based on damage dealt. Use in the middle of grouped enemies.
Skill Leveling Order — Max Q first, then E, then W · R at 6 / 11 / 16
| Level | Q | W | E | R | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take Q | ||||
| 2 | Take E — dash | ||||
| 3 | Take W — dodge | ||||
| 4 | Level Q | ||||
| 5 | Level Q | ||||
| 6 | R — Apotheosis | ||||
| 7 | Level Q | ||||
| 8 | Level E | ||||
| 9 | Q maxed ✓ | ||||
| 10 | Level E | ||||
| 11 | R rank 2 | ||||
| 12 | Level E | ||||
| 13 | Level E | ||||
| 14 | E maxed ✓ | ||||
| 15 | Level W | ||||
| 16 | R rank 3 | ||||
| 17 | Level W | ||||
| 18 | W maxed ✓ |
Itemization
Recommended Builds
Core Build
Kraken Slayer
True damage on rapid melee autos.
3100g
Berserker's Greaves
AS.
1100g
Infinity Edge
Crit multiplier.
3400g
Bloodthirster
Lifesteal + shield. Sustain in melee.
3400g
Situational
Phantom Dancer
AS + MS for sticking.
2600g
Lord Dominik's Regards
Armor pen.
2900g
Guardian Angel
Revive.
3200g
Kraken → IE → BT. Lifesteal sustain for melee fighting.
Runes
Precision Primary
Conqueror
Melee stacks Conqueror fast.
Triumph
Heal on takedown.
Legend: Bloodline
Lifesteal.
Last Stand
Bonus damage when low.
Resolve Secondary
Bone Plating
Survive burst.
Revitalize
Stronger healing below 40% HP.
Shards
Attack Speed · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Nilah
01
Early Game
XP Advantage, All-In
- Passive XP sharing means you hit level 2, 3, and 6 before the enemy. Abuse level advantages.
- Q dash into E dash for gap-closing. You need to be in melee range.
- W dodges ALL auto-attacks. Pop it when the enemy ADC is auto-attacking for free trades.
- Your support matters hugely. Engage supports (Leona, Nautilus) are best with Nilah.
- You're melee — ranged ADCs poke you for free. Only trade with W active.
02
Mid Game
W Dodge Fights
- R in the middle of grouped enemies heals massively.
- W dodge negates auto-attack ADCs entirely. Time it for their burst window.
- Your XP lead gives you earlier item spikes. Press the advantage.
- Engage with E dash → Q → W dodge → R for maximum damage and healing.
- Lifesteal + W makes you deceptively tanky for a carry.
03
Late Game
Unkillable Melee Carry
- Full build Nilah is nearly unkillable. Lifesteal + W dodge + R healing = drain tank ADC.
- R in the middle of 5 enemies heals you to full while dealing massive AoE.
- W counters auto-attack ADCs completely. Activate it when their ADC is DPSing.
- Conqueror + lifesteal + R healing = you never die in extended fights.
- Play like a melee bruiser, not a ranged ADC. Dive in and sustain.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Nilah
Nilah dives into melee range, W dodges autos, R heals through everything. She's a melee drain-tank carry.
1
Engage — E + Q Dash In
Gap close
01
E dash to the enemy.
02
Q for empowered autos.
03
W immediately for dodge field.
Don't engage without W ready. Without dodge, you die instantly in melee range.
2
Sustain — W Dodge + R Heal
Drain tank
01
W dodges all auto-attacks.
02
R when surrounded for AoE damage + massive healing.
03
Lifesteal through everything.
3
Cleanup — Chase with E
After burst
01
E dash to fleeing enemies.
02
Q empowered autos finish.
03
You're usually at full HP from healing.
W dodge field also applies to allies standing inside. Shield your ADC from the enemy ADC's autos by standing next to them with W active.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Nilah.
Basic
Melee ADC
You're melee. You need to get in range to deal damage. Engage supports are essential.
Intermediate
W Timing
W dodges ALL auto-attacks for its duration. Time it when the enemy ADC is auto-attacking for massive value.
Basic
XP Passive
You share bonus XP with your support. You'll hit level 2 and 6 before enemies. Abuse the level advantage.
Advanced
R Heal Scaling
R heals based on damage dealt. More enemies in R = more damage = more healing. R in the middle of groups.
Basic
E Gap Close
E dashes through a target. Use it to stick to enemies after W expires.
Intermediate
Support Synergy
Nilah needs engage supports. Leona, Nautilus, Thresh — anyone who can lock targets in your melee range.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Nilah struggles against poke lanes that bully her before she can engage. She excels against auto-attack ADCs she can dodge with W.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Caitlyn outranges you massively. You can never reach her.
Farm with Q. All-in at level 6 with R.
Ezreal pokes from distance and E escapes your engage.
Wait for his E. Then E + Q all-in.
Varus pokes you from range and R roots you.
W his R. Dodge the root with dodge field.
Wins Against
W dodges Draven's spinning axes entirely. He deals zero damage.
W when Draven auto-attacks. He can't hit you.
W dodges Jinx's auto-attacks. She can't DPS through dodge.
Engage on Jinx. W her autos. She melts.
Kog relies on auto-attacks. W makes him useless.
W dodge his entire DPS window.