Nunu & Willump is the simplest and most effective jungler for objective control. Q deals true damage to monsters (Smite + Q = unstealable objectives), W is a rolling gank machine, and R is an AoE nuke + shield. Perfect for beginners.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Call of the Freljord
Passive
Nunu increases the attack speed and Move Speed of Willump and a nearby ally, and causes Willump's basic attacks to damage enemies around the target.
Call of the Freljord: nearby ally with highest AS gets bonus AS and MS. Stay near your ADC for a free steroid.
Q
Consume
Point-Click · True Damage · Heal
Willump takes a bite out of a minion, monster, or enemy champion, dealing damage and healing himself.
CD: 13/12/11/10/9 · Cost: 60
Q deals massive true damage to monsters. Smite + Q combo makes dragon/baron steals nearly guaranteed.
W
Biggest Snowball Ever!
Dash · Knockup · AoE
Willump creates a snowball that grows in size and speed as he rolls it. The snowball damages and knocks up enemies.
CD: 14 · Cost: 50/55/60/65/70
W snowball rolls and gets bigger/faster. Knock up enemies on impact. You can steer it.
E
Snowball Barrage
AoE · Root
Nunu throws multiple snowballs that damage enemies. When he's finished, Willump roots any champions or large monsters that were hit by a snowball.
CD: 14/13/12/11/10 · Cost: 50/55/60/65/70
E throws snowballs that slow, then root after 3 hits. Auto between E casts to proc root faster.
R
Absolute Zero
Channel · AoE · Shield
Nunu & Willump create a powerful blizzard in an area that slows enemies and deals massive damage at the end.
CD: 110/100/90 · Cost: 100
R channels for 3 seconds, dealing increasing damage and giving a massive shield. Don't cancel it early.
Skill Leveling Order — Max Q first, then W, then E · R at 6 / 11 / 16
| Level | Q | W | E | R | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take Q — consume for clear + heal | ||||
| 2 | Take W — snowball engage | ||||
| 3 | Take E — root | ||||
| 4 | Level Q | ||||
| 5 | Level Q | ||||
| 6 | R — Absolute Zero | ||||
| 7 | Level Q | ||||
| 8 | Level W | ||||
| 9 | Q maxed ✓ | ||||
| 10 | Level W | ||||
| 11 | R rank 2 | ||||
| 12 | Level W | ||||
| 13 | Level W | ||||
| 14 | W maxed ✓ | ||||
| 15 | Level E | ||||
| 16 | R rank 3 | ||||
| 17 | Level E | ||||
| 18 | E maxed ✓ |
Itemization
Recommended Builds
Summoner Spells
Primary
Flash
Best repositioning tool — engage, escape and combo extension
Secondary
Smite
Required for jungling — secures Dragon, Baron and camps
Starter Items
Scorchclaw Smite
Burn for gank damage.
450g
Refillable Potion
Sustain.
150g
Core Build
Sunfire Cape
Immolate burn while W-rolling into enemies.
2700g
Plated Steelcaps
Armor.
1100g
Spirit Visage
Increases Q heal and R shield. Massive defensive synergy.
2900g
Randuin's Omen
Crit reduction + slow.
2700g
Situational
Thornmail
Grievous wounds + armor.
2700g
Force of Nature
MR + MS vs sustained AP.
2800g
Frozen Heart
AS slow vs auto-attackers.
2500g
Sunfire → Spirit Visage → situational tank. You're unkillable with Q healing and R shielding.
Runes
Resolve Primary
Aftershock
Procs on W knockup. Free resistances during engage.
Font of Life
W knockup and E root mark enemies — allies heal on attacks.
Conditioning
Free resistances at 12 min.
Unflinching
Tenacity when low HP.
Precision Secondary
Triumph
Heal on takedown.
Legend: Tenacity
Tenacity stacking.
Shards
Ability Haste · Armor · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Nunu & Willump
01
Early Game
Gank and Objective Control
- Start Blue → Gromp → Wolves → Raptors → Red → Krugs. Q heals you — clear is very healthy.
- Level 2 W ganks are effective. Roll from river into lane for a surprise knockup.
- Q + Smite combo secures every scuttle crab instantly. Never lose a scuttle fight.
- Gank constantly. Nunu ganks more than he farms — W is one of the best gank tools in the game.
- Q heal keeps you at full HP. You rarely need to recall.
02
Mid Game
Secure Every Dragon and Baron
- Solo dragon at level 5. Q deals massive true damage to monsters. Smite + Q = easy secure.
- W engage is simple but effective. Roll from fog of war into the enemy team for a knockup.
- R in fights: W knockup → R channel in the middle of their team → massive damage + shield.
- You should have dragon soul pressure every game. Q makes you the best objective taker.
- E root chains with W knockup. W → E → auto → auto → auto for root → Q.
03
Late Game
Frontline Tank with Unstealable Objectives
- Baron is free with Q + Smite. You deal 2000+ true damage burst to Baron. Never lose a smite fight.
- In teamfights, W engage → R in the middle of the team. Full channel R deals massive damage.
- Tank for your team. You're unkillable with Q healing and R shielding. Spirit Visage amplifies both.
- Peel with E root. If an assassin dives your carry, E root + W knockup saves them.
- Prioritize objectives over kills. Your identity is dragon/baron control, not assassinations.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Nunu & Willump
Nunu is a frontline engager. W into the enemy team, R for massive AoE damage + shield, tank everything.
1
Engage — W Snowball
Rolling in
01
W from fog of war. The snowball gets bigger and faster over distance.
02
Aim for the backline carry.
03
Knockup stuns for ~1 second.
W can be interrupted by hard CC. Don't roll through Leona or Nautilus — they'll stop you.
2
Nuke — R Channel
AoE damage
01
R immediately after W knockup. Enemies are stunned during your channel.
02
Full channel deals massive damage and gives a huge shield.
03
E root enemies to keep them in R range.
3
Tank — Q Heal and Peel
Sustained fighting
01
Q anything nearby for healing. Minions, monsters, champions — all heal you.
02
E root divers targeting your carry.
03
You're the frontline. Absorb damage for your team.
R channel can be cancelled early. If enemies walk out of range, cancel and chase. But full channel is always better if they stay.
Video Guide
Watch the Full Guide
Credits to Sawyer Jungle
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Nunu & Willump.
Basic
Q + Smite
Q deals true damage to monsters. Smite + Q together = 2000+ instant true damage. You should NEVER lose a smite fight.
Basic
W Ganking
W from fog of war for surprise knockups. Roll from river or behind terrain. The snowball gets bigger and faster over distance.
Intermediate
R Full Channel
Don't cancel R early unless enemies are escaping. Full channel deals 3x more damage than early cancel and gives a massive shield.
Basic
E Root Combo
E throws 3 snowballs. Each slows. After all 3 hit, the target is rooted. Auto between E casts to proc root faster.
Intermediate
Solo Dragon
You can solo dragon as early as level 5. Q true damage + Smite makes it fast. Ward it and take it when enemy jungler shows topside.
Advanced
W Direction Control
You can steer W snowball with your cursor. Practice steering around obstacles for surprise-angle ganks.
Basic
Q Healing
Q heals you every time. Use it on camps, minions, or champions for constant sustain. You should rarely need to recall.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Nunu struggles against champions who can interrupt his W or kite him. He excels against immobile teams and at objective control.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Kindred kites you endlessly and her R negates your R burst.
Don't chase Kindred. Focus on objectives — your dragon/baron control is still superior.
Graves kites your W and his burst outduels you.
Avoid 1v1s. Focus on ganking and objectives. You're more useful than Graves in team play.
Shaco boxes interrupt your W snowball and his clone wastes your R.
Sweep bushes before rolling. Don't R the clone.
Wins Against
You out-objective Amumu and your W is a better engage tool than his Q.
Contest every objective. Q + Smite wins every smite fight.
Karthus can't escape your W. Roll at him and he dies.
W from river into his jungle. He has no escape.
E root stops Yi's damage. R is a massive threat he can't dodge.
E root Yi when he Q's in. R during root for guaranteed full channel damage.
Team Comp
Best Synergies
Nunu's W snowball knockup activates Yasuo's Last Breath for a guaranteed R follow-up on a knocked-up target. Nunu can steer the snowball to precisely deliver enemies into Yasuo's Last Breath range.
Nunu W engages and rolls into enemies, delivering Orianna's ball to the middle of the enemy team for a guaranteed Command Shockwave. The ball delivery via Nunu's snowball makes the Shockwave nearly impossible to dodge.
Nunu's W knockback and E root peel assassins targeting Kog'Maw who needs protection while auto-attacking. Nunu's objective control also secures Dragon Soul and Baron for Kog'Maw's scaling carries.
Nunu's tankiness creates the protected backline Jinx needs to deal her AoE damage, and his W knockup creates kills for Jinx to chain Excited resets. Nunu's objective control with Q + Smite secures Dragons that Jinx's resets win.