51.0%
Win Rate
Support · Vanguard
Nautilus Counters
Nautilus is a hook-based engage tank whose entire threat chains off a single landed root — spell shields that block that root outright are his single hardest counter.
9.2%
Pick Rate
3.6%
Ban Rate
Low
Difficulty
Nautilus Overview
Nautilus is played across 1 roles, most commonly support. Use the role links above to jump to role-specific counters — the data on this page reflects support, his primary role.
How to Counter Nautilus
Play behind minion cover to deny Dredge Line's angle, punish him hard whenever it misses, and bring a spell shield if you want to neutralize his kit outright.
Best Picks Against Nautilus
Ranked by win-rate difference in support, Patch 14.14.
| Champion | Win Rate Diff | Games | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgana | +6.3% | 520 | Black Shield blocks his entire hook-and-stun engage chain outright. |
| Janna | +2.7% | 440 | Disengage tools undo his engage the moment it connects. |
| Lulu | +1.8% | 480 | Polymorph and shields disrupt his engage before it lands. |
| Karma | +1.3% | 420 | Shield mitigates his all-in damage window. |
| Yuumi | +1.2% | 400 | Attaches safely out of Dredge Line's hook range. |
Computed by our stats engine from synthetic seed data, not live Riot match results — same aggregation pipeline that will process real match data once available.
See the full Support counters breakdown, including worst matchups and lane-phase gold data →
Nautilus Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- Reliable, hard-to-avoid hook engage from Dredge Line
- Strong CC chain into Depth Charge for teamfight engage
- Tanky frontline presence that's difficult to burst down
Weaknesses
- Entire threat is CC-based and can be fully blocked by a spell shield
- Long cooldown on his hook if it misses
- Low mobility outside of his hook's pull
Abilities Overview
P
Staggering Blow
His next attack after using an ability briefly roots the target — reinforces his engage chain.
Q
Dredge Line
A chained hook that pulls him toward an enemy champion or drags a target hit through terrain — his signature engage tool.
W
Titan's Wrath
Grants a shield and bonus damage on his next few attacks — his sustained-trade tool.
E
Riptide
An AoE burst that knocks up the center and slows the edges — his follow-up and peel tool.
R
Depth Charge
Homes toward a target, knocking up and stunning enemies along its path — his signature teamfight engage ultimate.
Build, Runes & Setup
Best Items
Locket of the Iron Solari
Team-wide shield amplifies his engage-then-peel pattern
Sunfire Aegis
Passive damage rewards his frontline positioning
Knight's Vow
Shares damage taken, protecting his carry after a hook
Counter Items (for the enemy)
Quicksilver Sash
Removes a landed Dredge Line root or Depth Charge stun
Mercury's Treads
Tenacity shortens his root and stun durations
Runes & Skill Order
Primary: Resolve (Aftershock) → Font of Life → Bone Plating → Unflinching. Secondary: Cheap Shot, Ultimate Hunter. Max order: Q → E → W, taking R whenever available.
Playbook
Stand behind minions whenever Dredge Line is up — it can't hook through them.
Punish him hard if his hook misses; the cooldown is long and he has no backup engage.
Save a hard peel or dash-block specifically for his long-range Depth Charge ultimate.
Common Mistakes
Walking in the open within Dredge Line's hook range with no minion cover.
Grouping tightly enough for a single Depth Charge to catch multiple allies.
Chasing him after a missed hook instead of punishing the long cooldown from a safe distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who counters Nautilus?
Morgana is the standout — Black Shield completely blocks his hook and stun chain, neutralizing his entire kit.
Why is Morgana such a hard counter to Nautilus?
Black Shield blocks the first incoming crowd control effect entirely — since almost all of Nautilus's threat is CC-based, a well-timed shield removes his impact from a fight completely.