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 — Step by Step
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 our data methodology.
See the full Support counters breakdown, including worst matchups and lane-phase gold data →
Strong Against
| Champion | Why Aatrox Wins |
|---|---|
 Zyra | No mobility to escape a landed hook chain. |
 Xerath | Zero escape once Dredge Line connects. |
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.
Cross-check current tooltips on Riot’s official Nautilus page ↗ — abilities can change between patches.
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.