Does Nautilus climb? An honest read
Whether Nautilus is a good climbing pick, judged on what the kit demands and what it hands you for free.
What the kit asks of you
Riot rates Nautilus at 6 out of 3 for difficulty. Blunt, but it tracks something real: how much of the champion's power sits behind execution rather than being handed to you.
At 175 attack range Nautilus has to walk into damage to deal it, so every trade begins with a decision about whether you can afford the walk.
The kit you are being asked to execute
Staggering Blow
Nautilus' first Attack against a target deals increased physical damage and roots them briefly.
Dredge Line
Nautilus hurls his anchor forward. Colliding with an enemy pulls them and Nautilus together, dealing magic damage. Colliding with terrain pulls Nautilus towards it.
Titan's Wrath
Nautilus gains a temporary Shield. While it persists, his Attacks deal damage over time to his target and surrounding enemies.
Riptide
Nautilus creates three exploding waves around himself. Each explosion damages and slows enemies.
Depth Charge
Nautilus fires a shockwave into the earth that chases an opponent. This shockwave rips up the earth above it, knocking enemies into the air. When it reaches the opponent, the shockwave erupts, knocking his target into the air and stunning them.
The case for
A tank that can start the fight on your terms and be the most costly thing to ignore scales with individual skill rather than coordination — and coordination is exactly what you cannot rely on in the lower ranks.
The case against
The counter-argument is engaging before anyone can follow up — a habit the lower ranks reward right up until they suddenly do not, which makes it hard to unlearn later.
Nautilus is mana-gated, which is the real limit on how often you can contest a wave early.
Where the power actually is
| Stat | Level 1 | Level 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Health | 646 | 2346 |
| Attack damage | 61 | 61 |
| Armour | 39 | 123.2 |
| Magic resist | 32 | 66.9 |
Movement speed 325 and attack range 175 do not grow with levels — they are the two numbers that stay true all game.
Riot's own notes on playing against Nautilus
Worth reading even when you are the one playing Nautilus: it is the list of what your opponent is being told to do to you.
- If Nautilus uses Riptide right next to you, hold in place until the ripple effect finishes before running. Running early will run straight into the secondary explosions, causing you to take additional damage and slow.
- While Nautilus is shielded, he is capable of dealing large amounts of area of effect damage with his basic attacks - consider taking down the shield if you have time.