Picking or banning Nilah: reading the draft
When Nilah is worth a pick, when it is worth a ban, and what its kit commits your team to.
What the pick commits you to
Locking Nilah commits your team to a fight pattern: trade repeatedly, survive the return damage, and win the third exchange rather than the first. A draft that cannot support that pattern does not improve because you play well.
At 225 attack range Nilah has to walk into damage to deal it, so every trade begins with a decision about whether you can afford the walk.
What the kit brings to a team
Joy Unending
Nilah gains increased experience from last-hitting minions along with the ability to enhance and share nearby healing and shielding from her allies.
Formless Blade
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.
Jubilant Veil
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.
Slipstream
Nilah enthusiastically dashes toward her target, dealing damage to any enemies she passes through on the way.
Apotheosis
Twirling her whip-blade in joyful exuberance, Nilah deals damage to enemies around her before pulling them closer with her weapon.
Blind-pick risk
Difficulty 10 of 3, melee, fighter. Those three facts decide how safe this is to pick first, and the melee ones are almost always the riskier blind.
Who Nilah is
Nilah is an ascetic warrior from a distant land, seeking the world's deadliest, most titanic opponents so that she might challenge and destroy them. Having won her power through an encounter with the long-imprisoned demon of joy, she has no emotions other than unceasing jubilation—a small price to pay for the vast strength she now possesses. Channeling the demon's liquid form into a blade of unparalleled might, she stands defiant against ancient threats long forgotten.
Full Nilah page — abilities, stats and every skin →