Just a few days after the release of patch 11.3, Nidalee suddenly became one of the strongest carries in Teamfight Tactics. According to expert assessments, the composition centered around 3-star Nidalee is rated S+ (extremely strong) in the current meta.
So what has made Nidalee so powerful all of a sudden? The first reason is that Nidalee was buffed from patch 11.2 when her ability energy cost was reduced from 80 to 70. This allows Nidalee to save time to “charge” energy and deal better damage than before.
Additionally, the change in the Teamfight Tactics meta is the biggest reason that Nidalee has become stronger than ever in patch 11.3. It’s important to remember that in the current meta, the strongest carries all possess good long-range damage capabilities, positioned at the corners of the battlefield or distanced from the enemy team. Names like Aurelion, Kayle, Shyvana, and Olaf (using Rapid Firecannon) exemplify this playstyle.
Meanwhile, Nidalee will always prioritize using her skill on the furthest target. Clearly, with the current meta, each time Nidalee throws her spear, it poses a significant threat to the enemy team’s carries. Therefore, upgrading Nidalee to 3 stars early will help players quickly eliminate important pieces from the opponent’s side. Thus, Nidalee is a very strong counter to the current meta.
To build a composition around Nidalee most effectively, you need to have this unit in its Chosen form, whether as a Vanguard or Sharpshooter. After that, you should combine Nidalee with a Tristana to gain the Sharpshooter effect to increase damage. For the frontline, the duo of Jarvan IV and Garen is the best choice to stack Vanguard bonuses for Nidalee.
By the mid-game, you will have two directions to build your composition based on the champions you acquire. If players buy many Sivir or Teemo, you should build towards Sharpshooters. Meanwhile, if you manage to get Katarina and Vi at 2 stars early, the Vanguard composition is the best choice.
At the end of the game, if you’re playing the Sharpshooter direction, champions with tanking abilities like Aatrox and Sejuani are units you should buy. They will serve as crowd control to shield your Sharpshooters to deal damage as effectively as possible.
On the other hand, with the Vanguard composition, the only note is that you should place Azir’s Sand Soldiers in the backline to best protect Nidalee. If you feel too lacking in damage, Samira is always a good choice at the end of the game.
Regarding item builds, Spear of Shojin is the crucial item for Nidalee as a carry. This item synergizes perfectly with the Sharpshooter effect and allows Nidalee to quickly regain energy and continuously launch her spears. Besides Spear of Shojin, items like Infinity Edge, Guardian Angel, and Rabadon’s Deathcap are equipment you should assemble for Nidalee.
