UpMatched Nasus vs Illaoi Matchup Guide
Nasus
Top Lane Juggernaut
Scaling stacker with infinite Q damage and Wither slow
Illaoi
Top Lane Juggernaut
Tentacle juggernaut who punishes grouping with ult
Champ Select Cheat Sheet — Nasus vs Illaoi
Fleet FootworkFleet FootworkAttacking and moving builds Energy stacks. At 100 stacks, your next attack heals you and grants increased MS., 
TriumphTriumphTakedowns restore 5% of your missing health and grant an additional 20 gold., 
Legend: HasteLegend: HasteTakedowns on enemies grant permanent Basic Ability Haste., 
Last StandLast StandDeal more damage to champions while you are low on health.
Second WindSecond WindAfter taking damage from an enemy champion heal back some missing health over time., 
UnflinchingUnflinchingGain Armor and Magic Resist when receiving crowd control.
GhostGhostGain Move Speed and ignore unit collision for the duration. + 
TeleportTeleportAfter a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
Doran's ShieldDoran's ShieldGood defensive starting item + 
Health PotionHealth PotionConsume to restore Health over time
Trinity Force
Plated Steelcaps / Mercury's Treads
Spirit Visage
Frozen Heart / ThornmailMatchup Dynamics
How This Matchup Works
Illaoi has lane tools before Nasus stacks (1–6 min). 
SheenSheenGrants a bonus to next attack after spell cast + R gives dueling windows if waves are managed. Q stacks + armor/MR let Nasus front-to-back or split-push.
Early Game (1-5)
Illaoi Favored - Illaoi has lane tools before Nasus stacks (1–6 min).
Mid Game (6-11)
Skill Matchup - SheenSheenGrants a bonus to next attack after spell cast + R gives dueling windows if waves are managed.
Late Game (12+)
Nasus Favored - Q stacks + armor/MR let Nasus front-to-back or split-push.
Key Interactions
- Never fight in her tentacles: drag wave off wall and last-hit only.
WitherW – WitherNasus ages an enemy champion, decelerating their Move Speed and Attack Speed over time. after `E – 
Test of SpiritE – Test of SpiritIllaoi rips the spirit from a foe's body, forcing it to stand before her. Spirits echo a percentage of the damage they take to the original target.` lands to limit damage while backing out: 
Spirit FireE – Spirit FireNasus unleashes a spirit flame at a location, dealing damage and reducing the Armor of enemies who stand on it. clears tentacles on crash: thin before 6 to avoid dive.- Only all-in after she misses E: GhostGhostGain Move Speed and ignore unit collision for the duration. + R to run through zone.
Nasus
Strengths
Weaknesses
Illaoi
Strengths
Weaknesses
Power Curve Comparison EXPERIMENTAL
Power Curve Visualization
Win Conditions
Nasus's Win Condition
- Hold freezes near tower from 3:30–8:00; punish when enemy wave is long.
- Convert first item spike (Trinity) into Herald or dragon with TP
- WitherW – WitherNasus ages an enemy champion, decelerating their Move Speed and Attack Speed over time. enemy carry on engage; front-to-back with Spirit FireE – Spirit FireNasus unleashes a spirit flame at a location, dealing damage and reducing the Armor of enemies who stand on it. zones.
Illaoi's Win Condition
Laning Phase Guide
| Level/Phase | Nasus | Illaoi |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Start Q in 95% of lanes; take E vs hard push to secure last hits. Stand in brush to shorten poke path. Do not trade more than 1 auto + Q. | |
| Level 2 | Take W unless you must push; punish greed CS with WitherW – WitherNasus ages an enemy champion, decelerating their Move Speed and Attack Speed over time. then retreat. Ward river/tri at 2:20 if slow-pushing. |
|
| Level 3 | Unlock E; drop on wave to thin if getting shoved. Hold the wave 6–7 minions near your tower; avoid long trades pre-SheenSheenGrants a bonus to next attack after spell cast. |
|
| Level 4–5 | Crash WAVE 4 for a cannon recall at ~3:45–4:10 if pressured; first cannon arrives on wave 4 in S25 (not wave 3). | |
| Level 6 | All-in only after enemy key cooldown is used. Pop R to halve Q CD and stick with GhostGhostGain Move Speed and ignore unit collision for the duration.. |
|
| Level 7–8 | With SheenSheenGrants a bonus to next attack after spell cast/Trinity components, take short Q trades after the enemy spell you track; reset wave into freeze. |
|
| Level 9+ | Maxed Q turns minions into HP; keep wave near tower and threaten run-downs if they have no dash. | |
| Mid Game (11–16) | Play for Herald/drag; TP is a distance-based dash pre-14 and Unleashed after—channel earlier from side lane. | |
| Late Game (16+) | Front-to-back when team has control; otherwise split with wards and hover TP on objective spawn. |
Power Spikes
Level Spikes
| Nasus | Illaoi | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Level | Description | Level | Description |
| 6 | Major `R` halves Q CD; run-down potential with GhostGhostGain Move Speed and ignore unit collision for the duration.. |
0 | Minor earliest all-in/zone tools online. |
| 9 | Minor Q max, last-hit security for stacks. | 6 | Major ultimate adds burst/control. |
Item Spikes
| Nasus | Illaoi | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Item | Description | Item | Description |
| SheenSheenGrants a bonus to next attack after spell cast/Trinity ForceTrinity ForceTons of Damage |
Q damage + on-hit spike unlocks trades. | ||
| Armor/MR (FH/Visage) | sustain to ignore short trades. | ||
Best Build for Nasus
Starting Items
Doran's ShieldDoran's ShieldGood defensive starting item + Health PotionHealth PotionConsume to restore Health over time
Core Items
Trinity ForceTrinity ForceTons of Damage → Plated SteelcapsPlated SteelcapsEnhances Move Speed and reduces incoming basic attack damage / 
Mercury's TreadsMercury's TreadsIncreases Move Speed and reduces duration of disabling effects → Spirit VisageSpirit VisageIncreases Health and healing effects → Frozen HeartFrozen HeartMassively increases Armor and slows enemy basic attacks / 
ThornmailThornmail150 Health75 ArmorThornsWhen struck by an Attack, deal magic damage to the attacker and apply 40% Wounds for 3 seconds if they are a champion.
Runes
Primary: Fleet FootworkFleet FootworkAttacking and moving builds Energy stacks. At 100 stacks, your next attack heals you and grants increased MS., TriumphTriumphTakedowns restore 5% of your missing health and grant an additional 20 gold., Legend: HasteLegend: HasteTakedowns on enemies grant permanent Basic Ability Haste., Last StandLast StandDeal more damage to champions while you are low on health.
Secondary: Second WindSecond WindAfter taking damage from an enemy champion heal back some missing health over time., UnflinchingUnflinchingGain Armor and Magic Resist when receiving crowd control.
Summoner Spells
GhostGhostGain Move Speed and ignore unit collision for the duration. + TeleportTeleportAfter a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
Priority Build Path
Situational Adjustments
Key Patterns
Lethal Combos
Trading Combos
Lethal Thresholds
- Nasus Kill Range:
- Illaoi Kill Range:
- Critical Levels:
Level by Level Game Plan
| Level | Primary Goal | Lane Position | Trading Opportunities | Kill Windows | Setup Opportunities |
|---|
First Back Goals
Teamfight Tips
| Aspect | Nasus | Illaoi |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Role | ||
| Target Priority | Peel first carry within reach after WitherW – WitherNasus ages an enemy champion, decelerating their Move Speed and Attack Speed over time. (ADC>mid). Zone Illaoi if they dive backline; WitherW – WitherNasus ages an enemy champion, decelerating their Move Speed and Attack Speed over time. them on entry. |
|
| Objective Control | ||
| Positioning | Front-to-back on narrow chokes only with R up; otherwise flank through fog. Do not lead engages into heavy CC; arrive second with GhostGhostGain Move Speed and ignore unit collision for the duration.. |
|
| Other Tips |
