Nasus Build Guide by GGZypirian

Introduction

Hi, I'm GG Zypirian and welcome to my Offtank Nasus guide!

Nasus is fun champion to play and a very good solo top.
If you can farm your Siphoning Strike well you can kill their whole team in a matter of seconds.

What I like about Nasus is that he is unkillable and may be the best damage dealer in the team. (if farmed well ofcourse)


Nasus is both a very good Tank and a DPS. So why not take the best of both worlds?

I'm livestreaming daily. I sometimes even play Nasus too. You should check it out! Click here!

Nasus's skills

Soul Eater (passive) : This skill is great. The lifesteal is great both late and early game! You can stay in lane alot longer due to your lifesteal and an early 1v1 has a high chance of you winning!


Siphoning Strike (Q): This skill is what makes Nasus so good. You can farm with this skill and everytime you last hit a minion you permanently gain 3 damage to your Q!
This skill applies on-hit effects such as Sheen and Critical Strikes!

Wither (W): Great for chasing, great for escaping, great for 1v1'ing. Overall a very nice skill. You become more slowed overtime, so a Very good chase skill.
The attack speed reduction is very nice if you play solo top against an AD champion.


Spirit Fire (E): You're not using this skill much. It's a good push skill but not so very good on Nasus because you do not play him AP.
It does have armor reduction when standing in the fire, so always try to lure your target in Spirit Fire!


Fury of the Sands Ultimate (R): I love this ultimate. It gives health + a free Sunfire Cape AND 6,375% of the damage dealt is converted into Attack Damage! Isn't that great!

Nasus's Story

The enigmatic creature known as Nasus came to the League from a faraway world, and served as part of a vast and learned desert empire. There he was a respected and enlightened individual, having been made the Keeper of the Great Library. However, he was also part of a race of animalistic creatures that served as the rulers and protectors of the people. Unfortunately, there were others of his kind that believed they were more than protectors. They were under the egotistical delusion that they had ascended to become gods. War on Nasus's world was never more than a breath away, as these deluded others sought to enslave the people and establish a totalitarian sovereignty. In the midst of a heated battle, just as Nasus was about to slay his treacherous brother Renekton, he was pulled through the cosmos to a summoning circle in Runeterra.

At first angered that he had been taken just as he was about to cripple the enemies of his people, Nasus' advanced intellect won out when he heard the pleas of mercy from the summoners. He learned that Runeterra was also filled with its own brand of injustice. This danger was no less threatening than what he had fought against at home, and champions were needed to protect the people of this world. Heeding the call, Nasus chose to take his place in the League of Legends, knowing that his brothers and sisters would carry on the fight back home. These days, he is the Curator of the Sands, feeling most at home in the crumbling ruins of the Shurima Desert. However, recent disturbing news has reached the Keeper's ears - rumors that perhaps his brother had not in fact been left behind. If this were the case, the destruction of Renekton would quickly become Nasus' main priority, before this world too faces the threads of his brother's forked-tongue and endless ambition.

The Curator of the Sands, though contemplative, is not to be trifled with.

Laning

Nasus is a very good laner. You always need to farm your Siphoning Strike. If you do not, you will not be able to get your items fast and you are pretty useless because the items are very expensive.
You ALWAYS need to play Nasus in a solo lane. That way he can farm well and he doesn't pick any minions kills from any other champions.

You need to play very aggresive in the beginning with Nasus because Nasus is pretty easy to counter. If you play aggresive in the beginning and don't let your opponent get xp, then your opponent will be scared and then you will be able to farm well and you will win your lane!

IF you get very well countered, just play careful and try to last hit minions in front of the tower. Ask your jungler to come gank, because when your jungler ganks and your lane is pushed, you have a high chance of

If you push too much and you get to the enemy's tower, always try to hit your Siphoning Strike on the turret because the damage is amazing!

If your opponent has recalled or teleported, use your Spirit Fire to push the lane and Siphoning Strike the turret!

Just Q the sh*t outta the minions and try to stay in lane as long as possible. You can stay in lane long with Soul Eater. Combined with Siphoning Strike you have great lifesteal!

When a jungler comes to gank you have to use your W on either the jungler or the laner. If the jungler has any CC then I would use my Wither on that jungler.

Pros/Cons

-Pros

• Good farmer
• Passive lifesteal
• Great dmg dealer + Tank
• Very good lategame if farmed well
• Jungle possibility
• Wither for teamfights, and ganks
  
  
  Cons
  
  • Easy to counter
  • Needs farm otherwise useless
  • Needs a solo lane

Abilities

Ability Sequence
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18

Siphoning Strike

Wither

Spirit Fire

Masteries

Masteries

3/5

2/1

4/1

4/1

1/1

1/1

3/5

1/5

3/1

3/1

1/

3/1

2/1

Nasus

Summoner Spells

This is in my opinion a very good skill for Nasus. You can chase your opponent very well and escape because Nasus doesn't have any good escapes.

A good skill for Nasus. If you see alot of farm at bot/top/mid without someone being there you can teleport there and kill all the minions with Siphoning Strike.

You're an off"tank" so you always need to be able to help your team, so taking teleport to help your team is very nice!



Exhaust is a good option, but due to your Spirit Fire and Wither I don't think you need it. It's good to take down their carry without their carry dealing any damage, but Wither has attack speed reduction and it kills carries like Vayne with her Silver Bolts


A good skill. But not so good on Nasus. Perhaps early game for the kills but you won't need it because you are a good chaser.

I wouldn't suggest this on Nasus. It's a good skill early game but you won't need it late game due to your philosopher's stone.

Items

I start out with Boots of Speed and 3 health potions (or 2 health potions and 1 Mana Potion). I just farm a lot and try to stay in lane as long as possible. Once I have around 700-800 gold I'm going to push the lane and then recall. I buy philosopher's stone and 1 sight ward because if you win your lane you will probably push too much. Then I Teleport back to lane.

I then take Sheen and mercury treads. Once you have Sheen you can kill anyone in lane and farm very good!

Once I have these items it's starting to get fun with Nasus. If you didn't give your opponent kills you can finally start to kill your opponent. Try to harass your opponent with Siphoning Strike until she has around 65% health. Then you will try to kill her. Open with Wither and Spirit Fire behind her. Then Siphoning Strike and either chase her or go back to lane and farm. If you do this everytime your Wither is off cooldown you will kill anyone!

Now, back to the items. Try to recall if you can buy a full item of Trinity Force. I recommend Phage. The passive also works on Siphoning Strike because it applies on-hit effects.

Once you have your trinity force you can kill any squishy. Take a good look at the minimap and if you see bot lane is getting killed, try to teleport. You Wither the carry and the carry is dead before you even notice.

After Trinity Force I'm starting to get Warmog's Armor. I start with a Giant's Belt because you're unkillable from then on. When you have a Warmog's Armor you're ready for teamfights. (Take a look at my chapter "Teamfights" how to play Nasus in teamfights!

Once you have a Warmog's Armor you will always try to rush for an Atma's Impaler. If you have a enemy fed carry or a fed AD champion, start with Chain Vest. If you are very fed, and their ADs aren't fed, go for Cloak of Agility.

Warmog's Armor combined with Atma's Impaler is very nice. Atma's Impaler also has 18% critical strike so I go for an Infinity Edge after! Remember, Nasus his Siphoning Strike applies on-hit effects. Which is also Critical Strike! So, Trinity Force + Atma's Impaler + Infinity Edge means 58% critical strike!

Once you have these items it's almost a 100% win chance for your team. After those items the game has probably already ended or you go full tank from then on.

Teamfights

Once you have your Giant's Belt or Warmog's Armor you can start engaging team fights.
Engage with Spirit Fire and then activate your ult spirit of the sands.
Look for their carry and Wither the carry so he can't do anything anymore. Siphoning Strike the carry and try to hit your Spirit Fire where the most champions are standing.
If you focus the most damage dealing champions and kill the squishies you win the teamfight.

Gameplay

Check out my full gameplay playing Nasus!
(Part 1)
(Part 2)

End

Happy killing with this guide!

Please do not downvote this guide before trying it!

For any questions, you can add me in game : GG Zypirian (EUW) or comment!


I'm livestreaming daily. You should check it out! Click here!