This is my first guide on this website. I have a lot of experience playing Nidalee and I love her playstyle. This is a brief guide on how to play her and some tips and tricks I have learned. Feel free to add me in game and ask any questions you may have. Seraph89

Nidalee is a very fun champ that takes patience and skill to master. She has great escape mechanisms and ganking power early game. She has great map awareness due to her traps and her heals provide stability in both the laning phase and the teamfighting phase.

Before level 6, Nidalee is going to use her auto attack as her main source of harass. Do not use your spear unless you must because they are mana intensive and you want to save your mana for healing. (this will give you more lane-staying power and farm)

I take the Armor Pen Marks (more damage with auto attacks and your Q ability while in kitty)
I take Dodge Seals (can go Mp5 but dodge provides more survivability when in kitty)
I take Flat CD glyphs (more spam...however, flat Magic Resist is another option)

Finally, take Armor Pen Quints...more harass and Q damage.

Your item build depends heavily on the team that you are playing against.
My GENERAL Nidalee build goes like this:

Dorans Ring (starting every game....Mp5 Health Ability Power)
Mercury Treads (magic resist and cc reduction) *CC is Nidalees nemesis*
Guinsoos Rageblade (Early AP and AD for your Q) Stacks are kept easily with heals etc...
Rabadons Deathcap (Ton of AP...heals/spear hits harder and easier farming in lane)

Thats pretty much the CORE build.

Optional Build includes adding:

Zhonyas Hourglass (AD heavy team and/or your getting focused hard)
Void Staff (More AP and magic pen if their carries are building Magic Resist)
Spirit Visage (Heals hit harder and it gives you more health etc..)
Lichbane (More AP and a BIG boost to your burst damage)[*] [*] [*]

Take heal 1st always! More lane-staying power, attack speed boost and can bait the enemy to dive you (risky)

Personally I take trap 2nd. It has low mana cost and lets you control the grass/jungle area around you and your buffs.

Spear is 3rd to your Heal and your Kitty. You want to level this mainly for harder hitting in Cougar form. This skill is the bread and butter to your burst in Cougar form.

Flash/Ghost Always.

More escapes...lets you jump in and burst and quickly get out.

A nice trick is to get into Cougar form....if the enemy is low health you can quickly FLASH then POUNCE and burst them down. You cover a large area in a split second and can often kill those who are low and getting greedy.

PRO:
Great harass with spear
Easy farming in Cougar
Heals provide awesome early game
Great escapes and Ganking Power
Traps for Map awareness

CON:
Easily killed if CC'd
Will die fast to fast AD champs (XIN and YI)
Hard to play well

Nidalee is not a jungler...this means do not start off in the jungle.

LANE!

use your auto attack for last hitting minions until 6.
Once you get your Cougar...use your W yo pounce and then hit your E to swipe several minions. This is easy farming for Nidalee.

Once you get your ult and you start to be more aggressive....maintain control of BLUE and RED buff throughout the game. (Especially blue buff) This allows for more spear harass...more traps...and more healing during teamfights. Control the jungle and you will control the game.