Early Pre 6 Laning

I have played a few games with Nidalee in my time and can tell you it will be very difficult to lane against most champions early on. So, my first words of advice are to sit back and play safe until you get cougar form and grab as much cs as you can. Avoid the skill shots. The reason why I recommend starting with mana pots is because it gives virtually unlimited mana to spam spears, but, more importantly, your heal. It has an attack speed steroid that is useful in duels and for sustain.

If you are playing against any semi decent opponent, they will sit behind their minions and farm rendering you more or less half a champion. Call for ganks and push him back. Otherwise playing passive is your best option unless playing against a champ you know that you can fight early on.

Starting Items

Sight Ward x2

-usual start

-nice and safe, ward for ganks and pots for sustain/what little damage you will be able to deal

or

x2

-good if you know you can win or if there will be early lane pressure

-Doran's ring compensates for mana pots and gives a little extra burst

First Trip Back

Tear of the Goddess

-Spam moves to max this as fast as you possibly can. Don't worry about mana. It will keep you full until you need to return for your next item

-Almost essential on Nidalee for unlimited spears, heals, and traps

-ALWAYS GET

It may also be a good idea to grabs some more pots and another ward if u have extra gold remaining

Mid/Late Game Items

Sheen

-Nice for quick burst

-Scales well and eventually becomes Seraph's Embrace. Shield, mana, damage. What else could you want.

Rabadon's Deathcap

-huge amounts of AP and used by most AP carries

-must have early mid game

Void Staff

-magic pen makes your spears do so much more damage even on tankier targets

-good amount of AP

-always use when enemy is stacking magic resistance

Sorcerer's Shoes

-Magic pen is a must

-These boots plus the Void Staff make magic resist so much less effective

-Always use since Nidalee is naturally fast so more speed is not required and cd is already relatively low

Lich Bane

-Upgrades from sheen and improves stats plus a little movement speed

-very nice for extra burst and is applicable in many different situation (duel, TF, etc)

Archangel's Staff

-Always upgrade tear to AS

-Good stats all around and shield after so much farm

-scales off mana. Even more AP especially after it becomes Saraph's Embrace

Zhonya's Hourglass
-Invulnerability is always fun and allows for higher surviveablility and crazy plays
-Armor and AP make you stronger
-By the time you have this item it's likely that the game is almost over so use if wisely

+ very fun to play
+ crazy amounts of burst
+ diverse abilities make great plays
+ mobile
+ good wave clear

- squishy
- cant get too involved in TFs
- weak pre 6 game
- vulnerable to anyone with MR
- hard to perfect

Human Form Abilities

Javelin Toss

-probably the most fun move in your arsenal

-huge amounts of damage but can be difficult to hit due to the slowness of the spear

-can also be used to grab last hits early on under a tower since AA damage is so low

-max first

bushwhack

-can be used for extra damage in team fights

-long range so make sure you place in bushes when you are not sure where the enemy is

-[IMPORTANT] don't forget about this move just because it does not do damage. It gives vision of the enemy champion as well showing the area around it for a short time after placement. Max last

Primal Surge

-Great sustain all through game

-Attack speed steroid great for you in lane or for adc in team fights

Cougar Form

takedown

-good single target damage

-can be used for last hitting and dueling

-will do must of your damage early since you max this first

Pounce

-good for clearing waves, chasing, and escaping

-when running through bushes you will be almost untouchable

-also can be used for dodging abilities but it takes some time to get used to the move since it moves in the direction of Nidalee and not where you mouse is

Swipe

-great AoE damage

-relatively strong move and also useful for clearing creeps

your skill sequence should proceed as follows:


When casting abilities poke with your Javelin as much as you can then enter with Pounce > Takedown > Swipe and then repeat according to need. It all really depends whats up at the time obviously. Play Nidalee right and you will have some insane single target burst and cleanup capability.

Team Fights


-make sure that you do not jump into a team fight or initiate! you will DIE
-poke with your javelins and heals at your discretion
-do not jump into a fight unless its is for cleanup purposes or you catch somebody out
-I know that you do a lot of damage but you are still squishy
-you have tanks for a reason. Use them.

Key teamwork essentials for all champions

-PING. Communicate with your team and you will win. The teams that do not talk or the ones that argue will lose a majority of the time.

-WARD. Everyone should be grabbing wards and placing them in key places on the map. I know that you have a support but please do everyone a favor and get rid of as much Fog of War as you possibly can. Vision allows you to set up ganks more easily and helps decide whether to fight or to run.

-DONT BE SELFISH. Sometimes you must sacrifice yourself for the good of the team. Remember, team implies more than just yourself playing. Help a little or a lot and make your team as strong as possible.

Nidalee

-Attack speed buff from your heal is OP. When taking a tower or in a team fight give it to the ADC. The only reason I would ever use it on myself is in a 1v1 or i am in dire need of a heal and you are certain the adc will be able to survive without it.

-spears can be used for offense and defense. While under your tower, a spear landing on the right target could do the damage to make an even fight. Chasing with spears is also useful. Keep chucking them. they will be forced to either flash, move backwards towards your team to avoid them, or earn you a well deserved ks.

Ward at these locations:

Yellow: Vital to protect the jungler on your team
Blue: For protection depending on which lane you're on
Red: To guard Dragon and Baron
Orange: In order to Counter-Jungle

Follow these steps and you will be the perfect Nidalee. If I made some errors, please feel free to comment I'm always willing to update the guides. Thanks for reading everyone! Enjoy