Nautilus - League of Legends Champion
Win Rate
50.0%
Pick Rate
4.7%

NautilusCounters

CTankSupport
Patch26.3
Matches785,220
LaneAll Lanes
TierAll Tiers
Last UpdatedFeb 26, 2026
MethodologyData Methodology

The best Nautilus counters in League of Legends patch 26.3 are Milio, Swain, Alistar, Rell, Leona. The best Nautilus counter is Milio, with Nautilus having only a 43.86% win rate in this matchup. Secondary patch 26.3 Nautilus counter choices are Maokai, Taric, Braum, Seraphine, Sona. Below are the top Nautilus counters and matchups alongside their win rates.

These champions are Nautilus's hardest counters in League of Legends patch 26.3. Milio is Nautilus's biggest counter with only a 43.86% win rate for Nautilus. When facing these Nautilus counter picks, focus on safe farming and waiting for jungle assistance. Avoid extended trades and play around your power spikes to survive difficult Nautilus matchups.
When facing Nautilus in League of Legends, understanding Nautilus's primary damage profile is essential for building effective counter strategies. Nautilus deals primarily mixed damage, which means prioritizing both armor and magic resist in your defensive itemization will significantly reduce Nautilus's threat in fights. Top defensive items against Nautilus include Guardian Angel, Gargoyle Stoneplate, Jak'Sho, and Sterak's Gage. These items provide substantial both armor and magic resist stats that directly mitigate Nautilus's damage output throughout all stages of the game.

From a champion selection perspective, the strongest Nautilus counters are Milio, Swain, Alistar, and Rell. These champions either out-trade Nautilus in lane, have abilities that negate Nautilus's core mechanics, or scale better into team fights. Milio in particular exploits Nautilus's weaknesses by providing consistent pressure while being difficult to punish.

Beyond item builds and counter picks, successful counter play against Nautilus involves understanding Nautilus's power spikes and cooldown windows. Engage on Nautilus when key abilities are on cooldown, and coordinate with your team to focus Nautilus in team fights before Nautilus can output maximum damage. Vision control is also crucial when playing against Nautilus to avoid getting caught out of position. By combining proper defensive itemization with smart champion selection and strategic gameplay, you can effectively neutralize Nautilus's impact and secure victory.

Understanding Nautilus's power curve is essential for effective counter play. Here's when Nautilus is most vulnerable throughout the game.

EARLYEarly Game (Levels 1-6)

Nautilus may look for extended trades. Avoid long fights and kite with slows. Short trades favor you against sustained damage.

MIDMid Game (Levels 7-13)

Nautilus becomes increasingly tanky mid game. Focus on kiting and percent health damage. Avoid fighting in choke points.

LATELate Game (Levels 14-18)

Nautilus is very durable late game. Use armor penetration or anti-tank items. Focus squishier targets first if Nautilus is too tanky.

Use these actionable tips to gain an advantage when facing Nautilus in lane or team fights.

  • Pick Milio or similar champions with kits that exploit Nautilus's weaknesses
  • Build defensive boots early to reduce Nautilus's damage in lane
  • Track Nautilus's cooldowns and engage when key abilities are unavailable
  • Ward Nautilus's common roam paths and ping missing immediately
  • Coordinate with your jungler to gank Nautilus during vulnerable windows
  • Avoid extended trades where Nautilus can stack sustained damage
  • Kite Nautilus with slows and crowd control

Nautilus performs exceptionally well against these champions in patch 26.3. Janna is Nautilus's best matchup with a 60.95% win rate. When playing Nautilus into these favorable matchups, look for early aggression and lane dominance. Nautilus can capitalize on these champions' weaknesses to snowball leads and carry games.

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Nautilus Counters - Frequently Asked Questions

Who counters Nautilus?

The best Nautilus counters are Milio, Swain, and Alistar. These champions have favorable matchups against Nautilus and can exploit Nautilus's weaknesses effectively in League of Legends patch 26.3.

What is Nautilus's hardest counter?

Milio is Nautilus's hardest counter with Nautilus having only a 43.86% win rate in this matchup. Swain (44.64% WR) and Alistar (44.78% WR) are also strong Nautilus counters.

Who does Nautilus counter?

Nautilus performs well against Janna, Poppy, and Zilean. These are Nautilus's best matchups where Nautilus has favorable win rates and can dominate lane in patch 26.3.

How do I beat Nautilus in lane?

To beat Nautilus in lane, pick a counter champion like Milio or Swain. Focus on trading when Nautilus's key abilities are on cooldown, and build armor and magic resist items to reduce Nautilus's damage output. Ward defensively and call for jungle assistance if Nautilus gains an advantage.

What items counter Nautilus?

The best items to counter Nautilus are Guardian Angel, Gargoyle Stoneplate, and Jak'Sho. These items provide armor and magic resist which directly reduces Nautilus's damage. Consider building these items early if you're struggling against Nautilus in lane.

When is Nautilus weakest?

Nautilus is typically weakest during specific power troughs between item spikes. Exploit windows when Nautilus's ultimate or key abilities are on cooldown. Coordinate with your team to engage on Nautilus before Nautilus can set up fights on Nautilus's own terms.

How do I play Nautilus into counter matchups?

When playing Nautilus into counters like Milio, focus on safe farming, waiting for jungle assistance, and playing around power spikes. Avoid extended trades in unfavorable matchups and look for opportunities to scale into mid and late game.

What champions are similar to Nautilus's counters?

If Milio, Swain, or Alistar are banned or picked, look for champions with similar kits that can exploit Nautilus's weaknesses. Champions with crowd control, burst damage, or sustained damage (depending on Nautilus's vulnerabilities) can serve as alternative counters.