Nasus ARAM Build and Guide

Updated for patch 26.21. Ability details come from Riot’s official game data for this patch; ARAM balance numbers come from the League of Legends Wiki’s champion data.

A Nasus ARAM build is a tanky Spellblade path: Iceborn Gauntlet for Siphoning Strike, then resistances and Ability Haste so Wither and the Q keep cycling. The Howling Abyss trims him on both ends. 90% damage dealt, 105% damage taken, so the build leans tanky.

The choices below come straight from his patch 26.21 ability text and the item descriptions. No win-rate data was involved.

How is Nasus changed in ARAM?

Two nerfs, both aimed at the same worry about his scaling, honestly. Nasus deals 90% damage and takes 105%, so he hits softer and dies a little faster than on Summoner’s Rift. The reason isn’t hard to guess (our guess, anyway): Siphoning Strike grows permanently with every kill, and ARAM is a mode with an endless stream of minions walking into one lane. A Nasus who stacks all game can end up with an absurd Q. The damage cut keeps that in check.

Why does Nasus still work on the Howling Abyss?

Stacks come easily here, and his ultimate is built for teamfights. Riot’s patch 26.21 data:

• Soul Eater (passive): grants him bonus Life Steal.
• Siphoning Strike (Q): a strike that deals damage and permanently powers up future Siphoning Strikes whenever it kills its target. Cooldown 7.5/6.5/5.5/4.5/3.5.
• Wither (W): slows an enemy champion’s Move Speed and Attack Speed more and more over time. Cooldown 15/14/13/12/11.
• Spirit Fire (E): damages enemies at a location and lowers the Armor of those standing in it. Cooldown 12.
• Fury of the Sands (R): a sandstorm that damages nearby enemies and grants Health, Attack Range, Armor, Magic Resist and a shorter Siphoning Strike cooldown for its duration. Cooldown 120/100/80.

In ARAM, minions arrive at one lane and the fights happen right next to them, so Siphoning Strike gets a steady supply of last hits even in the middle of a fight. Fury of the Sands is a teamfight ultimate. It damages everyone nearby, makes him tankier and shortens his Q cooldown, so a Nasus who activates it in the middle of a crowd gets several stacked Qs off before it ends. Spirit Fire lowers the Armor of every enemy standing on it, which helps his whole team. Thing is, the weak spot is the same as always: 125 range and no dash, made worse by the 105% damage taken.

What should a Nasus ARAM build focus on?

A Spellblade item for Siphoning Strike, then Armor, Magic Resist and Ability Haste, because the modifiers already cut his damage and raise the damage he takes. Four items and boots.

Iceborn Gauntlet opens the build (Sheen first, of course). Its Spellblade adds bonus physical damage to the attack after an ability and creates a frost field that slows for 2 seconds. Siphoning Strike is an ability, so every Q sets one up, and the slow helps a champion with no dash stay on a target. You also get 300 Health, 50 Armor and 15 Ability Haste.

Spirit Visage comes second, for Soul Eater (his only built-in healing). Boundless Vitality increases the heals and shields he receives by 25%, and his bonus Life Steal is healing. It also brings 400 Health, 50 Magic Resist and 10 Ability Haste, the right shape for a tank who takes 105% damage.

Frozen Heart is the third slot. Winter’s Caress reduces the Attack Speed of nearby champions by 20%, which stacks nicely with Wither’s own Attack Speed slow on his main target. With 75 Armor and 20 Ability Haste, it makes Wither and Siphoning Strike come back sooner too.

The last slot depends on the enemy damage. Against attackers, Thornmail adds 75 Armor and 150 Health, and Thorns applies 40% Wounds to any champion who attacks him. Against mages, Kaenic Rookern gives 400 Health, 80 Magic Resist and a magic shield after he’s gone 15 seconds without taking magic damage. Boots: Plated Steelcaps, Mercury’s Treads or Ionian Boots of Lucidity if you want even more haste.

How do you play Nasus on the Howling Abyss?

• Last-hit minions with Siphoning Strike between fights. Each kill makes every future Q stronger, and ARAM minions never stop coming.
• Wither the enemy carry. It slows Move Speed and Attack Speed over time, so it shuts down marksmen trying to kite.
• Drop Spirit Fire where the fight is. It lowers the Armor of every enemy standing in it, which helps your whole team.
• Activate Fury of the Sands in the middle of the crowd. It damages everyone nearby and shortens the Siphoning Strike cooldown while it lasts.
• Don’t chase alone. With 125 range and no dash, he relies on Wither and the Iceborn slow to stay on targets.

How do shopping and Mark work for Nasus?

There’s no recall in ARAM. Shopping happens at the fountain at the start and after each death, and Sheen is the first buy, since its Spellblade works on Siphoning Strike right away. Health relics along the lane are useful between fights, though Soul Eater’s Life Steal covers part of his sustain.

Once you’re in the loading screen, your summoner spells are set. The snowball, Mark, offers a dash onto any champion it hits, and on a champion with no dash of his own, that’s a real upgrade. Is it better than Flash on Nasus? Often, yes. Real talk, a Nasus who can’t reach anyone is just a big dog with a stacked Q and nobody to hit.

Is Nasus good in ARAM?

He’s fine. The two modifiers, 90% damage dealt and 105% damage taken, are both nerfs, but ARAM hands him stacks and fights where Fury of the Sands shines. To be fair, he struggles against teams that kite well, since Wither and Iceborn’s slow are all he has for sticking to targets.

Who beats him in the top lane? The Nasus counters guide covers five. Our guide to LoL roles explains the top lane itself, the LoL items database lists the items here with full stats, and the Nasus skins page collects his cosmetics.

Long story short, the Nasus ARAM build is Iceborn Gauntlet, Spirit Visage, Frozen Heart and Thornmail or Kaenic Rookern, and the plan is to stack Q on every wave and save Fury of the Sands for the crowd.

FAQ

Is Nasus nerfed in ARAM?

Yes, on both sides of the ledger: he deals 90% and takes 105% damage (Wiki champion data, patch 26.21).

What items does the Nasus ARAM build use?

Iceborn Gauntlet, Spirit Visage, Frozen Heart, and Thornmail or Kaenic Rookern, with Plated Steelcaps, Mercury’s Treads or Ionian Boots of Lucidity.

Why build Iceborn Gauntlet on Nasus?

Its Spellblade empowers the attack after an ability and creates a slowing frost field. Every Siphoning Strike triggers it, and the slow helps him stay on targets.

Can Nasus stack Siphoning Strike on the Howling Abyss?

Yes. Siphoning Strike gains power permanently each time it kills a target, and ARAM lanes have a constant supply of minions to last-hit.

Were win rates used for this build?

No. Siphoning Strike, Wither and Soul Eater, as written for patch 26.21, told us which passives to look for.