Nidalee
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Excellent (9.5/10)
Low Investment
Rare Relics OK
Nidalee is widely considered the strongest 3-star champion in the game, capable of clearing 6.5-star content with ease. Her power level at low investment is unmatched, making her a 'cheat code' for progression. While her playstyle can become linear for some, the sheer speed and dominance she offers make her a top-tier pick.
Transmogulator OTK
Transforms the ephemeral copy of Nidalee (created by her 3-star power) into a random 6+ cost follower on attack. MUST be in a slot above Spectral Scissors to trigger first.
Duplicates the attacking unit. Because Transmogulator triggers first, this relic copies the high-cost follower instead of Nidalee, creating a board of massive units instantly.
Refills spell mana upon summoning. This triggers even when playing Nidalee as a bush, guaranteeing the mana needed to cast her transformation spell on Turn 1.
Strategy
This build aims for a Turn 1 One-Shot Kill. Play Nidalee as a bush (Shadow in the Brush), then use her spell to transform her. Her 3-star power creates an ephemeral copy. Attack with both; Transmogulator turns the copy into a monster, and Scissors duplicates that monster.
Stun and Rally Control
Stuns all enemies when Nidalee levels up. Since she levels up easily via transformation, this provides an on-demand board wipe for blockers.
Rallies when Nidalee levels up. Combined with Tempest Blade, this clears the way for a free open attack on the enemy Nexus.- Essential for consistency, allowing you to play Nidalee and transform her immediately on Turn 1.
Strategy
A more reliable, control-oriented build utilizing only Rare and Common relics. It focuses on leveling Nidalee to trigger a full board stun and a rally, allowing you to end the game without needing high-roll RNG from Transmogulator.
Ephemeral Consumption
Support: Kill my supported ally and grant me its stats and keywords. Use this to eat the ephemeral copy generated by her 3-star power.- Ensures you have the mana to transform Nidalee immediately.
- Provides a Rally on level up, maximizing the value of your now-giant Nidalee.
Strategy
This build turns Nidalee into a massive stat-stick by consuming the free ephemeral unit she generates. It offers high survivability and works well against adventures that require big units to trade.
Other Relic Options
A viable alternative for stat-growth builds, generating husks when killing units.
Can create chaotic 'double Nidalee' turns, but requires careful play to avoid duplicating the bush form (which is useless) instead of the champion.
Avoid 'Hidden Tome'; it does not function with Nidalee because her Bush form is a follower, not a champion, so it fails to trigger the relic's effect. 'Converging Timelines' is also a trap, as it transforms her Bush into a random follower, breaking her mechanics.
Constellation
Nidalee is unique in that her 3-star power is widely considered her peak, often outperforming the 6-star powers of other champions. She does not currently have a 6-star constellation, but her base power level renders her S-tier regardless.
Survival of the Fittest
When an ally transforms, grant it +1|+1 and Impact.
Most Dangerous Game
+1 Starting Mana. When you gain the attack token, create a Clever Camouflage in hand.
Survival of the Fittest II
When an ally transforms, grant it +1|+1 and Impact. If it's the first time this round, summon an exact Ephemeral copy of it.Review
Survival of the Fittest: Summons an ephemeral copy of the first unit you transform each round. This is the engine behind her 'broken' interactions with Transmogulator and Corrupted Star Fragment, effectively doubling her output for free.
Gameplay Tips
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Lost Chapter Mechanics: Even though Nidalee is played as a follower (Shadow in the Brush), 'Lost Chapter' still triggers because the relic is attached to the card you played. Conversely, 'Hidden Tome' does not trigger because the unit entering the board is not a champion.
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Relic Order Matters: For the 'Transmogulator' build, you must place Transmogulator in a slot above 'Spectral Scissors'. This ensures the unit transforms into a powerful follower before it is copied.
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Item Cost Interaction: When playing Nidalee as a Shadow in the Brush, the cost is capped at 2 mana. This means items that increase stats but add cost (e.g., +2/+2 and cost +2) are pure buffs for her, as the Bush will still only cost 2.
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Capture Vulnerability: Nidalee is highly susceptible to Capture effects if she is the only unit on the board (as a Bush). Against decks with early capture (like Sett), consider passing Turn 1 to bait out their mana before committing Nidalee.
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Turn 1 OTK: With the optimal setup (Lost Chapter + Transmogulator + Scissors), you can consistently win on Turn 1. Play Bush -> Transform (refill mana) -> Attack with Ephemeral Copy -> Win.