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Recommended Items
Spells:
Exhaust
Flash
Items
Ability Order
Call of the Freljord (PASSIVE)
Nunu & Willump Passive Ability
Introduction

Hey guys and fellow supporters!
Today, I'll show you how to play Nunu as a support. First off, who am I?

My summoner name is Dullis and I play on the EUW-server. I have played this game for about 3 years, but I'm more of a casual LoL player. I'm currently in Gold III, at 1660 LK points, with a 60% win-ratio on Nunu in ranked and about 30 games with Nunu support in normals.
One thing I know for sure, is how to play Nunu support. Support has been my main the last 2 years, because I have usually been better at supporting than other roles in games. Nunu has been my go-to support because of his both aggressive and passive style of play. So that's why I decided to make a guide. After several nerfs, he is not as strong as he was... But he's still very fun to play and a good pick with/against most ADC.
In this guide I will give you tips on how to play Nunu and maybe how to play support. I will also mention some of the reasons why Nunu support is strong and why you should pick him as a support. Nunu is a solid pick and I encourage all support players to know how to play him!

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Pros
+ Movement Speed buff and debuff + Attack Speed buff and debuff + Self-healing spell + One free spell every 5th attack + AOE-spell and massive damage if pulled off + Naturally mobile and tanky |
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Cons
- No shield or heal for allies - No escape - Hard to pull off ultimate - Low-medium range on spells - Melee - Not originally a support |

Runes










These runes fit my playstyle and Nunu support the best. You need to be tanky in the early game and you're going to get poked (by a Sona). So getting the resistances and extra health, helps a lot. Updated for Season 4!

UPDATED 05.12.2013 for Season 4!
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Other choices:

Your team is not thinking that much and and the enemy team has 2 or more champions that rely on getting health back!


Item Sequence






Health Potion
50

Health Potion
50

Mana Potion
0

Mana Potion
0

Stealth Ward
0

Stealth Ward
0

Stealth Ward
0

Vision Ward
75

Sweeping Lens
0

Warding Totem Removed
0
I also start



TIP: Use Biscuits in fights, to get the advantage.
After some laning ("bloodboiling"), you go back to get


After upgrading to


The next big item for you is


While working towards Aegis/Locket, you should buy


Talisman of Ascension should be the last main item in this build. Giving regeneration, CDR and MS buff to your team is always useful to get your team an initiate / disengage) and position yourself with.
Always leave one spot to buy WARDS when you go back, and get

(Most games will be done by now!)
The last item/items can be a lot, so just pick an item you want from the list below:
Other items that fits well on
Nunu & Willump:
Zeke's Herald - Used to be the ultimate item on Nunu, but now it's only situational and mediocre. It's good if your team is AD and they need Lifesteal. Buying







Great Vision Totem - Get this if you need pink wards (against stealth) and your jungler already has the Sweeping lens





There are more choices that I don't know about, so just try out whatever your want...

![]() W |
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VS |
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![]() E |
Start with W when:
-
- You don't know what the ADC thinks/wants level 1 (almost always).
- They have sustain to counter spamming E.
- You just want to play safe.
Start with E when:
-
- You know the ADC or he wants you to go aggressive from the start.
- They don't have sustain and you can successfully poke them from level 1.
- If you can get an early gank bot and want to snowball (literally) the lane.
R>E>W>Q

Nunu's passive is okay to have when you can afford to hit their carry or support every time you harass.

It isn't that important when supporting, but can help you to hold the lane and sustain yourself or it can even be used as a second


Blood boil is awesome! It gives attack speed to the carry and himself, in addition to movement speed. This is the skill that your carry should always have, because it lasts for 15 seconds! With some CDR it's not hard at all! Important to level it, to get the advantage in AS.

Also very good (even though it got nerfed). It doesn't only slow the opponent, but it also reduces the attack speed. Use of this spell can be vital against carries that rely on attack speed and movement speed (


His ultimate is sometimes really good and other times not that good. It does a lot of damage, if Nunu manages to channel for 3 seconds. That's hard, because it's so easy to cancel (


This ult is not only good when fully channeled, but also interrupts the other teams movement and attack speed. Use it when you can, but save for teamfights, even if it's not possible to finish it...
Tips for pulling it of:
Stand in a bush and bait your enemies into it by throwing

To end his ult early:
RIGHT CLICK where you want to go and Nunu ends his ulti early. As easy as that! It's no need to channel it if no one is inside, but it can be used to protect your carry!

Epic combo from Empire, back in the good ol' days.
This is how you turn a gank into your favor.
Lvl 1:
With

Lvl 2-5:
Then, after getting



Lvl 6 to Midgame:
When you have your ult ready and some HP, you should try to stand in the brushes and lure them into your "trap". Buff your carry, slow the enemy carry and protect yours. If the opponent jungler/mid comes bot to gank, don't be afraid to use your ult (as in the video above). It's much more important that your carry stays alive, than you!
Also, in this phase you should ward around dragon and maybe kill some wards with Oracle's or pink.
Midgame (teamfights:
-Always stay with your team
-Have map control and use it to help your team do the right things
-Stay with your carry!
In teamfights, always be defensive! You're not jungle-Nunu or AP-Nunu, you're support-Nunu! Buff your carry and let someone else do the initiating. Find the enemy carry and if you can, slow and debuff him. Use your ult when you can hit the most important players and make sure your team follows your every step. -> Support, mid and carry.
Lategame:
Play safe, don't go around the map without vision. Place wards in important places and make sure you can help your team from your position. When your team decides to group, you go with the carry. At this phase of the game, your ult does insane damage if you're able to pull it off. Make sure you do that!



PREFERRED LANE:

Synergy: 10/10
"Protect the Carry" and Kill lane










Synergy: 9/10
Poke lane and "Protect the Carry"






Synergy: 9/10
Poke lane and "Protect the Carry"









Synergy: 8/10
"Protect the Carry" and Poke lane








Synergy: 7/10
Kill lane






Synergy: 7/10
Kill lane and "Protect the Carry"





Synergy: 6/10
Kill lane and Poke lane
She has a movement speed passive, a spell that improves the attack speed, a ring of bullets that slows and an AOE-ultimate. With Nunu, she gets even more MS and AS (




Synergy: 5/10
Kill lane
He is more tanky than other carries and has strong early game damage with Q and R. His E,







As I mentioned before, counterpicking is very important. Below, I will explain some of the bot-lane support match-ups:
Before I go into detail, I would like to recommend two sites:
Smart-pick for general counterpicking
Spellsy's support pick guide for support picks. Credit goes to amazing Spellsy. This is not updated for Season 4 tho'. However, it should be quite accurate still!
- DON'T pick Nunu against: -

Difficulty: Hard
He's got 3 spells to cancel your ult with (Q, E and R). Blitz has insane earlygame damage and since you lack shield/heal, it's hard to sustain your carry through laning phase. If you're getting hooked, there's not much you can do to counter their damage. A good Blitz will pull you in and let his AD-Carry kill you, without chance of escaping.
Tips: Play very defensive and always ward the brush Blitz is standing in. Buy a





Difficulty: Medium - Hard
She's got 2 spells to cancel your ult with (Q and R). Leona has early-game damage and since you lack shield/heal, it's hard to sustain your carry through laning phase. Don't get engaged on, because you'll be killed, but try to poke her down with your ADC. This lane is all about not getting killed and trying to get to midgame.
Tips: Play very defensive and always ward the brush Leona is standing in. Buy a






Difficulty: Hard!
The worst possible lane.



Tips: Ward the brush and try to bait her shield. ALWAYS, ALWAYS buff your ADC with



Difficulty: Medium - Hard
Also a good pick vs Nunu, even though this lane is more even. She can protect her carry from Nunu's E with her shield. Janna can cancel Nunu's ultimate with Q and R. She can also negate the movement speed buff from his W.
Tips: All sort of lanes work vs her, it just depends on the skill of the AD-carry. Try baiting her shield by walking towards her and hit her if she shields her AD. Don't engage to hard, because she can turn the fight.

Difficulty: Medium - Hard
Good early harass and poke, which you can't sustain well against. Can keep you at range with snare and cancel your ulti with her ulti. Hard to play against, because she can use her plants to ward brush and poke.
Tips: She is weak and fragile, and something you can use to your advantage. Dodge her Snare and initiate on her. Care for her plants and passive, and don't engage on her after level 6 without clear advantage. Eat her plants with Q!

Difficulty: Medium - Hard

Tips: Kill lane!!! Don't eat too much poke and engage with care after level 6.

+ DO pick Nunu against: +

Difficulty: Easy - Medium
Soraka also lacks the survivability to keep Nunu at bay. She has good heals and silence for your ultimate, but apart from that she can't do much to you. Should be the focus if you get the chance, and if the AD is too hard to catch..
Tips: Kill lane!!! Don't get harassed by her E too often and tell your carry to go for her.


Difficulty: Easy
Not much of a problem, the AD-carry should counter this by picking someone with escape. He stuns and reduces armor, so you just have to go aggressive on the other AD when he goes in. Your AD carry will win trades in the long run with W on, except against Cait and Urgot. Make sure to focus Taric if his AD is too defensive (standing too far away).
Tips: "Protect the Carry" and "counter-Kill lanes could work. He has sustain, so just play careful. He does have a strong presence early-mid, but not so much late. You deal more damage than him...

Difficulty: Easy - Medium
Nunu is actually really good against Thresh. He is naturally tanky and can ice blast the opponent to disengage if pulled. Thresh can cancel Nunu's ultimate with 2 spells, but it won't be that much of a difference.
Tips: Have the brush warded and try to poke him, without getting engaged on. AD-Carries with escape (




Difficulty: Medium
As I mentioned with Blitzcrank, Alistar also has skills to cancel ulti (Q and W). He's got potential to kill in a lane and also provides heal for his carry, this will make it hard to win the lane. His ultimate can avoid a lot of damage from your lane, so going Kill lanes is not very good.
Tips: Have the brush warded and try to poke him, without getting engaged on. AD-Carries with longrange or mobility, poke and cc could work. (



Can shut him down early and punish him for catching axes.

Makes her more vulnerable and less effective, because of his attack speed debuff.

As you should have done, before reading this guide, is to learn all the support basics ( I like Xpecial's way of presenting this). Below, I will talk about some stuff that can improve your "supporting" and general gameplay when playing supports:
Tip 1 - Counterpicking:
First of all, try to counterpick their carry/support! I rarely play games where this is needed, but I always think about this anyways. Nunu is a good choice if the other carry depends on attack speed, mobility or is more squishy that other. (Vayne and Kog for example). But if you're playing vs Corki or Ezreal, where this is the case, are other supports better (Soraka, Janna and Sona). He is more of a safe pick than a counterpick right now.
Tip 2 - Buff/drake timers:
A good way to have a good map control, is to control the buffs. The buffs are worth a lot (in numbers: Blue/Red = over 2000 gold), which a lot of people don't know. So if you can get these buffs (Red/Blue) repeatedly, you will have a huge advantage.
The respawn times in Summoners Rift are:
Blue buff: 5 minutes (after 1:55)
Red buff: 5 minutes (after 1:55)
Dragon: 6 minutes (after 2:30)
Baron: 7 minutes (after 15:00)
Tip 3 - Wards
People who haven't played much support tend to buy no wards and too many wards. Don't do this! A support should have items and shouldn't use all their money on wards... 1-2 wards each time you back (+ pink if you're going to take dragon). Lategame, you can buy 2-3 wards each time you back.
If you play against Blitz, Ali or Taric: ALWAYS ward the brush in the lane and play safer than usual. If you play on purple side, you should ward in between the bushes in river. If you play on blue side, ward tri-bush if not pushing and in between tribush and riverbush if pushing (Will add pictures soon). Only ward inside the bush in river if they have someone who can camp a lane well or champions with no CC.
These are some good places to put wards in early game:



Thanks for reading my guide! :)
I will be adding new features and updates as the game developes. When I find out about new and better ways of playing support Nunu, I will tell you guys about it first. If you have anything to add, write a comment below or send me a msg in game (Dullis at EU)
Patch updates on
v3.09
Health per level reduced to 96 from 108
Consume
Damage reduced to 500 / 625 / 750 / 875 / 1000 from 600 / 700 / 800 / 900 / 1000
v3.07
Consume
Damage increased to 600 / 700 / 800 / 900 / 1,000 from 500 / 600 / 700 / 800 / 900
Healing reduced to 90 / 130 / 170 / 210 / 250 from 125 / 180 / 235 / 290 / 345
Healing ratio reduced to 0.75 from 1.0
Consume now grants bonuses for 120 / 150 / 180 / 210 / 240 seconds based on the type of monster consume was used on:
Golem-type monsters grant 10% increased size and maximum Health
Lizard-type monsters grant Nunu's attacks and spells additional magic damage equal to 1% of Nunu's maximum Health
Wraith or Wolf-type monsters grant 15% movement speed for 3 seconds after Nunu kills a unit
v3.06
Consume no longer expends Visionary if the target dies before Consume resolves
v3.05 Balance Update
Absolute Zero
Cooldown reduced to 110 / 100 / 90 seconds from 150 / 120 / 90
Mana cost reduced to 100 from 150
v3.01
Base movement speed increased to 350 from 340
Blood Boil
Duration reduced to 12 seconds from 15
Attack speed bonus reduced to 25 / 30 / 35 / 40 / 45% from 25 / 35 / 45 / 55 / 65%
Movement speed bonus reduced to 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12% from 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15%
v1.0.0.152
Base Movement Speed increased by 25.
v1.0.0.146 - 2012-08-29
Ice Blast: Slow duration reduced to 3 seconds from 4
V1.0.0.143:
Visionary: now grants free cost spells even if spells were ranked up while the buff was already active.
V1.0.0.142:
Visionary: attacks required to activate reduced to 5 from 7.
Consume:
Damage increased to 500/600/700/800/900 from 400/525/650/775/900.
Damage dealt to Dragon and Baron increased to 100% from 50%.
Cooldown reduced to 16/14/12/10/8 seconds from 18/16/14/12/10.
Absolute Zero:
Minimum damage if interrupted increased to 12.5% from 0%.
Maximum damage if interrupted increased to 87% from 70%.
V1.0.0.140b:
Fixed a bug where Absolute Zero was revealing Nunu when cast from brush.
V1.0.0.139:
Added a range indicator to Absolute Zero.
Now gains 1.25 magic resist per level.
V1.0.0.134
Fixed a bug where Absolute Zero's slow did not grant assists.
V1.0.0.133:
Fixed a bug where Absolute Zero's slow did not grant assists.
Sejuani Patch (v1.0.0.132):
Base attack speed increased to .625 from .613
Attack speed per level increased to 2.25 from 1.08
This is a nice buff, even if it doesn't affect Nunu that much. You can auto-attack more ofc!
Will update more soon. 17.07.2013
I will be adding new features and updates as the game developes. When I find out about new and better ways of playing support Nunu, I will tell you guys about it first. If you have anything to add, write a comment below or send me a msg in game (Dullis at EU)
Update log:
-
1.1 Made the guide, with simple text and some information
1.2 Small changes to item build, to make it better.
1.3 Made some points more clear, easier to read
2.1 Added pictures of skills, runes, items and champions
2.2 Fixed some of the pictures and added more space in the text
3.1 Changed some items, but still some more work to do
4.1 Redeveloped the guide, made more consistent changes
4.2 Added bigge pictures and two videos of support Nunu
4.2 Added playstyle chapter and adjusted masteries
5.1 Remade masteries to not waste mastery points and made some changes the build in general
5.2 Fixed errors from 5.1, added pics
5.3 Rewrote some sentences in item build and changed the name of the guide to a more proper one
5.4 Updated masteries once again and added a link to another support guide
6.1 Changed best AD+Nunu carries and wrote more about his ultimate (requested)
6.2 Updates all over the guide :) Now close to perfection, in my eyes
6.3 Small adjustments to item build
6.4 New summoner spell + new pics
6.5 Added more help to Abilities
7.1 Spelling mistakes and added a new chapter; "Improve your supporting"
7.2 Added a link to a good guide in the newest chapter
7.3 Small changes in masteries and item build
7.4 Fixed some wrong numbers
8.1 Huge update after some weeks
8.2 Fixed the build order and AD+Carry part. More accurate now
9.1 Added a new section (Nunu vs other supports) and fixed grammar in the first parts of the guide. Also changed the skill sequence to match my recent playstyle.
9.2 Skills chapter is now more detailed and rename some other chapters
10.1 Little update after some months
10.2 Updated item sequence
10.3 Doing some small updates
10.4 Continued doing that
10.5 Added one more counter
11.1 Changed masteries and runes for S3!!!
11.2 Runes updated!
11.3 Added ward placement and changed itembuild
11.4 Fixed something in the first paragraphs
12.1 Huge item rework!
12.2 Added Pros/Cons
12.3 Fixed errors
12.4 More fixing
12.5 Last update today! phew
13.1 Huge update in terms of guide appearance
13.2 Added Headers to almost all sections of this guide
14.1 Remade some chapters and adjusted to current playstyle and meta-game
14.2 Added a few new pics and information
14.3 Rewrote some sentences and fixed links
14.4 Readded video
14.5 Updated counterpick chapter and added a few more
14.6 Added better visual text
14.7 Updated ranked information and added more patch updates
15.1 The HUGE season 4 update. Items, masteries and all information is being updated.
15.2 Not ready for "release", but a lot of the Season 3 --> Season 4 fixes has been done.
15.3 New pictures and information on some chapters
16.1 Abilities rework, finally!
16.2 Still updating text, builds and information to Season 4
Patch updates on
Nunu & Willump:
v3.09
Health per level reduced to 96 from 108
Consume
Damage reduced to 500 / 625 / 750 / 875 / 1000 from 600 / 700 / 800 / 900 / 1000
v3.07
Consume
Damage increased to 600 / 700 / 800 / 900 / 1,000 from 500 / 600 / 700 / 800 / 900
Healing reduced to 90 / 130 / 170 / 210 / 250 from 125 / 180 / 235 / 290 / 345
Healing ratio reduced to 0.75 from 1.0
Consume now grants bonuses for 120 / 150 / 180 / 210 / 240 seconds based on the type of monster consume was used on:
Golem-type monsters grant 10% increased size and maximum Health
Lizard-type monsters grant Nunu's attacks and spells additional magic damage equal to 1% of Nunu's maximum Health
Wraith or Wolf-type monsters grant 15% movement speed for 3 seconds after Nunu kills a unit
v3.06
Consume no longer expends Visionary if the target dies before Consume resolves
v3.05 Balance Update
Absolute Zero
Cooldown reduced to 110 / 100 / 90 seconds from 150 / 120 / 90
Mana cost reduced to 100 from 150
v3.01
Base movement speed increased to 350 from 340
Blood Boil
Duration reduced to 12 seconds from 15
Attack speed bonus reduced to 25 / 30 / 35 / 40 / 45% from 25 / 35 / 45 / 55 / 65%
Movement speed bonus reduced to 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12% from 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15%
v1.0.0.152
Base Movement Speed increased by 25.
v1.0.0.146 - 2012-08-29
Ice Blast: Slow duration reduced to 3 seconds from 4
V1.0.0.143:
Visionary: now grants free cost spells even if spells were ranked up while the buff was already active.
V1.0.0.142:
Visionary: attacks required to activate reduced to 5 from 7.
Consume:
Damage increased to 500/600/700/800/900 from 400/525/650/775/900.
Damage dealt to Dragon and Baron increased to 100% from 50%.
Cooldown reduced to 16/14/12/10/8 seconds from 18/16/14/12/10.
Absolute Zero:
Minimum damage if interrupted increased to 12.5% from 0%.
Maximum damage if interrupted increased to 87% from 70%.
V1.0.0.140b:
Fixed a bug where Absolute Zero was revealing Nunu when cast from brush.
V1.0.0.139:
Added a range indicator to Absolute Zero.
Now gains 1.25 magic resist per level.
V1.0.0.134
Fixed a bug where Absolute Zero's slow did not grant assists.
V1.0.0.133:
Fixed a bug where Absolute Zero's slow did not grant assists.
Sejuani Patch (v1.0.0.132):
Base attack speed increased to .625 from .613
Attack speed per level increased to 2.25 from 1.08
This is a nice buff, even if it doesn't affect Nunu that much. You can auto-attack more ofc!
I want to say thank you to all you guys that tried my build and read my guide, I appreciate it!
Will update more soon. 17.07.2013
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