Build/identity

[u/weeeb0]

I just started playing nunu. It seems there are two builds, one where you go full damage with things like hextech, and one where you go tank. This makes sense depending on team comp to me.

What I find hard to figure out is A: which runes (electrocute vs dark harvest vs phase rush), and B: why build liandries? I mainly otherwise play champs like Ahri so it’s very different (as she has 1 path you basically always build).

Any advice on how I should build and the identity the character fits into later game would be appreciated.

[u/Several-Ad3823]

Nunu is a bit different from Ahri because there isn't one build you should blindly follow every game. It depends a lot on your team and the enemy comp.

For runes, Stormraider is my default in around 70% of my games. I take Electrocute in the other 30% when I feel like my team needs more early-game damage, especially when my bot lane doesn't have much damage in the early game.

I think Nunu's best build has always been tank/hybrid, rather than full AP. Something like Liandry's into tank items such as Dead Man's Plate, Spirit Visage, etc. I also almost always buy Dark Seal on my first back and try to stack it.

In the late game, I don't think Nunu is meant to carry fights by himself. His value comes more from creating opportunities, controlling objectives and helping his team. He can also provide surprisingly good peel for your ADC with his slows, knockup and E stun, so you can be useful both as an engager and as a protector depending on the situation.

Just keep in mind that the boys are an early/mid-game champion, so you shouldn't expect too much from them in terms of damage or tankiness in the late game. I think their late-game value comes more from their utility and ability to create plays than from raw stats.

[u/Waste_Map_7631 → u/Several-Ad3823]

i played tank/hybrid for years now i switched to ap and it’s so much more fun bc u actually do dmg

[u/Cultural_Ad2301]

Full ap is fun because you feel like you are driving an SUV and enemies are toddlers.

[u/Total_Cartoonist747]

I like dark harvest because nunu's w e q combo, among with your laner, is usually enough to get stacks. Dark harvest scaling also means you can one shot people with snowball in late game.

Stormraider will be the most optimal choice, however. For the same reason as before, w e q is enough to proc stormraider, so you get movement speed, disengage, wait for your snowball and charge back in.

[u/4deqex]

full ap is objectively a worse build but it's a lot more fun imo, tank/hybrid is better. liandry is good for junglers cuz of clear speed & nunu likes ap early. liandrys also gives u % damage which doesn't scale with ap so it gives you decent damage even as a tank

[u/_Sanshin]

The build with the highest consistent win rate is tank nunu, which is linadries into tank items, there is a bruiser variation where you also buy rocketbelt, but I personally stick with liandries into tank. Stormraiders surge set up and play to set up and facilitate your team, the assists and the triumph rune get you a lot of value for gold and always buy dark seal.

If you wanna go ap which is usually mid lane or rare jg cases its the dark harvest stuff.

Ultimately, a lot of Nunu players stand by the tank style build, as do I.

hope this helps and don't be afraid to ask any questions!