Nautilus, the Titan of the Depths, has not been meta in either of his two roles (top lane and support) during the entirety of Season 8. However, the anchorman may be currently hidden OP and just be in a state of being overlooked by the competitive meta as of Patch 8.10. But why? In the following piece, I hope to provide you with a plethora of reasons as to why Nautilus may be hidden OP and maybe worth picking up in the quest for LP in our ranked games.

Aftershock (Support and Top)

Aftershock is presently one of the strongest Keystone choices present in League of Legends today given that its dual effects of increased resistances and magic damage proc have a huge amount of impact on a regular basis (given that it takes a hard CC to proc it, which many champions have). Well, Nautilus has not just one, but two, different ways of activating Aftershock in his kit (via his passive, Staggering Blow, and his Q, Dredge Line). This means that there is a clear synergy between Nautilus and Aftershock. This combined with the obvious efficiency of Aftershock results in the Titan of the Depths being on the fringe of the competitive forefront (especially given how much pros value efficiency in their choices today) and so Nautilus, for this reason, may be worth picking up in ranked games.

The synergy of Nautilus and Aftershock may be enough to push it to the forefront of the ranked meta.

Tank (Support)

In modern-day team compositions that feature in both pro play and, more importantly, successful ranked play, contain at least one tank. This single tank is usually found in the top lane with picks such as Sion, Ornn, and Maokai. However, many ranked games are won by non-tank champions in the top lane such as Rumble, Riven, and Wukong. This, however, creates the need, nay, the necessity, for another tank in another role to ensure that the successful status quo of team compositions to be maintained.

Nautilus, the Titan of the Depths, is one of a select few in a set of champions in LoL that can fit the roles of being classified as a tank and a support (alongside other picks such as Alistar, Braum, and potentially Thresh). This means that Nautilus can fill the needed tank role, not from top, but from support, meaning that ranked team compositions now have the flexibility to run a bruiser, not a tank, in the top lane. It is this flexibility that could make Nautilus the next solo queue monster, free for LP exploitation.

Nautilus in Support could replace the tank requirement currently brought by tanks in the top lane such as Sion and Ornn.

The Power of Banner (Support and Top)

Banner of Command (in the present state of Patch 8.10) is at the forefront of the meta for various uses and very good reasons in Season 8. So much so that it is presently built by both top laners and supports (as well as the occasional mid laner purchasing the item too) on a more than frequent basis since the item is very powerful.

Power items such as Banner of Command are prioritized by the high elo ‘Elite’ and professional players and so Champions that use it are being seen at the forefront of the meta. Nautilus is another champion that can utilize Banner of Command as he benefits from its stats (armor, magic resist, and health regen) while also bringing the active that has given the item so much power. It is this ability to utilize the power of this meta defining item that could see Nautilus having the status of being currently hidden OP.

The power of BOC and the fact that Nautilus uses it so well could see Nautilus being almost meta.

Ace Team Fighter (Top)

The ‘meta’ tanks that are being seen currently are presently are top laners with massive team fight impact such as Cho’Gath, Ornn, Sion, Maokai and more recently Dr. Mundo. The prominent features of this style of pick are at least one area of effect ability and an ultimate that can turn a team fight whether it be a massive true damage nuke (such as Cho’Gath’s ultimate, Feast) or a massive area of effect ultimate (such as Sion’s ultimate, Unstoppable Onslaught, or Ornn’s ultimate, Call of the Forge God).

Nautilus can also fit this set of champions as he is a tank champion that has a regular ability that is area of effect in the form of his E, Riptide, and a team fighting changing ultimate in the form of his ultimate, Depth Charge. So, the fact that Nautilus fits the meta well could make him a hidden OP in the current meta which makes him exploitable for that sweet LP that we all crave in our ranked game endeavors.

Nautilus possesses the same tank traits that meta stalwarts Cho’Gath and Maokai.

Conclusion

To conclude Nautilus has all the traits, abilities and builds needed to make his way through to the forefront of the meta, or at least become a fringe meta, hidden OP pick. He achieves this via being a tank that has immense team fight potential whilst also utilizing the key build items such as Banner of Command. If you do choose to wield the Titan of the Depths I wish you the best in your chase of LP and with that, I leave you with the thought of GL HF and GG.

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