Teamfight Tactics Set 14: Creating a Nitro Nightmare

The Nitro trait only has four units in total. Kindred, Nidalee, Shyvana, and Elise. With only four units, it leaves room for other units to accompany them. Two of those Nitro units, Kindred and Shyvana, have two additional traits, making this one of the most flexible compositions in the game. As already mentioned, the predominant playstyle of Nitro compositions is to reroll.

But given the difference in unit costs, what level do you reroll at? Generally, the strategy has been to reroll at level six. The reason is that the units you end up rerolling alongside your Nitro units are two costs. The most common units paired up with Nitro are Jhin, Naafiri, and Veigar. Naafiri gets played alongside Jhin in his reroll version, but she is rarely three-starred in that comp. We will go over the three reroll variations and how to approach the various stages.

Nitro Early Game

No matter which variation you are going with, the strategy does not change. You want to collect copies of Nitro units and the unit you are rerolling. Ensure you have three Nitro units at all times to stack your R-080T as early as possible. The earlier you have two stars of Nitro units, the faster you will reach T-43X. You never want to roll for these units on Stage Two. Even if you are above fifty gold, prioritize putting excess gold into levels. The earlier you hit level six, the better. You will have a higher chance of hitting everything when you have more time to roll.

Nitro Mid-Game

In Stage Three, hitting two-star Shyvana and your two-cost carry (Jhin, Naafiri, Veigar) is vital. Those two together should do well enough to stabilize your board in most games. Collect as many copies as possible while slowly rolling above fifty gold. With the Jhin and Naafiri variation, play Jax or Sejuani over Elise. For Veigar, however, you can play Elise or another frontline unit to buy time for your Veigar to get eliminations. If your bench becomes crowded with units, prioritize your carry or a unit that only needs one more copy to become three-star. Avoid rolling below fifty gold to clear your bench. It can set you behind if you do not hit.

Nitro Late Game

Only chase three-star Elise if you have the leftover items to give her. Usually, in the Veigar variation, this will not be the case, but for Jhin and Naafiri, who prioritize AD and fighter items, you may have the chance. When you reach level eight, you want to add units that fit your chosen composition. In the case of Jhin, it will be Sejuani or Aurora predominantly, Veigar is Ziggs and Kobuko, and Naafiri is Annie and Samira.

Garen and Zac are flexible units that can fit in when you do not have anyone else. Given the resources you put into hitting all your units, reaching level nine is unlikely, but if you are stable enough on level eight with a decent chunk of health, you can do it. All tank items will go to your three-star Shyvana and other frontline tanks like Sejuani, Poppy, or Kobuko.

Nitro Variations

The most played Nitro reroll is the Jhin Variation. The items you want to prioritize for Jhin are AD-based. Spear of Shojin, Infinity Edge, and Deathblade are his usual core. He rarely needs Last Whisper because he already has Sunder in his kit. Guardbreaker, Giant Slayer, and Red Buff are other items you can build for him. If you have Pulse Stabilizer, Hyper Fangs, or Flux Capacitor as Exotech items, you can replace one of your items with them. You do not want to replace Spear of Shojin and Infinity Edge.

The Naafiri variation is the least popular of the three, and you should only play it if you have fighter items. Both Naafiri and Nidalee are great with these items. They mostly overlap with items, but the key difference is that Nidalee can use AP items while Naafir wants AD items. Bloodthirster is required for both of them, while items like Hand of Justice and Titan’s Resolve can go to either. You want Naafiri to have Sterak’s Gage, and Nidalee wants Jeweled Gauntlet.

Our last variation is Veigar. Veigar is one of the Blue Buff users in this Set since his total mana is low. Giving him Nashor’s Tooth will allow him to get to his casts faster, and Hextech Gunblade will maintain his frontline and allow him to heal in case of incidental damage. Any leftover AD items can go to Kindred, but for the most part, prioritizing frontline items is more important than having a second carry. The longer the fight takes, the greater the chance for Veigar to break through the enemy frontline and eliminate the carries.

When to Play Nitro

Given that you want to stack up R-080T as early as possible, you need to have Nitro units early. Pivoting will likely never happen, as every round loss without Nitro delays your power spike. Hitting an early Elise is not required as long as you have the three other Nitro Units. Deciding on which variation of Nitro you want to play will be determined by the units you find and the items you have available. The best part is that you do not need to decide on the variation until Stage Three. The only time this is not the case is when you have No Scout, No Pivot.

Best Augments to Take

As with most compositions, taking one of the Augments that matches your predominant trait is never a terrible choice. The Nitro Augments allow you to have early units. Starry Night is a high priority with this composition since it gives you a better chance to hit all your low-cost units. The more three-stars you hit, the faster you build up to T-43X, and the more potency your comp will have. No Scout, No Pivot is another option, but this is a risky one to take. Superstars or One For All are other Augments to look for, as they both give damage amp to your board.