Played infrequently by legends like Faker and the occasional normal game blind pick, Nocturne Mid has been "a thing" in the past, but never stuck around for very long. It's a build that can conceivably one-shot enemy mages with ease, but may just as easily fall flat on its face.However, it's certainly playable, and quite fun if you manage to snowball. Check out the details below!
Weird Pick #51
Mid Lane Nocturne
May 2016
Introduction
Played infrequently by legends like Faker and the occasional normal game blind pick, Nocturne Mid has been "a thing" in the past, but never stuck around for very long. It's a build that can conceivably one-shot enemy mages with ease, but may just as easily fall flat on its face.
However, it's certainly viable, and quite fun if you manage to snowball. Check out the details below!
However, it's certainly viable, and quite fun if you manage to snowball. Check out the details below!
How to Play
- Primary Runes
- Electrocute, Cheap Shot, Grisly Mementos, Ultimate Hunter
- Secondary Runes
- Triumph, Legend: Alacrity
- Abilities
- Q, E, W, Q then prioritize R > Q > E > W
- Core Items
Refillable Potion 
Youmuu's Ghostblade 
Ionian Boots of Lucidity 
Voltaic Cyclosword 
Ravenous Hydra
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]Why It Works
Passive Waveclear/SustainDespite having a relatively weak laning phase until level 6 against most melee champions, Nocturne can easily survive through laning phase via his powerful passive sustain combined with his waveclear the same passive provides. In combination with his Duskbringer (Q), he has a relatively easy time last hitting at turret as well against a high waveclear mage.
Excellent Burst Damage
Nocturne's Duskbringer (Q) adds a bonus 55 AD when maxed, which is more than a Janna shield. This same duskbringer can be thrown mid-ultimate, which not only instantly boosts his passive's 120% damage, but also his ultimate's 120% damage scaling as well. When used properly, this results in a massive damage boost that can catch many enemies off-guard.
Excellent Roaming Potential
As a mid-laner, Nocturne does fairly well if he snowballs. He plays somewhat similar to Pantheon, but with more waveclear and a more reliable side-lane gank, tempered by his slower CC. He's also slightly worse than Pantheon against melee assassins, but definitely stronger against mages.
Excellent Roaming Potential
As a mid-laner, Nocturne does fairly well if he snowballs. He plays somewhat similar to Pantheon, but with more waveclear and a more reliable side-lane gank, tempered by his slower CC. He's also slightly worse than Pantheon against melee assassins, but definitely stronger against mages.
Potential Pitfalls
Weak Early Game
Nocturne's early game is mostly one of farming and sustaining through the laning phase, and he doesn't have too much kill potential against ranged mages until he hits level 6. However, as melee assassins go, he does fairly well despite being played very infrequently in this role.
Zhonya Prone
Against Nocturne, most intelligent mid-laners will quickly rush a Zhonya's, which negates Nocturne's ultimate damage and prevents them from getting assassinated. For the most part, this is only a major issue against highly mobile mages like Ahri, and Nocturne can still spell shield and fear immobile mages to death even if his ult damage doesn't land.
Nocturne's early game is mostly one of farming and sustaining through the laning phase, and he doesn't have too much kill potential against ranged mages until he hits level 6. However, as melee assassins go, he does fairly well despite being played very infrequently in this role.
Zhonya Prone
Against Nocturne, most intelligent mid-laners will quickly rush a Zhonya's, which negates Nocturne's ultimate damage and prevents them from getting assassinated. For the most part, this is only a major issue against highly mobile mages like Ahri, and Nocturne can still spell shield and fear immobile mages to death even if his ult damage doesn't land.
Conclusions
Nocturne mid is a relatively viable champion, but somewhat unorthodox. He plays like an assassin, and could be placed in any comp where you'd drop in a Yasuo mid without other knock-ups on the team.
Suggested Rating: Low Tier 2/ Tier 3
What do you think about Mid Lane Nocturne? Comment below!
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