Nasus vs Ryze TOP Matchup Guide | LaneStomp

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Nasus vs Ryze

Updated Jun 3, 2026

Overview

Nasus is a scaling juggernaut who must focus on safe farm and stacking (Q) to outscale Ryze's medium early pressure.
Avoid giving Ryze a passive lane to freely scale; maintain wave control near your side to deny his easy farming and poke windows.
This is a scale vs scale matchup where Nasus aims for side-lane dominance after reaching key (Q) stacks and level 6 durability.

Trading pattern

Trade only when (W) slow is available and Ryze steps into melee range without his (W) root ready.
Use (R) to extend fights once you have enough (Q) stacks, forcing Ryze to respect your sustained damage and durability.
Avoid fighting when (W) is down or Ryze has mana and cooldowns to cycle (E) and (Q) repeatedly for poke and root setups.

Danger windows

Be cautious when Ryze has full mana and (W) root available, as he can lock you down for follow-up damage.
Avoid extended trades before level 6 when you lack (R) durability and Ryze can chain spells with (E) and (Q).
Watch for enemy jungler ganks especially if you are overextended after pushing with (R) active, as your low mobility makes escapes difficult.

Early game

Prioritize last-hitting with (Q) to build stacks while keeping the wave near your tower to avoid Ryze's poke and root setups.
Avoid extended trades before level 6 when you lack (R) durability and Ryze can punish with (W) root and (Q) damage.
Use (W) only to punish Ryze when he overcommits inside your range, but avoid wasting it early when he can disengage and re-engage.

Power spikes

Level 6 (R) grants you durability and threat in extended fights; use it to punish Ryze if he stays in range.
High (Q) stacks combined with (W) slow turn you into a strong side-lane duelist; pressure side lanes to force Ryze's response.
Respect Ryze's first mana/AP item spike as it increases his sustained damage and poke potential, requiring more cautious trades.

Win conditions

Survive early lane by stacking (Q) safely near your tower and avoid Ryze's root setups.
Reach level 6 and high (Q) stacks to become a side-lane threat that forces Ryze to respect your (W) slow and extended fight potential.
Use (R) and wave control to pressure side lanes, creating opportunities for split-push and forcing Ryze's team to respond.