[10.6] Zephyrus's High Elo Guide on Nemesis - UPDATED!

Pros: High Consistent Single-Target Damage High Single-Target Shred with Divine Judgement and Scales of Fate Good Protection with Retribution Great mobility and escapes Excellent 'boxing' 1v1 style. Can go a wide-variety of builds and items Great ult to setup for target focus High Skill-Ceiling

Cons: Very squishy Vulnerable to hard and soft CC Hard CC cancels out Retribution Lacks any form of hard CC Weak Early-Game Skill Dependent . . . . . . .

Swift Vengeance
This ability should be upgraded last, as it gives the least benefits when upgraded. But it is your primary escape and movement when dealing with enemies. This increases your damage and can confuse your enemies. Very useful in 'boxing' scenarios with other gods that can 1v1 easily. Like Arachne or Tsukuyomi.

Slice and Dice
Your main damage and CC ability. Prioritize aiming your target in the center of the ability as it does double the damage and slows the affected target.

Retribution
Your defensive cooldown. Your shield is what gives you protection against other gods that threaten you. A certain amount of the damage taken is also reflected to the afflicter and healed to you.

Divine Judgement
Your all-in cooldown. Very strong as a target-focusing tool in longer teamfights on the support or warrior when they engage or a squishy target to dive on like Izanami or Ah Puch.

Scales of Fate
A key passive where the longer you stay on someone, the more damage you deal due to shredding protections. Easily comboable with your ultimate for large amounts of damage.


Simple Combos:

• Auto - Slice and Dice - Auto
  This is a standard and quick trade combo, use this when engaging early.
• Auto - Slice and Dice - Auto - Retribution - Auto
  Another quick and easy combo for trades, this time with a little more defensive kick and extra damage. This combo is very useful for proccing Hydra's Lament's passive.
• Swift Vengeance - Swift Vengeance
  Though not technically a combo, knowing how to control your double dash and when to use for it pure mobility, mobility-damage, and pure damage is very important. Do note that you can ability cancel after the FIRST dash and fit in either an auto or Slice and Dice during the interim for extra damage.

Advanced Combos:

• Swift Vengeance - Auto - Swift Vengeance - Auto - Slice and Dice
  One of two main all-in combos that are very effective on already CC'd targets.
  
• Blink Rune - Auto - Auto - Divine Judgement - Auto - Swift Vengeance - Auto - Slice and Dice - Swift Vengeance - Auto - Retribution - Auto
  This is your full and hardest combo to perform. It can be CC interrupted so it is recommended to use this as a rough-finisher combo or a late-arrival combo onto a weaker target such as an ADC or Mage. Upgrading your Blink Rune to Corrupted Blink Rune or having Hastened Katana will help you keep on your target to finish the combo.

Starter 1

Eye Of The Jungle is the standard start this season. Providing a good beginning for attack speed and power, it's very enticing for Nemesis since she benefits off of not only power, but attack speed as well.
Starter 2
Though not nearly as useful anymore due to Eye Of The Jungle being more useful 99% of situations, this item is not bad by any means. It's not an ideal pick up, but if you need the extra sustain in the jungle or plan on invading much harder than usual it might be worth considering it.
Core Item 1
Golden Blade is the ideal start for Nemesis, allowing her to gain a easy time farming camps and saving mana consumption while doing so. It also gives a large amount of attack speed and some power which provides a semi-spike for Nemesis. Unless you are going for a prime ability-based build, Golden Blade should be your first priority item for its spike. Later in the game, this item can be traded in respectively for either a Hastened Katana, Atalanta's Bow, or even a Vital Amplifier.
Core Item 2
Hydra's Lament is a very versatile item, which is one of the most important items for Nemesis due to it's passive which increases the next basic attack by 30%. Combining this with the combos provided will allow you to make extended use out of this passive. The extra stats with MP5 and penetration are a great addition as well!
Core Item 3
Arondight can be seen as a great option as a core item. Offering a substantial amount of power at 75 and 10% cooldown which increases overall DPS naturally. This item is perfect when facing gods that can be chased down and closed-in on easier like Hera or Rama. A general rule is the faster this comes online, the better your snowball!
Core Item 4
Ever since it's introduction into the katana tree in earlier seasons, Serrated Edge has been one of Nemesis's BEST core items. Providing a LOT of protection shred on top of lifesteal with a ability passive that scales with how many you have on cooldown is the cherry on top. Like Hydra's Lament], this promotes ability use and auto-attack cancels that [[nemesis already has a plethora of. It's a very good pick up for her and especially against tank-heavy teams.
Golden Blade Replacement 1
Hastened Katana still remains as a very useful item and a personal favorite of mine. Paired with other auto-attack items or even an ability-based build still gives it plenty of use. However in situations where the passive is NOT as useful, I would switch the item for either Asi or if needed, a defensive item like Magi's Cloak.
Golden Blade Replacement 2
This item is newer and commonly used with on-hit lifesteal characters like Arachne. Though in certain situations Nemesis can make good use of the passive and stats as well. Though it is more situational to an item like Atalanta's Bow or Hastened Katana, it still sports decent stats depending on your build. Uniquely and namely in a Silverbranch Bow build.
Defensive Option
Magi's Cloak is your more common defensive item. Though it is not often that you will want to lose a whole item for just defenses, it still does happen against extremely CC heavy teams. If the CC becomes too heavy, you can opt for a Mantle of Discord, but in most cases you should be fine.