Xayah ADC vs Nautilus Support Matchup
Xayah ADC wins 54.6% of 5,231 Low Elo games against Nautilus Support, +2.0 points vs expected, 2-patch window 26.19-26.20.
Researched on LoL patch 26.20. Tips are written to hold at any rank; stats come from Low Elo ranked games up to patch 26.20.
Why Xayah is favored
Xayah's Featherstorm(R) can make her untargetable through Nautilus's Depth Charge(R), and her returning feathers can punish him if he commits into their path. That defensive timing gives Xayah a strong answer to Nautilus's main pick tool, though she must wait until his ultimate has actually launched before using hers.
Measured in High Elo: Xayah wins 2.1pp more often than expected over 2,703 games.
How to play as Xayah
Save Featherstorm(R) for after Nautilus's ultimate projectile launches; using it too early can let him cast again as soon as you come down.
After Nautilus commits to you, recall feathers with Bladecaller(E) if they cross his path to root him and create room to kite.
Featherstorm(R) makes Xayah untargetable, allowing her to avoid Depth Charge(R) if she times it after Nautilus launches the ultimate; Bladecaller(E) can then root him if his engage leaves feathers through his path.
How to play as Nautilus
Use Dredge Line(Q) to pressure Xayah's Featherstorm(R), then wait for it to end before spending Depth Charge(R) on her.
Xayah can use Featherstorm(R) to avoid Depth Charge(R), and using it too early can cancel Nautilus's cast before the projectile launches.
Sources
These notes come from r/xayahmains, checked against the champions' abilities.