Matchup

Heavy AP damageSustained DPSCountered by stasisHigh sustain

Favorable matchup

You are stronger early — look to snowball before your opponent scales.

Build vs Mordekaiser

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Seraph's Embrace
1Mage
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
2Mage tank
Void Staff
3vs Tank

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Rod of Ages
5HP

Summoner spells

41437%
41233%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Zhonya's Hourglass
5vs AD

Anti Heal

Morellonomicon
6vs Heal

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Banshee's Veil
5vs AP

Anti Tank

Bloodletter's Curse
5vs Tank
Cryptbloom
vs Tank
Stormsurge
vs Tank

DPS

Liandry's Torment
Mage tank
Rabadon's Deathcap
Mage
Cosmic Drive
Mage tank
Blackfire Torch
Mage
Actualizer
Mage
Riftmaker
Mage tank

Other options

Rod of Ages
HP
Tear of the Goddess
Mejai's Soulstealer
100.0% WR2 games
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Last StandLast Stand
SorcerySorcery
TranscendenceTranscendence
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
CassiopeiaCassiopeia
MordekaiserMordekaiser
Careful
Careful
Aggressive

Mordekaiser's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Darkness Rise (P)

Mordekaiser gains a powerful damage aura and Move Speed after landing 3 attacks or spells against champions or monsters.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
38s12s18s
66s12s18s2m20
94s11s18s2m20
114s10s18s2m
164s8s14s1m40
184s8s10s1m40

Playing against Mordekaiser

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Buy a QSS to escape his R — it's essential for carries who don't want to be isolated.

2

Kite him: Mordekaiser is slow with no dash. Ranged champions and slows counter him well.

3

His E (pull) has a visible delay: sidestep when you see the animation.

4

% max HP damage counters him since he builds HP: Vayne, Kog'Maw, and Liandry's are effective.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 8, 2026