Mordekaiser vs Sylas
Favorable matchup
Build vs Sylas
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Mordekaiser: Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Riftmaker, Liandry's Torment, Mercury's Treads, Spirit Visage, Oblivion Orb, Zhonya's Hourglass, Bramble Vest.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Sylas's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
After casting a spell, Sylas stores a charge of Petricite Burst. Sylas's basic attacks will expend a charge and whirl his energized chains around him dealing bonus magic damage to enemies hit. While Sylas has a charge of Petricite Burst, he gains attack speed.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10s | 12s | 13s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 12s | 13s | 1m20 |
| 9 | 6s | 10.5s | 13s | 1m20 |
| 11 | 6s | 9s | 13s | 55s |
| 16 | 6s | 6s | 11s | 30s |
| 18 | 6s | 6s | 9s | 30s |
Playing as Mordekaiser
Tips to maximize your impact
- Hit a lone enemy with your Q
Aim Obliterate (Q) at a lone enemy: if only one enemy is hit, the damage increases.
- Activate your passive, then stay close
Hit champions or monsters three times, then stay close: Darkness Rise (passive) then surrounds you with a damage aura and gives you move speed.
- Pull them into your Q
Pull your targets into the Obliterate (Q) zone with Death's Grasp (E): each spell that hits also counts toward Darkness Rise (passive).
- Tank with Indestructible
Cast Indestructible (W) when you're taking damage: it turns stored damage into a shield, and a recast converts part of it into health.
- Isolate the carry in your R
Cast Realm of Death (R) on their carry, or their jungler near an objective: you isolate them with you, steal part of their stats, and keep them if you kill them.
Playing against Sylas
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Keep minions between his chain and you
Stay behind your minions after his Abscond (E): the Abduct (E) chain pulls him to the first enemy hit, and only that one takes the knock-up.
- Don't trust his low health
Don't go all-in just because his health is low: Kingslayer (W) heals him more as he loses health.
- Back off after each of his spells
Get out of his range as soon as he casts a spell: each spell charges Petricite Burst (passive), and his next auto hits around him with bonus magic damage.
- Fight when he can't steal from you
Take the fight when Hijack (R) is on cooldown: he then can't copy your ult and turn it against your team.
Other Mordekaiser matchups
Patch 16.21.1