Nocturne vs Sylas
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Sylas
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Nocturne: Profane Hydra, Axiom Arc, Voltaic Cyclosword, Plated Steelcaps, Experimental Hexplate, Lord Dominik's Regards, Guardian Angel, Executioner's Calling.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
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 Nocturne
Tips to maximize your impact
- Fight on your trail
Fight on the Dusk Trail left by Duskbringer (Q): on it, you gain move speed and AD, and you move through units.
- Stay in range during your fear
Stay near your target after Unspeakable Horror (E): if the tether holds until the end, they're feared, and you gain move speed toward them.
- Block their CC with your Shroud
Cast Shroud of Darkness (W) just before their CC: the barrier blocks the next enemy ability for 1.5 seconds, and a successful block doubles the spell's attack speed bonus.
- Paranoia on an isolated enemy
Cast Paranoia (R) when an enemy is isolated: they can no longer see their allies, and you can launch yourself at them from long range, farther with each rank.
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 Nocturne matchups
Patch 16.21.1