Sylas vs Karma
You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.
Build vs Karma
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Sylas: Hextech Rocketbelt, Riftmaker, Zhonya's Hourglass, Mercury's Treads, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Cosmic Drive, Banshee's Veil.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Karma's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Karma's damaging abilities will reduce the cooldown of Mantra.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9s | 12s | 10s | – |
| 6 | 7s | 12s | 10s | 40s |
| 9 | 5s | 12s | 10s | 40s |
| 11 | 5s | 12s | 10s | 38s |
| 16 | 5s | 12s | 9s | 36s |
| 18 | 5s | 12s | 8s | 36s |
Playing as Sylas
Tips to maximize your impact
- An auto after each spell
Weave an auto after each spell: Petricite Burst (passive) turns it into a chain swing around you, with bonus magic damage.
- Save Kingslayer for low health
Save Kingslayer (W) to finish or to save yourself when your health drops: its healing grows with your missing health.
- Abscond, then throw your chain
To engage, cast Abscond (E), then recast within 3.5 seconds: Abduct (E) pulls you to the first enemy hit and knocks them into the air.
- Steal the ult that decides the fight
Cast Hijack (R) on the enemy whose ult can turn a teamfight: you keep a copy of it, cast with your own stats.
Playing against Karma
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Respect her level 1
Play carefully at the very start of lane: Mantra (R) is available from level 1, so Karma already has an empowered spell.
- Break her tether
Move away as soon as Focused Resolve (W) tethers you: if the tether holds to the end, you take damage again and get rooted.
- Leave the ring of fire
Quickly leave the ring of fire left by Inner Flame (Q) empowered by Mantra (R): it slows and deals extra damage.
- Focus her in teamfights
If you can reach her, focus her in teamfights: Mantra (R) then Inspire (E) gives a shield and move speed to every ally grouped around her target.
Other Sylas matchups
Patch 16.21.1