Sylas vs Rakan
You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.
Build vs Rakan
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Sylas: Hextech Rocketbelt, Riftmaker, Zhonya's Hourglass, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Rabadon's Deathcap, Shadowflame, Cosmic Drive, Banshee's Veil.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Rakan's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Rakan periodically gains a shield.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 11s | 14s | 0s | – |
| 6 | 9s | 14s | 0s | 2m10 |
| 9 | 7s | 13s | 0s | 2m10 |
| 11 | 7s | 12s | 0s | 1m50 |
| 16 | 7s | 10s | 0s | 1m30 |
| 18 | 7s | 10s | 0s | 1m30 |
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 Rakan
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Stay behind your minions
Stay behind your minions: Gleaming Quill (Q) strikes the first enemy in its path, and if it hits a champion, Rakan heals his team.
- Keep your distance
Keep your distance when his ADC steps up: Grand Entrance (W) lets him leap onto you, and enemies around his landing spot take a knock-up.
- Save your CC for his arrival
If you have CC, save it for when he lands in the middle of your team: only Battle Dance (E) then lets him leave toward an ally.
- Spread out from your allies
Spread out from your allies when he casts The Quickness (R): he charms every enemy he touches while running.
Other Sylas matchups
Patch 16.21.1