Sylas vs Vladimir
Skill matchup
Build vs Vladimir
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Sylas: Hextech Rocketbelt, Riftmaker, Zhonya's Hourglass, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Oblivion Orb, Dark Seal, Shadowflame, Lich Bane.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Vladimir's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Every 30 points of bonus Health gives Vladimir 1 Ability Power and every 1 point of Ability Power gives Vladimir 1.6 bonus Health (does not stack with itself).
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9s | 28s | 13s | – |
| 6 | 6.8s | 28s | 13s | 2m |
| 9 | 4.6s | 25s | 13s | 2m |
| 11 | 4.6s | 22s | 13s | 2m |
| 16 | 4.6s | 16s | 9s | 2m |
| 18 | 4.6s | 16s | 5s | 2m |
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 Vladimir
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Force his Sanguine Pool early
Force him to use Sanguine Pool (W) early in the fight, when it costs him the most health: he can't become untargetable again for 28 to 16 seconds.
- Back off from his empowered Transfusion
Back off after his first two Transfusion (Q) casts: the next one is empowered, hits harder and heals him based on his missing health.
- Play hard before his items
Get ahead early: Vladimir mostly shines later, once he has his items, since Crimson Pact (passive) turns his ability power into health and his bonus health into ability power.
- Kill him before his Hemoplague pops
During Hemoplague (R), focus him if you can kill him before the blast, otherwise back off: you take increased damage until then, and the blast heals him per champion hit.
- Cut his healing
If you have Grievous Wounds, apply it to him: Transfusion (Q), Sanguine Pool (W) and Hemoplague (R) all heal him.
Other Sylas matchups
Patch 16.21.1