Varus vs Syndra
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Syndra
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Varus: Experimental Hexplate, Dusk and Dawn, Riftmaker, Mercury's Treads, Zhonya's Hourglass, Jak'Sho, The Protean, Rabadon's Deathcap, Guardian Angel.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Syndra's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Syndra collects Splinters of Wrath from gaining levels and damaging enemies which upgrade her abilities.Dark Sphere: Syndra can hold an additional chargeForce of Will: Bonus true damage.Scatter the Weak: Increased width and slows all targetsUnleashed Power: Executes low health targets
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7s | 13s | 15s | – |
| 6 | 7s | 13s | 15s | 2m |
| 9 | 7s | 12s | 15s | 2m |
| 11 | 7s | 11s | 15s | 1m40 |
| 16 | 7s | 9s | 15s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 7s | 9s | 15s | 1m20 |
Playing as Varus
Tips to maximize your impact
- Apply Blight, then a spell
Apply Blight with your autos through Blighted Quiver (W), then detonate it with a spell: each stack deals damage based on max health and, on a champion, lowers your cooldowns.
- Fire early at close range
Against a close target, fire Piercing Arrow (Q) without waiting for a full charge: charging adds damage, but it slows you in the meantime.
- Cut their healing with your hail
Cast Hail of Arrows (E) on enemies who are healing or charging at you: the desecrated ground slows them and applies Grievous Wounds.
- Target an enemy near their team
Cast Chain of Corruption (R) on a champion close to their allies: the corruption then spreads to nearby champions and roots them too.
Playing against Syndra
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Don't line up with her spheres
Don't stand in line between Syndra and one of her spheres: Scatter the Weak (E) pushes it toward you, and it stuns the enemies it hits.
- Engage after Scatter the Weak
If you can engage, go in right after Scatter the Weak (E): she has no dash and nothing else to push you back during its 15-second cooldown.
- Count her spheres once she hits 6
Once she hits level 6, count her spheres before taking a trade: Unleashed Power (R) launches the 3 orbiting her at you, plus up to 4 more nearby.
Other Varus matchups
Patch 16.21.1