Vladimir vs Mel
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Mel
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Vladimir: Stormsurge, Rabadon's Deathcap, Void Staff, Boots of Swiftness, Dark Seal, Zhonya's Hourglass, Mejai's Soulstealer, Cosmic Drive.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Mel's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Whenever Mel uses an ability, she gains three bonus projectiles (up to nine maximum) on her next attack.When Mel deals damage through an ability or attack, she applies Overwhelm, which can stack infinitely. If the enemy is hit by Mel with enough Overwhelm damage, the stacks are consumed to execute the target.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10s | 38s | 11s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 38s | 11s | 2m |
| 9 | 6s | 35s | 11s | 2m |
| 11 | 6s | 33s | 11s | 1m40 |
| 16 | 6s | 26s | 10s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 6s | 26s | 9s | 1m20 |
Playing as Vladimir
Tips to maximize your impact
- Save your empowered Transfusion
After two Transfusion (Q) casts, the next one is empowered for a few seconds: save it for a trade, since it hits harder and heals you based on your missing health.
- Farm safely with Transfusion
Last-hit minions with Transfusion (Q) until your items come in: it deals damage before healing you, and costs you nothing.
- Charge Tides of Blood at least 1 second
Charge Tides of Blood (E) for at least 1 second before releasing: the missiles then also slow, and their damage grows with the charge.
- Dodge in your Sanguine Pool
Save Sanguine Pool (W) to dodge CC or a burst: for 2 seconds, you're untargetable. It costs you part of your current health.
- Hemoplague first, burst second
Cast Hemoplague (R) before your burst: infected enemies take increased damage from all sources, then the blast heals you for each champion hit.
Playing against Mel
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Dodge her snare's orb
Dodge the orb of Solar Snare (E): a direct hit roots you, and its aura slows and damages around it.
- Don't shoot into her barrier
If you have projectiles, don't fire them into Rebuttal (W): the barrier reflects champion projectiles back at their caster.
- Let her marks expire
At low health, back off for a few seconds to let Overwhelm expire: with enough stacks, Searing Brilliance (passive) executes you on her next hit.
- Jump on her if you can
If you can engage, jump on her: Mel has no dash or leap, only the move speed Rebuttal (W) gives her.
Other Vladimir matchups
Patch 16.21.1