Xerath vs Sylas

Xerath
vs
48.6%

over 140 games

Sylas

Skill matchup

Heavy AP damageHigh burstDive threatHigh sustain

Build vs Sylas

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Xerath: Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes, Dark Seal, Horizon Focus, Stormsurge, Mejai's Soulstealer.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Luden's Echo
1
Shadowflame
2
Rabadon's Deathcap
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Dark Seal
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport76%
FlashBarrier15%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Dark Seal
Horizon Focus
Stormsurge
Mejai's Soulstealer
Void Staff
Malignance
Blackfire Torch
Oblivion Orb
Zhonya's Hourglass
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Banshee's Veil
Cryptbloom
33.3% WR18 games
SorcerySorcery
Arcane CometArcane Comet
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
TranscendenceTranscendence
ScorchScorch
PrecisionPrecision
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Sylas's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Petricite Burst (P)

After casting a spell, Sylas stores a charge of Petricite Burst. Sylas's basic attacks will expend a charge and whirl his energized chains around him dealing bonus magic damage to enemies hit. While Sylas has a charge of Petricite Burst, he gains attack speed.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
310s12s13s–
68s12s13s1m20
96s10.5s13s1m20
116s9s13s55s
166s6s11s30s
186s6s9s30s

Playing as Xerath

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Charge Arcanopulse to poke from range

    Charge Arcanopulse (Q) to poke from long range: its range grows with the charge, but you slow down by up to 50% in the meantime.

  2. Slow before your Arcanopulse

    Slow your target with Eye of Destruction (W) before Arcanopulse (Q): the center of the zone slows the most, and a slowed target dodges poorly.

  3. Stun, then center your Eye

    Land Shocking Orb (E), then center Eye of Destruction (W) on the target: stunned, they can't dodge it, and the center slows the most.

  4. Finish from long range with your ult

    Cast Rite of the Arcane (R) to finish a fleeing target or support a distant fight: your shots reach 5000 range, with bonus damage per champion hit.

Playing against Sylas

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Keep minions between his chain and you

    Stay behind your minions after his Abscond (E): the Abduct (E) chain pulls him to the first enemy hit, and only that one takes the knock-up.

  2. Don't trust his low health

    Don't go all-in just because his health is low: Kingslayer (W) heals him more as he loses health.

  3. Back off after each of his spells

    Get out of his range as soon as he casts a spell: each spell charges Petricite Burst (passive), and his next auto hits around him with bonus magic damage.

  4. Fight when he can't steal from you

    Take the fight when Hijack (R) is on cooldown: he then can't copy your ult and turn it against your team.

Patch 16.21.1